Singapore, Singapore
I see myself simply as a full-time human being and part-time doing everything else. My life and work have been guided by two simple questions: What helps people flourish? What helps us become more fully human? A personal collapse in 2006 left me with $16 and questioning everything I thought I knew about success, identity and worth. What began as a journey of healing became a lifelong inquiry into leadership, wellbeing and systems change. I came to see that many of our greatest challenges - from burnout and mental ill-health to social fragmentation and ecological decline - are symptoms of a deeper disconnection from ourselves, one another and the wider world. Over time, this evolved into a personal philosophy: "Why start a business when I can start a movement, or two?" Across more than three decades, I have worked across business, government and civil society, holding C-suite leadership roles, serving as a Nominated Member of Parliament (2018–2020), and chairing boards and national initiatives. Today, I chair WorkWell Leaders, a CEO-led charity advancing organisational wellbeing and performance, and Cedar Girls' Secondary School. Along the way, I have founded and co-created initiatives including Hush TeaBar, WorkWell Leaders, SG Mental Health Matters, A Good Space, Welcome In My Backyard, the CritiCare Fund for Migrant Workers and the Palestinian Scholarship Initiative. Though diverse in form, they are united by a common purpose: expanding the spaces where dignity, belonging and possibility can thrive. A Senior Accredited Director, author, speaker, coach and long-time practitioner of yoga and meditation, I bring together contemplative wisdom, systems thinking and practical leadership experience. I also advise organisations including Doctors Without Borders (Singapore) and Project Light Foundation (Europe). I believe deeply in Be Well to Lead Well - that wellbeing is not a personal luxury but a leadership responsibility. Ultimately, my work is about creating the conditions for people, organisations and societies to flourish and become more fully human. In essence, it is an invitation to move us from coping to flourishing, from extraction to regeneration, from fear to possibility and from systems that use people to systems that serve people.
Member of the Advisory Council of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in Singapore, providing strategic guidance to strengthen MSF’s institutional presence locally while advancing its global impact. Focused on leveraging Singapore’s position as a hub for research, innovation, and international partnerships to support effective humanitarian action worldwide.
I founded and chair WorkWell Leaders (WWL), Singapore’s first CEO-led movement and registered charity dedicated to making organisational wellbeing a strategic leadership priority. I led the WWL’s transition from an informal network (2018) into a full Institution of Public Character (2025), and stewarded high-impact national partnerships with government and industry bodies. Key contributions: - Led the development of Singapore’s first national standard for leadership and wellbeing practices, WorkWell Leaders Awards, endorsed by President Halimah Yacob in 2023, President Tharman in 2024 and Prime Minister Lawrence and Minister of Health Ong Ye Kung (2025). - Spearheaded the WorkWell Leaders Impact Measure (2025), Singapore’s first benchmarking study linking leadership drivers to organisational wellbeing and performance across 200+ factors, in partnership with National University of Singapore - Created the Top 25 Impact Employers list (2025), the first such ranking focused on wellbeing-driven leadership. - Serve as visible spokesperson advocating Courage, Compassion, Commitment and Clarity — the 4C Values of the movement whose CEO and leaders, together, take care of almost 180,000 employees in Singapore alone. - Guide strategic growth, governance, ecosystem partnerships, and multi-sector engagement with government, industry bodies and community agencies. My role centres on elevating leader wellbeing as a strategic imperative and strengthening a culture of compassionate, courageous and sustainable leadership across the region - and bridges my work in leadership, coaching, mental health, systems change, and organisational culture transformation.
As part of the Wisdom Council, I support Project Light Foundation’s mission to heal collective trauma and nurture flourishing among youth across the Balkans. Key contributions: - Offer strategic counsel to CEO and leadership team, integrating contemplative practice, mental wellbeing, trauma healing, and leadership development. - Advise on youth programmes, narrative change, and cross-cultural capacity building. - Support partnership-building and global positioning of the Foundation’s work. My advisory role supports the organisation’s vision of youth empowerment, peacebuilding, and holistic healing, contributing perspectives drawn from my work in mental health advocacy, trauma-informed leadership, and cross-cultural resilience.
I chair the CritiCare Fund for Migrant Workers, a community-anchored initiative that provides emergency financial support to migrant workers facing critical illnesses. Key contributions: - Lead governance, strategic direction, and community partnerships for the Fund. - Build public awareness and collaborative pathways with NGOs, donors, and community groups. - Advocate for more compassionate and equitable structures of care for Singapore’s migrant worker community - Initiating the first street count study of migrant workers' health to support the policy advocacy efforts This role aligns with my long-standing commitment to migrant worker wellbeing and my broader efforts in mental health, dignity, and social justice.
Co-chairing PSI, I help lead a community-driven initiative enabling Palestinian students from conflict-affected regions to pursue tertiary education in Singapore. Key contributions: - Secured support from relevant government ministries and leaders when the Palestinian issue was a controversial' one. - Oversee governance, donor stewardship, and strategic partnerships with universities and civic supporters. - Strengthen PSI’s growth, sustainability through structures, and impact pathways. - Champion education as a bridge of dignity, hope, and self-determination for Palestinian youth - Promote empathy of Singaporeans and enrich diversity understanding on campuses with Singaporean youth My work supports education as an act of dignity, solidarity, and long-term empowerment, and reflects my belief in expanding access to opportunities for youth whose futures are constrained by systemic and geopolitical barriers. NOTE: These scholarships offer hope, bridging the gap to a brighter future for students whose educational journeys have been interrupted by conflict. With your support, we can equip these students with the tools to thrive, empowering them to contribute to the global community and drive change for future generations. https://events.rayofhope.sg/events/palestinian-scholarship-initiative/