CHIEF AWESOMENESS OFFICER | ARTABLY

Amin is an ‘accidental’ artist, illustrator, social entrepreneur and founder of Artably.

Over the last decade, he has explored, experimented and pushed the boundaries of how art can be used as a creative medium for accessibility and inclusion.

At the heart of his passion is a commitment to inspire others to build confidence in their own creative potential and discover possibilities in the most unlikely spaces, and with the most unexpected tools.

This session is an opportunity for Amin to reflect on his journey shaped by others (not alone) of how he came to embrace identity, found the courage to build a community of practice, discovered the power of storytelling to connect with other purpose-driven practitioners, uncovering new possibilities for learning and growth.

“We need third spaces that prepare us to go a little beyond our length, breadth, and depth.”

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Parallel Breakout B
The Absurd Art of Social Entrepreneurship: How Do We Sustain the Epic Adventure?

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EMBODIED PARENTING COACH

Ava's personal journey into parenthood sparked a transition from a career in Leadership and Talent Development into founding her own parent coaching practice.

She supports parents in shifting through the noise and show up with more ease and confidence in life and parenting. Her work draws on training in Circle of Security Parenting, trauma-informed coaching, somatics & attachment. She recognizes that parenting doesn't happen in isolation—our own stories shape us, and we shape the world our children inherit.

She believes that the way parents show up for children begins with understanding where our own instincts come from—and the courage to choose presence and intention even during tough times.

“We need third spaces to better understand ourselves - so we can show up with intention at home, at work, and in communities & systems we are part of.”

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Parallel Breakout B
Instinct or Intention: What Shapes the Way We Care for Children?

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FOUNDER | MYLES & MORE

From film production to creative visual teaching and education, Brandon Myles is all about making messages hit home. With over 25 years in the game, he’s worked with big names like Microsoft, UMW Toyota, Lexus, Standard Chartered, DBS, and OCBC. Brandon’s specialty? Crafting content that doesn’t just connect – it educates and makes a real impact.

“We need third spaces for inspiring each other to go on small adventures every day.”

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Parallel Breakout B
The Adventure Mindset: Can Small Everyday Discoveries Add Up to a Bigger Life?

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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | PLAYEUM

Charlotte Goh is the Executive Director of Playeum, a charity dedicated to using play and the arts to create equitable opportunities for learning, voice, and agency for every child in Singapore.

Under her leadership, Playeum works with partners across sectors to build community- working directly with children and sharing family-centric programmes, teacher training, research, and advocacy that bring children’s voices into matters that concern them.

Her work is grounded in the belief that children are curious, creative, and competent individuals with the right to be heard, to participate, and to shape the environments around them.

Charlotte believes in authenticity and the power of connection, values she brings into her leadership and engagement with both children and adults who care for them.

“We need third spaces for connection.”

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Instinct or Intention: What Shapes the Way We Care for Children?

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POLICY RESEARCHER

On paper, Chloe is a policy researcher who writes on various social issues. In reality, Chloe is what some may describe as a "stubborn generalist", enjoying her non-linear path exploring philosophy, sustainability, youth development, childcare, bioethics and policy.

It isn't a wonder that Chloe is drawn to the dynamic and ever-changing energies that flow through Common Ground!

Chloe is a (relatively) longtime friend of the civic centre, having worked and forged deep bonds with several resident partners and community members. Previously, Chloe had completed internships with Green Nudge and Brave Feats Student Care (she is still Brave Feats' social media manager!).

It is a great honour for Chloe to have the opportunity to reflect alongside great sources of inspiration on their entrepreneurial journeys, while using the opportunity to satisfy personal curiosities as well.

Chloe is fuelled by a foolish and unrelenting hope, believing that communities are bridges towards better collective futures.

“We need third spaces for staying sane in trying times!”

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The Absurd Art of Social Entrepreneurship: How Do We Sustain the Epic Adventure?

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CO-FOUNDER | BRAVE FEATS STUDENT CARE

Chuen-Yin started her career in education as a Mathematics and Music teacher in secondary school. She is an experienced educator who has held positions as Vice-Principal, Principal and Cluster Superintendent. She was most recently Principal of Nanyang Girls’ High School till Dec 2022.

She left the Ministry of Education and co-founded Brave Feats Student Care to pursue her ideals of education – offering a positive space to empower children. She believes that every child deserves to be joyful and confident.

“We need third spaces for young people to belong, explore who they are, and grow beyond the expectations of home and school.”

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Parallel Breakout A
It Takes a Village: Creating Third Spaces Where Young People Can Belong

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FOUNDER | FOREST SCHOOL SINGAPORE

Darren is the Founder of Forest School Singapore (FSS) and a trailblazer for the Forest School movement in Singapore. He started the first Forest School in Singapore in 2016, after learning from and understudying his Japanese Forest Kindergarten mentor. He also went to UK, Manchester to learn and accreditate himself with the Forest School Practitioner Level 3 certification.

Darren is recognised across the world, as a master Forest School Practitioner and Trainer. He was the keynote speaker for the Italian National Forest Pedagogy Conference in 2023. He also presented at the Lego Foundation's Playful School Conference in Denmark 2023.

“We need third spaces for living and being human.”

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Lunchtime Circles
A Forest of Third Spaces in Singapore: Organic or Intentional?

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DIRECTOR | INSCHOOL

Edward has been part of the disability inclusion and inclusive hiring work for 6 years with Inclus since 2018, working with people with disabilities (PWDs) from the age group of 18+ onwards and helping them to achieve gainful employment and independent living. He eventually expanded the work into InSchool in 2024 to help children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) from the age group of 7-12 by curating individualized personal growth plans for each of them.

Today, he is creating much-needed opportunities for both neurotypical and neurodivergent children and adults to be aware of the SEN landscape and develop understanding, empathy and kindness among the future generations.

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Parallel Breakout A
Designing for Independence: What Neurodiverse Children & Adults Need to Thrive

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CORE TEAM MEMBER | THRIVING PARENTS GROUP (TPG)

Er Chiang Kai works in the tech industry, enjoys making music and is a volunteer at CaringSG. He is a father to 3 kids, including a 21-year-old boy diagnosed with ASD.

“We need third spaces for different members of the community to come together to understand one another better and to creatively come up with solutions to social challenges.”

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Parallel Breakout A
Designing for Independence: What Neurodiverse Children & Adults Need to Thrive

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FOUNDER | THE BLACK SAMPAN

Firdaus Sani is a fourth-generation Orang Laut/Pulau descendant with ancestral roots in Singapore’s Southern Islands and the Riau Islands.

Deeply connected to Pulau Semakau, where his grandparents lived before their relocation in 1977, Firdaus founded Orang Laut SG in 2020 to preserve and share the community’s histories, knowledge and living traditions.

An arts, culture and indigenous heritage advocate, Firdaus champions greater indigenous representation within Singapore’s cultural, educational and public landscapes. His practice spans storytelling, food, photography, poetry, exhibitions and community-led programmes, including engagements with the Singapore Writers Festival and Esplanade.

Drawing from his professional experience at WWF-Singapore, Firdaus also explores the intersections of indigenous knowledge, culture and environmental sustainability.

He is the founder of The Black Sampan, a social enterprise and creative agency supporting non-profits, cultural organisations and grassroots initiatives. His work has been recognised by Honeycombers’ Local Legends and Prestige’s 40 Under 40.

“We need third spaces for cultures to thrive.”

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Parallel Breakout A
Sustaining Arts Practices: How Are We Still Doing This?

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STORYTELLER & MUSEUM DOCENT

Hafiz Rashid is an experienced museum docent who has been volunteering with the National Heritage Board (NHB) since 2013. He is also a storyteller who has performed at various events and venues such as Storyfest at the Arts House and Singapore Heritagefest.

In 2021, he received the Teman Warisan award in recognition of his dedication and contribution to the Malay arts and heritage sector.

His research interests include learning about the history, culture, folklore and languages of the Malay Archipelago (Nusantara), with a special focus on textiles. Hence, he is often seen wearing these textiles in his tours and storytelling sessions, sharing the stories behind their motifs.

“We need third spaces as avenues for people to meet, connect and interact; a place where stories and knowledge are exchanged and thus allowing communities to form organically.”

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Sustaining Arts Practices: How Are We Still Doing This?

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FOUNDER | GREEN NUDGE

Li Seng is the founder of Green Nudge, where he leads sustainability initiatives focused on shifting everyday behaviours in Singapore’s high-comfort and high-consumption urban environment.

Previously from the public service, his work spans companies, schools, and community groups, using experiential learning and behavioural nudges to make environmental responsibility visible and practical in daily life.

Over the years, he has facilitated numerous engagements that help people confront the tension between convenience and sustainability, shaping habits rather than one-off actions.

A current lecturer and community practitioner, Li Seng bridges theory and practice, drawing on real-world experiences to support emerging leaders in understanding how culture, systems, and human behaviour interact to shape environmental outcomes.

“We need third spaces for attachment.”

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The Absurd Art of Social Entrepreneurship: How Do We Sustain the Epic Adventure?

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FOUNDER & DIRECTOR, STUDIO DOJO

As Founder & Director of Studio Dojo and current President of the Design Business Chamber Singapore (DBCS), Khai Seng has supported behavioural and cultural change in organisations while shaping the growth of Singapore’s design ecosystem.

No single discipline is enough for sustained social change and transformation for a better world. That is why he is interested in the intersection of multiple disciplines like design thinking, futures thinking, leadership development and organisation development.

“We need third spaces for active fallowship.”

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Parallel Breakout A
Active Fallowship: What Does Rest and Renewal Look Like in a World That's Go-Go-Go?

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CULTURAL WORKER

Ilya Katrinnada is a cultural worker, researcher, and writer whose interests lie in the intersections of creativity, community and education.

She believes in the importance of building organic relationships and seeking alignment with her collaborators, and in the process of co-creation.

She has conducted research on arts collectives in Aceh and in 2024, she was part of Air, a verbatim play on the Orang Seletar by Drama Box, as researcher and community coordinator.

She currently works at the Malay Heritage Centre as Manager (Outreach and Education), where she curates educational resources and family-friendly programmes exploring the multiple facets of Malay culture and heritage.

“We need third spaces for us to explore our interests without necessarily having any intended outcomes (i.e. for fun!)”

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Sustaining Arts Practices: How Are We Still Doing This?

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CO-DIRECTOR | CHAPTER ZERO SINGAPORE

Joline Lim is a Co-Director of Chapter Zero and is deeply passionate about cultivating a nurturing village for parents, caregivers, and educators who seek to uplift the next generation in Singapore.

For the past eight years, she has been actively supporting parenting communities and creating resources that foster connection, compassion, and growth.

As a certified Transformational Parenting Coach with the Jai Institute, Joline empowers caregivers through compassionate, sustainable, and trauma-informed approaches that are also neuro-affirming.

She draws from her lived experience raising two children, aged 8 and 11, with neurodivergent needs, and navigating the complexities of a co-parenting family, and brings empathy and real-world insight into her work.

“We need third spaces for the nurturing of safe spaces for all families.”

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Parallel Breakout B
Instinct or Intention: What Shapes the Way We Care for Children?

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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT LEAD | COMMON GROUND

Hui Ying is a Human Connector. She enjoys being in acts of service and connecting with people over walks and tea. With her experiences in the field of hospitality, nature education and community building since 2010, she grew to appreciate and love Singapore.

She is also the Lead of Community Development at Common Ground, a pilot civic centre that aims to grow a collaborative environment for people & organisations to explore possibilities of working on social challenges together.

“We need third spaces for social mixing and interconnections to be realised.”

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Lunchtime Circles
Breathing Space: A Time to Pause & Process

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CO-DIRECTOR | CHAPTER ZERO SINGAPORE

PHUA LI LING is a mother of two girls aged 7 and 12, and Director at Chapter Zero Singapore.

As a former MOE Educator, and home educating parent, Li Ling is passionate about supporting children's development and education respectfully. Certified in Parent Effectiveness Training, Self-Reg™️ and Circle of Security Parenting, Li Ling has supported many parents, educators and social workers in becoming more mindful and compassionate in their interactions with children.

She is also a Nonviolent Communication practitioner and receives great joy in helping homes and classrooms become safe havens where individuals can form authentic relationships with themselves and others.

“We need third spaces for community.”

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Instinct or Intention: What Shapes the Way We Care for Children?

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FOUNDER | CRATER

Louis Puah is the founder of Praxium and Crater, organisations centred on youth, education, and community.

He is passionate about creating a better world by reimagining the mental models that shape how we learn, grow, and find purpose.

At the heart of Louis’ work is a belief that learning should not be confined to classrooms. He is especially interested in the potential of third spaces — informal places between home and school or work — where young people can explore their interests, meet people beyond their usual circles, and develop a sense of agency and belonging.

Through his work, Louis has created programmes and spaces that connect youth with real-world experiences, mentors, communities, and one another.

He is curious about how environments can invite participation, spark conversations, and give young people the freedom to discover who they are, what they care about, and how they might contribute to the world.

“We need third spaces to reflect on life.”

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Parallel Breakout A
It Takes a Village: Creating Third Spaces Where Young People Can Belong

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RETIRED SENIOR SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OFFICER (SENIOR SENO)

Mdm Tutek Amir is a retired Senior Special Educational Needs Officer (Senior SENO) who spent 15 rewarding years supporting students with additional needs (SWANs) in a mainstream primary school, working alongside their parents and teachers.

She believes that every child has strengths and potential, even if these may not always be immediately visible. Over the years, her students, parents and teachers became her teachers too. They taught her to listen and to seek to understand what may be behind the child’s behaviour. They also taught her how much we can learn when we work together.

She is grateful for this opportunity to share a little of what she has learnt and to continue learning from others.

“For me, we need third spaces where we can come as we are — to safely share, listen without judgement, support and learn from one another, and know that we are not alone in our journey.”

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Parallel Breakout A
Designing for Independence: What Neurodiverse Children & Adults Need to Thrive

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TEACHER | AWWA SCHOOL @ BEDOK

Educator supporting students with ASD through transition planning, vocational learning, and meaningful real-world experiences. Passionate about creating inclusive opportunities that help students develop practical skills, participate in the community, and explore pathways beyond school.

“We need third spaces for shared experiences and meaningful connections, where we can build awareness, learn from one another, and grow together. These spaces create opportunities for greater engagement and understanding, allowing us to explore different ways of supporting one another, build collective capacity, and ultimately foster a more inclusive, resilient and connected community.”

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Parallel Breakout A
Designing for Independence: What Neurodiverse Children & Adults Need to Thrive

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FOUNDER | KEBON DAPOR

Raja Mohammad Fairuz is an educator, designer and founder of Kebon Dapor, a community garden exploring the connections between food, heritage, people and place.

His journey into food heritage began through growing edible plants used in Malay cooking, which led him to rediscover traditional ingredients, dishes and food memories from his childhood. With family roots in Java and the Riau Islands, Raja is particularly interested in the foodways of the Malay and wider Nusantara region, and how they continue to evolve through migration, adaptation and exchange.

Through Kebon Dapor, he creates participatory farm-to-table experiences that bring people together to grow, harvest, prepare and share food, while reconnecting with the knowledge and stories behind it.

His work approaches food heritage as a living practice—one that connects generations, strengthens community, and encourages a deeper appreciation of our relationship with food, culture and the environment.

“We need third spaces where we can slow down, reconnect with the land and remember where our food comes from. Spaces where strangers become friends through growing, cooking and eating together; where knowledge and memories are shared across generations; and where heritage remains alive, evolving and rooted in community.”

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Sustaining Arts Practices: How Are We Still Doing This?

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20-year-old person on the spectrum who is currently serving NS in the Air Force. Aspiring to further studies in NIE to become a teacher.

“We need third spaces for self-advocacy and showcase of potential.”

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Parallel Breakout A
Designing for Independence: What Neurodiverse Children & Adults Need to Thrive

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GROWTH SPECIALIST & TEAM LEAD (COMMUNITY & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT) | KONTINENTALIST

Saksham is a tree hugger who grew up in the Himalayas at a time when India was caught in its rapid pursuit of urbanisation.

Through his work, Saksham tries to understand the line that threads between the human desire to develop infinitely and the inherent yearning to preserve nature.

“We need third spaces for the joy of living is best experienced when shared.”

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Lunchtime Circles
What Makes A Place: An Exhibition on Mapping Bedok Over the Years

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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER, KONTINENTALIST

Samira is the Community Engagement Manager at Kontinentalist where she oversees audience strategy, partnerships, and community platforms.  A feminist researcher and facilitator, Samira has over seven years of experience co-creating spaces with queer, migrant, and activist communities across Asia. Her work spans journalism, exhibitions, and workshops that explore migration, mental health, gender justice, and collective memory.

“We need third spaces where a changing neighbourhood can still remember itself.”

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Lunchtime Circles
What Makes A Place: An Exhibition on Mapping Bedok Over the Years

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FOUNDER | INCLUS

Shaun co-founded Inclus in 2018, a social enterprise dedicated to empowering persons with disabilities (PWDs) through gainful employment and independent living.

With over a decade of experience in Southeast Asian social entrepreneurship, he currently leads growth and capabilities development, forging innovative partnerships to drive sustainable impact.

Driven by a passion for equal opportunity, Shaun’s journey began with his first social enterprise in EduTech back in 2012. While his social impact reached over 10,000 students, they could not find a viable business model to sustain their impact.

Guided by his experiences and failures, he helped establish Inclus on a core philosophy: seamlessly aligning social impact with financial viability to create a single, resilient bottom line.

Today, Shaun champions collaborative ecosystems across the public and private sectors to maximise value for PWDs, while ensuring every stakeholder generates value for themselves beyond purpose and meaning.

“We need third spaces for living life.”

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Parallel Breakout B
The Absurd Art of Social Entrepreneurship: How Do We Sustain the Epic Adventure?

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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | COMMON GROUND

Shiao-Yin Kuik is the Executive Director of Common Ground, a consultancy specialising in culture change, leadership development, and social impact strategy for mission-driven organisations.

Her work is grounded in a conviction earned through two decades of practice: you cannot build life-giving organisations using extractive methods.

As co-founder of The Thought Collective — Singapore's best-known cluster of socially-oriented enterprises — she led it through growth, crisis, and dissolution. That lived experience has deepened her conviction that the most crucial organisational gap to close is the distance between what leaders say they deeply value and how they daily work.

Shiao-Yin is a former Nominated Member of Parliament, a 2014 Praxis Fellow, and Venture Coach for the Praxis 2026 Asia-Pacific Accelerator. She is in Year 7 of 9 leading the Common Ground Civic Centre, a government-commissioned civic engagement project.

A Spiritual Director in training, she helps leaders explore spiritual formation, sustainable leadership and redemptive organisational development. She is a prolific public communicator on the meaningfulness of work, sharing insights on two podcasts – The Soul at Work and Finding Common Ground.

“We need third spaces for discovering problems we didn't know, solutions we hadn't tried, and people who care about both.”

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Parallel Breakout B
The Adventure Mindset: Can Small Everyday Discoveries Add Up to a Bigger Life?

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CO-DIRECTOR | CHAPTER ZERO SINGAPORE

Sophia Klopp is a Certified Positive Discipline Parent Educator, co-founder of Positive Discipline Singapore, and co-director of Chapter Zero Singapore. She facilitates workshops for parents, educators, and caregivers, and also moderates two of Singapore’s Respectful and Mindful Parenting Facebook communities, where thousands come together to ask questions, seek advice, share experiences, and support one another.

Over the years, Sophia has seen how online communities can become meaningful third spaces. When people feel safe enough to reflect, listen, and share their stories, they often begin to see themselves, one another, and the children in their lives differently. That’s why this session is especially meaningful to her.

She hopes it brings that same spirit of reflection, connection, and curiosity into a face-to-face gathering, inviting parents, educators, and caregivers to explore how their own stories shape the way they care for children.

“We need third spaces for making sense of our experiences and growing alongside one another.”

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Parallel Breakout B
Instinct or Intention: What Shapes the Way We Care for Children?

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MENTORING PROGRAMME LEAD | CDAC

Chiah Hwee was an educator for more than 20 years. She served in a few schools and held different portfolios on student development. She left the service to seek for an answer: how else can we support the younger generation, especially from the lower income group.

“We need third spaces for children and youth to explore and embrace who they are, what they can pursue and achieve.”

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Parallel Breakout A
It Takes a Village: Creating Third Spaces Where Young People Can Belong

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FOUNDER & DIRECTOR | LEPAK CONVERSATIONS

Yulianna Frederika founded Lepak Conversations to facilitate inclusive conversations about Malay/Muslim issues in Singapore, winning her the Tatler Front & Female Rising Champion Award 2025.

She is passionate about youth and minority inclusion, often moderating and speaking on panels and podcasts. She believes that creating 'lepak' or chill spaces to dialogue about social issues is important to build agency, confidence and connections within and beyond the Malay/Muslim community.

She is also an Arts, culture and heritage junkie who believes in the transformative power of creative expression and cultural rootedness.

“We need third spaces for more lepak and less isolation!”

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Parallel Breakout B
Lepak in Practice: How Lepak-ing Builds Social Capital

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FOUNDER | GOLD & BEHOLD

Winnie Wong is the founder of Gold & Behold, Singapore's First Modern Kintsugi Artist, a Certified Life & ADHD Coach, and an award-winning multidisciplinary artist. A late-diagnosed neurodivergent adult with severe combined ADHD, described by her psychiatrist as among the top 1% in severity for women her age globally, Winnie received her diagnosis at 31. The diagnosis became a birthday gift of clarity that deepened her journey of healing and self-acceptance.

Since 2021, she has guided 6,000+ people worldwide through The Healing Art of Modern Kintsugi, using the practice of repairing broken ceramics with gold as a lens for healing, resilience and self-compassion. Her work today sits at the intersection of creativity, neurodivergence and healing.

“We need third spaces for being fully ourselves, where we can create, connect and belong without having to mask, perform or be perfect.”

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Parallel Breakout A
Designing for Independence: What Neurodiverse Children & Adults Need to Thrive

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