Registration Information

Conference Fees

Please refer to the conference fee breakdown in the table below:

Social Service Agency Participants

Fees

Full Fee for 2 Days Conference (inclusive of 1 lunch and 2 tea breaks per day)

$800

PCG Subsidy (30%)

Participants who are Singaporean/ Singaporean Permanent Resident (PR) staff/ volunteers of NCSS member SSAs and MSF-funded SSAs, and supported by their Agency, are eligible for the Professional Capability Grant (PCG) funding, subject to other eligibility criteria (provided below).

$240

Additional Sponsorship by DGIF (Limited to 150 participants)

$410

Total Nett Fee Payable After Additional Sponsorship by DGIF

$150

International and Other Participants

Fees

Full Fee for 2 Days Conference (inclusive of 1 lunch and 2 tea breaks per day)

$800

Additional Sponsorship by DGIF (Limited to 100 participants)

$650

Total Nett Fee Payable After 30% PCG subsidy and Additional Sponsorship by DGIF

$150

Each participant must provide their full name, organisation, designation, and email address, whether registering individually or as part of a group.

For group sign-ups, one person may purchase multiple tickets on behalf of others in a single order, so long as each individual participant's details are filled in accordingly.

Tickets are available while stocks last.
Payment can be made via two methods: PayPal (online) or PayNow/bank transfer (offline).

For offline payment methods, payment should be made within 1 week from point of ticket purchase, where an invoice will be issued, alongside payment instructions. Unpaid orders beyond this will be followed up on and may be cancelled.

For offline payment methods, participants will need to include "ICCY [your order number]" in the payment reference to allow for verification. Proof of payment should be retained for record.

A separate confirmation email will be sent once payment is verified. This will validate the QR ticket(s) that were sent to participants.
To be eligible for the full 30% NCSS PCG grant, participants must :

Be a Singaporean or Singapore Permanent Resident (PR) staff/ volunteers of NCSS member Social Service Agencies (SSAs) and/ or MSF-funded Social Service Agencies (SSAs)

Meet at least 75% attendance rate for the full conference through adhering to the necessary attendance-taking requirements (i.e. scanning via SingPass-linked QR code)

Full conference fees will be charged to the agency if the attendance requirement is not met.

Participants should ascertain their eligibility for PCG grant (i.e. staff/volunteers of NCSS member/MSF-funded SSAs) at the ticket purchase checkout. No separate claims process is required from participants.

Participants will need to complete the necessary evaluation forms throughout the conference, for grant claim purposes.

Full conference fees will be charged to the agency if the attendance requirement is not met.

International Conference
on Children and Youth Work 2026

Date: 18 - 19 November 2026 (Wednesday - Thursday)
Time: 9:00AM - 5:30PM (GMT+8)
Venue: Concorde Hotel Singapore, 100 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238840

Co-organised by

About the Conference

This conference brings together practitioners, partners, and changemakers who work with children, youth, and families across different systems and sectors. Under the theme “Navigating Complexities, Rethinking Collaborations, Building Possibilities,” the conference creates space to explore how we respond to increasingly complex challenges — and how new ways of thinking, working, and collaborating can open up better outcomes for children and young people.

Through practical workshops, poster presentations, and shared learning, participants will be introduced to fresh frameworks, evidence-based approaches, and real-world examples of cross-sector collaboration. The conference also aims to inspire hope — showing how collective effort across people, communities, and sectors can make meaningful, lasting impact.

Call For Abstracts

We’re now calling for abstract submissions and inviting the community to help shape conversations on cross-sector collaborations, innovating solutions for complex needs, and evidence-based contributions to the ongoing work with our children and youth.

Submit an Abstract

Scan the QR code to be part of the conversation!

The People Who Walk Beside Every Child Forward

A dedicated community of professionals, caregivers, and advocates committed to supporting children and families with compassion, consistency, and hope—every step of the journey.

More information on the programme line-up, speakers and post-conference learning sessions will be available soon.

Date

18 - 19 November 2026
(Wednesday - Thursday)

Time

9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
(GMT+8)

Venue

Concorde Hotel Singapore,

100 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238840

Conference Details

Opening Keynote Speaker

(Click on speaker to view their profiles)

Harnessing complexities for social good - Application of complexity science

Date: 18 November

Time: 9:30am - 10:30am

In this keynote, Prof Dave Snowden, creator of the Cynefin® framework, will explore how complexity science can be applied to social good and social services. He will define what complex needs look like at a global level and discuss their implications for children and youth work. Participants will gain practical insights on how agencies can design adaptive responses, foster collaboration, and build resilience in the face of complexity.

Prof Dave Snowden

Founder & Chief Scientific Officer, Cynefin Co. and Cynefin Centre

Programme Outline

18 November 2026

9:00am

Arrival of Guest of Honour

Minister Desmond Lee,

Minister for Education and Minister-in-Charge for Social Services Integration

9:15am

Opening Address by Guest of Honour,

Minister Desmond Lee,

Minister for Education and Minister-in-Charge for Social Services Integration

9:30am

Keynote (Harnessing complexities for social good - Application of complexity science)

Prof Dave Snowden, Founder & Chief Scientific Officer, Cynefin Co. and Cynefin Centre

10:30am

Tea Break

11:00am

Plenary Session 1

“Navigating Complexities: A Global Showdown!”

12:30pm

Lunch

2:00pm

Workshop Session 1

Breakout sessions consisting of 5 workshops

3:30pm

Tea Break

4:00pm

Workshop Session 2

Breakout sessions consisting of 5 workshops

5:30pm

End of Day 1

19 November 2026

9:00am

Plenary Session 2

“Rethinking Collaborations for Social Impact: People, Private, Public”

10:30am

Tea Break

11:00am

Workshop Session 3

Breakout sessions consisting of 5 workshops

12:30pm

Lunch

1:30pm

Workshop Session 4

Breakout sessions consisting of 5 workshops

3:30pm

Plenary Session 3

“Building Possibilities: What’s Ahead?”

5:00pm

Closing Finale

5:30pm

End of Conference

3pm

Tea Break

01
Over the years, various approaches to tackle complex issues have been practiced globally. Is there one that stands out and works better than the others? Who would emerge victorious? Watch this battle unfold, as global renowned agencies come together to share about the approach that they utilize in their professional work with children and youth.

Moderator

Assoc Prof Peace Wong, National University of Singapore

Panelists

SHINE Children and Youth Services [Representing Singapore]

Hong Kong Playground Association [Representing Hong Kong]

Tamarack Institute [Representing Canada] – to be confirmed

Cynefin Co and Cynefin Centre [Making Sense of Complexity]

Navigating Complexities: A Global Showdown!
02
“Good solutions rarely emerge in isolation, but are the result of the community, the interdisciplinary practice, the private sector as well as the government working together hand in hand.” - Minister Desmond Lee, Minister for Education and Minister-in-Charge of Social Services Integration.

On the first day, we learnt about complexity science and the different lenses and approaches that we can use to approach complexity. However, we also recognize that this piece of work is too big to be done alone. In this plenary, we invite representatives from the people, private, and public sector to rethink and discuss how collaborations can look like.

Moderator

Ms Raman Sidhu, Chief Executive Office, Octava Foundation

Panellists:

Mr Lim Shung Yar, CEO, NCSS [Rethinking collaboration through sector development]

DGIF Foundation [Rethinking collaboration through impact investing]

The Bridgespan Group [Rethinking collaboration through philanthropic strategies]

JobsFirst NYC [Rethinking collaboration through an international lens]

Rethinking Collaborations for Social Impact: People, Private, Public
03
Building Possibilities: What’s Ahead?
As the conference concludes, this final plenary turns our focus forward—towards hope, possibility, and what lies ahead for children and youth. The session brings together partners from di verse settings to share emerging ideas, initiatives, and commitments that point to the future of children and youth work. Through a forward-looking dialogue, speakers will explore how collaboration, practice, and systems can continue to evolve to support children and youth in navigating increasingly complex challenges. This closing session invites participants to leave energised, inspired, and ready to carry forward a shared vision of possibility into action.

Moderator

Assoc Prof Vincent Ng, Dean, SUSS School of Social Work and Development

Panellists

Ms Terri Sorensen, Chief Executive Officer, Friends of the Children, USA [Benchmarking Standards for Impact]

Mr Kevin Tan, Chief Executive Officer, Tri Sector Associates [Innovative Philanthropic Developments]

Ms Lydia Ang, General Manager, Capitaland Hope Foundation & Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, Capitaland [Giving through Regional Partnerships]

Dr Gerard Chung, Associate Professor (National University of Singapore) [Technology x Social Service]
Plenary Session 1 Plenary Session 2 Plenary Session 3
Plenary Session 1:
“Navigating Complexities: A Global Showdown!”
Over the years, various approaches to tackle complex issues have been practiced globally. Is there one that stands out and works better than the others? Who would emerge victorious? Watch this battle unfold, as global renowned agencies come together to share about the approach that they utilize in their professional work with children and youth.
(Click on speaker to view their profiles)
Moderator
A/P Peace Wong
Associate Professor,

Department of Social Work,

National University of Singapore
Speaker
Mr. Lee Seng Meng
Executive Director,

SHINE Children and Youth Services
Singapore
Speaker
Dr. Wan Lap Man
Executive Director,

Hong Kong Playground Association
Hong Kong
Speaker
Ms. Sylvia Cheuy
Consulting Director,

Tamarack Institute
Canada
Speaker
Professor Dave Snowden
Founder & Chief Scientific Officer, Cynefin Co and Cynefin Centre
United Kingdom
Plenary Session 2:
“Rethinking Collaborations for Social Impact: People, Private, Public”
“Good solutions rarely emerge in isolation, but are the result of the community, the interdisciplinary practice, the private sector as well as the government working together hand in hand.”
Minister Desmond Lee, Minister for Education and Minister-in-Charge of Social Services Integration
On the first day, we learnt about complexity science and the different lenses and approaches that we can use to approach complexity. However, we also recognize that this piece of work is too big to be done alone.

In this plenary, we invite representatives from the people, private, and public sector to rethink and discuss how collaborations can look like.
(Click on speaker to view their profiles)
Moderator
Ms. Raman Sidhu
Chief Executive Officer,

Octava Foundation
Speaker
Mr. Lim Shung Yar
Chief Executive Officer,

National Council of Social Service
Rethinking collaboration through sector development
Speaker
Ms. Amanda Soh
Head of Partnerships,

Do Good International Foundation
Rethinking collaboration through innovative financing
Speaker
Mr. Zhen Liu
Principal,

The Bridgespan Group
Rethinking collaboration through partnerships between philanthropists and NPOs
Speaker
Dr. Jeremy Greenfield
Vice President,

JobsFirst NYC
Rethinking collaboration through NPOs’ partnerships with private and public sector
Plenary Session 3:
“Building Possibilities: What’s Ahead?”
As the conference concludes, this final plenary turns our focus forward, towards hope, possibility, and what lies ahead for children and youth. The session brings together partners from di verse settings to share emerging ideas, initiatives, and commitments that point to the future of children and youth work.

Through a forward-looking dialogue, speakers will explore how collaboration, practice, and systems can continue to evolve to support children and youth in navigating increasingly complex challenges. This closing session invites participants to leave energised, inspired, and ready to carry forward a shared vision of possibility into action.
(Click on speaker to view their profiles)
Moderator
Mr. Nicholas Gabriel
President,

Youth Work Association Singapore (YWAS)
Speaker
Ms. Terri Sorensen
Chief Executive Officer,

Friends of the Children, USA
Speaker
Mr. Tony Tan
Executive Director,

Capitaland

Hope Foundation & Head of Corporate Social Responsibility,

Capitaland
Speaker
Mr. Ethen Ong
Acting Executive Director,

*SCAPE
Speaker
Dr. Lee Geok Ling
Associate Professor and Head of Department,

Department of Social Work, National University of Singapore

Plenary Details

Types of Workshops
Workshop Presentation:
All workshop presentations will be one and a half hour in length, inclusive of 20 minutes for questions.
Tabletop Presentation:
Tabletop sessions act as a pathway for networking and sharing of information directly with delegates in an interactive setting. Participants will be split into 2 tables with 2 separate presenters. Presenters will have 45 minutes to divide between presenting, adaptation or discussion. At the end of the first round, participants will switch to the other table for a second presentation.
Oral Presentation:
Each presenter take turns to present on their respective topics for up to 45 minutes for their presentation, including 10 minutes for questions.
Workshop Session 1 Day 1 | 18 Nov (2pm - 330pm)Workshop Session 2 Day 1 | 18 Nov (4pm - 530pm)Workshop Session 3 Day 2 | 19 Nov (11am - 1230pm)Workshop Session 4 Day 2 | 19 Nov (130pm - 3pm)
Breakout sessions consist of 5 workshops. Please choose one workshop to attend.
Workshop 1A
Workshop 1B
Workshop 1C
Workshop 1D
Workshop 1E
Workshop 1A: We Are All Newbies of Life: Using Cantopop to Support Adolescents’ Emotional Wellbeing 
This two-hour workshop introduces We Are All Newbies of Life, a Hong Kong secondary school programme that uses Cantopop as a low-barrier medium for social-emotional learning. Drawing on programme experience and research on pop music, emotional communication, stress relief, and adolescent self-expression, Steven Tsoi and Ivy Yau will share how music can help students name feelings, build identity, and reconnect with peers and school life. The session will unpack key components including co-created playlists, student song sharing, campus radio, the Music Cafe model, and frontline observations from youth service practice. Participants will leave with practical ideas for using familiar songs and guided reflection to create safer, non-judgmental spaces where adolescents can express emotions, seek comfort, and experience connection. 
Workshop Presentation
Presenters Profile
Ms. Ivy Yau Yee Man
Deputy Executive Director

(Social Work Division), Hong Kong Playground Association 
Ivy Yau Yee Man is Deputy Executive Director of the Social Work Division at the Hong Kong Playground Association. A seasoned social worker specializing in youth services and youth mental health, she brings frontline experience, service planning expertise, and school-based practice insight to the programme.
Mr. Steven Tsoi
Founder and CEO, SONOVA
Steven Tsoi is Founder and CEO of SONOVA, a Hong Kong social enterprise using media, music, and storytelling for youth and community engagement. A former radio DJ and music programmer with two decades of broadcasting experience, he leads the creative design of We Are All Newbies of Life.  
Workshop 1B: The Future, Backwards – Making Sense of a Range of Possible Futures
The challenges facing children and youth today don't yield to straightforward plans. So how do we think about the future — together, honestly, and without pretending we can predict it?

Future Backwards is a structured facilitation method from the Cynefin Co that helps groups make sense of a range of possible futures by working backwards from both best-case and worst-case scenarios to understand what conditions and decisions might lead there. It is built for complexity: it surfaces divergent perspectives, holds tension productively, and generates shared insight without imposing a single narrative.

For direct practitioners, social workers, and educators, this method opens up conversations that conventional planning tools often shut down. It can be used with youth clients and beneficiaries to co-create visions of their own futures — building ownership and surfacing assumptions that rarely emerge in structured casework. It works equally well within teams navigating strategic uncertainty, or as a tool for reflective practice and lessons-learnt review.

This workshop, facilitated by Jules Yim (The Cynefin Co), offers a hands-on experience of the method in action, contextualised for the children and youth services sector. It pairs directly with the complexity science concepts introduced in Dave Snowden's keynote, giving you both the conceptual frame and a practical technique to take home.
Presenters Profile
Ms. Jules Yim
Senior Consultant,

The Cynefin Co.
Jules Yim is a Senior Consultant at the Cynefin Co, based in Singapore, where she works at the intersection of complexity science, organisational foresight, and facilitation across the world. She partners with clients spanning private companies, government bodies, and social sector organisations, helping leaders and teams navigate uncertainty through various complexity methods. Jules brings a distinctive interdisciplinary lens to her facilitation practice, drawing on her background in literature and narrative research alongside her expertise in complex systems work. A writer as well as a consultant, she is also co-founder of the Seapunk movement, reflecting her ongoing interest in speculative thinking and alternative futures focused on Southeast Asia.
Workshop Presentation
Workshop 1D: Sex, Silence, and Support: Rethinking Practice with Young and Queer Communities  
This session brings together practitioners from Transbefrienders and Project X Society to explore how to engage young people in open, inclusive, and respectful conversations about sex and sexuality. Drawing on community-based experience, participants will learn about consent, bodily autonomy, STIs, HIV, and responding to real questions youths ask. The session also encourages reflection on personal beliefs and biases that may influence practice. Through practical tools and discussion, participants will build confidence to navigate sensitive conversations, foster trust, and support young people in making informed, healthy, and empowered decisions.
Presenters Profile
Mr. Coen Teo
Executive Director, Transbefriender
Coen began his community work by documenting his transitioning journey on YouTube and providing information to transgender Singaporeans. To give back to the community, he conceptualised Transbefrienders to enable more youth to access peer support. He has a background in business administration and is a counsellor-in-training. He has contributed to several other LGBTQ+ groups, including Pink Dot SG, with over a decade of community work.
Ms. Tok Kheng Leng
Social Worker, Project X
Kheng Leng is a social worker at Project X who is passionate about working alongside sex workers and facilitating meaningful conversations. She enjoys making complex topics easy to understand and believes that open conversations about sex are essential. After all, who better to learn about sex than from sex workers? Her strengths lie in building rapport with diverse communities and code-switching to connect effectively with them.
Mr. Nicholas Chan
MSM & Youth Outreach Manager
A natural busybody (aka kaypoh) who has been involved with fringe communities, Nicholas has been intertwined with Action for AIDS since 2016. Nicholas strongly believes that healthcare should be patient-centric and marginalised communities should be sufficiently educated and empowered to make their own health choices. This led him to journey together with AfA as he believes that sexual health should be as important and advocated for as physical & mental health.
Workshop Presentation
Oral Presentations: Supporting Children and youth with special needs
Presentation 1: Finding Their Voice: Inclusive Strategies Supporting Swedish Language Acquisition among Immigrant Students with Speech and Learning Disabilities
This presentation explores inclusive strategies that support Swedish language acquisition among immigrant students with speech and learning disabilities. Drawing from classroom experiences in Sweden, the study highlights the role of multisensory instruction, emotional support, and culturally responsive teaching in fostering communication, confidence, and participation. The findings emphasize the importance of creating inclusive learning environments where diverse learners feel supported, valued, and empowered to succeed, contributing to Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education.
Presenters Profile
Ms. Michelle Bartolay
Former Special Education Teacher in Sweden / Bachelor of Elementary Education Student (UPHSL) 
Michelle Bartolay is a former Special Education Teacher in Sweden and a graduating Bachelor of Elementary Education student representing the College of Education of the University of Perpetual Help System Laguna, Philippines. She completed the Barn och Fritids Programme in Sweden and has extensive experience working with immigrant learners with speech and learning disabilities. Her professional and academic experiences inspired her research interest in inclusive education, language acquisition, and learner-centered teaching. Through her study, Finding Their Voice, she advocates for equitable educational opportunities and inclusive practices that empower diverse learners to participate meaningfully, develop confidence, and achieve academic success.
Oral Presentation
Presentation 2: Reframing Support: Restorative Practices in a Family-Centric ADHD Programme
This presentation highlights Project Kaleidoscope, a family-centric, restorative intervention programme supporting children and youth with ADHD. Reflecting on insights from two year-long pilot runs, we discuss how restorative practice concepts are integrated into the curriculum. We will compare the programme’s original structure with subsequent iterations, showcasing key improvements made in response to feedback and challenges experienced by participating parents, children and youth, and practitioners.
Presenters Profile
Ms. Tanzima Rowshnya
Raquib
Social Worker,

Lutheran Community Care Services
Zima is a social worker at LCCS, working alongside schools, teachers, young persons and families. Her work largely focuses on building and restoring relationships using restorative practices while empowering individuals to thrive in the community. She brings her knowledge of trauma-informed care and experience of working with persons with special needs to support the families of Project Kaleidoscope. Zima also spends her time volunteering to support victims of crime and to mentor children and youth from different backgrounds. Away from work, you can find her in the gym, travelling, sharing pictures of her cat or hidden somewhere with a book.
Ms. Ruth Tay Kai Ning
Social Worker,

Lutheran Community Care Services
Ruth is a Social Worker (Schools) at the Lutheran Community Care Services in Singapore. Ruth mentors children in primary school and seeks to create safe and nurturing spaces for their personal development and emotional growth. Ruth is interested to explore a multi-disciplinary approach when it comes to supporting children's mental health and learning needs.
Workshop 1C: The Power of Using Long-Term Professional Mentoring to Overcome Intergenerational Poverty
Workshop Presentation
Children growing up amidst adversity often face barriers that cannot be overcome through short-term interventions alone. This workshop explores Friends of the Children's model of long-term, professional mentoring, where children as young as five are paired with a paid, trained mentor for 12+ years, through to high school graduation. Participants will learn how sustained relationships build trust, resilience, and social capital, offering valuable insights for practitioners and organisations committed to breaking cycles of intergenerational poverty.
Presenters Profile
Ms. Terri Sorensen
Chief Executive Officer,

Friends of the Children
Terri Sorensen is the Chief Executive Officer of Friends of the Children, a U.S. nonprofit that pairs children facing the greatest obstacles with a salaried, professional mentor (called a Friend) who stays with each child from pre-kindergarten through high school graduation – 12+ years, no matter what.

In her 23 years at Friends of the Children, Sorensen has secured more than $300 million in funding. Since becoming CEO in 2012, she has grown the network from 5 to 48 locations, and quadrupled the number of children served. Her goal is to ensure that every child who needs a Friend has one.
Mr. Miles Allen
Director,

Duncan and Cindy Campbell National Center of Excellence for
Professional Youth Mentoring
Miles Allen has served youth and his community for the last fifteen years. As a former Friend and then manager at the Friends of the Children – Portland, he has seen the tremendous impact the program has had on the community. He is excited to be a part of Friends of the Children’s effort to create generational change. While working as a program manager, Miles was focused heavily on children in foster care and LGBTQ+ youth. He understands the impact the foster care system has on young people and their families. He also understands how children with multiple identities have experienced barriers, and he strives to ensure youth are able to achieve their goals.
Dr Andraé Brown
Chief Officer,

Chapter Success
Dr. Andraé L. Brown is the Chief Officer of Chapter Success at Friends of the Children, a role in which he continues to leverage his extensive experience gained from consulting for various Friends of the Children chapters and the National Team since 2009. His distinguished career spans roles as a professor (Hunter College, Lewis & Clark College, Howard University, University of Southern California, and Montgomery College), director of community-based mental health and educational facilities, and a strategic consultant, consistently championing empowerment and social justice across multiple sectors
Workshop Session 1
Day 1 (18 November, 2pm - 3:30pm)
Workshop 2A
Workshop 2B
Workshop 2C
Workshop 2D
Workshop 2E
Workshop 2A: Collective Impact: A Framework for Addressing Complexity
The complex issues facing communities today are beyond what any one group or organization, working alone, can solve.  They require collaboration.  Collective Impact is a disciplined form of multi-sector collaboration that has proven to be highly effective at generating significant impact on an array of social and environmental issues.

This interactive workshop will provide participants with an overview of the Collective Impact framework and use stories and examples to illustrate how Collective Impact creates opportunities for diverse groups to work together differently to achieve impact. Participants will leave this session with:

A deeper understanding of the Collective Impact Framework

An appreciation of the essential mindset shifts that enable Collective Impact to achieve impact

Learning and insights about putting Collective Impact into action

A reflection of the challenges and opportunities of using the CI Framework to advance change within community and systems

Presenters Profile
Ms. Sylvia Cheuy
Consulting Director,

Collaboration

Tamarack Institute
Sylvia Cheuy is the Consulting Director of Collaboration with the Tamarack Institute.  She has spent more than 25 years as a changemaker and champion of multi-sector, change efforts and has supported diverse sectors and groups to work effectively together to create, implement, and evolve shared strategies for action.

Throughout her career Sylvia has recognized the extraordinary wisdom of ordinary people as essential for lasting change.  She has first-hand experience and deep knowledge in how to engage and mobilize diverse sectors, find innovative solutions to their toughest challenges and make them a reality.

Sylvia has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto and a Graduate Diploma in Social Innovation from the University of Waterloo.  She is a skilled and seasoned community change facilitator who has delivered capacity-building sessions to clients across Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand and the UK.
Workshop Presentation
Workshop 2B: The Future, Backwards – Making Sense of a Range of Possible Futures
The challenges facing children and youth today don't yield to straightforward plans. So how do we think about the future — together, honestly, and without pretending we can predict it?

Future Backwards is a structured facilitation method from the Cynefin Co that helps groups make sense of a range of possible futures by working backwards from both best-case and worst-case scenarios to understand what conditions and decisions might lead there. It is built for complexity: it surfaces divergent perspectives, holds tension productively, and generates shared insight without imposing a single narrative.

For direct practitioners, social workers, and educators, this method opens up conversations that conventional planning tools often shut down. It can be used with youth clients and beneficiaries to co-create visions of their own futures — building ownership and surfacing assumptions that rarely emerge in structured casework. It works equally well within teams navigating strategic uncertainty, or as a tool for reflective practice and lessons-learnt review.

This workshop, facilitated by Jules Yim (The Cynefin Co), offers a hands-on experience of the method in action, contextualised for the children and youth services sector. It pairs directly with the complexity science concepts introduced in Dave Snowden's keynote, giving you both the conceptual frame and a practical technique to take home.
Presenters Profile
Ms. Jules Yim
Senior Consultant,

The Cynefin Co.
Jules Yim is a Senior Consultant at the Cynefin Co, based in Singapore, where she works at the intersection of complexity science, organisational foresight, and facilitation across the world. She partners with clients spanning private companies, government bodies, and social sector organisations, helping leaders and teams navigate uncertainty through various complexity methods. Jules brings a distinctive interdisciplinary lens to her facilitation practice, drawing on her background in literature and narrative research alongside her expertise in complex systems work. A writer as well as a consultant, she is also co-founder of the Seapunk movement, reflecting her ongoing interest in speculative thinking and alternative futures focused on Southeast Asia.
Workshop Presentation
Oral Presentation
Oral Presentations: Ecosystem of support for Children and Youth
Presentation 1: Girls as Leaders: A Learning Communities Model for Youth-Led Change
Too often, programmes position adolescent girls as beneficiaries rather than leaders. EMpower's Learning Communities model offers a different approach, placing girls at the centre as decision-makers, advocates, and change-makers. This session draws on direct practice experience implementing the model across India through 25 grassroots organisations, where girls have identified priorities, designed interventions, and managed resources to drive tangible community change. It also speaks to the model's growing momentum and its adaptation across contexts including Bangladesh, Nepal, Niger, and Syria.
Presenters Profile
Ms. Jayanthi Pushkaran
Senior Programme Officer, EMpower - The Emerging Markets Foundation
Jayanthi Pushkaran is Senior Programme Officer for Adolescent Girls at EMpower – The Emerging Markets Foundation, based in New Delhi. She leads EMpower's work with adolescent girls in India, focusing on initiatives that strengthen youth leadership, meaningful participation, and inclusive learning. Jayanthi has played a key role in developing and scaling programmes such as the Adolescent Girls Learning Community and the Youth Advisory Council framework, helping embed young people's voices in decision-making processes. Prior to joining EMpower, she worked with the National Institute of Science, Technology and Development Studies and Delhi Greens. She holds degrees from Jawaharlal Nehru University and the University of Delhi.
Presentation 2: Glow-up': A Home-School-Community partnership in building cohesive and supportive environments
While it is neither possible nor desirable to shield children from every challenge, children thrive when significant adults around them are aligned, responsive and collectively supportive. ‘Glow Up’ was designed as a home-school-community partnership model with the recognition that resilience is not built in isolation but through consistent, reinforcing relationships across a child’s everyday environment. Beyond child-focused intervention, the programme uniquely brings together children, caregivers and teachers to co-create a shared language, skillset and ecosystem of care around children’s well-being.
Presenters Profile
Ms. Priscilla Chan
Senior Social Worker & Team Lead, Singapore Children’s Society
Ms Priscilla Chan is a Registered Senior Social Worker of Student Service @ Children’s Society (SSC). She is also the Outreach and Social Programmes Team Lead. Priscilla has been working with children, youth, and their families from diversified backgrounds since 2011. She is passionate to serve the next generation and their families in the community and she aspires to make a difference by planting a seed of hope in those she interacts with. Priscilla also believes in enhancing family resiliency and recognising family strengths to build greater capacity within the family unit to face emerging issues of today.
Ms. Sharmaine Low
Social Worker,

Singapore Children’s Society
Ms Sharmaine Low is a Registered Social Worker of Student Service Centre (SSC) @ Singapore Children’s Society. She works with children and families to support emotional wellbeing and healthy development. Sharmaine enjoys using play as a key medium in her work to create a safe and engaging space for children to express emotions, make sense of their experiences, and build life skills. Her professional interests include strengthening the capacity of caregivers and other trusted adults in a child’s ecosystem. Sharmaine believes strongly in collaborative, child‑centered practice that supports children across home, school, and community settings.
Workshop 2C: Mind the Gap: Navigating SEN Diagnosis and Support for Primary School Children in Singapore
Families of children with SEN often navigate fragmented and unclear pathways while trying to understand their child’s needs and access appropriate support. Drawing on findings from the Mind the Gap study, this interactive workshop explores caregiver and practitioner experiences navigating SEN diagnosis, school support, referrals, and services in Singapore. Through composite stories, structured mapping activities, and collaborative solutioning, participants will examine where families experience friction within support systems and explore practical, child-centred ways to strengthen coordination, clarity, and support across sectors.
Presenters Profile
Dr. Hana Alhadad
Senior Consultant for Research,

EveryChild.SG
Dr. Hana Alhadad is Senior Consultant for Research at EveryChild.SG, focusing on holistic child wellbeing, inclusive education, and support systems for children and families. She is also co-founder of Hayat Collective, a child-centred wellbeing and children’s rights initiative co-created with children and young people.

A child and family specialist, neurodiversity advocate, and therapeutic playmaker, her work focuses on neurodivergent children and families, child and adolescent mental health, and trauma-informed, equity-centred practice. With a background in community development and psychology, she integrates research, practice, and community engagement to foster more nurturing and inclusive environments for children and families. She is also adjunct faculty at the National University of Singapore.
Workshop Presentation
Oral Presentations: Mental Health
Presentation 1: Casual Chat Counseling "Gyutto Chat"
Have you ever had a moment when you felt uneasy, but not serious enough to talk about with friends or family? We would like to introduce “Gyutto Chat,” an initiative by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government that offers a free, anonymous chat consultation service for children and parents to share their everyday concerns and anxieties. As part of this initiative, a mascot character named “Gyuppy” has been created to enhance the service’s approachability for children.
Presenters Profile
Ms. IWASE Mika
Director Liaison Office for

Child-Oriented Policies, Tokyo Metropolitan Government
Ms Iwase Mika joined the Tokyo Metropolitan Government in 1998, working in the Bureau of Public Health and the Bureau of Taxation on public health, medical, and tax-related initiatives.

Since 2024, she has been working at the Liaison Office for Child-Oriented Policies, contributing to initiatives such as programs to hear children’s voices and the Policymaking Participation Project for Junior and Senior High School Students.

From 2026, she has been involved in initiatives including the “Gyutto Chat” program, as well as projects addressing young carers and youth healthcare.
Presentation 2: What Works in Text Chats, and What Can Transcripts Tell Us? Evidence from a Singapore Youth Chat Service
Text-based chat is now a key entry point for distressed youth in Singapore, but knowing whether a session actually helped is surprisingly hard: post-session surveys suffer from high attrition. Drawing on analyses of sessions from a Singapore youth text-only chat service, this presentation identifies the worker skills linked to positive user outcomes including emoticons, affective language, normalization, and psychoeducation and argues for using such transcript-based features as proxy indicators of effectiveness in chat-based practices.
Presenters Profile
Dr. Gerard Chung
Assistant Professor in Social Work, Department of Social Work, National University of Singapore
Dr Gerard Chung studies how social workers use technology and AI. His research spans several areas: how social workers use technology and AI, how digital social work practice can be developed, and how social workers can use text to engage youths and other service users. He practiced previously as a social worker in a family service center. Dr Gerard Chung hold a PhD in Social Work from UNC-Chapel Hill School of Social Work and is an Assistant Professor at NUS. His personal website is at www.gerardchung.com
Oral Presentation
Workshop Session 2
Day 1 (18 November, 4pm - 5:30pm)
Workshop 3A
Workshop 3B
Workshop 3C
Workshop 3D
Workshop 3E
Workshop 3A: Driving Economic Mobility: Identifying Levers for Change Across Education and Workforce Systems
The transition from education to the workforce is often fragmented, leaving young adults to navigate mismatched skills, disconnected credentials, and systemic barriers. Building directly on the insights from the "Rethinking Collaborations" plenary, this interactive session introduces JobsFirst NYC’s approach to bridging the gap between educational institutions, employers, and community systems.

Participants will engage in a hands-on system mapping exercise to visualize the local workforce-education ecosystem, pinpoint predictable friction points where these sectors misalign, and identify the strategic, structural levers necessary to unlock sustainable collective action. Whether you are building new workforce pathways, implementing career-connected learning, or trying to better engage employers, you will leave with a practical framework to analyze your ecosystem and push past collaborative gridlock.
Presenters Profile
Dr. Jeremy Greenfield
Vice President,

JobsFirst NYC
Ms. Allyson Bay
Senior Director, Impact and Learning, JobsFirst NYC
Jeremy Greenfield, PhD, serves as the Vice President of JobsFirstNYC. In this role, he leads the organization’s education, community, and impact initiatives—designing, implementing, and evaluating programs that advance economic mobility for young adults and their communities. A proud product of public schools and youth development programs, Jeremy has spent more than twenty years supporting young people and strengthening the systems that serve them.

Throughout his career, he has worked across sectors–including secondary education, higher education, community-based organizations, and intermediaries–to advance systems change.

Jeremy’s scholarship and commentary have been featured in Kappan, City Limits, The High School Journal, and other publications. He holds a BA from Skidmore College, an MA from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a PhD from the CUNY Graduate Center.
Allyson Bay is the Senior Director of Impact and Learning at JobsFirst NYC, where she leads the organization's learning and evaluation strategy, ensuring insights and data inform decision-making across New York City partnerships.

Allyson has spent over a decade building the systems, frameworks, and data infrastructure that help mission-driven organizations translate strategy into measurable impact. Her career spans international and domestic program models in workforce development, economic mobility, housing, and family strengthening, where she has advised on organizational strategy, program effectiveness, and systems change, and has consulted with numerous nonprofits on program implementation and best practices for impact.

Allyson has an MBA with a concentration in Entrepreneurship and a BA in Sociology.
Workshop Presentation
Workshop 3B: Helsinki School-based youth work in Helsinki: a community building and preventive wellbeing model
Workshop Presentation
School-based youth work in Helsinki is part of the city’s broader wellbeing ecosystem, where youth work is embedded in everyday school life to support young people’s growth, sense of community and connection to the school environment. The work is guided by Finland’s national definition, which describes school-based youth work as non-formal support that helps young people develop and thrive. Discover the main goals, practices and impacts of school-based youth work in Helsinki with three local experts.
Presenters Profile
Ms. Katri Kairimo
Regional Manager, City of Helsinki Youth services, Eastern Youth Work
Katri Kairimo serves as a Regional Manager of Youth Services in Helsinki and brings extensive experience in leadership roles within youth work.

Her areas of expertise include school-based youth work, as well as developing youth participation and environmental initiatives. Katri leads youth services in the eastern and southeastern districts of Helsinki, overseeing six youth work units. She is also a member of the City of Helsinki Youth Services management team. Katri is known as a goal-oriented developer who promotes young people’s wellbeing and opportunities for participation in a practical and inspiring way.
Mr. Lauri Hiltunen
The Head of Unit, City of Helsinki Youth Services,

Unit for Youth Work at Schools and Educational Institutions
Lauri Hiltunen is a Head of Unit in Helsinki with over 20 years of experience in youth work. He began his career working in leisure activities and schools, before moving into leadership roles managing local youth work in suburban areas.

Since 2021, he has been developing school-based youth work in Helsinki and currently leads this area at the city level. Lauri combines strong leadership, operational expertise, and a passion for building collaborative environments that support both organizational goals and the growth of young people and professionals alike.
Tabletop Presentations: Youth Engagement
Presentation 1: Learnings from VOX’s Digital Youth Work Service Review: Measuring Outcomes and Navigating Mental Models in Digital Youth Work
VOX’s digital youth work service was reviewed using the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) framework. Quantitative data was used to compare VOX’s effectiveness and efficiency in nurturing developmental relationships, improving help-seeking, and achieving the goals of making initial contact, assessment, positive engagement and therapeutic engagement with youths. Qualitative feedback was collected from youths and practitioners and synthesized to provide insights on mental models on digital youth work, and their implications on the service’s sustainability.
Presenters Profile
Mr. Chee Thow Wei Liat
Head of VOX, Deputy Director, Lead in Digital Youth Work, Singapore Children’s Society
Wei Liat has more than 10 years of experience in youth work. As a youth worker, he advocates for youth services that reduce fragmentation by adopting a client-centred, universal, and service to client approach. At VOX, Wei Liat has piloted the use of digital youth work and online drifting, evolving the service to meet the emergent need for youths preferring services online. As the lead for digital youth work, Wei Liat has also looked into areas like digital mental health solutions, practitioner anonymity, and digital parenting. As a trainer, Wei Liat has curated the internal youth work practice induction and lectured youth work at both NUS and SUSS.
Presentation 2: The Sciences of Lepaking
Why do youths form street families in urban Singapore? Using grounded theory, this study uncovers the hidden factors shaping who street youths choose to hang out with and why. Through in-depth interviews with 10 street youths (aged 12–21) and focus groups with 11 outreach workers, findings reveal striking gendered patterns in clique formation and lepak culture. These insights were distilled into the Street Family Development Model, a practical framework for preventive, engagement, and programme work with street youths.
Presenters Profile
Mr. Yeo Sen Son Benjamin
Lead Social Worker/ Senior Assistant Director,

Fei Yue Community Services
Benjamin is a Lead Social Worker and Senior Assistant Director at Fei Yue Community Services, with over 15 years of experience walking alongside NEET youth in Singapore. He holds a Master’s in Youth Development from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and serves as an Adjunct Lecturer at NUS.

Together with his team, Benjamin pioneered the Youth GO! Programme and the Hidden Youth Outreach Service (HYOS), recognised through the Promising Social Worker Award (2018), NCSS 40 under 40 (2023), and Outstanding Social Work Award (2026). His research on street youth, The Science of Lepaking, offers fresh insights into youth outreach practice in urban Asian contexts.
Tabletop Presentation
Oral Presentations: Supporting youths in transition
Presentation 1: Where Reintegration Is Not an Option: Post-Care Housing for Youths Who Age Out of Care in Singapore - An Evaluation of Children's Aid Society (CAS) Housing Programme
In Singapore, youths ageing out of residential care face severe housing and financial challenges. To support their transition, Children’s Aid Society launched the Thrive21+ pilot. This qualitative study evaluates the pilot's Housing Programme, highlighting how financial insecurity and limited housing pathways compound the difficulties of ageing out. Results show the programme successfully built life skills, fostered peer support, and provided stability. To improve outcomes, the study recommends creating secure housing pathways, strengthening financial assistance, and enhancing social capital.
Presenters Profile
Ms. Cindy Ng-Tay
Clinical Director,

Children's Aid Society
Cindy is a social worker by training with extensive experience working with low- income families and persons experiencing violence and abuse. Over the years, she has developed and executed programmes that aim to address poverty, violence and abuse in

families and the community.

Cindy is passionate about issues relating to early childhood trauma, poverty, income inequality and social mobility. She is an active advocate for disadvantaged communities in Singapore, where she contributes commentaries to local publications. She is also passionate about good social work practice and has developed standards framework to guide programmes and services and competency framework to guide the development of Social Workers and Social Service Practitioners.
Ms. Chong Ning Qian
Head, Research,

Quantedge Foundation (Singapore)
Ning Qian is Head, Research at Quantedge Foundation Singapore (QFS), where she oversees research, insights, and impact evaluations for a range of social issues. Prior to QFS, she was at the Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE), and led AWARE’s research and advocacy efforts in areas such as combatting gender-based violence and discrimination and protecting the rights of vulnerable women. Ning Qian obtained both her Bachelors and Masters degrees from the National University of Singapore, the latter as a Li Ka Shing Foundation Scholar at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.
Presentation 2: Bridging the Clarity Gap: A Research-Grounded Framework for Youth Career Mentoring and Workforce Well-being in Singapore
Data from our two-year, mixed-methods study involving approximately 1,500 youths and 200 working professionals reveals that nearly half of Singapore’s youths enter the workforce with their well-being at risk or below WHO benchmarks. Yet prevailing career guidance interventions remain centred on CV refinement, interview coaching, and job-matching - without adequately addressing the psychological and structural barriers that shape early career trajectories. This presentation introduces TAC WorkWell Framework and our accompanying career-mentoring methodology as a research-grounded response to this systemic gap.
Presenters Profile
Mr. Wong Yi Fong
Executive Director,

The Astronauts Collective (TAC)
Yi Fong is a co-founder and Executive Director of The Astronauts Collective (TAC), a local IPC charity that champions career development support to help youths explore and pursue meaningful careers. He spent his first 10 years of career teaching in secondary schools while running TAC as a voluntary organisation. In 2021, he took 2 years of no-pay leave from MOE to devote his energy full-time on making TAC a sustainable non-profit organisation. Since then, TAC has grown to have more than 2000 volunteers in diverse industries and fields, with partnerships across government agencies and private sectors.
Oral Presentation
Oral Presentations: Spaces for Children and Youth Engagement
Presentation 1: Forest Fables: Developing a Nature-based Intervention in Singapore for Children with Developmental Needs
Forest Fables is a nature-based early intervention (EI) programme supporting children with developmental needs in generalising functional skills while fostering enjoyment of nature. The programme, a collaboration between Thye Hua Kwan Early Intervention for Children (THK EIC) Services and a community partner, integrates the combined expertise of both collaborators to tailor activities to children’s needs. Findings from the pilot showed improvements in children’s social interaction, communication, and enjoyment of nature, while fostering cross-sector learning and capacity-building.
Presenters Profile
Ms. Grace Lim Zhi Qi
Research Assistant,

THK EIPIC Centre
Dr. Malathy Krishnasamy
Research Lead,

THK EIPIC Centre
Mr. Shaun Ng Wei Han
Senior Research Assistant,

THK EIPIC Centre
Grace Lim, Shaun Ng, and Dr Malathy Krishnasamy form the Research Unit at Thye Hua Kwan Early Intervention for Children (THK EIC) Services. Grace is a Research Assistant with nearly five years of research experience. Prior to joining THK EIC Services, she was a Research Assistant at the Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, National University of Singapore. Shaun serves as Senior Research Assistant, while Dr Malathy is the Research Lead. Together, the Research Unit supports the development, implementation, and evaluation of evidence-based programmes at THK EIC Services.
Presentation 2: Tak Takut Kids Club: Building a Child-Centric Social Support System 
Children from vulnerable families often lack stable relationships that support their sense of belonging, leaving them disconnected from formal support systems. Tak Takut Kids Club (TTKC) addresses this as a child-centred neighbourhood "third space," embedding within children's lives through sustained, relationship-first engagement. Since integrating casework in 2023, TTKC has collaborated with formal agencies on joint interventions for children with complex needs. Drawing on interviews and case studies, this paper offers practice-informed recommendations for relationship-first, child-centred casework and sectoral coordination.
Presenters Profile
Ms. Ho Kah Yoke
Deputy Director,

3Pumpkins
Kah Yoke is Deputy Director at 3Pumpkins, a non-profit community arts and development organisation dedicated to strengthening human connections at the intersection of art, community, education and social work. She leads shared services and is involved in areas spanning strategy, monitoring, evaluation and learning, and child safeguarding policy for Tak Takut Kids Club (TTKC), 3Pumpkins' flagship initiative providing a safe and supportive environment for children to connect, grow and thrive. Her career began with nine years in frontline child protection and social work, before moving into philanthropic and non-profit management. She remains driven by a belief in strengthening social support for vulnerable communities and empowering individuals through a sense of belonging, self-identity, and self-actualisation.
Oral Presentation
Workshop Session 3
Day 2 (19 November, 11am - 12:30pm)
Workshop 4A
Workshop 4B
Workshop 4C
Workshop 4D
Workshop 4E
Workshop Presentation
Workshop 4A: Measuring What Matters: Using Evidence to Drive Programme Success
How can organisations use data to strengthen practice rather than simply measure results? Friends of the Children shares how evidence is integrated into programme design, implementation, and continuous improvement. Dr Joanne Yoong of Research for Impact joins, offering a Singapore perspective on how data can inform practice, strengthen programme quality, and demonstrate long-term impact, drawn from her extensive experience in monitoring and evaluation across the social sector.
Presenters Profile
Dr. Joanne Yoong
Chief Executive Officer and Principal Economist,

Research for Impact
Dr Joanne Yoong is an applied economist and interdisciplinary researcher working at the intersection of behavioural economics and health and financial decision making. She is the founder of Research For Impact, a research enterprise based in Singapore working to make behavioral and social science research accessible, inclusive and transformative for all.

Dr Yoong holds multiple faculty appointments and is the author of over a hundred peer-reviewed articles in leading economics, medical and public health journals. She serves in various national and international policy and industry advisory capacities and has worked on projects globally. She received her PhD in Economics at Stanford University as an FSI Starr Foundation Fellow after an early career in financial services.
Mr. Miles Allen
Director,

Duncan and Cindy Campbell National Center of Excellence for
Professional Youth Mentoring
Miles Allen has served youth and his community for the last fifteen years. As a former Friend and then manager at the Friends of the Children – Portland, he has seen the tremendous impact the program has had on the community. He is excited to be a part of Friends of the Children’s effort to create generational change. While working as a program manager, Miles was focused heavily on children in foster care and LGBTQ+ youth. He understands the impact the foster care system has on young people and their families. He also understands how children with multiple identities have experienced barriers, and he strives to ensure youth are able to achieve their goals.
Dr. Andraé Brown
Chief Officer,

Chapter Success
Dr. Andraé L. Brown is the Chief Officer of Chapter Success at Friends of the Children, a role in which he continues to leverage his extensive experience gained from consulting for various Friends of the Children chapters and the National Team since 2009. His distinguished career spans roles as a professor (Hunter College, Lewis & Clark College, Howard University, University of Southern California, and Montgomery College), director of community-based mental health and educational facilities, and a strategic consultant, consistently championing empowerment and social justice across multiple sectors
Workshop Presentation
Workshop 4B: Social Impact Guarantee: Innovative and Collaborative Funding for Impact
This workshop explores the application of Social Impact Guarantee (SIG) as an innovative model of collaboration to enable strengthening and scaling of social impact. Using SHINE Youth COP SIG as a case study, participants will learn how funders, guarantors, practitioners and leaders of social service agencies collaborate through shared accountability and outcome measurement. The session will examine key components of a SIG, implementation lessons, challenges and opportunities, offering practical and interactive insights for both social service agencies and funders to align incentives, mobilise resources and deliver greater and sustainable social impact.
Presenters Profile
Mr. Jason Tan
Head, Youth COP,

SHINE Children and Youth Services
Jason is the Head of the Youth COP program in SHINE Children & Youth Services. He carries close to two decades of experience in the youth work and social service sector, spanning both direct and indirect practice as a social worker. Jason had recently received the Outstanding Social Work (Practice) Award 2026, in recognition of Youth COP as a celebrated and impactful social work program. As the Head of Youth COP, Jason and his team of social workers are committed to bring together partners and stakeholders from the people, public and private sector, with the common goal of empowering youth potential and helping youth rewrite stories of hope and rebuild identities of contributors. He was previously an adjunct lecturer in the National University of Singapore (NUS) Social Work and also an EXCO member in the Youth Work Association of Singapore (YWAS).
Ms. Amanda Soh
Head of Partnerships,

Do Good International Foundation (DGIF)
Amanda is the Head of Partnerships at DGIF, as well as Deputy General Counsel & Head of ESG and Sustainability at GLP. Her role sits at the intersection of our Founder’s commitment to build a business that grows responsibly and a foundation that gives back to society. Since DGIF’s inception, Amanda has been a driving force in stewarding our resources through an impact-driven approach to philanthropy that seeks to maximise positive outcomes for children and youth. With her leadership, DGIF has deployed millions of dollars, supported numerous programmes and built deep partnerships to translate this commitment into meaningful and lasting impact for our communities and beneficiaries.
Ms. Carrie Tan
Social Mobility Practice Lead,

Tri-Sector Associates
Carrie is heads the Social Mobility Practice at Tri-Sector Associates. She brings 15+ years of experience spanning non-profit leadership, public policy, transformative coaching and facilitation into the social impact space. Formerly serving as a Member of Parliament in Singapore 2020-2025 with a strong track record in women’s development, social mobility, caregiver support and mental wellness advocacy. Carrie is well-known as a culture and ecosystem capacity-builder, strong in cross-sector collaboration, stakeholder engagement, community-building and innovation. A non-profit founder herself and advisor to multiple social ventures, she lends creative energy and cross-disciplinary thinking to the causes she applies herself to. Recognized globally for humanitarian contributions and quoted by President Barack Obama.
Tabletop Presentations: Youth Empowerment
Presentation 1: Creating Infinite Possibilities for Today's Youths Through Collaborative Practice
Today’s youth face turbulent modern challenges—from family instability to mental health risks—they need more than just survival. This presentation explores Club Infinity, an Allkin Singapore initiative that fuses Asset-Based Community Development with Positive Youth Development. By shifting focus to internal strengths and fostering meaningful collaborations with children, seniors, and community stakeholders, Club Infinity unlocks infinite possibilities—empowering young people to tap into their potential and truly thrive within a supportive ecosystem.
Presenters Profile
Ms. Anabelle Lim Zhi Yu
Assistant Senior Social Worker, Allkin Singapore
Trained and experienced in systemic work, Anabelle spent 5 years in working with multi-stressed and vulnerable families at a Family Service Centre, where she developed strong foundations in casework and family intervention. In her current practice with youths, Anabelle has shown dedication to their rehabilitation through strengthening protective factors and supporting youths in achieving sustainable behavioural change. She also currently spearheads Club Infinity (CI), a youth mental wellness programme focuses on guiding youths towards self-discovery, resilience, positive mental health outcomes and relationships within the community, whilst reducing at-risk behaviours.
Ms. Blossom
Chan Si Ying
Senior Social Worker,

Allkin Singapore
Blossom has journeyed alongside youths and their families for 11 years, working collaboratively through a spectrum of issues like offending behaviours, substance use, school refusal and mental well-being. She believes that youths and their families hold valuable experiences and strengths that can be tapped on to empower them in making informed choices to overcome challenges. She enjoys involving creative expression modalities in interventions to provide alternative and contextualised ways for young people’s voices to be heard. She is currently pursuing a Masters in Narrative Therapy and Community Work with Dulwich Centre.
Presentation 2: Beyond Passive Participation: Fostering Youth–Adult Partnership and Collaborative Co‑Creation in Hong Kong’s Youth Social Services
This presentation introduces a Hong Kong-based portfolio of youth initiatives that foreground youth co-creation and youth–adult partnership as drivers of innovation in social services. The session shows how young people move beyond passive participation to co-design programmes, shape narratives, and contribute to service delivery across community and youth social service settings.

A key focus is the growth of youth within youth–adult partnerships: as adults offer flexible guidance and shared decision-making, young people develop confidence, agency, communication skills, and leadership over time. Through musical projects, storytelling, and governance roles, youth learn to take responsibility, collaborate across roles, and gradually shift from service users to co-creators and community contributors. The outcome is not only youth development, but also the shaping of youth services that are more responsive, relevant, and appropriate to young people’s needs.
Presenters Profile
Mr. Man Hon Wai, Kelvin
Assistant Supervisor,

Hong Kong Playground Association
Mr Man Hon Wai, Kelvin, has 17 years of frontline social work experience, including over 12 years in charge of overnight outreaching services in Hong Kong, where he served as the team leader of the outreaching team. His primary responsibilities included street outreach services, counselling work, and crisis intervention. Subsequently, he transferred to an Integrated Service Centre for Children & Youth, taking up the position of Assistant Supervisor, leading the centre in carrying out innovative and transformative work.
Mr. Kwong Yiu Fai, John
Assistant Supervisor,

Hong Kong Playground Association
Mr. Kwong Yiu Fai, currently serving as the Center in charge, I have dedicated over 12 years to youth and integrated social services, bringing extensive expertise in frontline practice and team management. Also, I have successfully driven casework, youth groups, and major community collaborations, including multi-year Child Development Fund projects, while remaining highly proficient in youth crisis intervention and outreach services. Beyond maintaining top-tier service standards, I actively foster team innovation and service transformation, building robust stakeholder networks to inject fresh perspectives and innovative momentum into next-generation youth services.
Tabletop Presentation
Presentation 1: Shaping Youth Work in Singapore: Research Towards a National Definition
What exactly is youth work, and who should be recognised as a youth worker in Singapore? Despite decades of youth practice, Singapore has yet to establish a nationally shared definition of youth work. Drawing on international literature and findings from a nationwide study involving youth practitioners, educators, managers, and policymakers, this session presents the first evidence-informed exploration of how the profession can be understood in the Singapore context. Participants will discover how seven key perspectives – Development, Approach, Outcome, Employment, Qualification, Organisational, and Risk – collectively shape the identity of youth work. The presentation will highlight emerging trends, including stronger support for relationship-centred and empowering practice, increased professionalisation, broader organisational ecosystems, and a renewed emphasis on positive youth development while serving youths across the risk continuum. More importantly, this session invites delegates to contribute to a national conversation on developing a shared definition that strengthens professional identity, informs policy, guides education and training, and shapes the future of youth work in Singapore.
Presenters Profile
Dr. Jiow Hee Jhee
Associate Professor,

Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) and Deputy Director, SIT Teaching and Learning Academy
Dr Jiow has conducted lectures and training sessions for more than 50,000 parents and government leaders on new media topics, both within Singapore and abroad. His research focuses on the influence of media on families, cyber wellness, and cybercrime. He has delivered academic presentations addressing parental mediation, video gaming, and gamification. Dr Jiow currently serves as a member of both the Films Consultative Panel and the Media Literacy Council. He is an educator in the Communication and Digital Media programme at the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT). Additionally, as Deputy Director at the SIT Teaching and Learning Academy, he contributes to advancing applied learning and competency-based education practices.

For more information: https://www.singaporetech.edu.sg/directory/faculty/hee-jhee-jiow
Mr. Nicholas
Gabriel Lim
President,

Youth Work Association (Singapore)
Mr Nicholas Gabriel Lim is a trained psychologist and lawyer, specialising in family and criminal law. He is a certified mediator with the Singapore Mediation Centre. He has been practising as a psychologist for 20 years supporting families, youth and children, and now does so within the family and youth justice space. He is on the Youth Court Panel of Advisers, appointed by the President of the Republic of Singapore, lending support to those going through court proceedings for family disputes, divorce, child or personal protection, and delinquent behaviours.
Presentation 2: "They Are Not Dangerous — They Are Hurt": Rethinking Juvenile Justice Through Trauma-Informed, Cross-Sector Rehabilitation in Mongolia
Mongolia's juvenile justice crisis is not a youth crime problem — it is one of systemic abandonment. Drawing on 28 years of frontline practice and a landmark 2024 national baseline study, this presentation reveals how structural neglect shapes the trajectories of detained youth and proposes a practical, cross-sector framework for reform. Through CNCF's Youth Rehabilitation and Reintegration Programme, it shares tools, candid implementation insights, and evidence that trauma-informed, destigmatising approaches are not peripheral to rehabilitation — they are foundational to it.
Presenters Profile
Ms. Amaraa Bor
Country Director,

Christina Noble Children's Foundation (CNCF), Mongolia
Amaraa Bor is the Country Director of the Christina Noble Children's Foundation (CNCF) Mongolia, a British-registered international NGO that has served vulnerable children and youth in Mongolia since 1997. Leading a team of 51 staff across 7 programmes, she oversees CNCF's flagship Youth Rehabilitation and Reintegration Programme — the only sustained non-governmental juvenile justice initiative in Mongolia. With over a decade of experience in child protection, social policy, and cross-sector advocacy, Amaraa has contributed to national legislative reform, the development of Mongolia's first child-centred juvenile justice guidelines, and community campaigns that have reached over 90,000 people. She is committed to systemic change grounded in frontline truth.
Oral Presentation
Oral Presentations: Rethinking Youth Work - Systems and Practice
Oral Presentations: Supporting Children and Youth with Diverse Needs in school
Presentation 1: Promoting Adolescent Mental Health via Evidence-Based Practice and Dissemination in Tokyo
This presentation will introduce Tokyo’s population-based strategy to promote adolescent mental health by translating scientific evidence into policy and practice. Drawing on findings from the Tokyo Teen Cohort and an ongoing school climate intervention, it will illustrate how longitudinal research, co-production with young people, and close collaboration with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government can accelerate the implementation and dissemination of evidence-based approaches for improving youth mental health at scale.
Presenters Profile
Professor Atsushi Nishida
Director of the Research Center for Social Science & Medicine,

Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Japan
Professor Atsushi Nishida is Director of the Research Center for Social Science & Medicine at the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Japan. His research focuses on adolescent mental health, psychiatric epidemiology, and the translation of scientific evidence into public policy. He leads the Tokyo Teen Cohort, one of Japan’s largest longitudinal birth cohort studies, and directs Tokyo’s school climate intervention programme aimed at improving young people’s mental health through whole-school approaches. He collaborates extensively with international partners to develop and implement evidence-based strategies that promote mental health and reduce inequalities among children and adolescents.
Presentation 2: I Wish You Knew…Exploring the Mainstream Schooling Insights of Young Adults on the Autism Spectrum: Emotional Challenges and Developmental Needs in the Singapore Context
This qualitative study explored the experiences of five young adults on the autism spectrum in Singapore using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Two themes emerged: the pursuit of emotional safety and belonging, and identity formation within a cultural lens. The findings highlight the profound impact of emotional and relational challenges, over-authoritarian teaching approaches, and emotional neglect by trusted adults. Including the local autistic voices is vital to co-creating culture and needs-sensitive educational and emotional supports.
Presenters Profile
Ms. Lim Hwee San Kate
Consultant Speech & Language Therapist; Counsellor,

A Kind Place
Kate is a speech and language therapist registered with the Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC). She has been working as a speech and language therapist across different settings since 2003. Her post-graduate training in counselling enables her to adopt more person-centred and holistic approaches in supporting her clients and their caregivers in their care needs across the lifespan.

As a mother of three boys aged 11-18 years and recent graduate in special educational / additional learning needs, she hopes to advocate for more neurodiversity-sensitive and emotionally-attuned approaches in journeying alongside our children and youths.
Oral Presentation
Workshop Session 4
Day 2 (19 November, 1:30pm - 3pm)

Workshop Details

Registration Information

Conference Fees

Please refer to the conference fee breakdown in the table below:

Social Service Agency Participants

Fees

Full Fee for 2 Days Conference (inclusive of 1 lunch and 2 tea breaks per day)

$800

PCG Subsidy (30%)

$240

Additional Sponsorship by DGIF (Limited to 150 participants)

$410

Total Nett Fee Payable After Additional Sponsorship by DGIF

$150

International and Other Participants

Fees

Full Fee for 2 Days Conference (inclusive of 1 lunch and 2 tea breaks per day)

$800

Additional Sponsorship by DGIF (Limited to 50 participants)

$650

Total Nett Fee Payable After 30% PCG subsidy and Additional Sponsorship by DGIF

$150

Each participant must provide their full name, organisation, designation, and email address, whether registering individually or as part of a group.

For group sign-ups, one person may purchase multiple tickets on behalf of others in a single order, so long as each individual participant's details are filled in accordingly.

Tickets are available while stocks last.
Payment can be made via two methods: PayPal (online) or PayNow/bank transfer (offline).

For offline payment methods, payment should be made within 1 week from point of ticket purchase, where an invoice will be issued, alongside payment instructions. Unpaid orders beyond this will be followed up on and may be cancelled.

For offline payment methods, participants will need to include "ICCY [your order number]" in the payment reference to allow for verification. Proof of payment should be retained for record.

A separate confirmation email will be sent once payment is verified. This will validate the QR ticket(s) that were sent to participants.
To be eligible for the full 30% NCSS PCG grant, participants must :

Be a Singaporean or Singapore Permanent Resident (PR) staff/ volunteers of NCSS member Social Service Agencies (SSAs) and/ or MSF-funded Social Service Agencies (SSAs)

Meet at least 75% attendance rate for the full conference through adhering to the necessary attendance-taking requirements (i.e. scanning via SingPass-linked QR code)

Participants should ascertain their eligibility for PCG grant (i.e. staff/volunteers of NCSS member/MSF-funded SSAs) at the ticket purchase checkout. No separate claims process is required from participants.

Participants will need to complete the necessary evaluation forms throughout the conference, for grant claim purposes.

Full conference fees will be charged to the agency if the attendance requirement is not met.

Speakers

Speaker

Wei Jie Tan

Implementing evidence-based intervention strategies for families navigating complex socio-economic challenges.

Lead Caseworker

By Tamarack Institute (to be confirmed)

Speaker

Mei Ling Goh

Driving community-wide awareness campaigns to break the stigma surrounding youth mental health.

Advocacy Lead

By Tamarack Institute (to be confirmed)

Speaker

Sarah Ng

Building collaborative ecosystems between private donors and social purpose organizations to maximize social mobility.

Head of Partnerships

By Tamarack Institute (to be confirmed)

Speaker

Dr. Chloe Tan

Integrating inclusive learning frameworks to support children with diverse educational needs in schools.

Educational Psychologist

By Tamarack Institute (to be confirmed)

Speaker

Rajan Subramaniam

Bridging the gap between data and actionable mental health support for Singaporean youth.

Director, Policy & Research

By Tamarack Institute (to be confirmed)

Moderator

Lin Wei Ting

Facilitating multi-stakeholder dialogues to strengthen youth resilience across community networks.

Principal Social Worker

By Tamarack Institute (to be confirmed)

Opening Keynote Speaker

(Click on speaker to view their profiles)

Harnessing complexities for social good - Application of complexity science

Date: 18 November

Time: 9:30am - 10:30am

Prof Dave Snowden

Founder & Chief Scientific Officer, Cynefin Co. and Cynefin Centre

Overseas Participants

As part of the International Conference for Children and Youth Work 2026, the conference organizing team has curated a 1.5 days post conference programme for international participants to go on learning visits to leading organisations across Singapore's children youth, and social service sector. The programme will allow participants to have a firsthand look at diverse programmes and practice approaches, alongside meaningful dialogue and knowledge exchange with local practitioners. Full transportation will be provided for the visits.
PM
Visit 2: Hosted by Boys Town
Focus: Residential Care, Adventure Therapy and Clinical Intervention 
Visit 5: Hosted by Grovve & *SCAPE 
Focus: Youth Engagement Spaces, Integration of Mental Health Services  
Visit 3: Hosted by Fei Yue Community Services
Focus: Street Outreach, Hidden Youth Outreach Services 
Day 1: 20 November 2026
Day 2: 21 November 2026
AM
Visit 4: Hosted by Youth Corps Singapore
Focus: Youth Engagement
AM
Visit 1: Hosted by SHINE Children and Youth Services
Focus: School Social Work, Juvenile Delinquency, Social Mobility + School Based Tour
Concorde Hotel Singapore
For your convenience, we have secured a special conference rate with our conference hotel for participants attending the event. To enjoy the preferential rate, please make your reservation using the booking link below. Please select the dates of your stay. Rooms are subject to availability, so we encourage you to book early to avoid disappointment.

Book Your Accommodation Now

Overseas Participants

Extend your conference experience with curated learning visits to leading organisations across Singapore's children youth, and social service sector. Designed for overseas participants, these visits offer a firsthand look at diverse programmes and practice approaches, alongside meaningful dialogue and knowledge exchange with local practitioners.

Explore innovative service models shaping the sector today, including residential care, school social work, and integrated spaces for mental wellbeing, and gain fresh perspectives to bring back to your own context and practice.
Standard Options
Hotel Grand Central

~200m away (~2-3 min walk) from the conference venue

One of the more affordable Orchard options

Good reviews for its location and convenience

YMCA @ One Orchard

~500m away (~6–7 min walk) from the conference venue

Clean, simple rooms

Popular among travellers who prioritise value and centrality

YWCA Fort Canning Lodge

~600–700m away (~8 min walk) from the conference venue

Simple, value-based accommodation with a reputation for reliability

Good option for tighter budgets

Enhanced Options
Holiday Inn Express Singapore Orchard City Centre

~200m away (~2–3 min walk) from the conference venue

Very convenient, modern amenities

Good reviews across platforms for reliability and service

Voco Orchard Singapore

~700–800m away (~10 min walk) from the conference venue

Premium feel and more up-to-date amenities

Well-reviewed for comfort and service

Ji Hotel Orchard Singapore

~500–600m away (~7min walk) from the conference venue

Newer, clean, minimalist rooms with decent amenities

Positive reviews for location, convenience and comfort
Who needs a visa?
Most nationalities enjoy visa-free entry for short social visits to Singapore.
How to check?
Use the official ICA Visa Requirement tool to input your nationality and confirm if you need an entry permit.
Application
If required, apply for an Entry Visa online via an authorized visa agent or through a local contact.
SG Arrival Card (SGAC)
All visitors must submit an SGAC declaration online within 3 days prior to arrival.
Passport Validity
Your passport must have at least 6 months of validity remaining from your date of entry into Singapore.
Stay Duration
Ensure you confirm your permitted stay period with the immigration officer upon arrival.
Nearest Airport
Changi Airport (SIN) is the primary gateway and is consistently ranked as one of the best in the world.
Getting to the City
Taxi/Ride-hailing: Available 24/7 at all terminals (Grab is the recommended app).
MRT (Train): The most cost-effective way to travel; follow "Train to City" signs at Terminal 2 and 3.
Arrival Info
Upon landing, follow the "Arrivals/Immigration" signs. Have your passport and digital SGAC confirmation ready for a smooth experience.

Community showcases

Explore booths by partners working across the children and youth sector.

Youth-led experiences

Take part in hands-on activities led by youths—creating opportunities for connection and shared learning.

Wellness spaces

Pause and recharge with mental wellness activities designed to support your well-being.

Beyond the Sessions

Submitted Abstracts

What’s Your Full Name?

What’s Your Email and Contact Number?

Attendance Days

Join Us at

ICCY 2026

Secure your spot and be part of this international exchange

For enquiries, please contact us via

ICCY2026@shine.org.sg

Partners and Supporters

Programme Outline

18 November 2026

9:00am

Arrival of Guest of Honour

Minister Desmond Lee,

Minister for Education and Minister-in-Charge for Social Services Integration

9:15am

Opening Address by Guest of Honour

Minister Desmond Lee,

Minister for Education and Minister-in-Charge for Social Services Integration

9:30am

Keynote (Harnessing complexities for social good - Application of complexity science)

Prof Dave Snowden, Founder & Chief Scientific Officer, Cynefin Co. and Cynefin Centre

10:30am

Tea Break

11:00am

Plenary Session 1

“Navigating Complexities: A Global Showdown!”

12:30pm

Lunch

2:00pm

Workshop Session 1

Breakout sessions consisting of 5 workshops

3:30pm

Tea Break

4:00pm

Workshop Session 2

Breakout sessions consisting of 5 workshops

5:30pm

End of Day 1

19 November 2026

9:00am

Plenary Session 2

“Rethinking Collaborations for Social Impact: People, Private, Public”

10:30am

Tea Break

11:00am

Workshop Session 3

Breakout sessions consisting of 5 workshops

12:30pm

Lunch

1:30pm

Workshop Session 4

Breakout sessions consisting of 5 workshops

3:00pm

Tea Break

3:30pm

Plenary Session 3

“Building Possibilities: What’s Ahead?”

5:00pm

Closing Finale

5:30pm

End of Conference

Programme Details

9.00 am

Arrival of Guest of Honour – Minister Desmond Lee, Minister for Education and Minister-in-Charge for Social Services Integration

9.15 am

Opening Address by Guest of Honour,

Minister Desmond Lee,

Minister for Education and Minister-in-Charge of Social Services Integration

9.3 am

Keynote by Prof Dave Snowden, Founder & Chief Scientific Officer, Cynefin Co. and Cynefin Centre

Topic: Harnessing complexities for social good - Application of complexity science

10.30

Tea Break

11.00 am

Plenary Session (1)

“Navigating Complexities: A Global Showdown!”

Over the years, various approaches to tackle complex issues have been practiced globally. Is there one that stands out and works better than the others? Who would emerge victorious? Watch this battle unfold, as global renowned agencies come together to share about the approach that they utilize in their professional work with children and youth.

Moderator: Assoc Prof Peace Wong, National University of Singapore Proposed Panellists:

SHINE Children and Youth Services [Representing Singapore]
Hong Kong Playground Association [Representing Hong Kong]
Tamarack Institute [Representing Canada] – to be confirmed
Cynefin Co and Cynefin Centre [Making Sense of Complexity]

12.30 pm

Lunch

1.30 pm

Workshop 1-A

By Hong Kong Playground Association

Workshop 1-B

ByCynefin Co and Cynefin Centre

Workshop 1-C

By Mark Macgowen?

Workshop 1-D

Based on abstracts selected.

Workshop 1-E

Based on abstracts selected.

3.00 pm

Tea Break

3.30 pm

Workshop 2-A

By Tamarack Institute (to be confirmed)

Workshop 2-B

By SHINE Children and Youth Services

Workshop 2-C

By Cynefin Co

and Cynefin Centre

Workshop 2-D

Based on abstracts selected.

Workshop 2-E

Based on abstracts selected.

5.00 pm

Consolidation & Reflection Activity

5.30 pm

End of Day 1

9.00 am

Opening Segment

9.15 am

Plenary Session (2)

“Rethinking Collaborations for Social Impact: People, Private, Public”

“Good solutions rarely emerge in isolation, but are the result of the community, the interdisciplinary practice, the private sector as well as the government working together hand in hand.”

- Minister Desmond Lee, Minister for Education and

Minister-in-Charge of Social Services Integration

On the first day, we learnt about complexity science and the different lenses and approaches that we can use to approach complexity. However, we also recognize that this piece of work is too big to be done alone.

In this plenary, we invite representatives from the people, private, and public sector to rethink and discuss how collaborations can look like.

Moderator: Ms Raman Sidhu, Chief Executive Office, Octava Foundation Proposed Panellists:

Mr Lim Shung Yar, CEO, NCSS [Rethinking collaboration through sector development] – to be confirmed
DGIF Foundation [Rethinking collaboration through impact investing]
The Bridgespan Group [Rethinking collaboration through philanthropic strategies] – to be confirmed
JobsFirst NYC [Rethinking collaboration through an international lens] – to be confirmed

10.15 am

Tea Break

11.00 am

Workshop 3-A

Social Impact Guarantee Workshop

by SHINE, DGIF, Tri sector

Workshop 3-B

Collective Impact Workshop

By JobsFirst NYC

Workshop 3-C

Based on abstracts selected.

Workshop 3-D

Based on abstracts selected.

Workshop 3-E

Based on abstracts selected.

12.30 pm

Lunch

1:30pm

Plenary Session (3)

“Building Possibilities: What’s Ahead?”

As the conference concludes, this final plenary turns our focus forward—towards hope, possibility, and what lies ahead for children and youth. The session brings together partners from di verse settings to share emerging ideas, initiatives, and commitments that point to the future of children and youth work.

Through a forward-looking dialogue, speakers will explore how collaboration, practice, and systems can continue to evolve to support children and youth in navigating increasingly complex challenges. This closing session invites participants to leave energised, inspired, and ready to carry forward a shared vision of possibility into action.

Moderator: Assoc Prof Vincent Ng, Dean, SUSS School of Social Work and Development

Proposed Panellists:

Ms Terri Sorensen, Chief Executive Officer, Friends of the Children, USA [Benchmarking Standards for Impact]
Mr Kevin Tan, Chief Executive Officer, Tri Sector Associates [Innovative Philanthropic Developments] – to be confirmed
Ms Lydia Ang, General Manager, Capitaland Hope Foundation & Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, Capitaland [Giving through Regional Partnerships] – to be confirmed
Dr Gerard Chung, Associate Professor (National University of Singapore) [Technology x Social Service]

3.00 pm

Tea Break

4.00 pm

Youth Work Day Celebrations (in partnership with Youth Work Association Singapore (YWAS))

4.00 pm

Closing Finale

4.00 pm

End of Conference

01
Over the years, various approaches to tackle complex issues have been practiced globally. Is there one that stands out and works better than the others? Who would emerge victorious? Watch this battle unfold, as global renowned agencies come together to share about the approach that they utilize in their professional work with children and youth.

Moderator

Assoc Prof Peace Wong, National University of Singapore

Panelists

SHINE Children and Youth Services [Representing Singapore]

Hong Kong Playground Association [Representing Hong Kong]

Tamarack Institute [Representing Canada] – to be confirmed

Cynefin Co and Cynefin Centre [Making Sense of Complexity]

Navigating Complexities: A Global Showdown!
02
“Good solutions rarely emerge in isolation, but are the result of the community, the interdisciplinary practice, the private sector as well as the government working together hand in hand.” - Minister Desmond Lee, Minister for Education and Minister-in-Charge of Social Services Integration.

On the first day, we learnt about complexity science and the different lenses and approaches that we can use to approach complexity. However, we also recognize that this piece of work is too big to be done alone. In this plenary, we invite representatives from the people, private, and public sector to rethink and discuss how collaborations can look like.

Moderator

Ms Raman Sidhu, Chief Executive Office, Octava Foundation

Panellists:

Mr Lim Shung Yar, CEO, NCSS [Rethinking collaboration through sector development]

DGIF Foundation [Rethinking collaboration through impact investing]

The Bridgespan Group [Rethinking collaboration through philanthropic strategies]

JobsFirst NYC [Rethinking collaboration through an international lens]

Rethinking Collaborations for Social Impact: People, Private, Public
03
Building Possibilities: What’s Ahead?
As the conference concludes, this final plenary turns our focus forward—towards hope, possibility, and what lies ahead for children and youth. The session brings together partners from di verse settings to share emerging ideas, initiatives, and commitments that point to the future of children and youth work. Through a forward-looking dialogue, speakers will explore how collaboration, practice, and systems can continue to evolve to support children and youth in navigating increasingly complex challenges. This closing session invites participants to leave energised, inspired, and ready to carry forward a shared vision of possibility into action.

Moderator

Assoc Prof Vincent Ng, Dean, SUSS School of Social Work and Development

Panellists

Ms Terri Sorensen, Chief Executive Officer, Friends of the Children, USA [Benchmarking Standards for Impact]

Mr Kevin Tan, Chief Executive Officer, Tri Sector Associates [Innovative Philanthropic Developments]

Ms Lydia Ang, General Manager, Capitaland Hope Foundation & Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, Capitaland [Giving through Regional Partnerships]

Dr Gerard Chung, Associate Professor (National University of Singapore) [Technology x Social Service]
Plenary Session 1 Plenary Session 2 Plenary Session 3
Plenary Session 1:
“Navigating Complexities: A Global Showdown!”
Over the years, various approaches to tackle complex issues have been practiced globally. Is there one that stands out and works better than the others? Who would emerge victorious? Watch this battle unfold, as global renowned agencies come together to share about the approach that they utilize in their professional work with children and youth.
(Click on speaker to view their profiles)
Moderator
A/P Peace Wong
Associate Professor,

Department of Social Work,

National University of Singapore
Speaker
Mr. Lee Seng Meng
Executive Director,

SHINE Children and Youth Services
Singapore
Speaker
Dr. Wan Lap Man
Executive Director,

Hong Kong Playground Association
Hong Kong
Speaker
Ms. Sylvia Cheuy
Consulting Director,

Tamarack Institute
Canada
Speaker
Professor Dave Snowden
Founder & Chief Scientific Officer, Cynefin Co and Cynefin Centre
United Kingdom
Plenary Session 2:
“Rethinking Collaborations for Social Impact: People, Private, Public”
“Good solutions rarely emerge in isolation, but are the result of the community, the interdisciplinary practice, the private sector as well as the government working together hand in hand.”
Minister Desmond Lee, Minister for Education and Minister-in-Charge of Social Services Integration
On the first day, we learnt about complexity science and the different lenses and approaches that we can use to approach complexity. However, we also recognize that this piece of work is too big to be done alone.

In this plenary, we invite representatives from the people, private, and public sector to rethink and discuss how collaborations can look like.
(Click on speaker to view their profiles)
Moderator
Ms. Raman Sidhu
Chief Executive Officer,

Octava Foundation
Speaker
Mr. Lim Shung Yar
Chief Executive Officer,

National Council of Social Service
Rethinking collaboration through sector development
Speaker
Ms. Amanda Soh
Head of Partnerships,

Do Good International Foundation
Rethinking collaboration through innovative financing
Speaker
Mr. Zhen Liu
Principal,

Bridgespan Southeast Asia
Rethinking collaboration through partnerships between philanthropists and NPOs
Speaker
Dr. Jeremy Greenfield
Vice President,

JobsFirst NYC
Rethinking collaboration through NPOs’ partnerships with private and public sector
Plenary Session 3:
“Building Possibilities: What’s Ahead?”
As the conference concludes, this final plenary turns our focus forward, towards hope, possibility, and what lies ahead for children and youth. The session brings together partners from diverse settings to share emerging ideas, initiatives, and commitments that point to the future of children and youth work.

Through a forward-looking dialogue, speakers will explore how collaboration, practice, and systems can continue to evolve to support children and youth in navigating increasingly complex challenges. This closing session invites participants to leave energised, inspired, and ready to carry forward a shared vision of possibility into action.
(Click on speaker to view their profiles)
Moderator
Mr. Nicholas Gabriel
President,

Youth Work Association Singapore (YWAS)
Speaker
Ms. Terri Sorensen
Chief Executive Officer,

Friends of the Children, USA
Speaker
Mr. Tony Tan
Executive Director,

Capitaland

Hope Foundation & Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, Capitaland
Speaker
Mr. Ethen Ong
Acting Executive Director,

*SCAPE
Speaker
Dr. Lee Geok Ling
Associate Professor and Head of Department,

Department of Social Work, National University of Singapore

Plenary Details

The People of SHINE

Dedicated Professionals Supporting Children
Youth, and Families

At the heart of SHINE is a multidisciplinary team of social workers, psychologists, counsellors, educators, and leaders who share a deep commitment to safeguarding and empowering children and youth.

Types of Workshops
Workshop Presentation:
All workshop presentations will be one and a half hour in length, inclusive of 20 minutes for questions.
Tabletop Presentation:
Tabletop sessions act as a pathway for networking and sharing of information directly with delegates in an interactive setting. Participants will be split into 2 tables with 2 separate presenters. Presenters will have 45 minutes to divide between presenting, adaptation or discussion. At the end of the first round, participants will switch to the other table for a second presentation.
Oral Presentation:
Each presenter take turns to present on their respective topics for up to 45 minutes for their presentation, including 10 minutes for questions.
Workshop Session 1 Day 1 | 18 Nov (2pm - 330pm)Workshop Session 2 Day 1 | 18 Nov (4pm - 530pm)Workshop Session 3 Day 2 | 19 Nov (11am - 1230pm)Workshop Session 4 Day 2 | 19 Nov (130pm - 3pm)
Breakout sessions consist of 5 workshops. Please choose one workshop to attend.
Workshop 1A
Workshop 1B
Workshop 1C
Workshop 1D
Workshop 1E
Workshop 1A: We Are All Newbies of Life: Using Cantopop to Support Adolescents’ Emotional Wellbeing 
This two-hour workshop introduces We Are All Newbies of Life, a Hong Kong secondary school programme that uses Cantopop as a low-barrier medium for social-emotional learning. Drawing on programme experience and research on pop music, emotional communication, stress relief, and adolescent self-expression, Steven Tsoi and Ivy Yau will share how music can help students name feelings, build identity, and reconnect with peers and school life. The session will unpack key components including co-created playlists, student song sharing, campus radio, the Music Cafe model, and frontline observations from youth service practice. Participants will leave with practical ideas for using familiar songs and guided reflection to create safer, non-judgmental spaces where adolescents can express emotions, seek comfort, and experience connection. 
Workshop Presentation
Presenters Profile
Ms. Ivy Yau Yee Man
Deputy Executive Director

(Social Work Division), Hong Kong Playground Association 
Ivy Yau Yee Man is Deputy Executive Director of the Social Work Division at the Hong Kong Playground Association. A seasoned social worker specializing in youth services and youth mental health, she brings frontline experience, service planning expertise, and school-based practice insight to the programme.
Mr. Steven Tsoi
Founder and CEO, SONOVA
Steven Tsoi is Founder and CEO of SONOVA, a Hong Kong social enterprise using media, music, and storytelling for youth and community engagement. A former radio DJ and music programmer with two decades of broadcasting experience, he leads the creative design of We Are All Newbies of Life.  
Workshop 1B: The Future, Backwards – Making Sense of a Range of Possible Futures
The challenges facing children and youth today don't yield to straightforward plans. So how do we think about the future — together, honestly, and without pretending we can predict it?

Future Backwards is a structured facilitation method from the Cynefin Co that helps groups make sense of a range of possible futures by working backwards from both best-case and worst-case scenarios to understand what conditions and decisions might lead there. It is built for complexity: it surfaces divergent perspectives, holds tension productively, and generates shared insight without imposing a single narrative.

For direct practitioners, social workers, and educators, this method opens up conversations that conventional planning tools often shut down. It can be used with youth clients and beneficiaries to co-create visions of their own futures — building ownership and surfacing assumptions that rarely emerge in structured casework. It works equally well within teams navigating strategic uncertainty, or as a tool for reflective practice and lessons-learnt review.

This workshop, facilitated by Jules Yim (The Cynefin Co), offers a hands-on experience of the method in action, contextualised for the children and youth services sector. It pairs directly with the complexity science concepts introduced in Dave Snowden's keynote, giving you both the conceptual frame and a practical technique to take home.
Presenters Profile
Ms. Jules Yim
Senior Consultant,

The Cynefin Co.
Jules Yim is a Senior Consultant at the Cynefin Co, based in Singapore, where she works at the intersection of complexity science, organisational foresight, and facilitation across the world. She partners with clients spanning private companies, government bodies, and social sector organisations, helping leaders and teams navigate uncertainty through various complexity methods. Jules brings a distinctive interdisciplinary lens to her facilitation practice, drawing on her background in literature and narrative research alongside her expertise in complex systems work. A writer as well as a consultant, she is also co-founder of the Seapunk movement, reflecting her ongoing interest in speculative thinking and alternative futures focused on Southeast Asia.
Workshop Presentation
Workshop Presentation
Workshop 1D: Sex, Silence, and Support: Rethinking Practice with Young and Queer Communities  
This session brings together practitioners from Transbefrienders and Project X Society to explore how to engage young people in open, inclusive, and respectful conversations about sex and sexuality. Drawing on community-based experience, participants will learn about consent, bodily autonomy, STIs, HIV, and responding to real questions youths ask. The session also encourages reflection on personal beliefs and biases that may influence practice. Through practical tools and discussion, participants will build confidence to navigate sensitive conversations, foster trust, and support young people in making informed, healthy, and empowered decisions.
Presenters Profile
Mr. Coen Teo
Executive Director, Transbefriender
Coen began his community work by documenting his transitioning journey on YouTube and providing information to transgender Singaporeans. To give back to the community, he conceptualised Transbefrienders to enable more youth to access peer support. He has a background in business administration and is a counsellor-in-training. He has contributed to several other LGBTQ+ groups, including Pink Dot SG, with over a decade of community work.
Ms. Tok Kheng  Leng
Social Worker, Project X
Kheng Leng is a social worker at Project X who is passionate about working alongside sex workers and facilitating meaningful conversations. She enjoys making complex topics easy to understand and believes that open conversations about sex are essential. After all, who better to learn about sex than from sex workers? Her strengths lie in building rapport with diverse communities and code-switching to connect effectively with them.
Mr. Nicholas Chan
MSM & Youth Outreach Manager
A natural busybody (aka kaypoh) who has been involved with fringe communities, Nicholas has been intertwined with Action for AIDS since 2016. Nicholas strongly believes that healthcare should be patient-centric and marginalised communities should be sufficiently educated and empowered to make their own health choices. This led him to journey together with AfA as he believes that sexual health should be as important and advocated for as physical & mental health.
Oral Presentations: Supporting Children and youth with special needs
Presentation 1: Finding Their Voice: Inclusive Strategies Supporting Swedish Language Acquisition among Immigrant Students with Speech and Learning Disabilities
This presentation explores inclusive strategies that support Swedish language acquisition among immigrant students with speech and learning disabilities. Drawing from classroom experiences in Sweden, the study highlights the role of multisensory instruction, emotional support, and culturally responsive teaching in fostering communication, confidence, and participation. The findings emphasize the importance of creating inclusive learning environments where diverse learners feel supported, valued, and empowered to succeed, contributing to Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education.
Presenters Profile
Ms. Michelle Bartolay
Former Special Education Teacher in Sweden / Bachelor of Elementary Education Student (UPHSL) 
Michelle Bartolay is a former Special Education Teacher in Sweden and a graduating Bachelor of Elementary Education student representing the College of Education of the University of Perpetual Help System Laguna, Philippines. She completed the Barn och Fritids Programme in Sweden and has extensive experience working with immigrant learners with speech and learning disabilities. Her professional and academic experiences inspired her research interest in inclusive education, language acquisition, and learner-centered teaching. Through her study, Finding Their Voice, she advocates for equitable educational opportunities and inclusive practices that empower diverse learners to participate meaningfully, develop confidence, and achieve academic success.
Oral Presentation
Presentation 2: Reframing Support: Restorative Practices in a Family-Centric ADHD Programme
This presentation highlights Project Kaleidoscope, a family-centric, restorative intervention programme supporting children and youth with ADHD. Reflecting on insights from two year-long pilot runs, we discuss how restorative practice concepts are integrated into the curriculum. We will compare the programme’s original structure with subsequent iterations, showcasing key improvements made in response to feedback and challenges experienced by participating parents, children and youth, and practitioners.
Presenters Profile
Ms. Tanzima Rowshnya
Raquib
Social Worker,

Lutheran Community Care Services
Zima is a social worker at LCCS, working alongside schools, teachers, young persons and families. Her work largely focuses on building and restoring relationships using restorative practices while empowering individuals to thrive in the community. She brings her knowledge of trauma-informed care and experience of working with persons with special needs to support the families of Project Kaleidoscope. Zima also spends her time volunteering to support victims of crime and to mentor children and youth from different backgrounds. Away from work, you can find her in the gym, travelling, sharing pictures of her cat or hidden somewhere with a book.
Ms. Ruth Tay Kai Ning
Social Worker,

Lutheran Community Care Services
Ruth is a Social Worker (Schools) at the Lutheran Community Care Services in Singapore. Ruth mentors children in primary school and seeks to create safe and nurturing spaces for their personal development and emotional growth. Ruth is interested to explore a multi-disciplinary approach when it comes to supporting children's mental health and learning needs.
Workshop 1C: The Power of Using Long-Term Professional Mentoring to Overcome Intergenerational Poverty
Workshop Presentation
Children growing up amidst adversity often face barriers that cannot be overcome through short-term interventions alone. This workshop explores Friends of the Children's model of long-term, professional mentoring, where children as young as five are paired with a paid, trained mentor for 12+ years, through to high school graduation. Participants will learn how sustained relationships build trust, resilience, and social capital, offering valuable insights for practitioners and organisations committed to breaking cycles of intergenerational poverty.
Presenters Profile
Ms. Terri Sorensen
Chief Executive Officer,

Friends of the Children
Terri Sorensen is the Chief Executive Officer of Friends of the Children, a U.S. nonprofit that pairs children facing the greatest obstacles with a salaried, professional mentor (called a Friend) who stays with each child from pre-kindergarten through high school graduation – 12+ years, no matter what.

In her 23 years at Friends of the Children, Sorensen has secured more than $300 million in funding. Since becoming CEO in 2012, she has grown the network from 5 to 48 locations, and quadrupled the number of children served. Her goal is to ensure that every child who needs a Friend has one.
Mr. Miles Allen
Director,

Duncan and Cindy Campbell National Center of Excellence for
Professional Youth Mentoring
Miles Allen has served youth and his community for the last fifteen years. As a former Friend and then manager at the Friends of the Children – Portland, he has seen the tremendous impact the program has had on the community. He is excited to be a part of Friends of the Children’s effort to create generational change. While working as a program manager, Miles was focused heavily on children in foster care and LGBTQ+ youth. He understands the impact the foster care system has on young people and their families. He also understands how children with multiple identities have experienced barriers, and he strives to ensure youth are able to achieve their goals.
Dr Andraé Brown
Chief Officer,

Chapter Success
Dr. Andraé L. Brown is the Chief Officer of Chapter Success at Friends of the Children, a role in which he continues to leverage his extensive experience gained from consulting for various Friends of the Children chapters and the National Team since 2009. His distinguished career spans roles as a professor (Hunter College, Lewis & Clark College, Howard University, University of Southern California, and Montgomery College), director of community-based mental health and educational facilities, and a strategic consultant, consistently championing empowerment and social justice across multiple sectors
Workshop Session 1
Day 1 (18 November, 2pm - 3:30pm)
Workshop 2A
Workshop 2B
Workshop 2C
Workshop 2D
Workshop 2E
Workshop 2A: Collective Impact: A Framework for Addressing Complexity
The complex issues facing communities today are beyond what any one group or organization, working alone, can solve.  They require collaboration.  Collective Impact is a disciplined form of multi-sector collaboration that has proven to be highly effective at generating significant impact on an array of social and environmental issues.

This interactive workshop will provide participants with an overview of the Collective Impact framework and use stories and examples to illustrate how Collective Impact creates opportunities for diverse groups to work together differently to achieve impact. Participants will leave this session with:

A deeper understanding of the Collective Impact Framework

An appreciation of the essential mindset shifts that enable Collective Impact to achieve impact

Learning and insights about putting Collective Impact into action

A reflection of the challenges and opportunities of using the CI Framework to advance change within community and systems

Presenters Profile
Ms. Sylvia Cheuy
Consulting Director,

Collaboration

Tamarack Institute
Sylvia Cheuy is the Consulting Director of Collaboration with the Tamarack Institute.  She has spent more than 25 years as a changemaker and champion of multi-sector, change efforts and has supported diverse sectors and groups to work effectively together to create, implement, and evolve shared strategies for action.

Throughout her career Sylvia has recognized the extraordinary wisdom of ordinary people as essential for lasting change.  She has first-hand experience and deep knowledge in how to engage and mobilize diverse sectors, find innovative solutions to their toughest challenges and make them a reality.

Sylvia has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto and a Graduate Diploma in Social Innovation from the University of Waterloo.  She is a skilled and seasoned community change facilitator who has delivered capacity-building sessions to clients across Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand and the UK.
Workshop Presentation
Workshop 2B: The Future, Backwards – Making Sense of a Range of Possible Futures
The challenges facing children and youth today don't yield to straightforward plans. So how do we think about the future — together, honestly, and without pretending we can predict it?

Future Backwards is a structured facilitation method from the Cynefin Co that helps groups make sense of a range of possible futures by working backwards from both best-case and worst-case scenarios to understand what conditions and decisions might lead there. It is built for complexity: it surfaces divergent perspectives, holds tension productively, and generates shared insight without imposing a single narrative.

For direct practitioners, social workers, and educators, this method opens up conversations that conventional planning tools often shut down. It can be used with youth clients and beneficiaries to co-create visions of their own futures — building ownership and surfacing assumptions that rarely emerge in structured casework. It works equally well within teams navigating strategic uncertainty, or as a tool for reflective practice and lessons-learnt review.

This workshop, facilitated by Jules Yim (The Cynefin Co), offers a hands-on experience of the method in action, contextualised for the children and youth services sector. It pairs directly with the complexity science concepts introduced in Dave Snowden's keynote, giving you both the conceptual frame and a practical technique to take home.
Presenters Profile
Ms. Jules Yim
Senior Consultant,

The Cynefin Co.
Jules Yim is a Senior Consultant at the Cynefin Co, based in Singapore, where she works at the intersection of complexity science, organisational foresight, and facilitation across the world. She partners with clients spanning private companies, government bodies, and social sector organisations, helping leaders and teams navigate uncertainty through various complexity methods. Jules brings a distinctive interdisciplinary lens to her facilitation practice, drawing on her background in literature and narrative research alongside her expertise in complex systems work. A writer as well as a consultant, she is also co-founder of the Seapunk movement, reflecting her ongoing interest in speculative thinking and alternative futures focused on Southeast Asia.
Workshop Presentation
Oral Presentations: Ecosystem of support for Children and Youth
Presentation 1: Girls as Leaders: A Learning Communities Model for Youth-Led Change
Too often, programmes position adolescent girls as beneficiaries rather than leaders. EMpower's Learning Communities model offers a different approach, placing girls at the centre as decision-makers, advocates, and change-makers. This session draws on direct practice experience implementing the model across India through 25 grassroots organisations, where girls have identified priorities, designed interventions, and managed resources to drive tangible community change. It also speaks to the model's growing momentum and its adaptation across contexts including Bangladesh, Nepal, Niger, and Syria.
Presenters Profile
Ms. Jayanthi Pushkaran
Senior Programme Officer, EMpower - The Emerging Markets Foundation
Jayanthi Pushkaran is Senior Programme Officer for Adolescent Girls at EMpower – The Emerging Markets Foundation, based in New Delhi. She leads EMpower's work with adolescent girls in India, focusing on initiatives that strengthen youth leadership, meaningful participation, and inclusive learning. Jayanthi has played a key role in developing and scaling programmes such as the Adolescent Girls Learning Community and the Youth Advisory Council framework, helping embed young people's voices in decision-making processes. Prior to joining EMpower, she worked with the National Institute of Science, Technology and Development Studies and Delhi Greens. She holds degrees from Jawaharlal Nehru University and the University of Delhi.
Presentation 2: Glow-up': A Home-School-Community partnership in building cohesive and supportive environments
While it is neither possible nor desirable to shield children from every challenge, children thrive when significant adults around them are aligned, responsive and collectively supportive. ‘Glow Up’ was designed as a home-school-community partnership model with the recognition that resilience is not built in isolation but through consistent, reinforcing relationships across a child’s everyday environment. Beyond child-focused intervention, the programme uniquely brings together children, caregivers and teachers to co-create a shared language, skillset and ecosystem of care around children’s well-being.
Presenters Profile
Ms. Priscilla Chan
Senior Social Worker & Team Lead, Singapore Children’s Society
Ms Priscilla Chan is a Registered Senior Social Worker of Student Service @ Children’s Society (SSC). She is also the Outreach and Social Programmes Team Lead. Priscilla has been working with children, youth, and their families from diversified backgrounds since 2011. She is passionate to serve the next generation and their families in the community and she aspires to make a difference by planting a seed of hope in those she interacts with. Priscilla also believes in enhancing family resiliency and recognising family strengths to build greater capacity within the family unit to face emerging issues of today.
Ms. Sharmaine Low
Social Worker,

Singapore Children’s Society
Ms Sharmaine Low is a Registered Social Worker of Student Service Centre (SSC) @ Singapore Children’s Society. She works with children and families to support emotional wellbeing and healthy development. Sharmaine enjoys using play as a key medium in her work to create a safe and engaging space for children to express emotions, make sense of their experiences, and build life skills. Her professional interests include strengthening the capacity of caregivers and other trusted adults in a child’s ecosystem. Sharmaine believes strongly in collaborative, child‑centered practice that supports children across home, school, and community settings.
Oral Presentation
Workshop 2C: Mind the Gap: Navigating SEN Diagnosis and Support for Primary School Children in Singapore
Families of children with SEN often navigate fragmented and unclear pathways while trying to understand their child’s needs and access appropriate support. Drawing on findings from the Mind the Gap study, this interactive workshop explores caregiver and practitioner experiences navigating SEN diagnosis, school support, referrals, and services in Singapore. Through composite stories, structured mapping activities, and collaborative solutioning, participants will examine where families experience friction within support systems and explore practical, child-centred ways to strengthen coordination, clarity, and support across sectors.
Presenters Profile
Dr. Hana Alhadad
Senior Consultant for Research,

EveryChild.SG
Dr. Hana Alhadad is Senior Consultant for Research at EveryChild.SG, focusing on holistic child wellbeing, inclusive education, and support systems for children and families. She is also co-founder of Hayat Collective, a child-centred wellbeing and children’s rights initiative co-created with children and young people.

A child and family specialist, neurodiversity advocate, and therapeutic playmaker, her work focuses on neurodivergent children and families, child and adolescent mental health, and trauma-informed, equity-centred practice. With a background in community development and psychology, she integrates research, practice, and community engagement to foster more nurturing and inclusive environments for children and families. She is also adjunct faculty at the National University of Singapore.
Workshop Presentation
Oral Presentations: Mental Health
Presentation 1: Casual Chat Counseling "Gyutto Chat"
Have you ever had a moment when you felt uneasy, but not serious enough to talk about with friends or family? We would like to introduce “Gyutto Chat,” an initiative by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government that offers a free, anonymous chat consultation service for children and parents to share their everyday concerns and anxieties. As part of this initiative, a mascot character named “Gyuppy” has been created to enhance the service’s approachability for children.
Presenters Profile
Ms. IWASE Mika
Director Liaison Office for

Child-Oriented Policies, Tokyo Metropolitan Government
Ms Iwase Mika joined the Tokyo Metropolitan Government in 1998, working in the Bureau of Public Health and the Bureau of Taxation on public health, medical, and tax-related initiatives.

Since 2024, she has been working at the Liaison Office for Child-Oriented Policies, contributing to initiatives such as programs to hear children’s voices and the Policymaking Participation Project for Junior and Senior High School Students.

From 2026, she has been involved in initiatives including the “Gyutto Chat” program, as well as projects addressing young carers and youth healthcare.
Presentation 2: What Works in Text Chats, and What Can Transcripts Tell Us? Evidence from a Singapore Youth Chat Service
Text-based chat is now a key entry point for distressed youth in Singapore, but knowing whether a session actually helped is surprisingly hard: post-session surveys suffer from high attrition. Drawing on analyses of sessions from a Singapore youth text-only chat service, this presentation identifies the worker skills linked to positive user outcomes including emoticons, affective language, normalization, and psychoeducation and argues for using such transcript-based features as proxy indicators of effectiveness in chat-based practices.
Presenters Profile
Dr. Gerard Chung
Assistant Professor in Social Work, Department of Social Work, National University of Singapore
Dr Gerard Chung studies how social workers use technology and AI. His research spans several areas: how social workers use technology and AI, how digital social work practice can be developed, and how social workers can use text to engage youths and other service users. He practiced previously as a social worker in a family service center. Dr Gerard Chung hold a PhD in Social Work from UNC-Chapel Hill School of Social Work and is an Assistant Professor at NUS. His personal website is at www.gerardchung.com
Oral Presentation
Workshop Session 2
Day 1 (18 November, 4pm - 5:30pm)
Workshop 3A
Workshop 3B
Workshop 3C
Workshop 3D
Workshop 3E
Workshop 3A: Driving Economic Mobility: Identifying Levers for Change Across Education and Workforce Systems
The transition from education to the workforce is often fragmented, leaving young adults to navigate mismatched skills, disconnected credentials, and systemic barriers. Building directly on the insights from the "Rethinking Collaborations" plenary, this interactive session introduces JobsFirst NYC’s approach to bridging the gap between educational institutions, employers, and community systems.

Participants will engage in a hands-on system mapping exercise to visualize the local workforce-education ecosystem, pinpoint predictable friction points where these sectors misalign, and identify the strategic, structural levers necessary to unlock sustainable collective action. Whether you are building new workforce pathways, implementing career-connected learning, or trying to better engage employers, you will leave with a practical framework to analyze your ecosystem and push past collaborative gridlock.
Presenters Profile
Dr. Jeremy Greenfield
Vice President,

JobsFirst NYC
Ms. Allyson Bay
Senior Director, Impact and Learning, JobsFirst NYC
Jeremy Greenfield, PhD, serves as the Vice President of JobsFirstNYC. In this role, he leads the organization’s education, community, and impact initiatives—designing, implementing, and evaluating programs that advance economic mobility for young adults and their communities. A proud product of public schools and youth development programs, Jeremy has spent more than twenty years supporting young people and strengthening the systems that serve them.

Throughout his career, he has worked across sectors–including secondary education, higher education, community-based organizations, and intermediaries–to advance systems change.

Jeremy’s scholarship and commentary have been featured in Kappan, City Limits, The High School Journal, and other publications. He holds a BA from Skidmore College, an MA from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a PhD from the CUNY Graduate Center.
Allyson Bay is the Senior Director of Impact and Learning at JobsFirst NYC, where she leads the organization's learning and evaluation strategy, ensuring insights and data inform decision-making across New York City partnerships.

Allyson has spent over a decade building the systems, frameworks, and data infrastructure that help mission-driven organizations translate strategy into measurable impact. Her career spans international and domestic program models in workforce development, economic mobility, housing, and family strengthening, where she has advised on organizational strategy, program effectiveness, and systems change, and has consulted with numerous nonprofits on program implementation and best practices for impact.

Allyson has an MBA with a concentration in Entrepreneurship and a BA in Sociology.
Workshop Presentation
Workshop 3B: Helsinki School-based youth work in Helsinki: a community building and preventive wellbeing model
Workshop Presentation
School-based youth work in Helsinki is part of the city’s broader wellbeing ecosystem, where youth work is embedded in everyday school life to support young people’s growth, sense of community and connection to the school environment. The work is guided by Finland’s national definition, which describes school-based youth work as non-formal support that helps young people develop and thrive. Discover the main goals, practices and impacts of school-based youth work in Helsinki with three local experts.
Presenters Profile
Ms. Katri Kairimo
Regional Manager, City of Helsinki Youth services, Eastern Youth Work
Katri Kairimo serves as a Regional Manager of Youth Services in Helsinki and brings extensive experience in leadership roles within youth work.

Her areas of expertise include school-based youth work, as well as developing youth participation and environmental initiatives. Katri leads youth services in the eastern and southeastern districts of Helsinki, overseeing six youth work units. She is also a member of the City of Helsinki Youth Services management team. Katri is known as a goal-oriented developer who promotes young people’s wellbeing and opportunities for participation in a practical and inspiring way.
Mr. Lauri Hiltunen
The Head of Unit, City of Helsinki Youth Services,

Unit for Youth Work at Schools and Educational Institutions
Lauri Hiltunen is a Head of Unit in Helsinki with over 20 years of experience in youth work. He began his career working in leisure activities and schools, before moving into leadership roles managing local youth work in suburban areas.

Since 2021, he has been developing school-based youth work in Helsinki and currently leads this area at the city level. Lauri combines strong leadership, operational expertise, and a passion for building collaborative environments that support both organizational goals and the growth of young people and professionals alike.
Tabletop Presentations: Youth Engagement
Presentation 1: Learnings from VOX’s Digital Youth Work Service Review: Measuring Outcomes and Navigating Mental Models in Digital Youth Work
VOX’s digital youth work service was reviewed using the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) framework. Quantitative data was used to compare VOX’s effectiveness and efficiency in nurturing developmental relationships, improving help-seeking, and achieving the goals of making initial contact, assessment, positive engagement and therapeutic engagement with youths. Qualitative feedback was collected from youths and practitioners and synthesized to provide insights on mental models on digital youth work, and their implications on the service’s sustainability.
Presenters Profile
Mr. Chee Thow Wei Liat
Head of VOX, Deputy Director, Lead in Digital Youth Work, Singapore Children’s Society
Wei Liat has more than 10 years of experience in youth work. As a youth worker, he advocates for youth services that reduce fragmentation by adopting a client-centred, universal, and service to client approach. At VOX, Wei Liat has piloted the use of digital youth work and online drifting, evolving the service to meet the emergent need for youths preferring services online. As the lead for digital youth work, Wei Liat has also looked into areas like digital mental health solutions, practitioner anonymity, and digital parenting. As a trainer, Wei Liat has curated the internal youth work practice induction and lectured youth work at both NUS and SUSS.
Presentation 2: The Sciences of Lepaking
Why do youths form street families in urban Singapore? Using grounded theory, this study uncovers the hidden factors shaping who street youths choose to hang out with and why. Through in-depth interviews with 10 street youths (aged 12–21) and focus groups with 11 outreach workers, findings reveal striking gendered patterns in clique formation and lepak culture. These insights were distilled into the Street Family Development Model, a practical framework for preventive, engagement, and programme work with street youths.
Presenters Profile
Mr. Yeo Sen Son Benjamin
Lead Social Worker/ Senior Assistant Director,

Fei Yue Community Services
Benjamin is a Lead Social Worker and Senior Assistant Director at Fei Yue Community Services, with over 15 years of experience walking alongside NEET youth in Singapore. He holds a Master’s in Youth Development from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and serves as an Adjunct Lecturer at NUS.

Together with his team, Benjamin pioneered the Youth GO! Programme and the Hidden Youth Outreach Service (HYOS), recognised through the Promising Social Worker Award (2018), NCSS 40 under 40 (2023), and Outstanding Social Work Award (2026). His research on street youth, The Science of Lepaking, offers fresh insights into youth outreach practice in urban Asian contexts.
Tabletop Presentation
Oral Presentations: Supporting youths in transition
Presentation 1: Where Reintegration Is Not an Option: Post-Care Housing for Youths Who Age Out of Care in Singapore - An Evaluation of Children's Aid Society (CAS) Housing Programme
In Singapore, youths ageing out of residential care face severe housing and financial challenges. To support their transition, Children’s Aid Society launched the Thrive21+ pilot. This qualitative study evaluates the pilot's Housing Programme, highlighting how financial insecurity and limited housing pathways compound the difficulties of ageing out. Results show the programme successfully built life skills, fostered peer support, and provided stability. To improve outcomes, the study recommends creating secure housing pathways, strengthening financial assistance, and enhancing social capital.
Presenters Profile
Ms. Cindy Ng-Tay
Clinical Director,

Children's Aid Society
Cindy is a social worker by training with extensive experience working with low- income families and persons experiencing violence and abuse. Over the years, she has developed and executed programmes that aim to address poverty, violence and abuse in

families and the community.

Cindy is passionate about issues relating to early childhood trauma, poverty, income inequality and social mobility. She is an active advocate for disadvantaged communities in Singapore, where she contributes commentaries to local publications. She is also passionate about good social work practice and has developed standards framework to guide programmes and services and competency framework to guide the development of Social Workers and Social Service Practitioners.
Ms. Chong Ning Qian
Head, Research,

Quantedge Foundation (Singapore)
Ning Qian is Head, Research at Quantedge Foundation Singapore (QFS), where she oversees research, insights, and impact evaluations for a range of social issues. Prior to QFS, she was at the Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE), and led AWARE’s research and advocacy efforts in areas such as combatting gender-based violence and discrimination and protecting the rights of vulnerable women. Ning Qian obtained both her Bachelors and Masters degrees from the National University of Singapore, the latter as a Li Ka Shing Foundation Scholar at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.
Presentation 2: Bridging the Clarity Gap: A Research-Grounded Framework for Youth Career Mentoring and Workforce Well-being in Singapore
Data from our two-year, mixed-methods study involving approximately 1,500 youths and 200 working professionals reveals that nearly half of Singapore’s youths enter the workforce with their well-being at risk or below WHO benchmarks. Yet prevailing career guidance interventions remain centred on CV refinement, interview coaching, and job-matching - without adequately addressing the psychological and structural barriers that shape early career trajectories. This presentation introduces TAC WorkWell Framework and our accompanying career-mentoring methodology as a research-grounded response to this systemic gap.
Presenters Profile
Mr. Wong Yi Fong
Executive Director,

The Astronauts Collective (TAC)
Yi Fong is a co-founder and Executive Director of The Astronauts Collective (TAC), a local IPC charity that champions career development support to help youths explore and pursue meaningful careers. He spent his first 10 years of career teaching in secondary schools while running TAC as a voluntary organisation. In 2021, he took 2 years of no-pay leave from MOE to devote his energy full-time on making TAC a sustainable non-profit organisation. Since then, TAC has grown to have more than 2000 volunteers in diverse industries and fields, with partnerships across government agencies and private sectors.
Oral Presentation
Oral Presentations: Spaces for Children and Youth Engagement
Presentation 1: Forest Fables: Developing a Nature-based Intervention in Singapore for Children with Developmental Needs
Forest Fables is a nature-based early intervention (EI) programme supporting children with developmental needs in generalising functional skills while fostering enjoyment of nature. The programme, a collaboration between Thye Hua Kwan Early Intervention for Children (THK EIC) Services and a community partner, integrates the combined expertise of both collaborators to tailor activities to children’s needs. Findings from the pilot showed improvements in children’s social interaction, communication, and enjoyment of nature, while fostering cross-sector learning and capacity-building.
Presenters Profile
Ms. Grace Lim Zhi Qi
Research Assistant,

THK EIPIC Centre
Dr. Malathy Krishnasamy
Research Lead,

THK EIPIC Centre
Mr. Shaun Ng Wei Han
Senior Research Assistant,

THK EIPIC Centre
Grace Lim, Shaun Ng, and Dr Malathy Krishnasamy form the Research Unit at Thye Hua Kwan Early Intervention for Children (THK EIC) Services. Grace is a Research Assistant with nearly five years of research experience. Prior to joining THK EIC Services, she was a Research Assistant at the Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, National University of Singapore. Shaun serves as Senior Research Assistant, while Dr Malathy is the Research Lead. Together, the Research Unit supports the development, implementation, and evaluation of evidence-based programmes at THK EIC Services.
Presentation 2: Tak Takut Kids Club: Building a Child-Centric Social Support System 
Children from vulnerable families often lack stable relationships that support their sense of belonging, leaving them disconnected from formal support systems. Tak Takut Kids Club (TTKC) addresses this as a child-centred neighbourhood "third space," embedding within children's lives through sustained, relationship-first engagement. Since integrating casework in 2023, TTKC has collaborated with formal agencies on joint interventions for children with complex needs. Drawing on interviews and case studies, this paper offers practice-informed recommendations for relationship-first, child-centred casework and sectoral coordination.
Presenters Profile
Ms. Ho Kah Yoke
Deputy Director,

3Pumpkins
Kah Yoke is Deputy Director at 3Pumpkins, a non-profit community arts and development organisation dedicated to strengthening human connections at the intersection of art, community, education and social work. She leads shared services and is involved in areas spanning strategy, monitoring, evaluation and learning, and child safeguarding policy for Tak Takut Kids Club (TTKC), 3Pumpkins' flagship initiative providing a safe and supportive environment for children to connect, grow and thrive. Her career began with nine years in frontline child protection and social work, before moving into philanthropic and non-profit management. She remains driven by a belief in strengthening social support for vulnerable communities and empowering individuals through a sense of belonging, self-identity, and self-actualisation.
Oral Presentation
Workshop Session 3
Day 2 (19 November, 11am - 12:30pm)
Workshop 4A
Workshop 4B
Workshop 4C
Workshop 4D
Workshop 4E
Workshop Presentation
Workshop 4A: Measuring What Matters: Using Evidence to Drive Programme Success
How can organisations use data to strengthen practice rather than simply measure results? Friends of the Children shares how evidence is integrated into programme design, implementation, and continuous improvement. Dr Joanne Yoong of Research for Impact joins, offering a Singapore perspective on how data can inform practice, strengthen programme quality, and demonstrate long-term impact, drawn from her extensive experience in monitoring and evaluation across the social sector.
Presenters Profile
Dr. Joanne Yoong
Chief Executive Officer and Principal Economist,

Research for Impact
Dr Joanne Yoong is an applied economist and interdisciplinary researcher working at the intersection of behavioural economics and health and financial decision making. She is the founder of Research For Impact, a research enterprise based in Singapore working to make behavioral and social science research accessible, inclusive and transformative for all.

Dr Yoong holds multiple faculty appointments and is the author of over a hundred peer-reviewed articles in leading economics, medical and public health journals. She serves in various national and international policy and industry advisory capacities and has worked on projects globally. She received her PhD in Economics at Stanford University as an FSI Starr Foundation Fellow after an early career in financial services.
Mr. Miles Allen
Director,

Duncan and Cindy Campbell National Center of Excellence for
Professional Youth Mentoring
Miles Allen has served youth and his community for the last fifteen years. As a former Friend and then manager at the Friends of the Children – Portland, he has seen the tremendous impact the program has had on the community. He is excited to be a part of Friends of the Children’s effort to create generational change. While working as a program manager, Miles was focused heavily on children in foster care and LGBTQ+ youth. He understands the impact the foster care system has on young people and their families. He also understands how children with multiple identities have experienced barriers, and he strives to ensure youth are able to achieve their goals.
Dr. Andraé Brown
Chief Officer,

Chapter Success
Dr. Andraé L. Brown is the Chief Officer of Chapter Success at Friends of the Children, a role in which he continues to leverage his extensive experience gained from consulting for various Friends of the Children chapters and the National Team since 2009. His distinguished career spans roles as a professor (Hunter College, Lewis & Clark College, Howard University, University of Southern California, and Montgomery College), director of community-based mental health and educational facilities, and a strategic consultant, consistently championing empowerment and social justice across multiple sectors
Workshop Presentation
Workshop 4B: Social Impact Guarantee: Innovative and Collaborative Funding for Impact
This workshop explores the application of Social Impact Guarantee (SIG) as an innovative model of collaboration to enable strengthening and scaling of social impact. Using SHINE Youth COP SIG as a case study, participants will learn how funders, guarantors, practitioners and leaders of social service agencies collaborate through shared accountability and outcome measurement. The session will examine key components of a SIG, implementation lessons, challenges and opportunities, offering practical and interactive insights for both social service agencies and funders to align incentives, mobilise resources and deliver greater and sustainable social impact.
Presenters Profile
Mr. Jason Tan
Head, Youth COP,

SHINE Children and Youth Services
Jason is the Head of the Youth COP program in SHINE Children & Youth Services. He carries close to two decades of experience in the youth work and social service sector, spanning both direct and indirect practice as a social worker. Jason had recently received the Outstanding Social Work (Practice) Award 2026, in recognition of Youth COP as a celebrated and impactful social work program. As the Head of Youth COP, Jason and his team of social workers are committed to bring together partners and stakeholders from the people, public and private sector, with the common goal of empowering youth potential and helping youth rewrite stories of hope and rebuild identities of contributors. He was previously an adjunct lecturer in the National University of Singapore (NUS) Social Work and also an EXCO member in the Youth Work Association of Singapore (YWAS).
Ms. Amanda Soh
Head of Partnerships,

Do Good International Foundation (DGIF)
Amanda is the Head of Partnerships at DGIF, as well as Deputy General Counsel & Head of ESG and Sustainability at GLP. Her role sits at the intersection of our Founder’s commitment to build a business that grows responsibly and a foundation that gives back to society. Since DGIF’s inception, Amanda has been a driving force in stewarding our resources through an impact-driven approach to philanthropy that seeks to maximise positive outcomes for children and youth. With her leadership, DGIF has deployed millions of dollars, supported numerous programmes and built deep partnerships to translate this commitment into meaningful and lasting impact for our communities and beneficiaries.
Ms. Carrie Tan
Social Mobility Practice Lead,

Tri-Sector Associates
Carrie is heads the Social Mobility Practice at Tri-Sector Associates. She brings 15+ years of experience spanning non-profit leadership, public policy, transformative coaching and facilitation into the social impact space. Formerly serving as a Member of Parliament in Singapore 2020-2025 with a strong track record in women’s development, social mobility, caregiver support and mental wellness advocacy. Carrie is well-known as a culture and ecosystem capacity-builder, strong in cross-sector collaboration, stakeholder engagement, community-building and innovation. A non-profit founder herself and advisor to multiple social ventures, she lends creative energy and cross-disciplinary thinking to the causes she applies herself to. Recognized globally for humanitarian contributions and quoted by President Barack Obama.
Tabletop Presentations: Youth Empowerment
Presentation 1: Creating Infinite Possibilities for Today's Youths Through Collaborative Practice
Today’s youth face turbulent modern challenges—from family instability to mental health risks—they need more than just survival. This presentation explores Club Infinity, an Allkin Singapore initiative that fuses Asset-Based Community Development with Positive Youth Development. By shifting focus to internal strengths and fostering meaningful collaborations with children, seniors, and community stakeholders, Club Infinity unlocks infinite possibilities—empowering young people to tap into their potential and truly thrive within a supportive ecosystem.
Presenters Profile
Ms. Anabelle Lim
Zhi Yu
Assistant Senior Social Worker, Allkin Singapore
Trained and experienced in systemic work, Anabelle spent 5 years in working with multi-stressed and vulnerable families at a Family Service Centre, where she developed strong foundations in casework and family intervention. In her current practice with youths, Anabelle has shown dedication to their rehabilitation through strengthening protective factors and supporting youths in achieving sustainable behavioural change. She also currently spearheads Club Infinity (CI), a youth mental wellness programme focuses on guiding youths towards self-discovery, resilience, positive mental health outcomes and relationships within the community, whilst reducing at-risk behaviours.
Ms. Blossom
Chan Si Ying
Senior Social Worker,

Allkin Singapore
Blossom has journeyed alongside youths and their families for 11 years, working collaboratively through a spectrum of issues like offending behaviours, substance use, school refusal and mental well-being. She believes that youths and their families hold valuable experiences and strengths that can be tapped on to empower them in making informed choices to overcome challenges. She enjoys involving creative expression modalities in interventions to provide alternative and contextualised ways for young people’s voices to be heard. She is currently pursuing a Masters in Narrative Therapy and Community Work with Dulwich Centre.
Presentation 2: Beyond Passive Participation: Fostering Youth–Adult Partnership and Collaborative Co‑Creation in Hong Kong’s Youth Social Services
This presentation introduces a Hong Kong-based portfolio of youth initiatives that foreground youth co-creation and youth–adult partnership as drivers of innovation in social services. The session shows how young people move beyond passive participation to co-design programmes, shape narratives, and contribute to service delivery across community and youth social service settings.

A key focus is the growth of youth within youth–adult partnerships: as adults offer flexible guidance and shared decision-making, young people develop confidence, agency, communication skills, and leadership over time. Through musical projects, storytelling, and governance roles, youth learn to take responsibility, collaborate across roles, and gradually shift from service users to co-creators and community contributors. The outcome is not only youth development, but also the shaping of youth services that are more responsive, relevant, and appropriate to young people’s needs.
Presenters Profile
Mr. Man Hon Wai, Kelvin
Assistant Supervisor,

Hong Kong Playground Association
Mr Man Hon Wai, Kelvin, has 17 years of frontline social work experience, including over 12 years in charge of overnight outreaching services in Hong Kong, where he served as the team leader of the outreaching team. His primary responsibilities included street outreach services, counselling work, and crisis intervention. Subsequently, he transferred to an Integrated Service Centre for Children & Youth, taking up the position of Assistant Supervisor, leading the centre in carrying out innovative and transformative work.
Mr. Kwong Yiu Fai, John
Assistant Supervisor,

Hong Kong Playground Association
Mr. Kwong Yiu Fai, currently serving as the Center in charge, I have dedicated over 12 years to youth and integrated social services, bringing extensive expertise in frontline practice and team management. Also, I have successfully driven casework, youth groups, and major community collaborations, including multi-year Child Development Fund projects, while remaining highly proficient in youth crisis intervention and outreach services. Beyond maintaining top-tier service standards, I actively foster team innovation and service transformation, building robust stakeholder networks to inject fresh perspectives and innovative momentum into next-generation youth services.
Tabletop Presentation
Oral Presentations: Rethinking Youth Work - Systems and Practice
Presentation 1: Shaping Youth Work in Singapore: Research Towards a National Definition
What exactly is youth work, and who should be recognised as a youth worker in Singapore? Despite decades of youth practice, Singapore has yet to establish a nationally shared definition of youth work. Drawing on international literature and findings from a nationwide study involving youth practitioners, educators, managers, and policymakers, this session presents the first evidence-informed exploration of how the profession can be understood in the Singapore context. Participants will discover how seven key perspectives – Development, Approach, Outcome, Employment, Qualification, Organisational, and Risk – collectively shape the identity of youth work. The presentation will highlight emerging trends, including stronger support for relationship-centred and empowering practice, increased professionalisation, broader organisational ecosystems, and a renewed emphasis on positive youth development while serving youths across the risk continuum. More importantly, this session invites delegates to contribute to a national conversation on developing a shared definition that strengthens professional identity, informs policy, guides education and training, and shapes the future of youth work in Singapore.
Presenters Profile
Dr. Jiow Hee Jhee
Associate Professor,

Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) and Deputy Director, SIT Teaching and Learning Academy
Dr Jiow has conducted lectures and training sessions for more than 50,000 parents and government leaders on new media topics, both within Singapore and abroad. His research focuses on the influence of media on families, cyber wellness, and cybercrime. He has delivered academic presentations addressing parental mediation, video gaming, and gamification. Dr Jiow currently serves as a member of both the Films Consultative Panel and the Media Literacy Council. He is an educator in the Communication and Digital Media programme at the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT). Additionally, as Deputy Director at the SIT Teaching and Learning Academy, he contributes to advancing applied learning and competency-based education practices.

For more information: https://www.singaporetech.edu.sg/directory/faculty/hee-jhee-jiow
Mr. Nicholas
Gabriel Lim
President,

Youth Work Association (Singapore)
Mr Nicholas Gabriel Lim is a trained psychologist and lawyer, specialising in family and criminal law. He is a certified mediator with the Singapore Mediation Centre. He has been practising as a psychologist for 20 years supporting families, youth and children, and now does so within the family and youth justice space. He is on the Youth Court Panel of Advisers, appointed by the President of the Republic of Singapore, lending support to those going through court proceedings for family disputes, divorce, child or personal protection, and delinquent behaviours.
Presentation 2: "They Are Not Dangerous — They Are Hurt": Rethinking Juvenile Justice Through Trauma-Informed, Cross-Sector Rehabilitation in Mongolia
Mongolia's juvenile justice crisis is not a youth crime problem — it is one of systemic abandonment. Drawing on 28 years of frontline practice and a landmark 2024 national baseline study, this presentation reveals how structural neglect shapes the trajectories of detained youth and proposes a practical, cross-sector framework for reform. Through CNCF's Youth Rehabilitation and Reintegration Programme, it shares tools, candid implementation insights, and evidence that trauma-informed, destigmatising approaches are not peripheral to rehabilitation — they are foundational to it.
Presenters Profile
Ms. Amaraa Bor
Country Director,

Christina Noble Children's Foundation (CNCF), Mongolia
Amaraa Bor is the Country Director of the Christina Noble Children's Foundation (CNCF) Mongolia, a British-registered international NGO that has served vulnerable children and youth in Mongolia since 1997. Leading a team of 51 staff across 7 programmes, she oversees CNCF's flagship Youth Rehabilitation and Reintegration Programme — the only sustained non-governmental juvenile justice initiative in Mongolia. With over a decade of experience in child protection, social policy, and cross-sector advocacy, Amaraa has contributed to national legislative reform, the development of Mongolia's first child-centred juvenile justice guidelines, and community campaigns that have reached over 90,000 people. She is committed to systemic change grounded in frontline truth.
Oral Presentation
Oral Presentations: Supporting Children and Youth with Diverse Needs in school
Presentation 1: Promoting Adolescent Mental Health via Evidence-Based Practice and Dissemination in Tokyo
This presentation will introduce Tokyo’s population-based strategy to promote adolescent mental health by translating scientific evidence into policy and practice. Drawing on findings from the Tokyo Teen Cohort and an ongoing school climate intervention, it will illustrate how longitudinal research, co-production with young people, and close collaboration with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government can accelerate the implementation and dissemination of evidence-based approaches for improving youth mental health at scale.
Presenters Profile
Professor Atsushi Nishida
Director of the Research Center for Social Science & Medicine,

Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Japan
Professor Atsushi Nishida is Director of the Research Center for Social Science & Medicine at the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Japan. His research focuses on adolescent mental health, psychiatric epidemiology, and the translation of scientific evidence into public policy. He leads the Tokyo Teen Cohort, one of Japan’s largest longitudinal birth cohort studies, and directs Tokyo’s school climate intervention programme aimed at improving young people’s mental health through whole-school approaches. He collaborates extensively with international partners to develop and implement evidence-based strategies that promote mental health and reduce inequalities among children and adolescents.
Presentation 2: I Wish You Knew…Exploring the Mainstream Schooling Insights of Young Adults on the Autism Spectrum: Emotional Challenges and Developmental Needs in the Singapore Context
This qualitative study explored the experiences of five young adults on the autism spectrum in Singapore using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Two themes emerged: the pursuit of emotional safety and belonging, and identity formation within a cultural lens. The findings highlight the profound impact of emotional and relational challenges, over-authoritarian teaching approaches, and emotional neglect by trusted adults. Including the local autistic voices is vital to co-creating culture and needs-sensitive educational and emotional supports.
Presenters Profile
Ms. Lim Hwee San Kate
Consultant Speech & Language Therapist; Counsellor,

A Kind Place
Kate is a speech and language therapist registered with the Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC). She has been working as a speech and language therapist across different settings since 2003. Her post-graduate training in counselling enables her to adopt more person-centred and holistic approaches in supporting her clients and their caregivers in their care needs across the lifespan.

As a mother of three boys aged 11-18 years and recent graduate in special educational / additional learning needs, she hopes to advocate for more neurodiversity-sensitive and emotionally-attuned approaches in journeying alongside our children and youths.
Oral Presentation
Workshop Session 4
Day 2 (19 November, 1:30pm - 3pm)

Workshop Details

Registration Information

Conference Fees

Please refer to the conference fee breakdown in the table below:

Social Service Agency Participants

Fees

Full Fee for 2 Days Conference (inclusive of 1 lunch and 2 tea breaks per day)

$800

PCG Subsidy (30%)

$240

Additional Sponsorship by DGIF (Limited to 150 participants)

$410

Total Nett Fee Payable After 30% PCG subsidy and Additional Sponsorship by DGIF

$150

International and Other Participants

Fees

Full Fee for 2 Days Conference (inclusive of 1 lunch and 2 tea breaks per day)

$800

Additional Sponsorship by DGIF (Limited to 50 participants)

$650

Total Nett Fee Payable After Additional Sponsorship by DGIF

$150

Each participant must provide their full name, organisation, designation, and email address, whether registering individually or as part of a group.

For group sign-ups, one person may purchase multiple tickets on behalf of others in a single order, so long as each individual participant's details are filled in accordingly.

Tickets are available while stocks last.
Payment can be made via two methods: PayPal (online) or PayNow/bank transfer (offline).

For offline payment methods, payment should be made within 1 week from point of ticket purchase, where an invoice will be issued, alongside payment instructions. Unpaid orders beyond this will be followed up on and may be cancelled.

For offline payment methods, participants will need to include "ICCY [your order number]" in the payment reference to allow for verification. Proof of payment should be retained for record.

A separate confirmation email will be sent once payment is verified. This will validate the QR ticket(s) that were sent to participants.
To be eligible for the full 30% NCSS PCG grant, participants must :

Be a Singaporean or Singapore Permanent Resident (PR) staff/ volunteers of NCSS member Social Service Agencies (SSAs) and/ or MSF-funded Social Service Agencies (SSAs)

Meet at least 75% attendance rate for the full conference through adhering to the necessary attendance-taking requirements (i.e. scanning via SingPass-linked QR code)

Participants should ascertain their eligibility for PCG grant (i.e. staff/volunteers of NCSS member/MSF-funded SSAs) at the ticket purchase checkout. No separate claims process is required from participants.

Participants will need to complete the necessary evaluation forms throughout the conference, for grant claim purposes.

Full conference fees will be charged to the agency if the attendance requirement is not met.

Enabling Children and Youth to Maximise Their Potential

Interested? Register Now

How to
Get There

Venue Name

Concorde Hotel Singapore

Get Direction

01
Over the years, various approaches to tackle complex issues have been practiced globally. Is there one that stands out and works better than the others? Who would emerge victorious? Watch this battle unfold, as global renowned agencies come together to share about the approach that they utilize in their professional work with children and youth.

Moderator

Assoc Prof Peace Wong, National University of Singapore

Panelists

SHINE Children and Youth Services [Representing Singapore]

Hong Kong Playground Association [Representing Hong Kong]

Tamarack Institute [Representing Canada] – to be confirmed

Cynefin Co and Cynefin Centre [Making Sense of Complexity]

Navigating Complexities: A Global Showdown!
02
“Good solutions rarely emerge in isolation, but are the result of the community, the interdisciplinary practice, the private sector as well as the government working together hand in hand.” - Minister Desmond Lee, Minister for Education and Minister-in-Charge of Social Services Integration.

On the first day, we learnt about complexity science and the different lenses and approaches that we can use to approach complexity. However, we also recognize that this piece of work is too big to be done alone. In this plenary, we invite representatives from the people, private, and public sector to rethink and discuss how collaborations can look like.

Moderator

Ms Raman Sidhu, Chief Executive Office, Octava Foundation

Panellists:

Mr Lim Shung Yar, CEO, NCSS [Rethinking collaboration through sector development]

DGIF Foundation [Rethinking collaboration through impact investing]

The Bridgespan Group [Rethinking collaboration through philanthropic strategies]

JobsFirst NYC [Rethinking collaboration through an international lens]

Rethinking Collaborations for Social Impact: People, Private, Public
03
Building Possibilities: What’s Ahead?
As the conference concludes, this final plenary turns our focus forward—towards hope, possibility, and what lies ahead for children and youth. The session brings together partners from di verse settings to share emerging ideas, initiatives, and commitments that point to the future of children and youth work. Through a forward-looking dialogue, speakers will explore how collaboration, practice, and systems can continue to evolve to support children and youth in navigating increasingly complex challenges. This closing session invites participants to leave energised, inspired, and ready to carry forward a shared vision of possibility into action.

Moderator

Assoc Prof Vincent Ng, Dean, SUSS School of Social Work and Development

Panellists

Ms Terri Sorensen, Chief Executive Officer, Friends of the Children, USA [Benchmarking Standards for Impact]

Mr Kevin Tan, Chief Executive Officer, Tri Sector Associates [Innovative Philanthropic Developments]

Ms Lydia Ang, General Manager, Capitaland Hope Foundation & Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, Capitaland [Giving through Regional Partnerships]

Dr Gerard Chung, Associate Professor (National University of Singapore) [Technology x Social Service]
Navigating Complexities: A Global Showdown!
To close learning gaps and boost school success.
Navigating Complexities: A Global Showdown!
To close learning gaps and boost school success.
Navigating Complexities: A Global Showdown!
To close learning gaps and boost school success.
Navigating Complexities: A Global Showdown!
To close learning gaps and boost school success.

Plenary and Workshop Details

Other Activities

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Post Conference Learning Experience

Participants will have the opportunity to opt into a curated post-conference experience designed to offer a closer look at Singapore’s social service landscape.

This guided programme will include visits and sharing sessions with selected organisations, to provide insights into local practices, service models, and cross-sector collaborations in supporting children and youth.

As spots are limited, this experience is best suited for participants who are curious about and may benefit from deeper exposure to Singapore’s context and what the local social service landscape is like.

Transportation for the learning experience and programme coordination will be arranged.

More details, including registration, will be shared closer to the conference dates.

Click here to Register Now

Registration is open!

Registration Information

Conference Fees

Social Service Agency Participants

Fees

Total Nett Fee Payable After Additional Sponsorship by DGIF

$150

International and Other Participants

Fees

Total Nett Fee Payable After 30% PCG subsidy and Additional Sponsorship by DGIF

$150

International Conference on Children and Youth Work 2026

Date: 18 - 19 November 2026 (Wednesday - Thursday) Time: 9:00AM - 5:30PM (GMT+8) Venue: Concorde Hotel Singapore, 100 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238840

Co-organised by

About the Conference

Call For Abstracts

Scan the QR code to be part of the conversation!

The People Who Walk Beside Every Child Forward

Date

Time

Venue

Conference Details

Harnessing complexities for social good - Application of complexity science

Programme Outline

18 November 2026

9:00am

9:15am

9:30am

10:30am

11:00am

12:30pm

2:00pm

3:30pm

4:00pm

5:30pm

19 November 2026

9:00am

10:30am

11:00am

12:30pm

1:30pm

3:30pm

5:00pm

5:30pm

3pm

01

Navigating Complexities: A Global Showdown!

02

Rethinking Collaborations for Social Impact: People, Private, Public

03

Building Possibilities: What’s Ahead?

Plenary Session 1: “Navigating Complexities: A Global Showdown!”

Moderator

A/P Peace Wong

Speaker

Mr. Lee Seng Meng

Singapore

Speaker

Dr. Wan Lap Man

Hong Kong

Speaker

Ms. Sylvia Cheuy

Canada

Speaker

Professor Dave Snowden

United Kingdom

Plenary Session 2: “Rethinking Collaborations for Social Impact: People, Private, Public”

Moderator

Ms. Raman Sidhu

Speaker

Mr. Lim Shung Yar

Rethinking collaboration through sector development

Speaker

Ms. Amanda Soh

Rethinking collaboration through innovative financing

Speaker

Mr. Zhen Liu

Rethinking collaboration through partnerships between philanthropists and NPOs

Speaker

Dr. Jeremy Greenfield

Rethinking collaboration through NPOs’ partnerships with private and public sector

International Conference
on Children and Youth Work 2026

Date: 18 - 19 November 2026 (Wednesday - Thursday)
Time: 9:00AM - 5:30PM (GMT+8)
Venue: Concorde Hotel Singapore, 100 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238840

Plenary Session 1:
“Navigating Complexities: A Global Showdown!”

Plenary Session 2:
“Rethinking Collaborations for Social Impact: People, Private, Public”

Plenary Session 3:
“Building Possibilities: What’s Ahead?”

Workshop 1A: We Are All Newbies of Life: Using Cantopop to Support Adolescents’ Emotional Wellbeing 