Meet the People Behind Temasek Foundation
Meet the People Behind Temasek Foundation
They work to improve the lives of children with better education, offer skills transfer to enhance the workforce across the region, and even save the planet with sustainable innovation. Find out what drives the people behind Temasek Foundation and the programmes that uplift lives and communities in Singapore and beyond.
Who:
Shiran Ali, Associate Director (Programmes)
What he does:
Shiran works with Asian communities to enhance their capabilities – from disaster management to improving workforce skills. One programme is equipping educators in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects with the skills to develop a workforce that is ready for the future. He hopes that such collaborations build greater trust among partnering communities in striving together for a better shared future in Asia and beyond.
Shiran (front row, second from right) with Nepali participants and Singhealth staff following the completion of a disaster simulation exercise in Biratnagar, Nepal recently. The exercise is as part of a rebuilding communities through healthcare programme in Nepal. Photo: Temasek Foundation
Why do it:
Q: What drives you to do good for communities?
Philanthropic work is very meaningful. I have encountered many unique and enriching experiences over my past seven years with Temasek Foundation. I was in Biratnagar, Nepal recently where we were part of a disaster management exercise with our partners. This was just one of many examples where working with communities in Asia provides me with a greater sense of purpose.
Q: What are the challenges in working with communities all over the region?
The diversity in Asia brings about some language barriers which we try to overcome to ensure common understanding on what we hope to achieve with our partners. We are also mindful of the need to understand the rich tapestry of Asian culture and context, and keep up-to-date with the latest developments in Asia.
At the end of the day, it is about growing together as a community. We are building mutual trust and sustainable partnerships with the vision that the region can grow together in the long run.
Mr Shiran Ali, Associate Director (Programmes)
Who:
Geraldine Lek, Associate Director (Programmes & Partnership)
What she does:
For Geraldine, LIFE is great. She drives the Learning Is Fun and Exciting (LIFE, in short) Programme, where kids at student care centres learn values such as respect, responsibility and harmony through experiential and interactive activities. She looks forward to scaling up the LIFE Programme.
Lek is part of the team that piloted the LIFE programme in 2017, which started out with nine coaches and about 120 students in five student care centres, run by YMCA of Singapore and Big Heart Student Care. Photo: Temasek
Why do it:
Q: What made you leave your corporate job to join the social service sector?
When looking for a change of job, I was also searching for a purpose in what I do. I was hoping to find a job that I can bring about direct impact to people’s lives. I was asking myself questions like, ‘what have I contributed back to society or to my community?’ Hence, I decided to join the social service sector.
Q: How would you describe your philanthropic work?
All that we do will impact somebody’s life – it could be a child, an elderly, or a family. We can bring about positive change if we do our work well to help our beneficiaries. No matter how small a part we do in philanthropy work, it is never too small for that individual whose life we have impacted.
Q: What are some gaps you are trying to fill?
We realise that there isn’t much training or resources available in the student care sector. Our LIFE Programme aims to fill this gap by providing a values-based curricula and training opportunities to the coaches in student care centres.
Data source: Singapore's Ministry of Education
Who:
Chloe Zhou, Manager (Programmes)
What she does:
Be it the haze or a health emergency, Chloe is worried that many in the Singapore community are not prepared to handle such crises as the country has been safe and stable all these years. She is determined to build up resilience through community programmes and public outreach initiatives, including the ‘Stay Prepared’ Storybooks initiative.
Why do it:
Q: What made you choose a career path in philanthropy?
When I was about to graduate from university and was on a job search, I wanted a career where I could contribute to the society while earning a living. To me, life is not just about chasing after monetary gains but being able to contribute and make a difference to others. I am very fortunate to be able to continue giving back to the community through my work.
Q: What’s the biggest obstacle you face?
The biggest obstacle is time. Often, problems are deep seated and cannot be resolved immediately. It will require a lot of advice and opinions from subject matter experts, coordination and collaboration of various parties. I’ve learnt to celebrate short-term successes that help me to continue to reach our long-term goals of filling the gap and helping the community.
Q: What are some gaps that you are trying to plug?
People are not as prepared for emergencies because Singapore is known to be such a safe country. We are continuously rolling out programmes to educate the public and businesses on emergency preparedness so that everyone can be resilient in times of crisis.
Chloe (standing, sixth from the left) with students and teachers from Crest Secondary School. The school's Art Club collaborated with Temasek Foundation to design the 'Stay Prepared' coasters. Photo: Temasek Foundation
Who:
Jeffrey Tong, Associate Manager (Programmes and Partnerships)
What he does:
Jeffrey strongly believes that innovative solutions are key to the planet’s sustainability and even survival. To transform how people live in the future, collaboration with stakeholders is crucial. He helps to drive impactful innovations through programmes such as ‘The Liveability Challenge’, a global call for solutions to address sustainability challenges. Previous winners of the challenge include Sophie’s Kitchen, a start-up that produces protein from microalgae.
Why do it:
Q: Why did you choose to do philanthropic work?
Putting people at the heart of any work that I do seemed like a natural next step. In a world increasingly impacted by climate change, we would need to ensure that resources are deployed more equitably and responsibly so that both current and future generations can live meaningful and healthy lives. Philanthropy plays a central role in achieving this goal.
Jeffrey with Mr Amit Kumar (left), project partner and founder of Biopsin Pte Ltd, whose team is developing a prototype of a rapid microbial detection device for food samples to ensure food safety. Photo: Temasek Foundation
Q: What keeps you motivated in the face of challenges?
Our work is multifaceted and involves a diverse range of disciplines ranging from energy to food and nutrition. These fields are constantly evolving and we need to keep abreast with the latest developments in science and technology. I am excited to meet passionate innovators, read widely on a range of emerging topics, and dive deep into technological innovations that may potentially transform the way we live in the future.
Q: What are your wishes for 2020?
I hope more individuals will be aware of and consider a career in philanthropy or the social impact space in 2020 and the next decade. Philanthropy is also increasingly collaborative, and I hope more organisations would join us in the effort to champion sustainability and improve liveability.
