Council Members
The President’s Challenge Council provides strategic direction and guidance
on President’s Challenge’s initiatives. It also mobilises the community
and stakeholders in support of the President’s Challenge’s ethos and objectives.
The Council comprises leaders from various fields, ranging from the arts, sports and social sectors, to businesses and philanthropies
Co-Chairs
Aubeck Kam
Permanent Secretary, MSF
Mr Aubeck Kam is currently serving as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Social and Family Development and for Home Affairs Development, as well as Chairman of HTX. With a career spanning over three decades, Kam has held leadership positions across various government agencies, including the Singapore Police Force, Ministry of Manpower, then-Media Development Authority, and then-Ministry of Communications and Information. His educational background includes a law degree from King's College London and a Master in Public Management from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. Kam's diverse experience reflects his adaptability and expertise in managing multiple aspects of Singapore's public service.
Teoh Zsin Woon
Permanent Secretary, MCCY
Ms Teoh Zsin Woon is the current Permanent Secretary in Singapore's Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth. She previously held similar roles in the Public Service Division and Ministry of National Development, where she focused on public sector transformation, workforce development, and housing issues. With a diverse career spanning multiple government ministries and agencies, Ms Teoh has accumulated extensive experience in various aspects of Singapore's public service, contributing to policy development and implementation across different sectors.
Lily Kong
President, Singapore Management University
Professor Lily Kong is the current President of Singapore Management University,
making history as the first Singaporean and first woman to hold this position
in any Singaporean university. An internationally acclaimed researcher
in geography and urban studies, she has received numerous prestigious awards
for her work on Asian cities, social and cultural change, and religious
relations. Professor Kong's expertise spans various topics including urban
transformation, cultural policy, creative economies, and social cohesion.
Her influential research and leadership have established her as a prominent
figure in academia, with global recognition placing her among the top 1%
of scientists in her field.
Members
Boo Junfeng
Filmmaker and Chairperson, Singapore International Film Festival
Mr Boo Junfeng is an acclaimed Singaporean filmmaker whose works have
been showcased at the Cannes Film Festival. He has received national recognition
through the Young Artist Award and Singapore Youth Award. Boo has served
as Creative Director for Singapore's National Day Parade and currently
chairs the Singapore International Film Festival board, while also contributing
to national film and memorial committees.
Danny Yong
Founder and Chairman, The Majurity Trust; Co-Chief Executive Officer and Co-Chief Investment Officer, Dymon Asia Capital.
Mr Danny Yong is committed to philanthropy, having established The Majurity Trust, Ray of Hope charity, and the Yong Hon Kong Foundation to support various charitable causes. He is also the Co-CEO and Co-CIO of Dymon Asia Capital, which he founded in 2008. His extensive career in finance includes leadership roles at Abax Global Capital, Citadel Investment Asia, and Goldman Sachs, specialising in Asian markets and derivatives trading.
Dilhan Pillay Sandrasegara
Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Temasek Holdings (Private) Limited, Temasek International Pte. Ltd.
Mr Dilhan Pillay is the CEO of both Temasek Holdings and Temasek International, having joined the organisation in 2010. He has held various leadership roles within Temasek and now serves on numerous high-profile advisory boards and councils. These include positions with FCLTGLOBAL, the Peterson Institute for International Economics, the Monetary Authority of Singapore, and the World Bank Group Private Sector Investment Lab. Pillay holds law degrees from the National University of Singapore and the University of Cambridge.
Janet Ang
Chairman, SBF Foundation
Ms Janet Ang serves as the Chairman of Singapore Business Federation Foundation, the Public Transport Council, the National University of Singapore - Institute of Systems Science (NUS-ISS) and the Singapore Polytechnic Board of Governors. Janet is also Singapore’s Non-Resident Ambassador to the Holy See and a former Nominated Member of the Parliament of Singapore from Feb 2021 to Jul 2023.
Lee Seng Meng
Executive Director, SHINE Children and Youth Services
Mr Seng Meng, Executive Director of SHINE Children and Youth Services, is a registered social worker specialising in youth work. He has received numerous accolades, including the Outstanding Social Worker Award from the President of Singapore in 2019, and has been a Social Service Fellow since 2016. Seng Meng holds degrees in Social Work and Business Administration. He actively contributes to national committees advancing social work practices and serves as a grassroots leader.
Leow Kah Shin
Adviser, Quantedge Foundation; Managing Director, Quantedge Capital
Mr Kah Shin an adviser to Quantedge Foundation, a philanthropic organisation that seeks to understand the root causes and underlying issues behind social and environmental challenges, and partner like-minded organisations to pilot innovative and scalable solutions in Singapore and beyond. He is also a managing director at Quantedge Capital, an award-winning multi-billion-dollar quantitative hedge fund proudly headquartered in Singapore. Kah Shin has a bachelor's degree from UC Berkeley, as well as a master's degree and a doctorate from the University of Cambridge.
Lien Choong Luen
President, Singapore Athletics; Singapore General Manager, Gojek
Mr Lien is President of Singapore Athletics. He is also Singapore General Manager for Gojek and leads international partnerships. His diverse career spans roles at McKinsey, the Singapore Army Special Forces, and UN peacekeeping. An accomplished adventurer, he has summited Everest and K2. Lien also serves on several boards. He holds degrees from UC Berkeley, Cambridge, and London Business School.
Suriani Suratman
Ceramic Artist; Senior Lecturer, Department of Malay Studies, National University of Singapore
Dr. Suratman is a respected ceramic artist, with works featured in numerous exhibitions and the National Gallery collection. Her multifaceted career spans academia, public service, and the arts, contributing significantly to Singapore's cultural landscape. Dr. Suriani Suratman is also a Senior Lecturer in Malay Studies at the National University of Singapore, specialising in Malay culture, society, and family dynamics. Her recent research explores female experiences in the Malay world and urban histories of colonial Singapore. Beyond academia, she serves on several boards and was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 2020.
Veera Sekaran
Founder and Managing Director, Greenology;Professor in Practice, Office of President, NUS/NUS Cities/ Engineering Design and Innovation Centre/Advisor, NUS Enterprise and Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore
Professor Veera Sekaran is the Founder and Managing Director of Geenology,
a nature-based solutions company that provide engineering and plant-based
solutions for indoor and outdoor sustainable urban greening. Professor
Veera also holds multiple roles at the National University of Singapore,
focusing on Nature-Based Solutions for urban and natural ecologies. He
specialises in Regenerative smart urban greening and Regenerative Agritech
systems, lecturing on topics such as Adaptive Engineering Design, IoT,
and Smart AI systems. He has published papers in these areas.
His work in establishing businesses and contributing to social causes
has earned him recognition, including a finalist for the Straits Times
Singaporean of the year in 2019 and receiving the NUS Outstanding Science
Alumni Award. He serves on various boards and advisory roles related to
environmental and wildlife projects.
Wang Chenwei
Composer-in-Residence of Singapore Chinese Orchestra
Wang Chenwei is a distinguished Singaporean composer and educator, serving as Composer-in-Residence for the Singapore Chinese Orchestra and teaching at prominent institutions. He graduated with honours from the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna and has composed for orchestras across Asia. His works have been performed internationally and featured in Singapore's school textbooks. Chenwei's contributions to music have been recognised with several prestigious awards, including the national Young Artist Award. He is also known for his expertise in Chinese orchestral music, co-authoring The TENG Guide to the Chinese Orchestra.
Yip Pin Xiu
7-time Paralympic Gold Medalist
Ms Yip Pin Xiu is one of Singapore’s most decorated Paralympians who blazed a trail for Para sport in Singapore when she took home the country’s first Paralympic gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games. She is now a five-time Paralympic champion and holds the world records for the 50m Backstroke S2 and the 100m Backstroke S2 events. In recognition of her achievements, Pin Xiu was conferred the Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Meritorious Service Medal) in 2016. She has been named Sportswoman of the Year at the
Singapore Disability Sports Awards three times - in 2019, 2021, and 2022.
Zuraidah Abdullah
CEO, Yayasan MENDAKI
Mdm Zuraidah Abdullah is the CEO of Yayasan MENDAKI, a non-profit organisation
uplifting Singapore's Malay/Muslim community through education. She brings
extensive experience from a 34-year career in the Singapore Police Force,
where she held several senior positions including Senior Assistant Commissioner.
This is her second term as MENDAKI's CEO, having previously served in this
role from 2007 to 2009 while on secondment from the police force.
Exco
Tan Li San
Chief Executive Officer, NCSS
Ms Tan Li San, the current CEO of National Council of Social Service (NCSS),
brings a wealth of experience from her diverse career across multiple government
agencies in Singapore. Her commitment to social services is evident through
her past and present board memberships in various charitable organisations.
With a strong educational background in engineering and management, Ms
Tan's expertise and dedication were acknowledged with the Public Administration
Medal (Silver) in 2020. Her leadership at NCSS combines her extensive public
sector experience with a passion for social service.
Julius Lim
Principal Private Secretary to the President
Mr Julius Lim is the Principal Private Secretary to the President of the
Republic of Singapore. He was previously Special Assistant to Senior Minister
Tharman Shanmugaratnam. He is also a Singaporean police officer holding
the rank of Senior Assistant Commissioner (“SAC”). Besides these appointments,
he is the Vice-Chairman of the Board of the Singapore Police Cooperative
Society Ltd. SAC Lim was awarded the Singapore Police Force Overseas Scholarship
in 2004. He graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2007 with first-class
honours in Natural Sciences (Pathology). He also attained a Master’s degree
in philosophy (Criminology) from the University of Cambridge in 2008. In
2017, SAC Lim was awarded the Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship and the Singapore
Police Force Post-Graduate Scholarship. He pursued a Master in Public Administration
at the Harvard Kennedy School as an Edward S. Mason Fellow.