Meet Our Speakers

Guest of Honour - Eric Chua Senior Parliamentary Secretary, MCCY & MSF

Mr Eric Chua is Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Social and Family Development, as well as Culture, Community and Youth. Mr Chua was previously a lifesaver in the Singapore Civil Defence Force for 17 years before being elected to Parliament in July 2020. Before joining politics, Mr Chua spent a good part of his time volunteering in the community. Over the span of his professional and volunteering journey, he discovered his passion for working with and empowering people. Having come from a humble family background, Mr Chua advocates strongly for social mobility and is a strong believer of the power of mentoring.

Most recently, Mr Chua was the co-chair of the 27-member Enabling Masterplan 2030 Steering Committee, that sets out the vision for Singapore as an inclusive society in 2030. He was also the Head of an inter-agency delegation for Singapore’s first Constructive Dialogue with the United Nations committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, where Singapore shared the progress we have made, and our continued commitment in our journey towards an inclusive society.

Mr Eric Chua is married with a son.

Julie Tan Actress

Julie Tan began her acting career at the age of 16, starring as the female lead in productions such as That Girl in Pinafore and Goodbye Goodboy. She is a strong advocate for mental health and sustainability and currently serves as an ambassador for Hair for Hope.

D N Prasad President, Singapore Human Resources Institute (SHRI)

D N Prasad is an Executive Coach (PCC, International Coach Federation) and a transformational HR Leader with expertise in leading scaled transformation, building and scaling organisations & functions (in-country, region and global) and shaping & nurturing cultures and careers. Prasad was conferred as a Master Professional by the Institute of Human Resource Professionals (IHRP).

DNP, as he is known in professional circles, has held several Executive roles through his career; among them are his roles as Senior Director for People and Organization with Government Technology Agency (GovTech), Singapore, Public Service Coach with the Public Service Division, Founder and Chief Executive Coach at Noetic step, an Executive Coaching and Talent Advisory practice, Director and Head of Google People Services for APAC as also a Leadership Coach, at Google and Head of Global Entry Level Hiring, Campus Relations and HR Services at Infosys.

He is the President of Singapore Human Resources Institute (SHRI) and a member of The Professional Practices Committee for IHRP, Singapore. He is also an invited member of the Forbes Coaches Council.

Yvonne Tan Chief People Officer, Southeast Asia, dentsu

Yvonne Tan is the Chief People Officer of dentsu Southeast Asia. With over 20 years of HR experience across banking, mining, professional services and advertising, Yvonne’s HR expertise includes Corporate Executive Recruiting, Leadership and Cultural Transformation.

A certified Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR) by HR Certification Institute (HRCI), Yvonne is a strategic thinker and planner who enjoys leading teams to operate outside standard HR and Talent Acquisition regimes, delivering effective talent solutions and moving the dial on gender diversity and inclusion in leadership teams.

Moderator - Anthea Indira Ong Chair of the Board of Directors and Founder, WorkWell Leaders

A Nominated Member of Parliament in Singapore from 2018-2020, Anthea is an experienced board member and board chair backed by a proven track record as a C-level executive of 30 years. A sought-after advocate and speaker on human-centred leadership, mental health and social entrepreneurship, she has also published numerous commentaries in The Straits Times, CNA, Today and Mothership. Her wood-cover memoir, 50 Shades of Love, was shortlisted for the Best Illustrated Non-Fiction Title in the 2019 Singapore Book Awards. A podcast series, Shades of Love, followed in 2021. Her latest book The NMP Scheme: Are Unelected Voices Still Necessary in Parliament?, foreworded by then Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, was launched on 9 Sep 2022 in Parliament by former Prime Minister, ESM Goh Chok Tong. Anthea is also a member of the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights and has spoken to global audiences on mental health and wellbeing.

Often described as a ‘maven of influence’, ‘trailblazer’ in social impact and ‘thought leader’ in diversity & inclusion, Anthea prefers to describe herself as a ‘full time human being and part time everything else’ since her personal brush with depression in 2007. A creative and dynamic leader, she divides her time, energy and love across many different communities and has founded several impact initiatives in her focus areas of mental health, marginalised communities and environmentalism, including Hush TeaBar, WorkWell Leaders, SG Mental Health Matters, A Good Space Co-operative and Welcome In My Backyard. Her varied experience, including as an ICF Certified Professional Coach, provides valuable perspectives to boards and executive teams.

Jeffery Tan CEO, Jardines MINDSET

Mr Jeffery Tan is the Group General Counsel, Chief Sustainability Officer and Director for Legal & Corporate Affairs for Jardine Cycle & Carriage.

He is responsible for legal, compliance, company secretarial, sustainability matters, communications and public affairs at the Group level. He is also the Chief Executive Officer for Jardines MINDSET, a registered charity focused on mental health and wellness.

Mr Tan also serves as a board member of the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce. Before joining Jardine Cycle & Carriage, he was the Group General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Board Secretary for UTAC Holdings. He has extensive experience in private practice and in-house legal experience with companies such as Allen & Gledhill, DLA Piper, Siemens and Motorola.

Grace Fong Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), Lockton

As Regional Chief Commercial Officer, Grace is responsible for furthering Lockton’s employee benefits broking and consulting capabilities through strategic partnerships, technology and ecosystem development. As a leader for vendor management, she enables Lockton teams to access a wider solution suite when engineering client solutions.

She helped clients create strategies for cost containment, design plans for financial sustainability, and deliver benefits for better employee experience and engagement. Grace has over 13 years of employee benefits experience working with multinational clients to develop local and regional benefit programs involving flex, health and wellness, and third-party administration.

Tay Choon Hong CEO, Health Promotion Board (HPB)

Mr Tay Choon Hong is the Chief Executive of the Health Promotion Board (HPB), which is part of the Ministry of Health in Singapore. HPB’s role is to empower individuals to take ownership of their health, towards its vision of a nation of healthy people. To achieve this, HPB works with a wide spectrum of 3P partners and stakeholders to build a supportive ecosystem that enables Singaporeans to engage in healthy lifestyle activities, and lead healthier lives.

Mr Tay previously served in the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth; the Public Service Division and the National Population and Talent Division under the Prime Minister’s Office; the Ministry of Manpower; and the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Dr Peter Chow CEO, IHH Healthcare Singapore

Dr Peter Chow is currently CEO of IHH Healthcare Singapore and oversees the different businesses and facilities under the Mount Elizabeth, Gleneagles and Parkway brands. Prior to this he helmed Mt Elizabeth Novena Hospital, first as COO and as CEO between 2018 to 2023.

Before joining IHH, Peter worked in the public healthcare sector between 1999 to 2017 and held different roles in Clinical Operations, Quality, Corporate Development, Manpower, Training & Development, Corporate Communications, with his last position as COO of National Healthcare Group Polyclinics.

Peter graduated as a dental surgeon with the National University of Singapore. He has a Master of Science in Health Management from the University of Sydney and was awarded MOH’s Healthcare Manpower Development Programme award to Harvard Business School’s executive program in healthcare delivery. He also has a keen interest in community and social issues and has completed the Social Leadership Singapore program by the National Volunteer & Philanthropic Centre.

Toyin Ope Head of Diversity, Inclusion, and Wellbeing, Visa

Toyin is Visa Asia Pacific’s Head of Inclusion and Diversity. She is responsible for implementing Visa’s Strategic vision for Inclusion and Diversity across 18 countries.

Over the course of her 15 year career, Toyin has worked in Inclusion and Diversity, Social Impact, Strategy and Finance in five different continents.

Toyin graduated from Harvard Graduate School of Education, holds an MBA from Queens University and holds a double degree in Accounting and International business from the University of Manitoba.

Toyin is a product of great mentors and also a mentor herself of secondary school and university students. She is also a mother to two children and she enjoys painting and traveling.

Aslam Sardar CEO, Institute for Human Resource Professionals (IHRP)

Mr. Aslam Sardar is the Chief Executive Officer at Institute for Human Resource Professionals. He has over 20 years of corporate, start-up and NGO experience, leading and managing teams to drive change and transformation. He has worked in various roles such as business development, process improvement, and commercial performance monitoring and reporting in the IT, supply chain and adult education sectors.

Aslam co-chairs a sub-group of the Tripartite Workgroup on Tripartite Guidelines for Flexible Work Arrangements. He is a member of the Human Capital Action Committee (HCAC) in Singapore Business Federation (SBF). Additionally, Aslam is also a member of the Management & Organization Department (MNO) Advisory Panel for NUS Business School. He sits on the Board of Tasek Academy and Social Services and is an active community volunteer.

Aslam was presented the Public Service Medal during National Day in 2016.

Heena Bose CEO, Pacific Prime

With over two decades in operations across HR outsourcing and shared services, Heena excels in areas like customer service, accounts payable, retirement, transitions, and flex and broking in Employee Benefits and Insurance. She provides strategic, financial, and operational leadership while collaborating closely with senior leadership.

Heena significantly aided multinationals in operational performance and client deliverables. Her strengths lie in process development, streamlining, and client-centric services. She holds a Six Sigma Green Belt and enhanced efficiencies via automation, resource management, and process simplification in Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong.

Meenakshree Nanda Senior Manager - HRBP and Organisation Capability, DP World

Meenakshree Nanda is a dynamic Senior HR Professional, currently serving as the Senior Manager of HRBP and Organisation Capability at DP World. With a strong passion for aligning people and business, she has successfully led key HR transformation and organisation development projects across diverse geographies.

Specialising in Inclusion, Diversity, Wellness, and Engagement for the Asia Pacific region, Meenakshree is a certified DEIB Specialist, HR Business Partner, and Emotional Intelligence Practitioner. Recognised as a LinkedIn Top Voice, she also brings expertise as an Instructional Designer, Design Thinking advocate, and HR Analytics Professional.

Rajashree C. Mogan APAC Publishing HR Business Partner, Riot Games 

With over 15 years of experience across the Banking, FinTech, and High Tech industries, spanning both multinational corporations and start-ups, Rajashree (Shree) has specialised in Human Development, focusing on areas such as HR Business Partnering, Talent Acquisition, Learning & Development, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and IT. Currently, she serves as the APAC Publishing HR Business Partner for Riot Games.

Shree holds an undergraduate degree in Accounting & Finance, completed in 2005. In 2019, she earned her Masters in Tri-Sector Collaboration from Singapore Management University, followed by a Graduate Diploma in Organizational Psychology. She is now pursuing a second master’s degree in Business Psychology.

Eiji Fujioka(藤岡英二) Health Tech Project Leader, AISIN

Mr. Eiji Fujioka is part of the Product Development Center R & D Division at AISIN Corporation, where he leads the HealthTech Project aimed at solving challenges in the healthcare field. He is particularly focused on developing technology that uses skin gas to detect accumulated stress levels, and he has presented his research findings at numerous conferences. Mr. Fujioka’s work contributes not only to the prevention and early detection of mental health disorders but also to extending healthy life expectancy and creating a well-being-oriented society. He is pioneering new possibilities to address social challenges through his innovative efforts.

藤岡英二氏は、株式会社アイシンの製品開発センター技術開発本部先進開発部に所属し、ヘルステックプロジェクトリーダーとしてヘルスケア領域の課題解決を目指しています。特に、皮膚ガスを利用して蓄積ストレス状態を把握する技術の開発に取り組んでおり、数多くの学会でその研究成果を発表しています。藤岡氏は、メンタル疾患の予防や早期発見に寄与するだけでなく、健康寿命の延伸やウェルビーイングな社会の実現を目指しており、社会課題の解決に貢献するための新しい可能性を切り拓いています。

Dr Vanessa San Wellbeing Leader, Mercer Singapore

Dr. Vanessa San is the Wellbeing Leader in Mercer Marsh Benefits Singapore. She brings over 20 years of experience in the fields of mental health and human resource consulting, across corporate, educational and clinical settings.

With wellbeing and mental health featuring as top workplace concerns, Dr San applies her expertise and passion in partnering with clients to tackle these pressing needs. She works with clients in designing strategies, creating ecosystems, and delivering effective programs for lasting impact, while promoting greater awareness of the wellbeing imperative to workplace health and safety, and talent attraction, engagement and retention.

Yvonne Lu AVP, Client Relations, iXchange

Yvonne leads the Client Relations team in iXchange – Third Party Administrator (TPA). Navigating the complex ecosystem of employee benefits, iXchange collaborates with broker, insurer and healthcare partners to drive cost containment & better medical outcome. In her current role, Yvonne works with corporate clients to provide a holistic suite of TPA & medical services for their Employee Benefits (EB) program. Through data analytics, she shares data driven insights into clients’ EB program to help stretch their healthcare budget and build a healthier workforce.

Chen Jun (C.J.) (Luo Junjia) Senior Manager and SDG 5 Ambassador, Public Sector and British Council

Luo Chen Jun is a passionate community leader recognised as a finalist for the Singapore Silent Heroes Award in the Inspiring Youth category. He founded Uplift, a ground-up initiative dedicated to empowering vulnerable children and families.

Inducted as a Kindred Spirit by the Singapore Kindness Movement, Chen Jun is a prominent advocate for mental health. He led the first collaboration between the Singapore Leaders Network and SG Mental Wellbeing Network, focusing on promoting workplace wellness and addressing the impact of toxic relationships. His work reflects his deep commitment to fostering a healthier, more supportive community.

Alyssa Than Associate Director, (Wellbeing), Health Solutions APAC, Aon

Alyssa has 10 years of experience in health and wellbeing, where she has utilised her specialities in behavioural health and neuropsychiatry to develop numerous wellbeing and clinical programs for public health institutions and corporates. She is also well versed in collaborating with industry leading vendors to deliver targeted and evidence-based holistic wellbeing support and medical benefits across organisations.

Before returning to Singapore, Alyssa completed her MSc in Clinical Neuropsychiatry at King’s College London, UK, and clinical training in the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust, specialising in post-traumatic epilepsy and traumatic brain injury. She then worked on the front-line in psychiatric departments at various government hospitals and designed Singapore’s first neuropsychiatric clinical program for stroke patients. After COVID, Alyssa pivoted her career into corporate wellbeing and led organizational wellbeing at Singtel before joining Aon’s regional team. She continues to champion mental health at work, home and in the community, contributing thought leadership to various conferences about building wellbeing frameworks and practicing psychological safety.

Chiam Sheng Shi Partnerships Lead, Endowus

Sheng Shi is a personal finance enthusiast who believes that anyone should be able to manage their savings with confidence. He was in charge of Endowus financial blog and YouTube channel previously. Currently, he manages all grassroots and policy engagements.

He is a CFA Charterholder and previously covered China Private Equity Funds in CapitaLand.

JJ (Poh Jing Jiang) Physical Fitness Trainer, Intellect

With more than a decade of coaching experience in the private and government sector, JJ has guided a diverse group of clients towards their fitness goals. His passion lies in keeping fitness concepts simple and coaching clients through an enjoyable and relatable approach.

Ruby Otero Founder & Registered Psychologist, First in Mind

Ruby is a registered psychologist with expertise and experience in applying her knowledge in a range of industries across government and corporate sectors including aviation, consulting, finance, defence education and health. Ruby has worked for organisations including Qantas, Superfriend, Australian Army, Department of Defence, Prime Practice and CRS Australia, in addition to establishing her own psychology and corporate services consultancy.

Ruby has a unique blend of experience in a range of specialist and leadership roles including Psychologist, Executive Officer, Operations Manager, Learning & Development Manager, WHS Project Lead, Human Factors Principal Advisor, Organisational Systems Analyst, Army Officer (various roles), Coach & Facilitator, Rehabilitation Consultant. Ruby’s most notable achievements and career highlights include her recognition on the 2013 Australia Day Honours List being awarded the Australian Conspicuous Service Medal for commitment and devotion to duty in soldier rehabilitation, welfare and wellbeing.

Ruby is committed to upholding high professional and ethical standards of practice drawing on evidence-based interventions when supporting individuals, groups or organisations realise their potential. Ruby is particularly engergised designing and facilitating experiences that promote learning and sustained change that has positive impacts on both professional and personal areas of life. 

Simon Matthews Consultant Psychologist & Certified Coach, Simon Matthews Consulting

Simon is a psychologist and leadership coach, with a particular interest in supporting leaders in healthcare. He is a Fellow of both the American College and Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine. Simon is Board Certified in Health Coaching and Lifestyle Medicine and is a Professional Certified Coach with ICF. He is Lead Coach and faculty with Wellcoaches School of Coaching (US, Australia, Singapore) and is an Adjunct Lecturer at Avondale University Lifestyle Medicine & Health Research Centre.

Dr Minh Vo Head of Leadership Organisation Development, Bosch

Dr. Minh Vo obtained his PhD in Organisation Behavior at INSEAD business school and is now head of organisation development and leader HRBP in Bosch’s location of 4000+ engineers, where he coaches teams and department leaders on organization development. Prior, he was a consultant and startup manager in New York and Mumbai; also taught at Fulbright YSEALI’s 2024 seminar on well-being and organization conflict

Theodoric Chew CEO and Co-founder, Intellect

Theodoric Chew is the Co-founder and CEO of Intellect, a Singapore-headquartered integrated mental healthcare company offering culturally-centred, end-to-end care solutions. Intellect’s services span across the spectrum of mental health needs, ranging from comprehensive, clinically-backed digital support through the Intellect platform, to in-person and high-acuity care through Intellect’s owned chain of mental health clinics.

Stemming from his personal mission of making mental healthcare accessible to all, Intellect has not only grown to become Asia Pacific’s largest mental healthcare provider, but also a global trailblazer in providing hyperlocal mental healthcare services, serving over 3.5 million members with 7 offices around the world. The company is backed by world-leading investors including Tiger Global, Y Combinator, Insignia Ventures, HOF Capital, IHH Healthcare Group, and an extensive list of notable funds, family offices, and founders. Theodoric was also named on the Forbes 30 under 30 list in 2022.

Dr Oliver Suendermann VP, Clinical, Intellect

Dr Oliver Suendermann is VP, Clinical at Intellect. His main responsibility is overseeing Intellect’s clinical governance, the quality of clinical services, research studies, as well as clinical product innovations and development.

Oliver is a UK-trained Clinical Psychologist, Cognitive Behavioural Therapist, educator, supervisor and researcher. Prior to joining Intellect, he was the Deputy Director of the Masters in Clinical Psychology Program at the National University of Singapore (NUS), where he was also a member of the 2020 Mental Health and Wellbeing Taskforce to improve staff wellbeing. Oliver is passionate about normalising conversations about mental health and breaking down mental health stigma.

Oliver holds a Ph.D. and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from King’s College London.

Moderator - Cassandra Loh VP, Partnerships & Solutions

Cassandra Loh is the VP of Partnerships and Solutions at Intellect. She leads a dynamic team focused on cultivating partnerships in the ecosystem, as well as responding to the demands through consultative and solution approaches. Beyond that, she future-proofs the business by developing new and scalable initiatives.

With more than a decade of experience in the health and wellness sector, Cassandra believes that the journey towards holistic mental wellbeing support involves collaboration across different sectors.

As a mother of two young children, Cassandra also has a keen interest in wellbeing topics pertaining to mums, younger children and youths. She believes that by crafting unique solutions that push the envelope of possibility, end users are better equipped to navigate life’s challenges with confidence.

Moderator - Frank Ng VP, Growth, Intellect

Frank is a growth practitioner, instructor, consultant, and speaker. He leads the Commercial Growth function at Intellect, building the business to be the most trusted voice in the mental health industry across Asia Pacific. Prior to Intellect, he has worked in a range of regional and global roles across Reckitt, Uber, and the Singapore government.

He is passionate about making mental health in Singapore and beyond accessible, relatable, and stigma-free.

Moderator - Lara Pham Vietnam Country Lead, Intellect

Phuong Pham is the Vietnam Country Lead at Intellect, specialising in mental health technology. With 8 years of advocacy experience, she has built a community of 5,000 members promoting mental health awareness. Phuong’s background includes spearheading digital HR transformations at Unilever and working with innovation-led enterprises like FPT and One Mount Group. Her diverse experience merges technology and human resources, driving positive change in both corporate and mental health sectors. Phuong is passionate about making mental health care accessible and has dedicated her career to creating innovative solutions for wellbeing.

Kai Client Solutions & Consulting Specialist, Intellect

As a Client Solutions & Consulting Specialist at Intellect, Kai develops and delivers learning interventions designed to boost workplace wellbeing and productivity.

He is a dynamic and compassionate speaker at the intersection of mental health and learning & development. With a background in psychology and professional development, Kai brings a unique perspective to the crucial conversation surrounding mental well-being in various aspects of life.

He is dedicated to breaking down the stigma surrounding mental health and believes that fostering a culture of understanding and support is vital for personal and professional growth.

Moderator - Izzatie Client Success Manager, Intellect

Izzatie Seraj Ahmad, a Master of Organisational and Industrial Psychology graduate, is a Client Success Manager at Intellect, on a mission to tackle the intricate relationship between occupational stress and psychological wellbeing.

With extensive experience, including a background in tech consulting, she develops innovative strategies to enhance organisational wellness and support.

As a Client Success Manager at Intellect, Izzy aims to leverage technology’s power to create a nurturing mental health culture across APAC and beyond.

Linda Rinn Clinical Psychologist, Clinical Excellence & Training Lead, Intellect

Linda is a Clinical Psychologist who has received training and experience across the globe, including the Netherlands, Singapore, and Malaysia. She has extensive clinical experience treating clients through Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and the Gottman Method Couples Therapy.

Aside from her clinical practice, Linda is experienced in life coaching and conducting corporate trainings, talks, and workshops, including group psychoeducational resilience training, group therapy and team building exercises. Over the years, she has built a wide array of experience in clinical, organisational, sport and positive psychology – both in Europe and Asia.

Ivan Foo Coaching Specialist in Clinical Engagement, Intellect

Ivan is an ICF Professional Certified Coach (ICF-PCC) with over 8 years and 2500 hours of coaching experience. He has worked with professionals, managers, and leaders as an executive coach and trainer in the workplace. Ivan is also a co-founder of an ICF-accredited coach training institute. Partnering with tech and consultancy enterprises, he has trained more than 250 professionals in using coaching skills to become effective people managers in their teams.

Moderator - Alicia Yoon Client Solutions & Consulting Lead, Intellect

With a Master’s in Organisational Psychology, Alicia heads up the Client Solutions & Consulting team at Intellect in assessing, developing, and implementing solutions that empower organisations to elevate employee wellbeing, workforce resilience, and organisational productivity. These solutions encompass L&D and wellbeing programs and training to equip leaders with essential wellbeing skills, Mental Health  First Aid (MHFA) training, and organisational wellbeing & OD consulting.

Alicia’s experience spans a diverse clientele across diverse industries and markets across Asia and globally, where she interweaves principles of Organisational Development, Psychology, change management, and cultural transformation in her work with organisations.  Alicia is committed to creating environments where individuals and organisations thrive together, fostering a culture of wellbeing and resilience.

More speakers to be announced!

Mental Health Festival 2024

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