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2025 Fellows
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Overview
The inaugural President’s Challenge Fellows are remarkable individuals from diverse backgrounds, including individuals who have overcome personal challenges, as well as those who have consistently worked to uplift communities and contribute positively to the social sector.
Through their stories of resilience, innovation, and dedication, they now aspire to give back to the community, leveraging their experiences to build a stronger, more inclusive future for all.
Our Fellows
Civic Action Fellows

Cheok Xue Ting
COO, Trampolene Limited
Xue Ting is dedicated to empowering individuals with special needs, drawing from her own experience overcoming learning barriers in her early years. She designed and led the GATES (Growing Alternate Talent for the Engineering Sector) programme, which trains and places tertiary-educated adults with autism in the engineering sector.
Through partnerships with over 150 companies, including many first-time inclusive employers, Xue Ting has championed inclusive hiring practices for individuals with autism, ADHD, and other invisible learning challenges.
Fellowship Goals and Aspirations
Xue Ting aims to equip individuals with special needs, while they are still in school, with the skills and tools they need to succeed in the real world. Through the Fellowship, she plans to collaborate across disciplines to develop sustainable solutions, including assistive tools and effective teaching systems. Her goal is to challenge traditional organisation frameworks and work towards a future where inclusion is the norm, not the exception.
Lim Tanguy
CEO, Pro BonoSG
Tanguy is a seasoned leader in Singapore’s non-profit sector with nearly two decades of experience in institutionalising access to justice. He has spearheaded initiatives such as the integrated Community Law Centre to enhance legal access for underserved communities. Under his leadership, Pro Bono SG transformed from a department within the Law Society into a national charity that has assisted over 150,000 individuals.
Fellowship Goals and Aspirations
Tanguy aims to build a compelling, data-driven case for the systemic adoption of integrated justice in Singapore. Through the Fellowship, he seeks to conduct research that will support the transition of community-based legal aid initiatives into a sustainable, evidence-based institutional model.

Joshua Tseng
Director and Co-founder, Blind Mice Media Pte. Ltd.
Joshua is a digital media entrepreneur with vision impairment, who advocates for accessible technology, inclusive employment, and self-determination for people with disabilities. He has represented Singapore at the United Nations HQ and the World Expo in Osaka, sharing insights on disability employment and digital inclusivity. Joshua is also a youth leader, volunteering with SG Enable, The Purple Parade, and SPD.
Fellowship Goals and Aspirations
Joshua is committed to building a digital future that is inclusive for all. The Fellowship will enable him to conduct research to advance digital accessibility, supporting organisations in making their platforms more user-friendly for people with disabilities.
Springboard Fellows

Nur Shahirah Binte Omar
Part-time F&B staff
Nur Shahirah is a single mother of three. She has overcome significant personal challenges, including abusive relationships and financial hardship. Despite these struggles, she has shown an unwavering commitment to personal growth, volunteering with the Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations and earning a diploma in Business.
Fellowship Goals and Aspirations
Shahirah aims to pursue her passion for Psychology and create a better future for herself and her children. The Fellowship will enable her to further her education and hopefully inspire other single parents to do the same.

Selva Raju S/O Arumugam
Medical Technologist, SingHealth
Selva Raju’s earlier years were marked by personal hardship, including the frequent hospitalisation of his mother and being orphaned as a teenager. With encouragement from his CCA advisor at ITE, Selva pursued further studies, eventually earning a Bachelor of Science from The University of Queensland.
For over 10 years, he has volunteered with Youth Corps Singapore, coaching athletes at the Special Olympics.
Fellowship Goals and Aspirations
Selva plans to pursue a Master’s in Applied Biomedicine or Sustainable Healthcare. The Fellowship will help him expand his expertise and leadership skills and pair him with a mentor to guide his journey, enabling him to drive meaningful impact in healthcare and continue helping others.

Shirlene Ng Shan Yu
Temasek Polytechnic Graduate
Shirlene’s journey has been shaped by both trauma and resilience. Growing up in a dysfunctional family, she lost her mother to suicide and struggled with the emotional aftermath, even attempting to take her own life. Despite these challenges, she found the strength to rebuild her life, eventually graduating from Temasek Polytechnic with a Diploma in Psychology.
Her personal experience has fuelled her desire to help others overcome trauma. Shirlene actively volunteers with Owena, an alumni group dedicated to supporting young female trauma survivors, and she is committed to healing herself and others.
Fellowship Goals and Aspirations
The Fellowship will enable Shirlene to pursue a Psychology degree and pair her with a mentor to guide her journey, helping her build the skills needed to support vulnerable children and others facing similar challenges. She aims to help others overcome trauma and inspire them to achieve their potential.

Barry Yeow
Director, 5Seventeen Pte Ltd
Barry's life took a transformative turn after serving a 10-year sentence for drug-related charges. During his time in prison, he discovered a passion for art, which became a tool for personal healing. Now an artist mentor at Gladiolus Place, he helps others rebuild their lives.
He also co-founded CANVAS, a mentorship programme for inmates through the Singapore Prison Service, and received the Throughcare Hero Award for his sustained mentorship efforts to help ex-offenders reintegrate into society.
Fellowship Goals and Aspirations
The Fellowship will provide Barry with the opportunity to pursue courses to develop both soft and technical skills for community work. He aims to expand his ability to use art as a transformative tool to help others rebuild their lives and foster lasting change.
ITE Inspire Fellows

Edmund Lek Hwee Chong
Senior Vice President, Operations, Seatrium Limited
Edmund’s journey started with vocational training at ITE. He retook his O’levels, demonstrating his determination for self-improvement. Rising through the ranks in the offshore and marine industry, he is now Senior Vice President at Seatrium, overseeing complex projects for global energy clients. Edmund credits much of his success to the "can-do" attitude fostered during his time at ITE.
He is committed to mentoring young professionals, offering internships, and partnering with ITE to bridge education and industry demands.
Fellowship Goals and Aspirations
Edmund seeks to provide ITE students with real-world exposure and industry insights through yard tours, attachment programmes and mentorship. He also aims to co-design and sponsor short courses through Seatrium’s Digital Learning Lab at ITE, further strengthening the technical capabilities of future professionals.

Mohamad Suhaimi Bin Sukiman
Co-Owner & Coffee Director, Dutch Colony Coffee Co.
Suhaimi’s academic struggles were largely due to personal responsibilities, including caring for his seriously ill mother while balancing his education. He discovered his passion for coffee while working part-time as a barista. This passion became the foundation for his successful career. He became the first to introduce carbonated cold brew in Singapore in 2017, and has since established himself as a prominent figure in the local coffee industry.
Suhaimi is dedicated to giving back, regularly mentoring students and delivering talks at ITE, secondary schools and designs programmes for youth at-risk and students on the autism spectrum.
Fellowship Goals and Aspirations
Suhaimi plans to introduce a “Brew Your Career” programme to help students view coffee as a viable career path while learning transferable skills. He hopes to inspire innovation and entrepreneurship, empowering youth to pursue careers that offer both personal growth and professional opportunities.

Jocelyn Ng Ling Hui
Assistant Director of Nursing (Nursing Education), Ang Mo Kio – Thye Hua Kwan Hospital
Jocelyn’s journey into healthcare leadership began at ITE, motivated by her grandfather’s illness and a desire to better care for her family. She pursued a Nitec in Nursing, then went on to complete a Bachelor in Nursing and a Master of Education. Jocelyn has dedicated herself to advancing eldercare in Singapore and has received numerous awards.
ITE gave her the skills and confidence to embark on a successful career in nursing, and now she is passionate about nurturing the next generation of healthcare professionals.
Fellowship Goals and Aspirations
Jocelyn plans to create a "live" online platform that connects ITE students, graduates, and alumni across different career stages in healthcare. The platform will enable juniors to connect with senior professionals for guidance and career advice, helping to expand their networks and foster learning.

Noel Ng Sing Guan
Owner & Director of Harts, Hint, Hei, and Hove Salons
Noel’s journey in the hairdressing industry began at ITE, where he enrolled in the newly launched Nitec in Hair Services course. Inspired by his aunt’s neighborhood salon, he discovered a natural flair for hairstyling. Through perseverance and hard work, Noel went on to win multiple awards. Today, he owns/co-owns four salons and manages 46 staff members.
Fellowship Goals and Aspirations
Noel hopes to advocate for hairdressing is a respected profession and viable career path using social media outreach, motivational talks, mentorship and providing internships and full-time positions to ITE graduates.
Anders Tan Wei Siong
Founder, Inclus Pte Ltd
Anders began his journey with a Nitec in Info-Communication Technology from ITE, followed by a diploma and degree in Information Systems Management. His passion for inclusivity was sparked after witnessing his autistic brother-in-law’s struggles in the job market. In 2018, he founded "Inclus," a self-sustaining social enterprise, to empower people with disabilities, and later launched "InSchool," an after-school care program for children with special needs.
He continues to uplift the ITE community. He is the Honorary Secretary of ITE Alumni Association Management Committee, mentors ITE students, launches programmes for those with special needs, leads fundraising efforts, and offers free mentoring and industry immersion programmes.
Fellowship Goals and Aspirations
Anders plans to support ITE students in bringing their social innovation ideas to life. He hopes to inspire students to pursue social entrepreneurship and build a strong spirit of community within the ITE alumni network.
