Speakers of InteresThink 3

For a list of previous InteresThink speakers, see this list of InteresThink 2 speakers.

Note that these topics are based on our last discussion with the speakers. Due to the nature of the event, the topics may be changed at the last minute.

Topic: “The Importance of Sanitation and the Work of the Restroom Association”

Website: Restroom Association (Singapore)

Why Puay Hoon?

Ms Tan Puay Hoon is the President of the Restroom Association (Singapore). She met Mr Jack Sim, the founder of RAS, and complained to him about this problem. She started to volunteer her service for RAS in 2003. She took over the presidency of the Association from Jack in 2007 and continues the Vision to have clean public toilets for everyone.

She worked in MNC, local listed company and quasis government organization for more than 15 years before she left the corporate sector in 2003 to set up her own company to provide consultancy & training, market research and management services to SME retailers. She is a retail consultant.

Topic: “Why am I in Knowledge Management?”

Website: Straits Knowledge

Why Patrick Lambe?

One of Asia's most respected knowledge management practitioners, Patrick was originally trained in Library Science. He arrived in KM via a second career in training and development, and has been based in Singapore for 16 years. Patrick is also an Adjunct Professor in KM at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and is President of the Information & Knowledge Management Society.

Topic: “The State of Social Entrepreneurship in Singapore”

Website: PERTAPIS Welfare & Education

Why Alfie Othman?

Alfie Othman has had a successful banking career of over twelve years in JP Morgan and Citibank. Alongside his private sector work, Alfie has devoted significant time to the public sector and civil society. Alfie has been an executive member in PERTAPIS, a voluntary welfare organization that has been providing social, educational and welfare services to the local Malay community since the 1970s. In this role, Mr. Othman has overseen welfare and education centres for the marginalised.

With the aid of the Ministry of Community Services, Youth and Sports (MCYS) and PERTAPIS, Alfie set up an industrial catering kitchen (Ikhlas Catering) which provides jobs to workers from the marginalised sectors, such as ex-offenders, single mothers, and the disabled. Ikhlas Catering has been in operation since 2004 and now has a total staff of 17 full-time and 10 part-time personnel. In addition, he has initiated at least 2 other Social Enterprise.

Alfie’s involvement in the social enterprise community in Singapore also includes work with a number of government ministries like MCYS & MOE. Mr. Othman has also been appointed Mentor and Guest Lecturer for Diploma in Social Enterprise and Business at Ngee Ann Polytechnic. Advisor to ITE Simei Business School in Social Enterprise training and development.

Website: Joy of Learning Consultants

Why Douglas O'Loughlin?

Douglas O’Loughlin is a highly effective consultant, who designs and facilitates workshops to support organizations to be “successful”. He has led programs in more than 20 countries around the world, serving/supporting a wide variety of wonderful clients and partners, which include Corporate, Education, and Social Activism.

His areas of expertise and focus are Change Management, Coaching, Leadership, Team Development, and Facilitation. In addition to facilitating many corporate events, Douglas has lectured at the Singapore Institute of Management, DHRD and RMIT. Douglas is keenly involved in a number of organizations and his “learning family” extends all over the world. In Singapore, Douglas is the co-founder and current Vice-President of the Organization Development Group at SIM (Singapore Institute of Management).

Globally, Douglas actively supports the Future Search Network, the Open Space Network, World Café Community, the Asia OD Network, and the OD Institute. He has helped to organize and facilitate a number of Global Conferences with organizations over the past few years.

PS: Douglas is also advising us on large group involvement techniques. Thanks Douglas!

Topic: “Taking a Different Path”

Website: Ethos Books

Why Fong Hoe Fong?

Hoe Fang graduated with a degree in Social Work from the then-Singapore University in 1978 and an honours degree in Sociology in 1979. He joined the Singapore Airport Terminal Services (SATS – a subsidiary of the SIA Group of companies). He left SATS after 10 years, in 1988, to set up his own company, dealing with advertising, design, publishing and strategic communication.

In the first 2 years of the company, he discriminated on the side of the disadvantaged, giving priority to ex-convicts, drug users undergoing rehab, and those with hearing impairments or physical disabilities, the first right of refusal for appropriate jobs with the company. Today, he continues with the same belief in the worth of every individual, and 20% of his full-time workforce has a disability of some sort or other.