Our People

APOS

A/Prof Danny Soon

CRIS, Chief Executive Officer
SCRI, Executive Director
ACTRIS, Interim Executive Director

Assoc. Prof. Danny Soon is Chief Executive Officer at the Consortium for Clinical Research and Innovation, Singapore (CRIS), concurrent Executive Director at the Singapore Clinical Research Institute (SCRI) and the Interim Executive Director for Advanced Cell Therapy and Research Institute, Singapore (ACTRIS). As the inaugural CEO of CRIS, Danny has the responsibility of bringing together five research programmes and platforms under the auspices of CRIS, promulgating synergies and strategies, building corporate functions to service the entire entity.

A/Prof Soon was previously the Executive Director of Biomedical Research Council (BMRC) in A*STAR. His team in BMRC was responsible for incepting and coordinating efforts and programmes in drug development, precision medicine, medical technology and bio manufacturing. A/Prof Soon also held the role of founding and Acting CEO of the Experimental Bio therapeutics Centre.

Danny has long experience in drug development, having worked at Eli Lilly and Company for 15 years, where he headed up the Lilly-NUS Centre for Clinical Pharmacology (LNUS). As the Managing Director and Principal Investigator, Danny had responsibility and oversight for all clinical Phase 1 studies conducted and operations in the unit. Studies conducted included first-in-human studies, biomarker development work, human physiology investigations and pivotal registration PK studies, in neuroscience, diabetes, musculoskeletal and cardiovascular therapeutic areas.

Lee Siang

Chief Executive Officer
Dyslexia Association of Singapore

Siang joined DAS on 15 December 2001 and assumed the post of CEO on 1 September 2014. He also sits on the Board of DAS subsidiaries, DAS Academy and DAS International. Siang was on the Board of the US-based International Dyslexia Association and Chair of their Global Partners Committee from 2016 to 2018, he remains a member of the Global Partners Committee representing Singapore. He has been awarded the International Dyslexia Association’s Excellence in Leadership Award 2020. Reflecting the significant overlap between dyslexia and other specific learning differences, Siang was on the SPARK (Society for the Promotion of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Research & Knowledge) 2.0 Steering Committee. Siang contributes regularly to the DAS CEO BLOG. He is co-author of the book titled “International Book of Dyslexia In Education” published by Routledge (2022). In 2023, Siang joined the Board of the African Dyslexia Organization to share Singapore’s experience.

Siang has played a key role in the rapid growth of DAS into a thriving social enterprise with a multi-disciplinary professional workforce that provides a continuum of services for an evolving spectrum of clients. He emphasizes that DAS “must strive to fulfil our social mission by combining entrepreneurial and business skills with the philanthropic objectives of non-profits”. Siang has placed great emphasis on building a pool of expertise in dyslexia and other learning differences in Singapore. He has encouraged programme evaluation and research to ensure that DAS programmes are evidence-based. Additionally, Siang promises that DAS will strive to ensure that children with dyslexia from lower-income families can access much-needed DAS programmes and services through the provision of bursaries which are enabled by generous donations from sponsors and supporters of DAS.

Siang obtained his BA from the National University of Singapore via the sponsorship of the Singapore Armed Forces. He also has a Certificate in Dyslexia Studies, a PGC in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education and a PGC in Specific Learning Differences from London Metropolitan University, a PGDip in Financial Management from the Singapore Institute of Management and an MBA from the University of Western Australia. It is this unique balance of experiences and qualifications that has allowed Siang to oversee the diverse services and functions of the DAS family.

Chew Kim Soon

Director/Treasurer
Alliance of Patients’ Organizations Singapore Limited

As caregiver to his late mother who suffered from multiple conditions, including Parkinson Disease, Kim Soon has a keen interest in the improvement of patient safety and care quality. Currently retired, he has over 33 years of experience in marketing communications, relationship management and analytics within the corporate banking sector in several local and international financial institutions.

As Co-Chair of SingHealth Patient Advocacy Network (SPAN), Kim Soon taps on his skills and expertise to bring forth the patient’s voice in initiatives aimed at improving healthcare. He is part of the executive commissioning committee of the new Emergency Medicine Building at the Singapore General Hospital where he offers the caregiver’s perspective in operational planning.

One of his key contributions is the Plain English Glossary, which helps healthcare
Workers “speak the patient’s language” amidst the prevalent use of jargons. Together with Josie, he co-led and presented a survey on the “Concerns of Patients and Caregivers through COVID-19” to SingHealth senior management and was instrumental in the SPAN’s co-creation of the Patient and Healthcare Team Care Pledge™ with SingHealth. Crafted with collective inputs from patients, caregivers and healthcare staff, the pledge aims to cultivate a safe and mutually respectful healthcare environment for patients and staff.

Alongside his role in SPAN, Kim Soon is a member of SPAN@Department of Emergency Medicine; PRECISE Public/Patient Involvement Advisory Panel, Precision Health Research Singapore; and WHO Global Patient Safety Network, World Health Organization.

Ai Ling Sim-Devadas

Deputy Director, Office of Patient Engagement (OPEN)

Ai Ling Sim-Devadas is a patient advocate, breast cancer survivor and the Deputy Director of the Office of Patient Engagement (OPEN), Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, NTU Singapore. Committed to grow patient engagement in Singapore’s healthcare landscape, she is bringing patients’ voices to medical research and education and works with all stakeholders including patient partners to deepen patient partnership.

In advocating the patient’s perspective, she is the Founding Co-Chair (2018-2022) and now the Patient Mentor at the SingHealth Patient Advocacy Network, Singapore’s first Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC), a member of the Agency for Care Effectiveness (ACE) Consumer Panel and a member of the PRECISE Consumer Panel. Globally, she serves on the International PPI Network (IPPIN) as the first Asian Planning Group member to bring patient and public involvement perspectives from this region.

Hj Sallim Abdul Kadir

BBM, PBM, JP, FCA (Spore)

Qualification:
Fellow of Certified Public Accountant, Singapore
Fellow of ACCA (UK)

Career history:
23 years in Audit, Human Resource management and Training function with Coopers &Lybrand/PriceWaterhouseCoopers
5 years in Singapore & Training Development Assn as Director
15 years in SME as HR and Operations Director

Current commercial work:
Independent Non Executive Board member of SD Guthrie International Ltd since July 2021 (a subsidiary of SDGurhrie Bhd).

Board and Committee appointments in 6 Ministries
MCCY, MSF, MHA, MOH, IMDA,,MINDEF
Some current key appointments
Board member of MENDAKI
Borad member of Cerbral Palsy Alliance Singapore
Board member of Warees Investment Pte Ltd (subsidiary of MUIS)
Chairman of ISCOS
BOVJ for Singapore Prisons
BOV for MINDEF

Some previous notable appointments:
Council member of Islamic Council of Singapore
Board member/Services Committee?Care & Share member of NCSS
Council member of Medishield Life (M)H)
Member of Fee Benchmarark Advisory Committee (MOH)
Member of Institutional Disciplinary Advice Committee (Spore Prisons)
Member of Long Imprisonment Review Board/Natural Life Review Board
Chairman of Suara Musyawarah on Studies on Malay Community (MCCY appointment)
Chairman of SG50Kita (Spore 50th National Day celebrations)

Awards and recognition:
Public Service Medal in 2013
Public Service Star in 2018
Appointed Justice of the Peace (Singapore) by the President of Singapore in 2013nand 2018.
In 2018 awarded the MUIS50 (Islamic Council of Singapore 50th Anniversary) Distinguished Award.
Awarded the Jasa Cemerlang Masyarakat award in 2021 by the highest award conferred to individuals annually by the Islamic Council of Singapore for his contribution to the Community. Awarded ‘Friends of MCCY (Min of Community and Youth) in 2014 and from MSF (Min of Sports and Family)” in 2018.
‘Outstanding Volunteer Award from MSF’ award in 2024.

Basker Rangachari

Director, Technology & Transformation Consulting, Deloitte South East Asia

Basker Rangachari is a global financial services leader with more than 30 years of experience across multiple countries, in delivering exceptional business strategies and strong results-oriented execution. He is presently a Director with Deloitte Consulting serving Financial Services Clients across South East Asia.

Basker has lived and worked in Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Hong Kong, Dubai and Australia, where he gained significant experience in Payments, Lending, Insurance, Sales and Distribution, Digital Transformation, Loyalty Programs, Customer Experience, Journey Design, Branding and Marketing.

His career spans across leading global financial institutions including MasterCard, Standard Chartered, Home Credit China, FE Credit Vietnam, and Mashreq Bank UAE. As the country head of MasterCard Thailand, he rapidly scaled the business to grow market share and revenues by over 400%. He built/managed an embedded insurance business in China generating nearly RMB 1 Billion revenue, launched Lending and Insurance Marketplace Apps in Vietnam, and built new products for digital channels distribution across Asia. He has extensive experience in designing and implementing Omni-channel digital customer journeys to drive customer acquisition.

As a Chief Marketing Officer with hands-on experience in multiple markets, he is reputed for designing creative customer engagement strategies and successfully launching over 300 digital/social media marketing campaigns. These achievements have won him several industry awards including CMO of the Year, CRM Director of the Year and Director of the Best Customer-Centric Loyalty Program in Asia.

Dr Zubin Jimmy Daruwalla

Asia Pacific and PwC Singapore Health Industries Leader
Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (MRCSI)

Dr. Zubin Jimmy Daruwalla is currently the Asia Pacific and PwC Singapore Health Industries Leader while remaining a practicing clinician. After graduating with honours from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in 2005, Zubin commenced and continued his practice of Medicine in Dublin. He subsequently pursued a career in Orthopaedic Surgery and was awarded the Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (MRCSI) in 2008 followed by a Masters in Orthopaedic Surgery (MCh, Orth) in 2010. After working at the UK’s John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, Zubin moved back to Singapore in 2012 and joined the National University Hospital as an orthopaedic resident. He subsequently completed the National University Singapore (NUS) degree, Masters of Medicine in Orthopaedic Surgery (MMed, Orth) and was a senior resident and orthopaedic registrar before joining PwC.

Having published extensively over the last decade with more than thirty publications to his name, including being an invited author for Economic Times, Zubin continues to write actively with his current passion for medical education and digital health evident by his engagement as a consultant and advisor to start-ups both locally as well as internationally. As a member of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland’s mentor network, Zubin also continues to be sought by medical students both locally as well as internationally for advice. As a healthcare thought leader and strong believer in collaboration, Zubin hopes to help bridge the gap between the technical and clinical sides within the realm of digital health. And in order to not neglect his love of providing good and affordable healthcare which he holds closest to his heart, Zubin continues to practice medicine on a part-time basis in addition to providing his services at clinics dedicated to the less fortunate.

Professor Tan Kok Hian

Group Director & Senior Associate Dean, SingHealth Duke-NUS Institute for Patient Safety and Quality
Advisor, SingHealth Patient Advocacy Network (SPAN)

Prof KH Tan is a senior consultant in KK Women’s & Children’s Hospital. He initiated the SingHealth Patient Advocacy Network (SPAN) in 2017 and currently serves as Advisor. Prof Tan is a member of the expert group on Patient Safety for World Health Organization since 2018 and has served as a technical consultant in patient safety and healthcare quality. He is actively involved in the WHO Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021-2030 (GPSAP) which promotes patient engagement and partnership as a key objective. He is the Lead for Global Action for Leaders & Learning Organisations on Patient Safety (GALLOPS). He also leads the Global Knowledge Sharing Platform for Patient Safety (GKPS) for global sharing of best practices (www.gkps.net). He is Program Director of Duke-NUS Medical School Graduate Certificate in Patient Safety & Healthcare Quality; and NUS Graduate Diploma and NUS Master’s in Patient Safety & Healthcare Quality since 2023.

Ivy Cruz Dimarucut

Senior Counsel, Singapore’s Public Healthcare
EUPATI Fellow

Ivy is a Senior Counsel with over a decade of experience in Singapore’s public healthcare landscape. A licensed lawyer with degrees in Philosophy and Law, she holds a Master’s in Intellectual Property and Innovation Management, showcasing her dedication to advancing healthcare innovation.

Also a EUPATI Fellow, Ivy empowers patients and carers to become active collaborators in medicines research and development. She regularly gets invited to speak where she shares her expertise on clinical research agreements, insurance, and intellectual property, bridging legal and advocacy perspectives to drive impactful change in healthcare ecosystems.

She expanded her global perspective by earning the II Level University Master’s Degree in International Patient Advocacy Management at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Italy, where she gained deep insights into diverse healthcare systems. Her thesis underscored the transformative power of patient stories in enhancing public healthcare awareness and education.

Joanne Kam

Branch Division Director, ERA Realty Network Pte Ltd
Consultant and Distributor, RIWAY International
Director, Rotary Club of Suntec City
Rotary International Learning Facilitator 2023-2025
Rotary Coordinator 2025-2028, Rotary Zones 10B and 10C
Past District Governor, Rotary District 3310 (Singapore, Brunei and Part of Malaysia)
United Nations Standing Committee Member 2024-2027, International Federation of Business and Professional Women
Immediate Past President, Federation of Business and Professional Women (Singapore)
Past President, Singapore Business and Professional Women’s Association – Mandarin Chapter

Joanne Kam has built an impressive career, marked by leadership roles, international recognition, and a commitment to both business and community service.

Her experience at Hewlett-Packard in senior management roles across different regions and divisions highlights her strong business acumen and ability to drive results in multinational environments. Winning the prestigious Hewlett-Packard President’s Club award is a significant testament to her success in the corporate world.

Her dedication to volunteering, particularly through Rotary, also speaks to her passion for giving back and making a global impact, and demonstrates her deep commitment to global service and leadership. Her role as Host Organization Committee Vice Chair during 2017-2024 to bid and organize the 2024 Rotary International Convention in Singapore further illustrates her leadership skills and commitment to promoting peace and goodwill.

Additionally, her work in real estate sales and leasing, combined with her consulting role in the wellness industry, showcases her ability to transition across various sectors, bringing value to clients and contributing to their success in asset management and personal well-being.

International Recognition:

Rotary International Awards and Recognition:

Rotary Membership Society, Bronze Level (2024-25)
Regional Service Award for a Polio-Free World (2023-24)
Rotary Citation (2022-23) for Rotary District 3310
The Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service (2020-21)
Rotary International Avenues of Service Award (2019-20)
Rotary International Club Builder Award (2014-15)

Hewlett-Packard:

Hewlett-Packard President's Cup Award (1996)

Dr Kalpana Bhaskaran

Deputy Director, Industry Partnerships and Head, Glycemic
Index Research Unit at Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore

Dr Kalpana Bhaskaran is currently the Deputy Director, industry partnerships and Head, Glycemic Index Research Unit at Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore with over two decades of expertise in the field of Food, Nutrition & Dietetics. She championed the design, planning and implementation of Singapore’s and region’s first accredited Glycemic Index Research Unit. She is currently the Principal Investigator for many nutrition intervention and efficacy trials. As the cluster co-chair for the Nutrition and Health-Tech Cluster, she drives applied research at the institution level. Recognized as an expert advisor to the Ministry of Health, Singapore, Dr. Kalpana has played a pivotal role in key initiatives, including sugar and sodium reduction and the Nutri-Grade label for sugar-sweetened beverages. She leads sustainability initiatives at the school level. Dr. Kalpana has commercialized numerous low GI food products.

Kalpana has also been an instrumental force in the field of Continuing Education & Training (CET), mooting the idea to start 6 new CET courses tailored for the care industry. Her commitment goes beyond mere course creation; she has actively taught these modules and ensures that these courses are not just educational but serve as powerful tools for upskilling and reskilling. Her foresight has played a crucial role in making these programs adaptable to the dynamic demands of the industry, reflecting her dedication to providing adult learners with skills that are not only elevate today but also future-proof. Her impact on CET extends far beyond the classroom, influencing the trajectory of her students' careers and shaping the future of the care industry.

Dr. Kalpana holds leadership positions in various organizations, including serving as the President of the Singapore Nutrition & Dietetics Association and Advisor for Diabetes Singapore. She is also actively involved in work groups such as the Pro-Tem committee for novel foods and ACE consumer panel. She is the academic board member of Society of Behavioural and Health Singapore. She was invited to be a part of Ministry of Health’s (MOH) citizen’s jury and working group on “Patient empowerment” which is one the initiatives by MOH to beat diabetes. Her influence extends globally as an exco member of the Asian Nutrition Society for Sports and Health (ANSSH) and the Federation of Asian Nutrition Societies (FANS). Her significant contributions have earned accolades, including the National Day commendation award in 2014. Dr Kalpana's resilience and innovative spirit were acknowledged with the "Exemplary Overcomer Award" in 2022, and the "Exemplary Leader Award" for her outstanding leadership in steering diverse teams with excellence in 2023.

Dr Quek Lit Sin

Assistant Chief Executive, Clinical Quality and Patient-Centred Care,
National University Health System

Dr Quek Lit Sin is Assistant Chief Executive at National University Health System (NUHS) and was formerly Chief Executive Officer of Ng Teng Fong General Hospital and Jurong Community Hospital.

As the former Vice Chairman (Clinical Governance), Medical Board of Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (NTFGH), he was the pioneer in setting up the framework of clinical governance in providing assurance of patient safety and clinical quality centred around the patient.

Dr Quek obtained his membership to the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh for Accident & Emergency and Master of Medicine in Emergency Medicine in 2001. He completed a Disaster Medicine Fellowship in the Ronald Reagan Institute of Emergency Medicine at the George Washington University Medical Center, renowned for disaster planning, preparedness and response and maintaining standards of care across the system.

He also serves on Singapore Civil Defence Force’s Medical Advisory Committee for the Ministry of Home Affairs, Singapore Armed Forces’ Emergency Medicine Medical Advisory Panel for the Ministry of Defence and the Panel of Associate Mediators, Singapore Academy of Law. In recognition of his dedication to continually raise Singapore’s standards of care and emergency preparedness, he was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Bronze) in 2020.

Nidhi Swarup

Founding Chair, Alliance of Patients’ Organizations Singapore Ltd.
Founder and President of the Crohn’s & Colitis Society of Singapore.
WHO Patients for Patient Safety Network.
National Pharmacy Strategy Advisory Council, Ministry of Health.
Global Partnership Lead, Sing Health Patient Advocacy Network.
Patient and Family Advisory Council, National University Health Services.

M.Sc. Operations Research, M. Sc. Finance and Graduate Certificate in Professional Counselling.

She has facilitated the formation of Support Groups in Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, and India despite being diagnosed with multiple chronic conditions.

An inspirational speaker at global conferences, Nidhi shares her journey from ‘illness to wellness.

Curriculum vitae

Sherry Soon

Founder, Autoimmune Diseases SG

Sherry, diagnosed with vasculitis at 19, founded Autoimmune Diseases Singapore (ADSG), an informal group, to connect with others facing similar challenges. ADSG offers support and awareness for rheumatological and neurological autoimmune diseases through in-person and online meetings and patient stories.

Beyond her personal journey, Sherry's passion for helping others led her to establish Be Kind SG, a charitable organization dedicated to serving individuals with disabilities and families with children with special needs. Through programmes like 'Be A Special Friend' and 'Play.Able,' Be Kind SG provides befriending, support, and inclusive play opportunities. For her work, she has been awarded ‘Leader of Good’ at the President’s Volunteerism & Philanthropy Awards in 2020 and is also an Obama Leader (Asia-Pacific).

Sherry actively contributes to healthcare policy and practice, serving on various boards and committees, including the Alliance of Patients’ Organizations Singapore, the Ministry of Health's ACE Consumer Panel, and the Singhealth Patient Advocacy Network. As a patient partner at the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, she leverages her personal experiences to support medical research and education.

Professor Eugene Fidelis Soh

Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer, Population Health, NHG
Executive Director, Centre for Healthcare Innovation (CHI)
Adjunct Professor, Lee Kong Chian Medicine, NTU & Imperial College London

Prof Eugene Fidelis Soh leads the Population Health Campus for the National Healthcare Group as its Deputy Group CEO. In this role, he is leading the transformation of our health system towards the health of our population serving 1.5 million residents living in Central and North Singapore. He works closely with primary care and community care partners to enable care beyond the hospitals, integrating health and social care. Prof Soh is also Executive Director for the Centre for Healthcare Innovation (CHI) which drives healthcare innovation for systems change for value-based integrated care, population health and healthcare sustainability. He was the founder of the Singapore Patient Conference and inspired the setup of the Centre for Health Activation working with patients, caregivers and volunteers to activate health. He believes in building communities where health ensues and there is strong support for vulnerable populations to access care.