Board Leadership Transition at Playeum

Playeum would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Ms. Nichol Ng as she steps down from her role as Board Chairperson and Board Director on 12 June 2026. We warmly welcome the return of Playeum’s Co-Founder Ms. Jennifer Loh as our Board Director and incoming Board Chairperson. 

Appreciation for Outgoing Board Chairperson

Since joining the Board in 2023, Nichol has brought invaluable perspectives, strong leadership and a deep personal commitment to building a more equitable and inclusive society where every child has the opportunity to learn and thrive through play.

Her time with Playeum has been marked by thoughtful stewardship and a focus on long-term sustainability. Among her many contributions was her support for the development of our refreshed fundraising strategy, and Nichol's entrepreneurial spirit and ability to listen deeply to diverse voices helped bring clarity to complex challenges and strengthen our work across the organisation.

In June 2025, she stepped into the role of Board Chairperson. During her tenure, Playeum deepened its partnerships across the wider Playeum community and with stakeholders in the education and social service sectors. These relationships strengthened our collective commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for children and families.

A key priority of Nichol's leadership was the renewal of our Board. Recognising the value of diverse perspectives and expertise, she led a process that welcomed three new Board Directors and three Board Committee Members in May 2026. Their appointments have strengthened the leadership and governance needed to support Playeum's continued growth and impact.

Reflecting on her journey with Playeum, Nichol shared:

It is with a heavy heart that I announce that I have stepped down as Playeum’s Board Chairperson to focus on building the next phase of my career.

In most non-profit organisations, succession and continuity have always been a pain point that can hamper an organisation’s development. I am heartened to share that I am handing the baton to one of our founders, Jennifer, who is stepping back onto the Board to take Playeum into our next stage of evolution.

With our continued focus on amplifying children’s voices, we felt Jennifer was the ideal person to lead us into our next chapter. Having helped shape our strategy for children’s participation over the past few years, her appointment reflects a full-circle moment and the enduring commitment of our founders and team to this movement.

A campaign can last for months, but systems change can take decades. It is with this clear vision that we remain dedicated to the ecosystem that we are spearheading.

I would like to thank the Board, the executive team, all our partners and all our playmakers for their support throughout the past year. It’s definitely not goodbye from me, as I continue my adventure into other aspects of the Playeum-verse.

To everyone, life is tough at times, but do not forget to play-play when you need to.

Carpe Diem.

Welcome to Incoming Board Chairperson

As Playeum continues its journey of championing children’s participation and the power of play, we are delighted to welcome Jennifer as our new Board Chairperson.

A co-founder of Playeum, Jennifer has built the foundations of the organisation with Ms. Sumitra Pasupathy since 2009. While she stepped away from day-to-day operations after a decade of service on the Board, Jennifer has remained deeply connected to Playeum’s purpose and continues to be a guiding voice in reminding us of what meaningful child participation truly means.

Over the years, Jennifer has continued to contribute to Playeum’s mission through her insights and involvement in efforts to strengthen children’s voices. Drawing from her experiences and learnings, she has generously shared perspectives that continue to shape our thinking and ensure children’s agency remains at the heart of our work.

Jennifer’s appointment comes at an important time for Playeum as we continue to strengthen our ecosystem of partners and deepen our advocacy for children’s voices in Singapore.

Jennifer shares her reflection and hope:

I am deeply grateful for Nichol's leadership and contributions — both as a Board Director over the years and, most recently, as Chairperson.

This decision to step back onto the Board and serve as its Chairperson is one I arrived at after much reflection, being mindful that founders who stay too long can inadvertently hold an organisation back. What gives me confidence is that Playeum's core team has grown into a strong, capable group that drives initiatives with clarity and conviction, and watching that growth has been genuinely heartening.

I return after a period away from the Board, and after a meaningful journey of personal and professional development, with renewed energy and fresh perspective. Together with the excellent Board that Nichol hands over, and one that will continue to grow in strength, I look forward to the next chapter with Playeum.

Playeum’s Emeritus Advisor, and New Board Directors and Committee Members

Our co-founder, Ms. Sumitra Pasupathy, now serves as Emeritus Advisor. We are also delighted to welcome our new Board Directors and Board Committee Members, whose diverse experiences and expertise will help guide Playeum into its next chapter.

We are excited to welcome:

New Board Directors

• Ms. Suchetha Bhat

  Chief Executive Officer, Dream A Dream

• Ms. Eileen Wong

  Managing Director, Crédit Agricole CIB

• Ms. Quek Jia Qi

  Artist and Educator

New Board Committee Members

• Mr. Jonathan Tow

  Founder, Saga Four

• Ms. Annabel Lin

  Former Managing Director, Google | Healthtech Investor & Startup Mentor

• Mr. Shaowen Ng, GAICD

  General Manager, Asia-Pacific, Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)

Ms. Irene Liu and Mr. Daryl Wang will continue to serve their term as Board Directors.

Appreciation to Outgoing Playeum Advisors

We would like to take a moment to recognise and thank our outgoing Advisors for their contributions and steadfast support over the years.

Our heartfelt appreciation to:

• Ms. Charmaine Teo

  Co-founder, Between Two Trees Preschool

  Director, Blue Lion Preschool

  Vice-President, Association for Early Childhood Educators (Singapore)

  Board Member of the National Institute of Early Childhood Development (NIEC)

  
  

• Mr. Steven Chia

  Presenter and Senior Editor, Channel NewsAsia (CNA)

  Council Member, Charity Council

  
  

• Ms. Wu Jiezhen

  Senior Principal, Korn Ferry

  Board Member and Advisor, The Hidden Good

  
  

• Ms. Naima Mian

  Marketing Consultant, Taproot Foundation

Dr. Sirene Lim, Ms. Sue Adams, and Ms. Charlotte Nors will continue to support Playeum as Advisors.

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We are grateful for the leadership and stewardship of our outgoing Board Chairperson, Nichol, who has helped strengthen our foundation and prepare Playeum for this next phase of growth. With Jennifer’s leadership and the continued support of our Board, Committee Members, team, partners and community, we look forward to the journey ahead.

Playeum will continue to build a world where children’s ideas matter, their voices are valued, and play remains a powerful force for change.

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About Playeum

Playeum was founded in 2009 and established in 2013 as a registered charity with an Institution of a Public Character (IPC) status dedicated to using play and the arts to create equitable opportunities for learning, voice, and agency for every child in Singapore. Our vision is that one day, all children in Singapore, regardless of their differences and backgrounds, will be able to thrive as the best versions of themselves.

We collaborate with partners with a shared vision, and connect with various sectors in society to create structural change for equitable outcomes through community- and family-centric programmes, teacher training, research, and advocacy.

Playeum is a member of the National Council of Social Service, and supported by the National Arts Council Cultural Matching Fund. Donations to Playeum are eligible for a 250% tax deduction and matched dollar-for-dollar.

For enquiry, please reach out to:

Chia Kun Liang (Mr.)

Lead, Communications and Advocacy

Playeum Ltd

kunliang@playeum.com

Charlotte Goh (Ms.)

Executive Director

Playeum Ltd

charlotte@playeum.com

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Appendix A

Biographies of New Board Directors and Board Committee Members

Suchetha Bhat (Ms.) | Board Director, Playeum

Suchetha is the Chief Executive Officer and Facilitator at Dream a Dream, a non-profit organization empowering children from vulnerable backgrounds to thrive through life skills education.

Beginning her career in 2001, Suchetha spent nine years in the corporate sector with organizations including Larsen & Toubro and IBM before transitioning into the social sector as a volunteer with Dream a Dream. Inspired by the experience, she pursued a post-graduate diploma in Psychological Counselling and joined the organisation full-time in 2010.

As Chief Operating Officer, she played a key role in shaping Dream a Dream’s growth and strategic direction, leading to her appointment as CEO in 2018. Under her leadership, the organisation has expanded from reaching 10,000 young people in Bengaluru to over 2.2 million children across seven states in India.

Recognised by NITI Aayog as one of the 75 Women Entrepreneurs Transforming India in 2021, Suchetha also serves on advisory councils supporting education, social innovation and youth development.

Eileen Wong (Ms.) | Board Director, Playeum

Eileen led CACIB's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) team from 2020 to 2026 before joining Playeum's Board. She brings a deep passion for diversity and inclusion, believing that every person has the potential to flourish through creative interactions, play, and learning through play. She hopes to help Playeum bring more opportunities for free, non-screen-based play into homes, schools, and workplaces, inspiring imagination, creativity, and lifelong learning.

A global banking lawyer qualified in England & Wales and Singapore, Eileen graduated from King's College London and built an international legal career across London, Hong Kong, and Singapore before joining Credit Agricole in 2009. She has a proven track record of supporting business growth, enhancing operations, and leading organisational transformation across the Bank's global network. Her expertise spans commodities and trade finance, transactional banking, debt capital markets, structured finance, corporate governance, financial structuring, and regulatory and risk management.

Quek Jia Qi (Ms.) | Board Director, Playeum

Jia Qi is an artist and educator whose work explores how people learn, connect, and thrive together. Working across public art, education, and community engagement, she designs participatory systems, experiences, and learning environments that transform everyday spaces into platforms for collective learning, play, and social connection.

Her practice reimagines how art and learning can function in public life, inviting people to move from audience to co-author. Through interdisciplinary projects, site-specific installations, and public programmes developed with communities across Singapore and internationally, she explores how thoughtful systems, spaces, and invitations can widen access, nurture agency, and expand civic imagination.

In 2026, Jia Qi was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list, recognising her leadership and contributions to the arts. Her work reflects a belief that creativity, play, and collaboration can shape how knowledge and culture are made together, opening up more inclusive and imaginative futures.

Jonathan Tow (Mr.) | Board Committee Member, Playeum

Jonathan is a former Singapore ambassador, board director, business founder, community leader, and father of two young sons.

He is currently the Founder and Managing Director of Saga Four Pte Ltd, a boutique strategic advisory firm, and an Independent Board Director of ITE Education Services (ITEES) Pte Ltd, a subsidiary of the Institute of Technical Education (ITE). Prior to this, he served as Singapore’s Ambassador to Türkiye, bringing almost three decades of experience in diplomacy, geostrategic affairs, and governance.

An active community leader and advocate for interfaith harmony, Jonathan serves as Patron of the Punggol West Citizens’ Consultative Committee and Founding Chairman of the Punggol GRC Racial & Religious Harmony Circle. In 2019, he was conferred the Pingat Bakti Masyarakat (PBM), or Public Service Medal, by the President of Singapore.

Annabel Lin (Ms.) | Board Committee Member, Playeum

Annabel Lin is a global technology leader, investor, and advisor dedicated to leveraging technology as an infrastructure for societal impact. With over 20 years of experience at technology companies such as Yahoo and Google, including serving as Managing Director for APAC and Greater China, she has scaled large-scale commercial operations, driven cross-border market expansions, and navigated complex digital transformations across diverse regional markets.

Beyond her professional roles, Annabel is a passionate advocate for child development, creativity, and the power of play. As a mother, she believes deeply that giving children the space to explore, experiment, and imagine freely is foundational to lifelong learning and leadership.

Annabel brings to Playeum’s Board a unique combination of technology strategy, digital transformation expertise, and a deep conviction that the most important skills of the future — curiosity, creativity, and the courage to try — are cultivated not only in classrooms, but also through the freedom of unstructured play.

Shaowen Ng, GAICD (Mr.) | Board Committee Member, Playeum

Shaowen is General Manager, Asia-Pacific at the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), where he leads regional strategy and stewards the operations, finance, governance, and partnerships of the sector’s peak professional body across the region.

Over more than a decade, he has held leadership roles across the breadth of education — spanning schools, higher education, and the non-profit sector — across the Asia-Pacific, the United States, and the United Kingdom. He holds a Master of Education (Distinction) from Monash University and a Certificate in School Management and Leadership from Harvard University. He is currently a doctoral scholar in Education.

Shaowen believes that play is not merely a pastime. It is the foundation on which children build voice, confidence, and agency to imagine, shape, and author their world — and the means by which every child, regardless of background or ability, can claim their equal place within it.