Profiles

Meet Ms Kweh Jia Xuan, a 23-year-old athlete with mild intellectual disabilities, who represented Special Olympics Singapore in DanceSport (Latin Dance) for the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025! The Special Olympics World Games is the world’s largest humanitarian sporting event, and was hosted in Turin, Italy, this year. Over 100 nations sent nearly 1,500 athletes with intellectual disabilities to compete in 9 sports at the Special Olympics World Winter Games 2025, including 113 participants from the Asia Pacific region representing countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. Team Special Olympics Singapore competed in DanceSport, showcasing their talent in the Latin Dance genre in both team and couples’ categories. Jia Xuan was part of the first-ever team of four athletes with intellectual disabilities, accompanied by four officials, to compete in the inaugural DanceSport competition at the Special Olympics World Games, after DanceSport was unveiled as an official Special Olympics sport in 2019. Jia Xuan’s passion for Latin Dance ignited during her secondary school years at APSN Tanglin School, through her co-curricular activities. She followed in the footsteps of her mum, Olivia Oh, 53, who was a keen dancer almost 20 years ago. Olivia has been a constant source of support, seeing Jia Xuan’s choice of activity as a fantastic way to stay fit and active. Although Olivia no longer dances herself, she’s one of the Special Olympics DanceSport’s team’s biggest fan, often helping with hair and makeup for performances. Reflecting on the choice of her co-curricular activity back in school, Jia Xuan said that her decision to choose dance was motivated by her love for music. However, she credits her patient and encouraging coach, Andy Ang, for motivating her to continue training weekly with Special Olympics Singapore’s DanceSport outreach for the past five years. Jia […]

  Swisslog Technical Lead, Afsaneh Abolhassani Swisslog Technical Lead, Afsaneh Abolhassani, has always enjoyed the technical aspects of complex automation and intralogistics projects, and encourages others to continuously learn the latest technologies and trends. In a career spanning more than 15 years in the logistics and automation industry, including eight years with Swisslog in design and consulting roles, and most recently a year as Technical Lead, Afsaneh hasn’t felt any additional challenges being a woman in a male-dominated field. “That doesn’t mean others haven’t faced challenges, of course, this is just my experience. For women – and for anyone – entering a new field of work, it’s important to familiarise yourself with the needs and requirements of that industry, to see if it’s a good fit for you, and to figure out where you can add the most value,” she says. After an initial seven years with Swisslog, Afsaneh moved to another company in the logistics and automation industry for four and a half years, before returning to Swisslog a little over a year ago, to commence her new role as Technical Lead. “I chose to return because this was an exciting opportunity, and Swisslog has recently taken steps to further enhance its already excellent culture that continues to put people first, proactively encourages you to expand your skills, and makes everyone feel welcome and supported,” she says. Afsaneh’s role involves collaborating with design teams to create complex solutions that meet the customer’s specific requirements. As a global leader in intralogistics and warehouse automation, Swisslog’s projects range from standardised and standalone automation solutions, right through to highly customised solutions for unique and large-scale applications. “Regardless of the size of the project, my job is to ensure all the technical aspects work successfully, and that the customer is satisfied with the […]

  www.womengoingplaces.net When Paris McCann first stepped through the doors of Buckley Systems Ltd, she never dreamed she would become an apprentice – but fast forward four years and all that has changed. Now, she’s forging an exciting career in the manufacturing sector and is set to become one of the first-ever Buckley employees to complete a general engineering apprenticeship. “I initially joined Buckley as an Assembly Technician, but when they offered me an apprenticeship through Competenz I jumped at the opportunity,” says the Mt Wellington resident.  “I like to learn new things, and the chance to study and work at the same time was just too good to turn down.” Buckley Systems Ltd is considered a great place for top-tier engineering talent, and although they’ve long offered apprenticeships in machining, fabrication and electrical engineering, general engineering is a recent addition. That spells great news for aspiring tradies like Paris. “The biggest highlight for me has been furthering my knowledge in areas I didn’t know much about,” she says. “Through this apprenticeship I’ve been able to learn new skills and develop my problem solving capabilities, and although the block courses pushed me out of my comfort zone, I got through them and they weren’t actually as hard as I thought they’d be!” The secret to her success? According to Competenz training advisor Luke van den Bos, a lot of it comes down to mindset. “Paris is motivated to complete and she works hard to keep herself on target,” says Luke. “When she was first employed at Buckley, taking on an apprenticeship wasn’t something she had considered so I’m extremely happy that the opportunity was offered to her, and she’s been able to embrace it, commit to it, and see it through. “Like I always tell my learners, completing an apprenticeship […]

    www.womengoingplaces.net                                                                                Explain to readers about Bridging the Gap Bridging the Gap (BtG) is an integrated early intervention centre dedicated to supporting children with developmental needs aged 18 months to 7 years. We take a multidisciplinary approach, combining speech therapy, occupational therapy, educational therapy, and social skills development to ensure that each child receives holistic and personalised support. Our goal is to create a nurturing environment where children can build confidence, develop essential skills, and integrate with their peers, empowering them to reach their full potential. What challenges do you have with your son Emmanuel? Emmanuel was born prematurely at 32 weeks and faced multiple medical conditions, including apraxia and global developmental delay. His early years were spent in and out of hospitals, undergoing surgeries and battling infections. As he grew older, I noticed significant challenges in his ability to communicate and integrate socially. Despite my best efforts to place him in mainstream settings, he struggled with anxiety and was often isolated or misunderstood. Watching him experience frustration and exclusion was heartbreaking, and it reinforced my determination to find the right support for him. Earlier on, you found there was a large gap in support? Yes, I quickly realised that there was a lack of comprehensive, holistic early intervention services in Singapore. Many centres focused on only one aspect of therapy—such as speech or occupational therapy—without addressing the broader developmental needs of the child. Additionally, there was minimal collaboration between early intervention centres and preschools, making integration even more difficult. I found myself navigating a fragmented system, with long waiting […]

Kae Porter, founder of Amicii  Sydney-based Kae Porter thrives on connecting people. So, it’s no surprise that this former legal industry marketer and award-winning PR agency owner has become a passionate tech entrepreneur. As the founder of Amicii, Australia’s first social experience marketplace, she is on a mission to put hospitality back at the heart of human connections. Amicii is not another social networking platform, it’s designed to bring people together in real life. By blending digital innovation with our innate desire for face-to-face interactions, Amicii fosters meaningful social connections over shared dining experiences, while also supporting local hospitality businesses. “Put simply, this is not a dating app,” Kae explains. “It’s an authentic way to meet new people, create friendships, and socialise. Hence the name, which is derived from the Italian word for friends.” The idea for Amicii was born from Kae’s own experiences. When her adult children moved out, she found herself eager to rediscover Sydney’s vibrant dining scene but often lacked the right company. “For probably the last two decades, people have gone deeper into the online world, and we are told we are more connected than ever before,” she says. “But in reality, we’ve systematically removed so many of the natural opportunities for serendipitous connections that used to happen in everyday social life.” Life transitions, whether becoming an empty nester, relocating for work, or simply experiencing shifts in social circles, can leave people feeling disconnected. Rather than accept this as the new normal, Kae saw an opportunity to bridge that gap and solve her own problem of how to meet new people. “We all go through changes that disrupt our social networks,” she says. “And we’re left asking ourselves, ‘What do I do now?’ I realised that enjoying great hospitality venues shouldn’t depend on whether you have […]

  Beatrice Toh, Founder of HeyDoodle is a  a mum of three who left a long career in architecture to turn her side-hustle into her now full-time gig. Beatrice founded the multi-award-winning HeyDoodle range of eco-friendly silicone playmats and creative play products in 2019, after recognising a gap in the market for products that combine education, fun and sustainability. “I was constantly on the hunt for ways to keep my kids entertained while encouraging their development and eco-consciousness. As any parent will attest, engaging young children in ways that aren’t screen-based especially when out and about can be very trying. So HeyDoodle is effectively my personal solution turned full-time business,” explains Beatrice. Today, HeyDoodle sells online and is stocked via more than 800 Australian retailers and trading in more than 25 countries and growing rapidly. Here’s a QandA with Beatrice which you’re welcome to quote. Otherwise, I can easily arrange for Beatrice to answer other Qs if you’d like to just shoot through to me… How did you decide to start your business? What inspired you? In a nutshell, a gap in the market. My eureka moment came amid experiencing the onset of the construction industry slump at the same time as my early years of parenthood in 2018-19. I am a Master of Architecture graduate and a registered architect. I’d been working as a full-time architect for many years and my husband runs an architecture firm. The slump hit us hard and it was quite an uneasy time for us – as for many in our field. In addition to all the professional pressures at the time and like most mums, I was constantly on the hunt for ways to keep my kids entertained while encouraging their development and eco-consciousness. As a parent looking for a convenient, affordable and […]

Marsya Ruzana Aw is the Head of Study Skills at First Principles Education, Singapore’s study skills education technology company. Marsya’s journey from a struggling Nanyang Technological University (NTU) student to spearheading transformative educational innovations offers a compelling narrative of perseverance, empowerment, and innovation. Marsya’s path with First Principles Education began during her undergraduate years at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), where she struggled academically and realised the limitations of traditional education methods. Lacking effective study strategies, she crossed paths with Emil Lim, CEO and Founder of First Principles Education, who became her mentor. Under his guidance, Marsya not only improved her academic results but discovered her passion for mentoring others, leading her to pursue a Master’s Degree in the Science of Learning from NTU. Her postgraduate studies deepened her understanding of neuroscience, educational theories, and practical applications of study skills, all of which she now applies to empower students. As Head of Study Skills, Marsya spearheads innovative programmes designed to transform how students approach learning. Grounded in neuroscience and tailored to individual needs, her methods are practical, student-centred, and focus on equipping learners with lifelong skills. Marsya’s leadership has also driven the development of an A.I.-powered tool, a groundbreaking initiative to help students identify and learn from their mistakes, ensuring they do not repeat them. Her vision is to empower students to become independent learners, confident in their ability to succeed both inside and outside the classroom. Marsya’s leadership style is collaborative and community-focused. Inspired by insights gained during her Master’s studies alongside school leaders, she has created a nurturing environment where mentors act as elder siblings to students. This approach is reflected in initiatives like weekly refresher clinics at First Principles Education, which help students remain engaged, reinforce their study skills, and stay accountable for applying these techniques to their schoolwork. […]