Gracelyn has over 3 decades of experience in Banking and Finance in various functional and strategic leadership roles across Asia, Europe and US and led several organic, ground-up growth and development projects in new markets, products and infrastructure systems.
Despite her hectic schedule, Gracelyn has spent an almost equal number of years in community work, contributing in various ways towards children from low-income families, from villages in SE Asia, Mongolia, special needs youths in Singapore as well as working with residents; network and committees on heartland topics.
Gracelyn has been a hands-on Leap201 Board Member for over 3 years and knows the organization well. She currently sits on the Executive Committee, Singapore Program Committee and has been driving the Strategic and Marketing Communications for Leap201 since 2020, together with the dedicated Communications Team on the ground.
Jolene Chen is a seasoned human resources professional and leader with more than 30 years of experience. She is distinguished for her purpose-driven, people-focused leadership. She has served in multinational corporations including Prudential plc and Standard Chartered bank and played a pivotal role in driving the strategic people agenda, transforming organizations, developing talent, and growing leaders in these organisations across Asia and Africa.
Having worked across multiple cultures in Asia, Jolene is a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion to foster cultures of respect, belonging and empowerment among people of diverse perspectives, abilities and backgrounds. She was the co-chair of the D&I council and was the chair of the philanthropic arm of Prudential, which contributes to the long-term development of communities with a focus on health, safety, and education across Asia and Africa.
Kee Liang is a social sector leader with nearly 15 years of track record shaping strategy, governance, and scaled impact across government and philanthropy. In his current role as General Manager of Leap Philanthropy, he works closely with the Board, staff, and an esteemed network of Executive-level volunteers to steward Leap201’s mission of empowerment and oversee a programme portfolio in Singapore and Southeast Asia.
Kee Liang’s leadership style is shaped by his top 5 CliftonStrengths – Achiever, Intellection, Learner, Responsibility, and Connectedness – which together drive a strong bias for thoughtful action, continuous learning, accountability, and systems thinking.
He is guided by Albert Camus’ quote that “if one cannot make history have a meaning, one can act so that their own lives have.” He believes in the power of collective impact to create positive change for the communities we serve.
Xinying has nearly two decades of experience in storytelling, from journalism to the community-building and government sectors. Through her time volunteering in Singapore and Southeast Asia, she has amassed deep knowledge of the challenges faced by lower-income communities in Singapore and the region. As Senior Manager, Communications and Advocacy in Leap, she aims to tell stories that inspire more changemakers to support Leap’s mission.
Christopher is an experienced practitioner in the philanthropy and social impact space. With over a decade of experience in fundraising, strategic partnerships, and stakeholder engagement across the healthcare, special education, and social service non-profit sectors, he works closely with donors, institutions, and ecosystem partners to advance sustainable, evidence-based social initiatives. His work spans donor stewardship, institutional partnerships, and impact communications, supporting programmes that address systemic challenges faced by vulnerable communities.
Christopher has driven development and partnership efforts across Singapore, collaborating with foundations, corporates, and public-sector stakeholders to translate research and advocacy into policy-relevant and programmatic outcomes. He brings a strong emphasis on governance, accountability, and impact measurement, ensuring partnerships are grounded in trust, rigour, and long-term social value.
In his role as Development and Partnerships Manager at Leap201, Christopher supports the organisation’s mission of building a fairer and stronger society by strengthening strategic partnerships, stewarding institutional funders, and articulating impact with clarity and credibility to enable sustained social change.
Syafiqah oversees the Finance and Administration function at Leap201, supporting initiatives that strengthen the social sector through robust financial and operational foundations. She believes that impactful work is only sustainable when underpinned by sound financial management, and takes pride in helping Leap201 remain financially healthy. By ensuring strong financial systems, she enables mission-driven leaders to focus on what they do best—creating meaningful and lasting impact. Syafiqah is committed to continuous self-improvement and to growing her skills in service of the social change ecosystem.
Matt was formerly a social entrepreneur who secured funding from the Tote Board and the UK’s Wellcome Trust Foundation to develop a digital peer support platform for students. He oversaw a research study with the National University of Singapore, published in JMIR Mental Health, and partnered with charities to develop mental health workshops. His media engagements include podcasts and op-eds. In his free time, Matt volunteers as a docent at the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, mentors aspiring changemakers with the Philip Yeo Initiative, and dedicates himself to being the best husband and father.