Biography of Selyna Peiris: Founder & CEO of Selyn -Entrepreneur
Biography of Selyna Peiris:
Selyna Peiris has a remarkable and diverse career that spans various roles, blending her expertise in law, development, and business. Her journey is deeply embedded in her commitment to creating positive social change. With her professional experience in Sri Lanka and beyond, Selyna is a leader who brings sustainable development, social business, and ethical practices into the mainstream.
Education and Early Leadership
Selyna's academic journey is a testament to her ambition and leadership. She holds an LLB from the University of Hull, a Master’s degree in International Relations from the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna, and a Master’s in International Business Law from University College London. Her educational background not only gave her legal and diplomatic expertise but also fostered a sense of global responsibility. At the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna, she actively participated in student initiatives, including serving as Secretary of the Diplomatic Academy Student Initiative and Head of the Organizing Committee for the Annual Charity Ball, showcasing her leadership skills from an early stage.
A Commitment to Fair Trade at Selyn
Selyna’s professional career began with her significant contribution to Selyn, Sri Lanka's only fair-trade handloom company. As the Director of Business Development, she has been instrumental in shaping the company's strategy, business growth, and brand development. Under her leadership, Selyn has become one of Sri Lanka’s largest social enterprises, empowering thousands of artisans. Her vision extended beyond business growth, integrating ethical practices such as monitoring fair-trade compliance and transparency into the company's operations, ensuring that artisans are treated fairly and equitably.
Social Enterprise and Empowering Communities
Selyna's role at Selyn is not just about business; it’s about building a more sustainable, ethical future. She has played a key role in setting up systems to ensure that over 500 artisans working with Selyn meet the standards set by the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO). Additionally, she has led the charge to implement blockchain-based transparency and traceability within the supply chain, making Selyn one of the first handloom companies globally to do so. This commitment to transparency has helped foster greater trust and efficiency within the organization and with its partners.
A Consultant for Positive Impact Consultancy
Alongside her work at Selyn, Selyna co-founded Positive Impact Consultancy in 2020, a consultancy dedicated to advising organizations on how to create mission-driven transformations. The consultancy focuses on helping businesses make a positive social and environmental impact. Through her work, Selyna has partnered with various international organizations, including the United Nations and UNDP, on projects related to sustainable development, human rights, and trade.
Championing Sustainable Development Goals
Selyna’s expertise has been sought after in several high-profile projects. She has worked as a National Consultant for the United Nations Sustainable Development Framework (UNSDF) and completed an assessment for Sri Lanka's partnership landscape for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. She has also worked on research focused on the linkages between business and human rights in the context of international trade. Her work with the UN and other international agencies continues to guide global efforts toward sustainable and equitable development.
Consulting for International Organizations
Selyna’s consulting career spans over a decade, working with international agencies to develop social enterprises and promote women’s empowerment. She has contributed her expertise to projects for the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, UNIDO, and Care International, advising on issues ranging from social business development to livelihood empowerment. Her work includes evaluating safe labor migration programs and providing legal assessments for creating social enterprises in Sri Lanka.
Leadership in National Unity and Reconciliation
From 2015 to 2016, Selyna held the role of Deputy Director at the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR), under the Government of Sri Lanka. ONUR was established to foster national unity and reconciliation in the post-war period, and Selyna played a critical role in designing and implementing strategies to bring together communities divided by years of conflict. Her work at ONUR was pivotal in the efforts toward healing and rebuilding Sri Lanka’s social fabric.
Youth Activism and Advocacy
Selyna’s commitment to social change goes beyond her professional career. She is a passionate youth activist, having served as the head of the youth wing of the Liberal Party of Sri Lanka and as the founding Chair of the Youth Council for the Council for Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD Youth). Selyna also contributed to the executive committee of the International Federation of Liberal Youth and was an active member of the Sri Lanka Unites movement, which focuses on reconciliation and youth empowerment in Sri Lanka.
Awards and Recognition for Leadership
Selyna’s impactful work has earned her numerous accolades. In 2024, she was honored with the Most Innovative Entrepreneur of the Year award by the Women’s Chamber of Commerce & Industry. She was also recognized as the Emerging Business Leader of the Year at the Top 50 Professional & Career Women Awards for Sri Lanka and the Maldives in 2021. Her efforts at Selyn were acknowledged in 2023 when Forbes Asia included the company’s work on supply chain traceability in their prestigious "50 over 50" list.
Biography of Selyna Peiris: Founder & CEO of Selyn -Entrepreneur/startup/age/net worth/investor/fair-trade handloom company and empowered artisans
A Trailblazer for Women’s Empowerment
Selyna has long been an advocate for gender equality and women’s empowerment, particularly in Sri Lanka. Her leadership at Selyn and Positive Impact Consultancy emphasizes the importance of creating opportunities for women and marginalized groups. As a mother, Selyna understands the importance of laying the foundation for a more equitable society, not just for the current generation but for future generations to come.
Strengthening the Role of Women in the Economy
Selyna’s work continues to inspire and drive initiatives that empower women across Sri Lanka. Through her various roles, she has supported initiatives that promote women’s participation in the economy, whether through social enterprises, policy reforms, or business ventures. Her deep commitment to creating an equitable development environment for women has made her a key figure in advocating for gender parity in both the private and public sectors.
Continued Advocacy and Future Vision
As a leading figure in both business and development sectors, Selyna continues to be an advocate for creating a sustainable and just society. She is actively involved in high-level advisory committees and partnerships that help shape policies around development, reconciliation, and women’s empowerment. Looking ahead, Selyna envisions a future where businesses integrate social impact into their core strategies, and where every individual has the opportunity to succeed and contribute to their communities.
A Legacy of Empowerment and Transformation
Selyna Peiris’s journey has been one of empowerment,
transformation, and social impact. From her work at Selyn and Positive Impact
Consultancy to her leadership in youth activism and national reconciliation
efforts, Selyna has consistently championed the causes of equity, fairness, and
sustainability. Her contributions are a testament to the power of dedicated
individuals to bring about meaningful change in society, and her legacy
continues to inspire others to follow in her footsteps.
Timeline for Selyna Peiris:
LLB from University of Hull - Obtained her law degree,
laying the foundation for her career.
Master’s in International Relations from Diplomatic Academy
of Vienna - Gained diplomatic expertise and leadership experience.
Master’s in International Business Law from University
College London - Expanded her knowledge in international business law.
Director of Business Development at Selyn (Date unspecified)
- Led Sri Lanka’s largest fair-trade handloom company and empowered artisans.
Co-founded Positive Impact Consultancy (2020) - Started a
consultancy promoting social impact transformations.
National Consultant for United Nations Sustainable
Development Framework - Contributed to Sri Lanka’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development.
Deputy Director at Office for National Unity and
Reconciliation (ONUR) (2015-2016) - Helped design national unity and
reconciliation strategies post-conflict.
Head of the Youth Wing of the Liberal Party of Sri Lanka
(Date unspecified) - Led youth activism for social change in Sri Lanka.
Awarded Most Innovative Entrepreneur of the Year (2024) -
Recognized for outstanding leadership in business innovation.
Forbes Asia "50 over 50" List (2023) -
Acknowledged Selyn’s work on supply chain traceability.
Emerging Business Leader of the Year Award (2021) - Honored
for leadership in business and career development.
