MS TRICIA HO

COUNCIL MEMBER, FAMILIES FOR LIFE

Former Lawyer, Drew & Napier LLC;
Family Law Lecturer, Singapore University of Social Sciences

“Families are the cornerstone of our Asian culture, a safe base for children to establish a positive attachment and bonding with their parents, building meaningful relationships, radiating across people. We would like to help every Singaporean home to provide their youth with the warmth, love and hope for them to explore the world, and the buffer to fall back and be encouraged on as they shape a positive future.”

Dr Wong is married with 3 grown up children. He is a clinician, educator and researcher in Child & Adolescent and Family mental health. A senior consultant psychiatrist with the National University Hospital (NUH), and Associate Professor at the Department of Psychological Medicine at NUS and NUH.

He is the immediate past Head of Department of Psychological Medicine at NUH and NUS, Founding and immediate past Center Director of the NUS and NUHS Mind Science Center, which develops and implements evidence-based programs promoting emotional resilience and optimization of cognitive performance among the youth, adults and elderly in the community. He held the inaugural chair of the NUS Lin Jo Yan and Yeo Boon Khim Professor in Mental Health and Neuroscience (2020-2025) which contributed to the academic research in school age children mental health epidemiology study in Singapore, and neurodivergent conditions.

He was the President of the College of Psychiatrists, Academy of Medicine Singapore and currently serves on the Pacific Rim College of Psychiatrists Board of Directors as Treasurer to advance clinical psychiatry training in the Asia Pacific countries.

He is a strong advocate in establishing competent parenting practices among parents of disruptive children through the Incredible Years program and also working towards establishing a stronger presence of informed parenting of Asian adolescents in Singapore.

DR JOHN WONG

COUNCIL MEMBER, FAMILIES FOR LIFE

Senior Consultant Psychiatrist, National University Hospital; Associate Professor, Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore

“I look forward to being a member of the Families for Life Council where I can continue to contribute to my vision of a healthier, happier family.”

Dr Elly has been practising family practice in private since 2001 starting with a family clinic in Woodlands, followed by another in Jurong West two years later.

Her interest in health education does not stop at her clinic itself as she involves herself actively in the community in both areas providing health talks and health screenings. On the national level, she appears frequently on Malay TV Programmes such as “Klinik Kita”, “Tanya Doktor”, “Jus”, “Berita on Suria” , “Sihat Oh Sihat “ and “Detik” as a health expert and ambassador.

On the radio, she is a well-recognized voice on Warna 94.2FM when it comes to discussing health matters. She also contributes to Malay magazines like “Sutra”, “Manja” and the Malay Newspaper “Berita Harian” on health issues.

She is currently a member of the Muslim Healthcare Professionals Association. She is also one of the founders of Geng Sihat SG, a community outreach group made up of health and allied health professionals who aim to promote and create awareness about healthy living.

Having a daughter who was diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder with a passion for music also prompted her to set up a music school, Madison Academy of Music to help nurture her daughter and other children through music.

MRS JOANNA PORTILLA

COUNCIL MEMBER, FAMILIES FOR LIFE

Founder, Magic Moments;
Co-Founder, The Collective Effort LLP

Ustaz Muhamad Nuzhan currently serves as Head of Dakwah Department at Jamiyah Ar-Rabitah Mosque. He is a well known Naib Kadi, and marriage mentor who actively provides pre- and post-marital support to couples since 2014.

Ustaz Nuzhan also champions the Bersamamu programme to nurture strong and stable marriages and families. He was awarded the ‘Anugerah Asatizah Cemerlang 2024’ by PERGAS for his contribution in Islamic scholarship and community leadership.

Ustaz Nuzhan regularly leverages digital media and podcasts, and founded a platform (The Nun’s Production) to engage the community on marriage, family and life issues.

MRS SHER-LI TORREY

COUNCIL MEMBER, FAMILIES FOR LIFE

Founder, Mums@Work (Singapore);
Director, Career Navigators Singapore

"Families are the bedrock of our society. They are our greatest source of comfort and growth, and the key transmitter of our shared values from one generation to the next. As a Council Member, my goal is to keep family-building top of mind for our young people. I want to provide them with varied perspectives on marriage and parenthood, empowering them to make informed decisions about the kind of families they want to build. Ultimately, I hope to inspire them to view the pursuit of a healthy family life not just as another competing need, but as a top, deeply meaningful priority.”

Yuvan brings with him more than a decade of experience working at the intersection of business and government. He currently works as a Public Policy and Government Relations Manager at a technology company. Prior to this, he worked as a Policy Manager at the Economic Development Board (EDB) and held numerous roles in risk and governance at Citibank.

Outside of work, he is extremely passionate about developing youth leaders. He believes youth are the leaders of today and has committed almost two decades to developing their leadership capabilities.

He continues his passion for youth leadership through various appointments with the National Youth Council (NYC), the People's Association (PA), and the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre (NVPC). For his commitment to youth leadership, he received the President's Volunteerism & Philanthropy Award (PVPA) in the Leaders of Good - Youth Category (2023) and the Singapore Silent Heroes Award for Most Inspiring Youth (2018).

Yuvan holds a Master’s in Management and a Bachelor of Social Sciences from Singapore Management University.

“Mother Teresa once said, “The way you help heal the world is to start with your own family.” Strong families are the foundation of cohesive communities and a resilient nation. I believe that open and intentional communication plays a vital role in strengthening families and supporting them through life’s transitions. Drawing on a background in communications and community-building, I am passionate about contributing to a national movement that supports families across life stages and deepens meaningful engagement around family life in Singapore."

Emily Poon is an experienced leader with over 20 years advising organisations on reputation management, leadership engagement and stakeholder relations across Asia Pacific. Her work spans multinational companies, public sector organisations and small and medium enterprises, including initiatives targeted at families and multi-generational audiences.

Emily was most recently the Asia-Pacific President of Ogilvy Public Relations, where she led multi-market teams, drove regional growth and organisational transformation. Her experience includes advising senior leaders and boards on strategic engagement and issues management, as well as building communities through sustained stakeholder and public engagement.

Emily is an advocate for more family-friendly workplace practices and better work–family life integration, recognising the important role that employers and organisations play in supporting strong families. She serves on advisory boards in higher education and industry. Emily is married and is a mother of two.

"What is a family? Even by distilling its most common elements such as marriage, child rearing, biological bonds, intimacy, mutual support, pooling of finances, and living within the same household etc, family is a concept that is multifaceted and complex. It is closely connected with our dearest hopes and aspirations, and at times, our biggest challenges and regrets. Given how family can significantly shape our lives, it is important for us to discover how love and care can pave the way for a fulfilling family life."

Tricia's research interests centre around family law, sociology of law and children. Her current research areas include how family and marriage are defined in Singapore, how family law in Singapore can best develop and how the family justice system can help families in distress. She is currently pursuing a PhD at UC Berkeley on Therapeutic Justice in the Family Justice System in Singapore.

Tricia combines her legal practice experience with her academic background to come up with sensitive, yet practical solutions, to family problems. She also spends her time volunteering with various committees centred on improving the lives of different groups of families in our society. She is glad for an opportunity to volunteer with the Families for Life Council as she strongly believes in promoting resilient and healthy families in Singapore.

Tricia is happily married and does not have any children (yet).

MR TAN YAP KIN

COUNCIL MEMBER, FAMILIES FOR LIFE

Executive Director, Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC)

MS EMILY POON

COUNCIL MEMBER, FAMILIES FOR LIFE

Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Institute of Directors

A/PROF VINCENT NG

COUNCIL MEMBER, FAMILIES FOR LIFE

Dean, School of Social Work & Development, Singapore University of Social Sciences

MR CHAN JUUN KIT

COUNCIL MEMBER, FAMILIES FOR LIFE

Senior Associate, Singapore Economic Development Board

DR ELLY SABRINA

COUNCIL MEMBER, FAMILIES FOR LIFE

Director of Banyan Clinic Pte Ltd

ABOUT FAMILIES FOR LIFE

“Families are the bedrock of our society. They shape how we grow, how we see the world, and how we care for one another. Families come in many forms, and through the FFL Council, I hope to advocate for all families, recognising both their unique and shared challenges, while bringing people together to build a caring and resilient society.”

Juun Kit is actively involved in community work and believes strongly in the importance of a vibrant, caring, and supportive community. He volunteers extensively within the Queenstown Grassroots Organisations, serving in various capacities across the Citizen’s Consultative Committee (CCC), Youth Network (YN), and Residents’ Network (RN), and works closely with residents and fellow volunteers on community outreach and engagement efforts.

As a student and fresh graduate, Juun Kit worked in organisations such as SingHealth and the Children’s Cancer Foundation. These experiences deepened his understanding of the importance of strong family support systems and community care, particularly during times of illness and crisis, and shaped his people-centred approach to service and engagement.

His commitment to service began during his student years, where he held various leadership roles and volunteered across causes including youth leadership and empowerment, as well as inter-racial and inter-religious harmony.

Currently, Juun Kit is with the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), where he contributes to work supporting Singapore’s position as a global centre for business, innovation and talent. He holds a Bachelor of Social Science from the Singapore Management University (SMU), conferred in 2024.

MS NOOR IRDAWATY

COUNCIL MEMBER, FAMILIES FOR LIFE

Member, NTUC Central Comm;
General Secretary, Built Environment and Urban Trades Employees’ Union (BATU)

MR LEE CHUNG WEI

COUNCIL MEMBER, FAMILIES FOR LIFE

Deputy Chief Executive, People’s Association

Albert co-manages a start-up business in interior design, building and development, besides international trade business of vegetable oils and soft commodities as a broker.

From his senior management experience of the early years in the corporate sector and current businesses in the marketplace, he is actively promoting corporate engagement in the community with the focus on building resilient and caring families that will invariably contribute to productive business growth in companies.

He graduated with a Master’s degree in Counselling, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Political Sciences, along with a postgraduate Diploma in International Marketing.

Albert is still passionately involved in the social service-community space coming close to 40 years of volunteer work. For this, he gets full family affirmation from his loving wife, three supportive adult children and two granddaughters.

He currently sits on six charity agencies to actively serve the less privileged. He seeks to be the voice and advocate for building strong, resilient and caring families through the grassroots and the community.

Since 2017, he has also been flaming the notion of charity agencies to intentionally collaborate with each other in a sustainable manner. The purpose is to have collective impact by their community engagements in family life development. He has formed a network of volunteers, under Family Nation Association, dedicated to restore and strengthen families with a heart to build a caring and vibrant nation.

"As a mother of four boys aged 19, 18, 16 and 4, I have gained a deep appreciation for the diverse developmental needs of children and the value of strong family support structures. Managing leadership responsibilities alongside the demands of caring for both teenagers and a young child has reinforced my commitment to holistic family well-being, shared caregiving, and resilience. These experiences, coupled with my dedication to service and community, equip me to contribute constructively and meaningfully to the Families for Life Council."

Noor Irdawaty is currently a Member of the NTUC Central Committee which is the planning, policy and executive organ of NTUC that makes decisions and takes action to further NTUC’s objectives to help workers.

As an active unionist, Irdawaty joined the Built Environment And Urban Trades Employees’ Union (BATU) in 2012 and has been serving the union for over 13 years. She was appointed as General Secretary in 2018. As an advocate for workers’ welfare, wages, and work prospects, she believes in servant leadership, empowering others and fostering teamwork to drive growth and a sense of belonging.

Irdawaty was also actively involved in Young NTUC, serving as a member from May 2012 to May 2017, and as the Vice Chairperson (Industrial Sector) from March 2014 to February 2016.

She was also involved in various tripartite committees such as the Tripartite Cluster for the Landscape Industry and the Tripartite Cluster for Cleaners, which put forth recommendations to improve the wages, welfare, and work prospects of workers.

Outside of her union work, Irdawaty has been employed with CPG Facilities Management Pte Ltd for the past 18 years and currently holds the position of Manager, Shared Services (CEO Office). In this role, she oversees accreditation, manages business insurance, and organises company-wide events.

Yap Kin was an educator for over 20 years before joining the Chinese Development Assistance Council as Executive Director in Jan 2022. His work with primary and secondary children in schools previously affirms his belief that strong families are the bedrock of social progression and educational mobility for the next generation.

Yap Kin’s interest is now on the influence of families on early years’ development of children and social mobility.

MR KEITH MAGNUS

COUNCIL CHAIRMAN, FAMILIES FOR LIFE

Chairman, Evercore Asia and The Kallang Group

ABOUT FAMILIES FOR LIFE COUNCIL

Sher-Li Torrey is the founder & director of Mums@Work (Singapore), which was started in 2010 following the birth of her daughter. As a social enterprise that supports women, Mums@Work runs activities that empower women and support them in their work-family balance choices. A point of information source for flexi-time work or Mumpreneur business-owners, the organisation champions for greater support for women caregivers in the working world. In 2016, Sher-Li started a subsidiary of M@W, Career Navigators – with a focus on bringing women back into the workforce in full-time roles. Through this subsidiary, partnerships with more than 400 MNCs have been established.

As founder of Singapore’s first flexible work career portal, Sher-Li is a big advocate of Diversity & Inclusion topics, as well as Women-related issues in Singapore. She is a frequent speaker and article contributor to press and TV on women-related topics. A mother of 2 school-going children, Sher-Li strongly advocates a work environment that thrives in allowing employees to have better work-family integration.

MR ALBERT LIM

COUNCIL MEMBER, FAMILIES FOR LIFE

Director, SG Mecor Pte Ltd

“I hope that more families can experience how “it takes a village to raise a family” includes neighbours and the local community playing a part. At the same time, families stepping forward to contribute to the community creates opportunities for families to grow stronger together.”

Prior to joining the People’s Association (PA) in 2024, Chung Wei served in various government agencies over more than 20 years in the Public Service. Some of these roles involved working on family-related matters. For example, as Divisional Director, Workplace Policy & Strategy, Ministry of Manpower, he worked on the Workplace Fairness Act, which includes protection against workplace discrimination on the basis of marital status, pregnancy status and caregiving responsibilities. He also worked on mainstreaming flexible work arrangements as a means to support better work-life harmony.

PA’s overall objectives are to build social cohesion and racial harmony, bring communities together, expand community participation, and strengthen the trust between people and the Government. Over the years, PA has been a strong supporter of Families for Life. Having volunteered as a grassroots leader himself, Chung Wei firmly believes that building community goes hand-in-hand with building strong families.

Chung Wei is happily married with two children.

“As a child, I learned to spell FAMILY as a beautiful acronym: 'Father And Mother I Love You.' This simple truth remains my guiding light. I believe that the reciprocal love between parents and children is the foundation of a conducive home. Family time is sacred; no matter how demanding our lives become, we must prioritise it. A family that eats and plays together builds the memories that last a lifetime.”

Known affectionately as JOY-anna, she is the Founder of Magic Moments, a Training and Education Consultancy. At her core, JOY-anna is an educator. For over 30 years, she has shared her heart with learners ranging from four-year-olds to the "young at heart" seniors - a calling she continues to cherish today.

Her entrepreneurial spirit also led her to co-found The Collective Effort, a social enterprise dedicated to creating a meaningful societal impact by empowering vulnerable and financially challenged women, children, and families. With over 30 years of experience serving the community, JOY-anna has contributed her expertise to numerous national committees and organisations, including:

• Ministry of Health: Women’s Health Advisory Committee

• Ministry of Defence: Family & Community Council (ACCORD)

• National Council on Problem Gambling: Panel of Assessors

• People’s Association: Former Chairperson of the Women’s Integration Network (WIN) Council for 10 years and then Patron, Vice-Chairperson of the PA Active Ageing Council and now as its Assistant Treasurer

As a Justice of the Peace and a JOY (JOurney with You) licensed solemniser for the past 20 years, JOY-anna has had the distinct honour of presiding over more than 4,500 wedding solemnisations. As a JOY solemniser, she walks the marriage journey with her wedding couples, sharing marriage tips and experiences.

Her unwavering dedication to public service was recognised with the National Day Public Service Medal (PBM) in 2011 and the National Day Public Service Star (BBM). Today, through her involvement with the Families for Life Council, JOY-anna continues to advocate that Family is the Heart of a Home. She is committed to creating opportunities for families to celebrate love, strengthen their bonds, and capture beautiful memories with each passing year.

JOY-anna is happily married and the proud mother of one teenage son.

“In today’s world, families are faced with personal and socio-economic issues that are increasingly complex and stressful. I am committed to working towards building greater resilience amongst families, to enable them to better tackle the challenges faced in life. My wish is for every child to receive love and guidance, for every senior to be cared for and able to live with dignity, and for every adult to be equipped with the skills needed to lead a fulfilling life. Most importantly, I hope that Singapore will develop a social safety net that ensures the vulnerable among us are never left behind.”

A/Prof (Practice) Vincent Ng is the inaugural Dean of the School of Social Work and Social Development at the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS). Prior to joining SUSS, A/Prof Ng was the Chief Executive Officer of Allkin Singapore, a leading social service agency in Singapore, from 2012 to 2025.

In addition to serving on the Families for Life Council, A/Prof Ng serves on various Governmental and Institutional Committees to provide strategic and professional guidance on key social issues in Singapore. He chairs the MediFund Committee of the National Neuroscience Institute, and Expert Committee on Rough Sleeping Issues at Ministry of Social and Family Development. He also serves on Skillsfuture Tripartite Taskforce, Family Services Review Committee, Social Work Advisory & Accreditation Board, the National Centre for Infectious Diseases Resilience Fund Committee, and the Board of Directors at Allkin Singapore. His other past voluntary contributions included Board of Visitors for Adult Disability Homes, Panel of Assessors on National Council on Problem Gambling, National Council of Social Service’s Leadership Selection Panel, Beyond COVID-19 Taskforce, and Interagency Taskforce on Mental Health and Well-being.

In 2017, A/Prof Ng received the Outstanding Social Worker Award from Singapore Association of Social Workers, the highest national accolade for social work profession in Singapore. He has been appointed as a Social Service Fellow by National Council of Social Service since 2015. A/Prof Ng holds a PhD in Social Work from National University of Singapore. With his extensive experience in social work, non-profit leadership and academia, A/Prof Ng aims to contribute in the study of family life in Singapore and advise on how national policies and initiatives can support strong and resilient families.

A/Prof Ng is happily married for more than 25 years with a daughter studying in polytechnic.

USTAZ MUHAMAD NUZHAN

COUNCIL MEMBER, FAMILIES FOR LIFE

Head, Dakwah Department, Jamiyah Ar-Rabitah Mosque

“Families are the nucleus of our society. From a strong family, the individual is able to draw love, strength, support, establishes self esteem, and learns to love and respect each other and their elders. From strong families, our nation draws strength from individuals who are able to contribute to our communities, our social cohesiveness, and a civic consciousness of the importance of building a nation with a strong moral foundation."

Keith Magnus is Chairman of Evercore’s Asia business and a member of the firm’s Global Management Committee. He has almost three decades of experience in global investment banking and strategic advisory, and brings more than 20 years of senior management leadership experience, having built, rebuilt, and led leading investment banking businesses across Asia. Over the course of his career, he has advised boards, shareholders, and governments on major strategic, mergers and acquisitions, and capital transactions across the Asia-Pacific region.

Prior to Evercore, Mr Magnus held senior leadership positions at major global financial institutions, including Deutsche Bank, UBS, and Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where he was responsible for leading regional businesses, developing teams, and navigating complex market and institutional transitions.

As Chairman of the Families for Life Council, Mr Magnus is a firm believer and advocate of strong family values, he works closely with the Ministry of Social and Family Development to grow the national movement to strengthen families in partnership with community and stakeholders, inculcate pro-family values across all life stages, and provide a credible community voice on family trends and issues. He brings to this role not only professional experience, but also personal perspective as a parent. He is deeply committed to strengthening families as a foundation for national resilience, social cohesion, and civic responsibility.

Mr Magnus also serves as Founding Chairman of The Kallang Group Pte. Ltd. having been appointed in December 2022.

Mr Magnus is trained in law and accountancy, and holds the double degrees of Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Economics. He is married with three children aged 21, 19, and 16, and brings both professional experience and lived family values to his public service roles. He is deeply committed to Singapore’s long-term social cohesion, institutional strength, its economic success and global standing.

MR YUVAN MOHAN

COUNCIL MEMBER, FAMILIES FOR LIFE

National Youth Council Member