Alfie Othman

Chief Executive Officer

“Social entrepreneurs are mavericks. But nothing great is achieved without a touch of madness.”

Alfie Othman heads the Singapore Centre for Social Enterprise, raiSE.

Alfie has had a successful banking career of over twelve years in the banking sector. Alongside his private sector work, Alfie has devoted significant time to the public sector and civil society.

Alfie is recognised as a Social Enterprise practitioner within Singapore. He founded his own social enterprise to support ex-offenders, single mothers, and persons with disability. Since then, he has also served as advisor and mentor to many social enterprises in Singapore and in the region. Before raiSE, Alfie was the Executive Director of the Social Enterprise Association.

Since 2016, Alfie has been appointed as a Fellow at SUSS, providing advice on Fintech and Inclusive Finance.

Tham Jierong

Assistant Chief Executive Officer

“Social issues are multi-faceted. It is therefore important that policy makers understand the issues on the ground before taking out a quill to write some fanciful paper.”

Tham Jierong oversees the Corporate Services and Social Enterprise Engagement Departments at raiSE.

Prior to raiSE, he was with the Ministry of Finance (Singapore) handling various policy portfolios from economic and security, to land and infrastructure financing.

Subashini Balakrishnan

Director, Strategic Partnerships

“It is indeed rewarding to be serving a business community with a double bottom line and I am excited about the opportunity I have been given to articulate their value.”

Subashini oversees Strategic Partnerships and the Impact Community Engagement Department that champions the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders in supporting and nurturing the social entrepreneurial community in Singapore. In raiSE’s endeavor to encourage every enterprise to be a Social Enterprise, the team is at the forefront of welcoming interested corporations to make Social Enterprises a part of their sustainability journey.

Concurrently, she also heads the Strategic Communications unit that manages the marketing, branding, and public relations efforts to increase awareness of and raise support for Social Enterprises in Singapore. Prior to joining raiSE in 2017, Subashini had led various teams in the areas of Enterprise Development, Marketing and Communications, and Corporate Development. She has 15 years of exposure in varied industries both in government and the private sector.

Subashini is passionate about the impact that inclusive businesses can have on our communities and takes a personal interest in the narration of their impact through integrated communications. Having managed her own fashion retail business, she has an astute understanding of the trials and tribulations of a local startup founder and is known for her sensibilities and contagious enthusiasm.

Erwin Chan

Lead, Start-up Development

"What makes an Entrepreneur rich? Risk taking, Innovation, Can-Do Attitude and always asking themselves - How do I add value to society?"

Erwin Chan designs innovation and entrepreneurial capacity building programmes at raiSE that activates the Social Entrepreneur’s Head, Heart & Hands for transformation.

Erwin has a PhD in Biomedical Research and is interested in seeing systemic transformations in healthcare. During his post-graduate days, Erwin led medical and dental teams to Cambodia and facilitated social innovation projects in Indonesia and Australia. In 2012, Erwin co-founded a medical device startup that focused on developing solutions for chronic pain management. After failing, he became interested in understanding how the entrepreneurial experience can enrich the personal leadership journey. Erwin was part of the team that won first place at the MITx Entrepreneurship Bootcamp in 2016. He is a Certified Instructor for “Disciplined Entrepreneurship” for new venture creation. Erwin has taught in universities & polytechnics including Bioentrepreneurship at NTU. He also volunteers as a mentor in developing children & youths holistically.

Ho Yen Yee

Lead, Community Building & Membership

“Having received much support during my social entrepreneurship journey from many dedicated and inspiring people, I hope to do the same for aspiring social entrepreneurs.”

Yen Yee develops and facilitates programmes for raiSE and our ecosystem partners to share insights and experiences in the areas of business and social impact, thereby developing capabilities in social enterprises, companies, and social service agencies looking to create social impact in a sustainable manner. She also oversees the engagement of SEs and stakeholders to elevate raiSE's value and credibility as a membership body, through the curation of membership benefits, refinement of raiSE's membership evaluation framework, and organising of outreach activities.

Yen Yee was a winner of the Singapore International Foundation’s Young Social Entrepreneurs programme in 2012. She co-founded a social enterprise - IMPad - to provide low-cost and biodegradable sanitary pads for women in rural India. Her volunteering experience with various non-profit organisations also gave her a good understanding of the social issues in Singapore and developing countries, strengthening her desire to help the less privileged.

Prior to joining raiSE, Yen Yee was part of the founding teams of three media and digital solutions start-ups. With her experience in start-ups and the social sector, she wants to support aspiring social entrepreneurs in creating sustainable solutions to address social needs.

Nur Anissa

Manager, Community Building

“I look forward to driving positive change and shaping a more equitable and sustainable future through the growth of the Social Enterprise sector.“

Anissa is part of the community building team at raiSE.

She graduated from the Singapore University of Social Sciences with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, with a minor in Communications. Anissa hopes to make a lasting difference in the Social Enterprise sector and create meaningful connections with like-minded individuals and organisations with similar visions.

Alwyn Ang

Manager, Community Building

“Through small actions aimed at making things 1% better, contributions to social impact efforts can lead to people thriving.”

Alwyn is a part of the community building team. Preceding his time at raiSE, Alwyn managed the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) programme at Halogen, empowering students from underserved communities to develop entrepreneurial mindsets and knowledge. Later, he ventured into startups, diversifying his entrepreneurial expertise across multiple roles and industries. Now, armed with invaluable experience, he aims to support Social Enterprises with a renewed perspective.

Rufus Tan

Manager, Community Building

“Social Enterprises (SEs) are the balance and driving force behind innovation and compassion in our economy and I want to empower these SEs to create a more equitable and sustainable future!”

Rufus is dedicated to fostering the growth and development of Social Enterprises in Singapore by providing strategic guidance and support to help them overcome challenges and seize opportunities for sustainable impact and success.

Rufus holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (SIM - RMIT) and brings over 7 years of experience in empowering and engaging youth and children communities. Throughout his career, he has worked with organisations such as NTUC Club, nEbO, and Care Community Services Society, where he led initiatives to foster vibrant and inclusive communities for youth and children.

Serene Tay

Lead, Capability Development

“Harnessing the best of humanity by creating opportunities for growth, innovation, collaboration to achieve greater good while building sustainable businesses.”

Serene Tay plays a dual role in Capability Development and SE engagement. She focuses on developing Social Enterprises' leadership and enterprise capabilities, implementing initiatives to build a vibrant community, and providing advisory to entrepreneurs, C-suite corporate representatives, and industry partners.

Prior to joining raiSE, Serene spent ten years working with businesses to achieve profitable growth, create social value, and build their capabilities by providing strategic consultation on strategy and organisation transformation, corporate planning and development, strategic marketing, regional development, operational improvement and capacity development. Serene is familiar with social issues through her volunteering work with vulnerable women, children, and youths, with a focus on learning and skills development.

Fairuz Fadiah

Lead, Member Relations & Grant Management

“I am excited to be part of the team developing an emerging sector by supporting the growth of sustainable social enterprises to maximise social outcomes.”

Fairuz leads the Social Enterprise Engagement Department at raiSE to evaluate and support grant cases.

Fairuz has 11 years of accounting and finance experience in the local social service sector. He has worked closely with local Volunteer Welfare Organisations as well as directly with beneficiaries for various social enterprise projects, focusing on youths at risk and ex-offenders. In his previous position, he helped lead his organisation from an accumulated surplus of $2mil to $10mil in 10 years. His professional background, coupled with his passion for the social sector, also prompted Fairuz to lead several fundraising events.

Siti Nurdzafirah

Manager, Member Relations

“The Social Enterprise ecosystem is always evolving, and it is exciting to see many individuals spearheading their own cause in the sector. I wish to provide support in any way I can.”

Siti is part of the Social Enterprise Engagement team at raiSE.

She is an advocate for social entrepreneurship because it gives companies a structure for achieving business success while doing good for the community. It also serves as a continued source of inspiration for individuals, particularly the youths, to continue making constructive contributions to the economy and society.

Having served the community in various capacities at Yayasan Mendaki and other organisations in Singapore, Siti aspires to make a meaningful contribution to raiSE by supporting the growth of the ecosystem and the Social Enterprise members.

Sera Peh

Manager, Member Relations

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to support the passion and commitment of social entrepreneurs alongside the SE Engagement team.“

Sera is part of the Social Enterprise Engagement team at raiSE and is part of the team managing the VentureForGood Grant and other funding programmes. 

Prior to joining, Sera worked at the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) where she evaluated grants for individual beneficiaries. She looks forward to witnessing a society where every enterprise endeavours to become a Social Enterprise.

Sera graduated from Murdoch University with a Bachelor of Business, Accounting, and Finance.

Margareta Siswana

Manager, Member Relations

“Social entrepreneurs are not solely driven by profit, but by a mission to create positive change in the world. This is what motivates me - knowing that I’m indirectly contributing to social impact alongside our members.“

Margareta is part of our Member Relations team at raiSE, where her role involves supporting our members in their social entrepreneurship journey.

Before joining raiSE, she worked in sales and operations roles in the education, learning, and development industries. Her previous experience in the education sector, particularly conducting entrepreneurship workshops for secondary school students, has shaped her into a social entrepreneurship advocate. With a passion for customer service, she aims to provide a great member experience to our members.

Margareta graduated from Murdoch University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology.

Iqbal Jalil

Manager, Member Relations

“You were born with the ability to change someone’s life, don’t ever waste it.” – Dale Partridge

Iqbal is part of our Member Relations team at raiSE, supporting Social Enterprises grow whilst on their journey of bettering the community.

Passionate in driving positive advancements in the tech industry, he started his career with a venture capitalist firm before moving to Homage, a healthcare Social Enterprise by assisting in their partnerships and sales efforts, as well as growing their community outreach within Singapore before recently supporting a tech MNC in their pre-sales efforts.

Iqbal graduated from the University of London with a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Business and Management.

Koh Wei Shan

Head, Strategic Development

“Every business decision can be a step towards a more sustainable and equitable world.”

Koh Wei Shan heads the Strategic Development team at raiSE, overseeing the functions of Strategic Communication, Digital Transformation, Membership and Impact Frameworks, Partnerships and Benefits, and Collaborative Financing. 

With her communication and venture-building expertise, she has guided social enterprise founders from diverse business sectors to develop sustainable business and impact growth strategies. Notably, she ran 2 cohorts of the Sustainable Impact Accelerator, Asia's first VC-based accelerator for Socially Impactful Enterprises, powered by Quest Ventures and raiSE. 

Wei Shan started her career in Ogilvy Singapore, working with local and regional brands such as HSBC Singapore, Hilton APAC, BMW Performance Motors Singapore, MCCY (Our SG), and Skillsfuture SG on their social media and integrated communications campaigns. She also volunteered her time to lead Ogilvy’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives including organising staff volunteer sessions, fundraising activities, and working on pro-bono marketing campaigns for Non-Profit Organisations.

Wei Shan graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management (Double Major in Marketing and Strategic Management) from Singapore Management University.

Cassandra Chow

Manager, Partnerships & Benefits

“Social entrepreneurs are innovators who use market-driven strategies to tackle critical social issues. The work they do is awe-inspiring and I am excited to support them through this journey!" 

Cassandra manages partnerships with other ecosystem stakeholders to benefit and grow the Social Enterprise sector.

Upon graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in Banking and Finance from the University of London (SIM), she interned at a charity advocating for skills-based volunteering, to bridge the gap between corporates and non-profit organisations. This spurred her on to take up the role at raiSE, to leverage her expertise and interest to continue working with partners in building the Social Enterprise ecosystem in Singapore.

Shen Xiaoyin

Consultant, Collaborative Financing

Shen Xiaoyin is an experienced corporate lawyer who has a passion for building purposeful ventures. Xiaoyin has more than 10 years of professional experience in corporate and M&A practice, working with top law firms and heading in-house practices in MNCs and reputable institutions. At the same time, she has founded two social enterprises. Currently heading ESG & Data Privacy practice at BTPLaw LLC, she has provided advisory and legal services to family offices, institutional investors, fund managers and impact start-ups. Her legal expertise as well as her practical experiences in business and social entrepreneurship make her an invaluable partner to her clients and teams.

Xiaoyin is also a violinist and uses her passion for music for good causes. She and her group of fellow music-loving friends, Music InCommon, performs regularly for charity fundraisers. She is also a Board Director and Advisor at Pasat Merdu, a local charitable organization promoting local music and education.

Caroline Ang

Manager, Membership & Impact Frameworks

“Social Enterprises are made up of everyday people with extraordinary passion and vision.”

Caroline is part of the Strategic Development team at raiSE. 

Caroline believes that Social Enterprises form a crucial bridge between social gaps and the public, allowing the public an avenue to support and alleviate these issues through small, everyday actions. She looks forward to a future where all businesses make the effort to do good and is excited to play a part in developing this future.

Caroline graduated from Nanyang Technological University with a Master of Arts degree in History. 

Joshua Yeo

Manager, Digital Transformation

“Processes and tools are harnessed to orchestrate impactful solutions created by dedicated teams, helmed by a clear vision for the future.”

Joshua oversees the conceptualisation and development of processes, tools, and roles that enhance the raiSE’s capability in nurturing the social entrepreneurial community in Singapore. Prior to joining raiSE, Joshua was a design consultant at a strategic design agency formed by IDEO alumni, where he honed his skill for developing innovative solutions to complex problems in the healthcare and venture building sectors, through product and service design.

Joshua firmly believes that any business can ignite positive change through clear strategic intent and operational foresight for sustainable and impactful solutions, that impact the community at large. During the course of his Bachelor’s degree, Joshua explored the opportunity for businesses to implement social impact initiatives, as an integral part of their business model, in his dissertation on the intersection of Corporate Social Responsibility, social impact, and design.

Joshua graduated first class honours in Bachelors of Design Communication from LASALLE College of the Arts. 

Pauline Toh

Head, Corporate Services

“Social Enterprises prove that profit and purpose can coexist, bringing a positive change to the society and I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of this transformation.”

Pauline was seconded from the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) where she worked as a Finance Business Partner, providing strategic financial guidance and support to the departments within the Ministry.

Filza Hanani

Manager, Finance, Compensation & Benefits

“A single jigsaw piece is meaningless but when pieced together, a clear vision is materialised." 

Filza supports the Finance and Human Resource functions at raiSE. Having graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Business and Management from the University of London, Filza served the community through various areas at the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore, also known as Muis, and various institutions in Singapore, helping to ensure governance and compliance with statutory regulations on Finance and HR matters.

She hopes to contribute meaningfully to raiSE through the empowerment of our people in order to serve the sector. 

Mohammad Farihin

Executive, Finance & Human Resources

‘Working for raiSE gives me a sense of fulfillment because I am directly and indirectly contributing to benefit others in a socially responsible way.’

Mohammad Farihin is part of the Finance and HR team at raiSE.

Prior to raiSE, he had more than 10 years of experience within the service industry; from handling a fitness club’s operations as a front-of-house manager to ensuring that the needs of premium class passengers as met as a Passenger Relations Officer with SATS. Most importantly, he is passionate in giving back to society and is involved in charity events organised by a recreation club he joined in his free time.