Little U

Advisors

Our advisors are professionals respected and renowned in their field.

Dr Jason Tan

Jason Tan completed his Masters in Education in education and national development at the University of Hong Kong and his doctoral studies in comparative education at the State University of New York at Buffalo. He is currently associate professor in policy and leadership studies at the National Institute of Education in Singapore. Jason is an international editorial board member of several international journals, including Asia Pacific Journal of Education and Globalisation, Societies and Education. His views on local education are often sought by government, school leaders and the media.

Jason on the panel of IPS 35th Anniversary Conference: Revisitings – Panel 1: Revisiting Meritocracy

Kuik Shiao-Yin

Shiao-Yin helps organisations develop a more empathetic, empowering approach to working on the changes they long to see in their systems. She trains and coaches people in the cognitive and social-emotional skills they need to manage and lead collaboratively through uncertain times and complex problems. At Common Ground, her mission is to restore wholeness in people so they can restore wholeness in their families, groups, communities and organisations.

Shiao-Yin was a two-time Nominated Member of Parliament (2014-2018). She sits on various boards, advising them on talent development, cultural strategy, behavioural shift and identity formation. She is a regular public speaker, sharing her insights on the challenge of leadership, trust-building, strategic narratives and the power of individuals in systems.

Mark Lim

Mark Lim is a trauma-informed counsellor and professional trainer with more than 25 years of experience in the education and youth sector.

Mark has a Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling, a Certificate of Professional Practice in Special Needs, and a Certificate in the Treatment of Trauma. He is currently involved in family life work as a marriage mentor and trauma-informed counsellor, and he conducts parenting and mentoring programmes for various educational organisations as well as counselling for persons with special needs. Mark was a special needs consultant with the Ministry of Education and local drama company I Theatre. 

Mark regularly conducts workshops on topics such as Special Needs, Peer Support, Mental Wellness, Marriage & Parenting, Sexuality Education, Cyber Wellness & Gaming Addiction.

Yvonne Tay

Yvonne was a media veteran and formerly the Senior Vice President and General Manager of Fox International Channels running the Singapore operations for the biggest TV network in Asia with well-loved brands like National Geographic Channel, Fox Movies and Fox Sports.

Yvonne’s commitment to philanthropic work extended to volunteering with the International Justice Mission in UK and serving on the Board of Trustees for WildAid UK.

Upon returning home to Singapore in 2018, Yvonne remained passionate about playing a role to advance social good. Today, she manages Temasek Shophouse – an iconic social impact hub in downtown Orchard, and uses that as an effective outreach platform to serve the communities in Singapore and beyond.

FAQs

How does Little U select Advisors?

Our advisors must be outstanding individuals in their fields.

They have to understand our work as a microschool consultancy. They have to like our social mission. They have to be trustworthy and known to us in other ways so that we can assure the public that every individual we work with is child-safe.

In return, they have to feel connected to the work and the people at Little U.

How do you ensure there is no conflict of interest?

Our advisors work with us on a pro-bono basis to ensure there is little conflict of interest. In appreciation of their time and effort, we do our best to learn from them and incorporate their advice with sensitivity and clarity.

Any payment to advisors is based on a clear contract for a specific task e.g. conducting a workshop for Little U. Such work will be transparent and reported to the Little U community e.g. annual financial reports.

Will Advisors become Board of Directors?

Yes. As Little U aims to become an NPO by 2025, the Advisors will switch to become Board Leaders. They will then be in an official capacity to offer strategic direction to Little U. Please read this more for information about how we would set up an effective Board.

How can I find out more about Little U from the Advisors?

If you are representing a government agency, philanthropic organisation, or an international organisation with reputable standing, we will be happy to connect you with one of our advisors to verify the work at Little U.