Speakers

Eric Chua

Mr Eric Chua is Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Social and Family Development, as well as Culture, Community and Youth. Mr Chua was previously a lifesaver in the Singapore Civil Defence Force for 17 years before being elected to Parliament in July 2020. Before joining politics, Mr Chua spent a good part of his time volunteering in the community. Over the span of his professional and volunteering journey, he discovered his passion for working with and empowering people. Having come from a humble family background, Mr Chua advocates strongly for social mobility and is a strong believer of the power of mentoring.

Most recently, Mr Chua was the co-chair of the 27-member Enabling Masterplan 2030 Steering Committee, that sets out the vision for Singapore as an inclusive society in 2030. He was also the Head of an inter-agency delegation for Singapore’s first Constructive Dialogue with the United Nations committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, where Singapore shared the progress we have made, and our continued commitment in our journey towards an inclusive society.

Check out his LinkedIn page here

Michael Fembek

Michael Fembek is the CEO of the Zero Project.

A former business journalist, he has initiated and developed the Zero Project since 2008.  In July 2022, Michael Fembek joined the Board of Directors of the Essl Foundation, in charge of strategy, international cooperations and communications. He is also head of the Disability Thematic Network of Philea, the leading European Association of foundations.

As the former Editor-in-Chief of  "Gewinn", an Austrian business magazine, Michael has been keen to pair his entrepreneurial ambitions with value and purpose. Consequently, in 2009 he initiated "Sinnstifter", a project by Austrian philanthropists, and launched the annual Austrian Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Guide. His work with foundations was further enriched when in 2014, he co-initiated the Austrian philanthropic association, called "Verband für Gemeinnütziges Stiften", where he serves as Vice President. In 2016, he co-initiated the Haus der Philanthropie, a novel co-working space dedicated to NGOs, as well as the Sinnbildungsstiftung, a foundation focusing on innovations in education, on which he currently serves as a Board Member.

Michael Fembek holds a graduate degree in Economics from the Vienna University of Economics and Business.

Check out his LinkedIn page here

Moses Lee

Mr Moses Lee is currently the Chairman of SG Enable and Special Needs Trust Company (SNTC). Under his stewardship as Chairman of Tote Board (2013 to 2020), the SNTC (since 2019), and SG Enable (since 2022), many initiatives were launched to strengthen the social service sector, enhance the financial security of persons with disabilities, and support their aspirations. These include the Enabling Lives Initiative, by SG Enable and Tote Board, and the Goh Chok Tong Enable Fund, administered by SG Enable.

Mr Lee retired from the Singapore Civil Service in October 2012 after a distinguished career in both the development and regulatory areas of the public service. His appointments included being Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister and Permanent Secretary in the Ministries of Labour, Community Development and Health.

Mr Lee was the Commissioner of the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) from 2005 until his retirement. As the Commissioner, Mr Lee pushed for IRAS to excel in managing both tax compliance and customer service.

Nur Arfa Taqiah Binte Mohamad Noor Azhar

Nur Arfa Taqiah Mohamad Noor Azhar, 18, is an engineering student at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE).

Ms Arfa is one of the first four students benefiting from the Enabling Pathway Programme (EPP) which was officially launched by Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat at Sengkang Rail Depot on 3 Sept 2024. The inaugural partnership under this programme focuses on land transport engineering, bringing SBS Transit onboard as the first employer to support students with disabilities studying engineering courses at ITE.

Under a three-year partnership, SBS Transit will offer six- to nine-month internships to up to 10 ITE students per year – the first of which started in July.

Before starting an internship with SBS Transit in July, the engineering student worried about how colleagues would view her disabilities as she is hard of hearing and has multiple sclerosis. However, her colleagues have turned out to be “very accommodating, very welcoming to people like me”, and she has enjoyed work so far.

Ms Arfa is currently based in the signalling department of the bus and rail operator’s North East Line component service centre at Sengkang Rail Depot.

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