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Our People

Our Story

Our People

Our Members

Disclosure

Meet our Board of Management and the team that runs the organisation.

Board Members – Alternate Section Option

Black and white photo of Richard Kuppusamy, he is smiling, wears glasses and is wearing a black t-shirt

Richard Kuppusamy

President

Black and white photo of Peggy Sarah Yee, she is smiling, has shoulder length hair and is wearing a white top

Peggy Sarah Yee

Vice President

Black and white photo of Chang-Tang Siew Ngoh, she is smiling, has her hair tied back and wears glasses

Chang-Tang Siew Ngoh

Honorary Secretary

Black and white photo of Navin Nair, he is smiling, has short hair and is wearing a dark shirt

Navin Nair

Honorary Treasurer

Board Members

Black and white photo of Richard Kuppusamy, he is smiling, wears glasses and is wearing a black t-shirt

Richard Kuppusamy

President

Black and white photo of Peggy Sarah Yee, she is smiling, has shoulder length hair and is wearing a white top

Peggy Sarah Yee

Vice President

Black and white photo of Chang-Tang Siew Ngoh, she is smiling, has her hair tied back and wears glasses

Chang-Tang Siew Ngoh

Honorary Secretary

Black and white photo of Navin Nair, he is smiling, has short hair and is wearing a dark shirt

Navin Nair

Honorary Treasurer

Black and white photo of Mike Chin, he is smiling, has short hair and is wearing a grey t-shirt

Mike Chin

Assistant Honorary Treasurer

Black and white photo of Dawn-Joy Leong, she is smiling, wears glasses and is wearing a dark top

Dawn-Joy Leong

Committee Member

Black and white photo of Cassandra Chiu, she is smiling, has long hair and is wearing a white top

Cassandra Chiu

Committee Member

Black and white photo of Darren Ho, he is smiling, has short hair and is wearing a black collared top

Darren Ho

Committee Member

Black and white photo of Alvan Yap, he is smiling, has short hair and is wearing a t-shirt

Alvan Yap

Committee Member

Black and white photo of Arsalan Ali, he is smiling, has short hair and is wearing a collared polo top

Arsalan Ali

Advisor

Management Team

Black and white photo of Marissa Lee Medjeral-Mills, she is smiling, has shoulder hair and is wearing a black top

Marissa Lee Medjeral-Mills

Executive Director

Black and white photo of Asha Karen, she is smiling, has long hair and is wearing a patterned shirt

Asha Karen

Head of Department - Training and Inclusion Ambassadors

Black and white photo of Shafiqah Sahar, she is smiling, has long hair and is wearing a black top

Shafiqah Sahar

Communications & Outreach Executive

Black and white photo of Ain Hamzah, she is smiling and wearing a flowing patterned hijab

Ain Hamzah

Digital Marketing & Fundraising Manager

Black and white photo of Anusiah a/p Tharmalingam, she is smiling and has her hair partially tied back

Anusiah a/p Tharmalingam

Administration Manager

Black and white photo of Max Soh, he is smiling, has short hair and is wearing a tartan patterned shirt

Max Soh

Research and Policy Manager

Organisation Chart

DPA Organisation Hierachy: Board of Management. Executive Director, Reports to Board of Management. Admin Manager, Reports to Executive Director. Admin and Finance Executive, Reports to Admin Manager. Research and Policy Manager, Reports to Executive Director. Digital Marketing and Fundraising Manager, Reports to Executive Director. Outreach and Communications Executive, Reports to Digital Marketing and Fundraising Manager. Head of Department- Training and Inclusion Ambassadors, Reports to Executive Director. Inclusion Ambassadors, Reports to Head of Department- Training and Inclusion Ambassadors. Volunteers, Reports to Head of Department-Training and Inclusion Ambassadors.
Black and white photo of Richard Kuppusamy, he is smiling, wears glasses and is wearing a black t-shirt

Richard Kuppusamy

President

If we want change (to make Singapore more inclusive), we need to be active participants in that change. No one else is going to do it for us.

Richard Kuppusamy has been serving as the President of DPA since September 2017. When he is not heading the Lendlease Digital office or supporting DPA’s board of directors, Richard spends his time on Netflix, gaming and building mechanical keyboards. One of his goals is to champion the needs of people with disability in Singapore. Inclusion to him means no one gets left behind, where everyone has the equal right to live, work, play and do so safely and without judgement or discrimination.

Black and white photo of Peggy Sarah Yee, she is smiling, has shoulder length hair and is wearing a white top

Peggy Sarah Yee

Vice President

I wanted to be part of a movement which will be a voice for those with invisible special needs.

Peggy Sarah Yee has been practising law for 34 years and is particularly interested in Family Law matters. She is deeply passionate about advancing the cause of those with disabilities, especially invisible disabilities. A foodie at heart, Peggy is always on a hunt for good food and is also an avid cook who loves experimenting with new recipes in her home kitchen.

Black and white photo of Chang-Tang Siew Ngoh, she is smiling, has her hair tied back and wears glasses

Chang-Tang Siew Ngoh

Honorary Secretary

Inclusion to me is helping to ensure no one is left out by virtue of their (dis)abilities, ethnicity, religion or socio-economic status. In the disability sector, that means removing any disabling barriers around having a disability.

Chang-Tang Siew Ngoh has served on DPA’s Board since 1993 in various capacities. Currently retired, Siew Ngoh had years of working experience in personnel management, research and planning on three statutory boards. She has also taught at several tertiary institutions as a tutor and adjunct lecturer while serving on the Executive Council of the Singapore Association for the Deaf (SADeaf). She enjoys taking walks in the park and listening to evergreens.

Black and white photo of Navin Nair, he is smiling, has short hair and is wearing a dark shirt

Navin Nair

Honorary Treasurer

Being a person with disability, I am passionate about advocacy works and my ultimate goal is to keep making a better version of myself and always live life to the fullest.

Dr Navin Nair holds a DBA (Doctorate) Degree in Managerial Science from USA, Masters in Human Resource Management from USA & UK. Learning is his passion and he enjoys life to the fullest and upholds the motto “equal rights and opportunities” for all. Playing the piano and keyboard relaxes him and he rarely says no to briyani and awesome desserts.

Black and white photo of Mike Chin, he is smiling, has short hair and is wearing a grey t-shirt

Mike Chin

Assistant Honorary Treasurer​

There is so much to be done in Singapore for us to be considered an inclusive society.

Mike Chin is always on the go. He is a positive thinker who would love to learn to play the piano someday. Inclusion to him means having the freedom to go about your day, not worrying about being judged by the way you look, talk and walk. Mike has always been interested in history. Stories of how people lived across different eras are of particular interest to him. Despite having a sweet tooth, Mike is trying to give up sugary desserts to pursue a healthier life.

Black and white photo of Dawn-Joy Leong, she is smiling, wears glasses and is wearing a dark top

Dawn-Joy Leong

Committee Member

It is not my purpose to “fix” what is “broken” but to empower beauty in the vulnerable and unnoticed.

Dr Dawn-Joy Leong is an Autism researcher and multi-disciplinary artist. She loves spending her time with the love of her life, Lucy Like-a-Charm and knitting sweaters for skinny dogs. Lucy Like-a-Charm, a rescued former racing Greyhound is Dawn-Joy’s retired assistance dog, creative muse and closest companion. She has had fabulous adventures and is already looking forward to the next one.

Black and white photo of Cassandra Chiu, she is smiling, has long hair and is wearing a white top

Cassandra Chiu

Committee Member

I’m a strong advocate for people with disabilities and feel very strongly about equal opportunities for the disabled and Guide Dogs. I dream that one day my beloved Singapore has a place for each and every one of us.

Cassandra Chiu provides therapy to clients struggling with mental health difficulties. When she is not counselling, she is found hanging out on the floor with her guide dog or putting together a beautiful meal for her family and friends. Cassandra wears her advocacy on her sleeve and is on a mission to create a kinder place for future generations of people with disabilities in Singapore.

Black and white photo of Darren Ho, he is smiling, has short hair and is wearing a black collared top

Darren Ho

Committee Member

We have a lot to share and offer to the community, from how we view situations to how we deal with obstacles in our way. While we are different in some ways, there is much we can all learn from one another.

Darren is a serial entrepreneur who now runs his data, consultancy and investment firm specialising in the web 3.0 space. He was diagnosed in his mid-thirties with ADHD, Autism and Tourette’s Syndrome and uses his life lessons to advocate inclusive hiring and learning agility in organisations. Darren loves tennis and is a coffee enthusiast.

Black and white photo of Alvan Yap, he is smiling, has short hair and is wearing a t-shirt

Alvan Yap

Committee Member

We are different in many ways, but ultimately, we’re more alike than we are different. Because we’re all human beings.

Alvan was a former staff of DPA handling the advocacy portfolio. He has since moved on and is currently serving as Deputy Director with Singapore Association for the Deaf. Alvan believes in having a larger disability community coming together with similar experiences and purpose; strength in numbers. In his downtime, Alvan enjoys drawing and taking long walks in places old and new.

Black and white photo of Arsalan Ali, he is smiling, has short hair and is wearing a collared polo top

Arsalan Ali

Advisor

I see the stigma surrounding persons with disabilities and the challenges organisations that represent persons with disabilities face. I believe having a cohesive brand strategy can help address this stigma, and enable the DPA to achieve our vision.

Arsalan is a brand strategist with over twenty years of experience working in Singapore and the US. He has a genuine love for brands and how consumers connect with and form opinions about the brands they use. Arsalan has been serving as an Advisor of the board since 2010. In his spare time, he loves cycling and watching New York Yankees games.

Black and white photo of Marissa Lee Medjeral-Mills, she is smiling, has shoulder hair and is wearing a black top

Marissa Lee Medjeral-Mills

Executive Director

Dr Marissa Lee Medjeral-Mills is a disability advocate and the Executive Director of DPA since 2012. Marissa has a PhD in ethics, politics and public policy and is particularly interested in how policies can and should be informed by the social model of disability. At the DPA, she focuses on two major initiatives. Marissa is currently producing access guides for public places in Singapore and is working with a multi-agency committee committed to improving accessibility in the Central Business District. She is also partnering with a team of Inclusion Ambassadors, DPA members with disabilities, who have been trained to deliver professional workshops on engaging better with persons with disabilities, providing more inclusive customer service training and promoting awareness about more inclusive workforces, to grow the programme into a sustainable business. She is a third culture kid & her family is Peranakan Singaporean + Argentinian, by way of Croatia and Germany. After hours, she loves spending quality time with her family and 12-year-old Dachshund.

Black and white photo of Asha Karen, she is smiling, has long hair and is wearing a patterned shirt

Asha Karen

Head of Department - Training and Inclusion Ambassadors

Asha Karen has a Master’s and a Bachelor’s Degree in Law, and a Bachelor’s Degree in English Language and Literature and has been with DPA since 2014. Asha is responsible for the strategic and operational aspects of DPA’s training and development initiatives, Inclusion Ambassador Programme and various projects led by Inclusion Ambassadors. She also manages DPA’s membership wing and oversees member development, outreach and activities. An exponent of design thinking and continuous learning. Asha uses her free time to volunteer and contributes to society. Travel is in her veins, addicted to poetry and loves wildlife photography. She believes in giving the best to get the best!

Black and white photo of Shafiqah Sahar, she is smiling, has long hair and is wearing a black top

Shafiqah Sahar

Communications & Outreach Executive

Shafiqah joined DPA in mid-2022 in pursuit of her long-standing interest in education and social services. Prior to joining DPA, she worked as a Marketing Officer for a shipyard company and has over five years work experience running events as a hotelier and as a contact centre agent with the ministry. Shafiqah is looking forward to seeing the difference she can bring to the lives of the disability community through awareness, advocacy and outreach. Reading a book whilst living vicariously through the characters, watching some good old TV shows, being in the company of family and friends is typically what you’ll find her doing in her free time.

Black and white photo of Ain Hamzah, she is smiling and wearing a flowing patterned hijab

Ain Hamzah

Digital Marketing & Fundraising Manager

With a deep drive to promote empowerment, Ain believes that education is the single most powerful tool to overcome socio-economic barriers and transform communities. She joined the organisation in 2021 and brings with her more than 15 years of unique experience in the social service sector specialising in marketing and fundraising management. With a natural flair for communication and a passion to serve, Ain is committed to continue delivering creative content and out of the box digital campaigns. She is also a homebody who enjoys travelling to temperate countries and dreams of seeing the northern lights on top of snowy mountain tops someday.

Black and white photo of Anusiah a/p Tharmalingam, she is smiling and has her hair partially tied back

Anusiah a/p Tharmalingam

Administration Manager

Armed with a Diploma in IT & Accounting, Anusiah has been serving DPA for over twenty-three years! She is the go-to person for anything and everything related to numbers, IT and admin. She is highly independent and takes pride in her work and has razor-sharp attention to detail. Anusiah likes taking the initiative in getting the work done and enjoys organising events. She loves spending her free time watching documentary series on Animal Planet. Sipping tea on her front porch while listening to the birds chirping in the early morning is her definition of a perfect me-time. She is also a full-time referee to her two children’s endless fights and banters.

Black and white photo of Max Soh, he is smiling, has short hair and is wearing a tartan patterned shirt

Max Soh

Research and Policy Manager

Max joined DPA in 2021 and manages the organisation’s various advocacy and research initiatives. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and studied human rights for two years in his graduate programme. In addition to being disabled himself (visually impaired since birth), Max brings experience with disability and disability advocacy through his prior involvements with disability organisations especially internationally. In his spare time, Max enjoys music (particularly playing the guitar) and scrolling through Twitter. Max loves good food and his go-to guilty pleasure – French fries.