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Contact UsPamela Hartigan, Switzerland (keynote)
Pamela Hartigan is the Managing Director of the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, a Swiss-based organization focused on advancing the practice of social entrepreneurship globally, building and supporting its community of practitioners whose efforts have achieved transformational social change. She holds Masters’ degrees in Economics and Public Health and a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology. Dr. Hartigan started her career at the World Bank and went on to work at the grassroots level with Latino migrant communities in Washington, D.C., setting up and consolidating responsive organizations that met their needs. In addition, she has held academic positions (secondary, tertiary and graduate levels). Before joining the Schwab Foundation, Dr. Hartigan was Executive Director of the Department of Health Promotion at the World Health Organization. In November 2000, Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, invited her to spearhead the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship.
Anil Chitrakar, Nepal
Anil Chitrakar is a Fellow of Ashoka, and was trained in the United States as an engineer and energy planner. He believes that the business and social worlds can be bridged by finding a middle ground between the two. Over the past 25 years, Ashoka- Innovators for the public has found over 1500 of them in over 50 countries and begun to invest in them. Ashoka has set up what is probably the first professional global association of leading social entrepreneurs. Ashoka also provides for an enabling environment that allows community building, learning and group entrepreneurship. Many young people who aspire to put their energies, skills, knowledge and resources to tackle society’s toughest challenges still do not see or rather cannot rely on any infrastructure that will enable this career choice. Efforts are being made to change this situation. The fact that the social sector is not very competitive also hinders the creation of a conducive environment for social entrepreneurs.
Mr Aaron Ng, Singapore
Mr Aaron Ng is the Executive Director of MINDS. The organization provides education, training, care and family support services to Intellectually Disabled persons , while endeavouring to promote their well-being and the ability to integrate into society. It runs 5 Special Schools, 2 Employment Development Centres, 2 Training & Development Centres, and 2 Residential Homes, serving around 2300 Intellectually Disabled children and adults. MINDS currently operates 3 “social enterprises” – a car wash project, a Thriftshop, and a “MINDS food Enterprise”, with the aim of enhancing social immersion for Intellectually Disabled persons through employment. The “performing art troupe” will be the latest addition to the series of social enterprises. Aaron has been in the forefront of promoting economic independence, self-esteem and social integration of the Intellectually Disabled, by self generating employment opportunities through social enterprises. He is also instrumental in forging strategic partnership with corporations with the view of bringing lasting contributions to the well-being of the Intellectually Disabled. Aaron graduated with a First Class Honours in Political Science from the Japan National Defense Academy whilst on an SAF scholarship. He has served in MINDEF and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before joining the social service.
Sam Kuna, Singapore
Sam Kuna is the Executive director of Teen Challenge and obtained Social Enterprise funding for Tampines Changkat Killiney Kopitiam (franchise of killiney), Teen Challenge Enterprises(TCE), which operates the TC Movers, Trash-for-Cash, Painting Services, Lawn Maintenance, Electrical Services & Contracts and light renovations and repairs. He has 3 centres, 8 programmes and services are provided for people with life-controlling addictions and issues, delinquency, gangs, criminal behaviour, beyond parental control.
Braema Mathi Mathiaparanam, Singapore
Ms Braema Mathiaparanam is currently a Visting Research Fellow and Gender Studies Progrmame Co-ordinator at the Institute of South East Asian Studies. She is also the President of the Association of Women for Action and Research(AWARE) and the Chairperson of Transient Workers Count Too(TWC 2), an advocacy and research group that looks into the issues of migrant workers. Ms Braema is also on the board of the Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations, a committee member of the Singapore Children’s Society Social Work sub-committee, a committee member of the Programme Advisory Committee(PACE) and a board member of the Singapore Association of Social Workers. She is also co-chairing the Women and Health workgroup set up by MCYS. The award-winning former journalist with the Straits Times also initiated the Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund. The former teacher also served two terms as a Nominated Member of Parliament and was AWARE’s nominee.
Louis, Singapore
Louis is the president and founding member of the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres), a local charity whose objective is to foster compassion and respect for animals. He has a degree in biology and a Masters in primate conservation. He has successfully campaigned to end the use of young chimpanzees in photography sessions at the Singapore. In 2002, Louis Received the HSBC/NYAA Youth Environmental Award, in recognition of his contribution towards environmental protection and nature conservation in Singapore. He is currently working full-time for Acres. Since its formation in 2001, Acres has launched numerous campaigns to end the exploitation of animals. These include undercover investigations into the illegal trade in bear bile in Singapore and highlighting the plight of captive wild-caught dolphins at Dolphin Lagoon, Singapore. Since 2004, the work of Acres has also led to the rescue of more than 100 animals from the illegal wildlife trade. Louis is also the Singapore representative of the International Primate Protection League.
Thomas Thomas, Singapore
Thomas Thomas is a trade unionist serving as General Secretary of the Singapore Shell Employees’ Union. He is also a member of the Central Committee of the Singapore National Trades Union Congress. The Singapore National Employers Federation, National Trades Union Congress and Ministry of Manpower formed the National Tripartite Initiative on Corporate Social Responsibility in May 2004. Thomas is Co-Chair of this Initiative. In January 2005, the Tripartite Initiative brought its work forward by establishing the Singapore Compact for Corporate Social Responsibility. Singapore Compact brings together companies, co-operatives, trade unions, consumer organisation, environmental bodies, NGOs and others in promoting Corporate Social Responsibility. Thomas is Secretary of Singapore Compact. Thomas serves on other social organisations. He was a Nominated Member of Parliament from 1999 to 2001.
Rev Don Wong, Singapore
Rev Don Wong is the Vice-President of HighPoint Community Services Association and the Executive Director of The HighPoint Halfway House. He also serves as the Vice-President of the Association of Christian Halfway House (Singapore). Driven by a passion to help ex-drug offenders like himself, he set up the Highpoint Halfway House in 1995 to help drug addicts rehabilitate and put them on the road to recovery. Rev Wong believes that people like him who have been under the bondage of drugs and been going in and out of the prison half their lives need a second chance at life to be able to become contributing members of society. For the last twelve years he has entrenched himself in a world of ex-drug offenders, helping them in their recovery. He initiated a work to foster skill and self development for the residents in the halfway house and spur them towards spiritual growth. He also engages them in counselling and gears the residents towards reconciliation with their families. In order to sustain the work of his ministry, Rev Wong also spearheaded the various moving, maintenance, car polish and used goods trading businesses of Highpoint with the available manpower resource. These businesses also provide the platform for the residents to resume work while working on their recovery. In these ways, the residents become empowered to break free from the bondage of drugs and serve in society as contributing members. Today, he continues to lead the Highpoint Halfway House , which runs the social enterprise hub known as the ‘Highpoint Social Enterprise Ark’. The Ark house 5 of the halfway house’s businesses and a host of other social enterprises and services. Providing for job and businesses opportunities for the less fortunate. One of the businesses of the hub that has recently received more limelight is the Goshen restaurant.
Dr Tan Ngoh Tiong, Singapore
Dr Tan is Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work, and former Vice Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, National University of Singapore. He has also previously taught at University of Minnesota, University of St Thomas and Augsburg College. Dr Tan received his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota; MSW from University of Pennsylvania, and BA from University of Singapore. He has also been visiting scholar at Cambridge University, UC-Berkeley and Harvard University. He trained in mediation at the Erickson Mediation Institute as well as the Program on Negotiation at the Harvard Law School. He is a certified mediator, registered social worker and a clinical member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. Dr Tan is Co-chair of Commonwealth Organisation for Social Work, Immediate Past Regional President of International Federation of Social Workers (Asia Pacific) as well as President of the Singapore Association of Social Workers. He is Associate Editor of Asia Pacific Journal of Social Work and has edited: Extending Frontiers: Social Work in Singapore, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Social Work Around the World and co-authored Preparing for Marriage and Parenting Today. His numerous publications include papers and book chapters on change and management, counselling, social work, family therapy, conflict resolution and mediation. Dr Tan is a board member of Singapore Aftercare Association and former Chairman of Family Resource and Training Centre. He has worked as a counsellor and family therapist and conducted numerous courses and workshops in coaching, group-work, team building, stress management, assertiveness training, counselling, family therapy, mediation and conflict management for business, government and other community and social service organizations.
