SAOT Council &
Leadership (2026-2028)
Gabriel Kwek
President
Having served on the SAOT Council for several years, including the past four as President, Gabriel sees serving the occupational therapy community as one of the greatest privileges of his professional journey. His leadership philosophy centres on bringing people together, embracing diverse perspectives and fostering collective action towards a shared purpose. As healthcare and social care evolve through workforce transformation, integrated care, digital innovation and artificial intelligence, he believes occupational therapy must proactively shape change while strengthening its professional identity and articulating its distinctive contribution to enabling people to participate meaningfully in everyday life. Through continuing as SAOT President, Gabriel hopes to strengthen SAOT as a platform for collective professional leadership, build capabilities across practice, leadership, research, education and innovation, and enhance the profession’s influence through evidence, advocacy and meaningful partnerships. As SAOT celebrates its 50th anniversary, he sees leadership as stewardship—not preserving the profession as it is, but helping it evolve to meet society’s changing needs. He believes the future of occupational therapy depends on a connected profession that learns, leads and grows together in service of the people and communities it serves.
Yap Li Wen
Vice-President (Honorary Secretary)
Li Wen believes in enabling people to live meaningful lives through participation, connection and growth. This shapes both her practice as an Occupational Therapist and her leadership approach, where she values building relationships, bringing people together and creating change collectively. As Singapore’s healthcare landscape becomes increasingly interdisciplinary and integrated, Li Wen believes SAOT needs a strong operational foundation to remain responsive and ensure that occupational therapy is represented with a clear and unified voice. In stepping forward as Vice-President (Secretary), Li Wen hopes to strengthen the communication, coordination and administration that enable the Council to work effectively, respond promptly to emerging issues, and engage members and stakeholders meaningfully. Beyond supporting the Council’s operations, she hopes to facilitate SAOT’s contribution to wider conversations on workforce development, competency frameworks and practice standards. Through effective coordination, professional representation and collaboration with key stakeholders, Li Wen hopes to support an Association that not only responds to changes affecting occupational therapy, but is organised and well-positioned to help shape the future of the profession.
Mah Looi Han
Vice-President Finance (Honorary Treasurer)
Having practised across acute care, community hospital and Day Rehabilitation settings, Looi Han has intentionally sought to understand the value of occupational therapy across different stages of a person’s recovery journey. These experiences have strengthened her interest in systems thinking, population health and practice transformation, as well as her belief that occupational therapy must continue to evolve alongside changing healthcare and societal needs. Looi Han is passionate about exploring how occupational therapists can contribute to a more integrated, effective and sustainable healthcare system, particularly through developments such as One Rehab and Healthier SG. She believes the profession has significant potential to contribute to value-based and holistic care through its strengths in understanding people, systems and meaningful participation. Looi Han also values research and innovation in informing practice, strengthening standards of care and supporting the continued development of the profession. Through continuing her service on the SAOT Council, Looi Han hopes to advocate for the profession by building bridges within and beyond occupational therapy, strengthening collaboration and promoting greater understanding of the profession’s role in meeting Singapore’s evolving population health needs. In stepping forward for the role of VP Finance, she hopes to further contribute to SAOT’s mission while gaining new perspectives and skills, and supporting the profession to grow in a thoughtful, sustainable and forward-looking manner.
Nurul Jannah Binte Kamaludin
Council Member
With over a decade of clinical experience in rehabilitation before transitioning into occupational therapy education, Jannah sees herself—and the students and clinicians she works alongside—as continually “a work in progress.” Her client-centred values now shape her learner-centred approach, where she is passionate about developing not only clinical competencies, but also the professional identity, resilience and self-awareness that future occupational therapists need to navigate an evolving healthcare landscape. Jannah has a particular interest in supporting learners who face difficulties and believes strongly in empowering them throughout their professional journey. Jannah’s experience studying in the US broadened her understanding of advocacy and the important role professional associations can play in bringing together voices across different sectors. After four years of serving on the SAOT Council, she has become even more convinced that meaningful advocacy requires a strong collective voice and that lasting change is achieved when members of the profession step forward and contribute together. Through continuing her service on the SAOT Council, Jannah hopes to contribute her evolving perspective as an educator and advocate while supporting a professional community that enables occupational therapists at every stage of their journey to grow and contribute. She is particularly passionate about inspiring the next generation to see themselves not only as clinicians, but also as future advocates and community builders. Guided by a belief in collective leadership, Jannah hopes to continue working alongside the occupational therapy community to strengthen the profession and better advocate for the people it serves.
Anthony Tan
Council Member
Since graduating from the Singapore Institute of Technology’s Occupational Therapy programme, Anthony has gained experience across acute care, including geriatrics, dementia and palliative care, and currently works in psychosocial care within Adult Neurodevelopmental Services at IMH. These diverse experiences have strengthened his belief that, across different areas of practice, occupational therapists share a common purpose of helping people live meaningful lives. Anthony is passionate about learning, mentoring and translating ideas into practical solutions, with a keen interest in research and innovation that can enhance clinical practice. Having benefited from the guidance of mentors and peers throughout his career, he hopes to give back by creating opportunities for occupational therapists to share knowledge, connect with one another and grow together. Through the SAOT Council, Anthony hopes to contribute to the advancement and visibility of occupational therapy in Singapore by supporting education, research, advocacy and public engagement. He also hopes to bring a ground-up perspective from clinical practice, ensuring that the voices and needs of occupational therapists across settings are represented. Through collaboration and inclusive engagement, Anthony hopes to strengthen connections within the profession and contribute to solutions that are relevant, sustainable and responsive to the evolving needs of the community.
Desiree Lau
Council Member
Passionate about helping people live life to the fullest through meaningful participation, Desiree believes strongly in the value of continuous learning and professional growth. She takes a collaborative approach to her work and believes that everyone brings valuable experiences and perspectives that others can learn from. Through the SAOT Council, Desiree hopes to strengthen educational and professional development opportunities for occupational therapists in Singapore. She is particularly interested in understanding current practice gaps and learning needs, increasing engagement in educational courses and sharing sessions, and exploring how existing resources and platforms can be better leveraged. Desiree also hopes to improve the accessibility and visibility of learning opportunities, making it easier for occupational therapists to identify and participate in relevant professional development. Ultimately, Desiree hopes to contribute towards building a well-supported and connected occupational therapy community where meaningful learning opportunities are relevant and readily accessible, enabling occupational therapists to continue developing their practice and providing quality support to the clients they serve.
Hong Xinning
Council Member
As a recent Occupational Therapy graduate, Xinning is at the beginning of her professional journey and is keen to learn more about the profession and the wider occupational therapy community. Inspired by mentors and seniors who have demonstrated the importance of representation and commitment to the profession, she hopes to gradually find her own ways of contributing and giving back. Xinning values learning from others and approaches new opportunities with openness, reliability and a willingness to receive feedback. While still building her professional experience, Xinning hopes to contribute by supporting initiatives, events and coordination efforts, taking on responsibilities where needed and growing through these experiences. Through the SAOT Council, Xinning hopes to gain a deeper understanding of the profession and contribute to something larger than herself. She sees the opportunity as a chance to learn from more experienced occupational therapists, connect with the wider community and support the Council in a steady and meaningful way. By starting small, learning from others and gaining experience along the way, Xinning hopes to grow into someone who can contribute increasingly to the profession and its community.
Gerald Goh
Council Member
With 20 years of experience in paediatric occupational therapy, Gerald has developed a strong clinical foundation while more recently exploring the integration of AI and technology into occupational therapy practice. As former Director of Hand in Hand OT Centre, Gerald incorporated AI-enabled tools and automation into clinical workflows, alongside further training in machine learning, generative AI and data protection. He currently works as a Senior Occupational Therapist while developing an AI integration consultancy focused on allied health. Gerald believes technology should enable occupational therapists to spend more time on what matters most—their clients. With experience navigating issues such as data privacy, workflow automation and the responsible use of AI with vulnerable populations, he hopes to support the profession in adopting emerging technologies safely and thoughtfully, without compromising clinical judgement or the human connection central to occupational therapy. Through the SAOT Council, Gerald hopes to first listen to and understand the needs and challenges of occupational therapists across different practice settings before exploring practical solutions. He is particularly interested in how AI and automation can reduce administrative burden, support clinical practice and improve efficiency, while contributing to clearer standards for responsible and PDPA-conscious adoption. Ultimately, he hopes to bring together his clinical, technical and entrepreneurial experience to help the profession embrace innovation in a way that is practical, trustworthy and grounded in the real needs of occupational therapists and the clients they serve.
Niam Xing De
Council Member
Working in early intervention, Xing De is passionate about expanding the role and visibility of occupational therapy beyond traditional healthcare settings, particularly within education and the wider community. Building on his previous involvement with SAOT as a student leader and his current clinical experience, Xing De is interested in how occupational therapists can support participation and inclusion through collaboration, consultation and capacity building. Xing De is also passionate about mentorship, teaching and professional development, and believes in creating opportunities for occupational therapists across different career stages to connect, learn and grow together. With a collaborative, reflective and action-oriented approach, he values listening to diverse perspectives and translating ideas into practical outcomes. Through the SAOT Council, Xing De hopes to bring the perspectives of early-career clinicians while helping to bridge frontline practice, emerging areas of practice and the future direction of occupational therapy in Singapore. He hopes to strengthen the profession’s visibility and influence across sectors, support mentorship and professional development, and foster greater engagement and a sense of belonging within the occupational therapy community. Ultimately, Xing De hopes to contribute towards a connected and forward-looking profession that creates opportunities for both current and future generations of occupational therapists.
Danielle Cheong
Council Member
With experience across different care settings, Danielle is an Occupational Therapist passionate about improving participation, dignity and quality of life for individuals across the care continuum. Her more recent experience in community care has deepened her appreciation of the role occupational therapists can play in supporting seniors to live meaningfully within their communities, particularly through interdisciplinary collaboration, creativity and person-centred care. Danielle values open communication, diverse perspectives and working collaboratively to address complex challenges. With a strong interest in population health and community care, she believes occupational therapists bring a unique and often underutilised perspective to shaping healthcare systems and creating more inclusive approaches to care. Through the SAOT Council, she hopes to contribute fresh perspectives and creativity towards strengthening the growth and visibility of occupational therapy in Singapore. Danielle is particularly keen to support professional development, advocacy and innovation, while learning from and collaborating with fellow occupational therapists. She hopes to play a part in building a profession that is forward-thinking, responsive to evolving healthcare needs, and empowers individuals not only to recover, but to participate meaningfully in their everyday lives.
Florence Cheong
WFOT Delegate
Florence is currently Senior Principal Occupational Therapist in Tan Tock Seng Hospital. Since 2006, Florence’s driving assessment team has been collaborating with governmental authorities such as Land Transport Authority, Traffic Police, Ministry of Manpower and Singapore Medical Association to develop and conduct driving assessments for elderly vocational drivers. Partnering with Traffic Police, Land Transport Authority and the Handicapped Welfare Association, the team developed a workflow for persons with disabilities to learn/return to driving after a medical condition in Singapore. Florence served as council member in the Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC) from 2013 to 2019 and is the Deputy Chair of the Occupational Therapy Credentials Committee in AHPC. She co-chairs the Occupational Therapy Panel in MOH. Florence volunteered in various portfolios in SAOT: as elected President (2006-2016); elected Vice President (Finance) (2016-2020) and currently, as Singapore’s Delegate to the World Federation of Occupational Therapists. She won the Inspiring Occupational Therapist Award conferred by SAOT in 2019. Florence is an adjunct faculty with the Singapore Institute of Technology, imparting knowledge on health systems, management and leadership. She is a recipient of the Skillsfuture Fellowships 2020.
Adj. Assoc. Prof. Patrick Ker
WFOT 1st Alternate Delegate
With 31 years of experience in occupational therapy, Patrick is passionate about advancing the profession through clinical excellence, leadership development, advocacy and professional collaboration. As a Senior Principal Occupational Therapist, he has contributed to service development, clinician mentorship and workforce capability building, strengthening his belief in the importance of innovation, collaboration and nurturing future leaders to meet evolving healthcare and societal needs. Patricks’s leadership approach is collaborative, strategic and values-driven, with a strong emphasis on building partnerships, fostering meaningful dialogue and creating opportunities for professional growth. He believes that a strong occupational therapy community is built on mutual respect, shared purpose and collective action. Having served as Singapore’s Delegate to the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT), Patrick has represented the profession internationally and contributed to discussions on global professional issues. Through this experience, he has developed a deeper appreciation of the importance of international collaboration and the interconnectedness of professional development at local, regional and global levels. Patrick hopes to continue strengthening the visibility and influence of occupational therapy while supporting Singapore’s active contribution to the international occupational therapy community.
Jeyamany Jacob
WFOT 2nd Alternate Delegate
With over two decades of experience as an Occupational Therapist, Jeyamany began her career in community practice before moving into acute hospital settings, where she worked with diverse patient populations and developed strong clinical expertise. Jeyamany”s passion for education and professional development has also led her to contribute to undergraduate and postgraduate training, including teaching at Duke-NUS and conducting splinting workshops with the Postgraduate Allied Health Institute. Jeyamany currently serves as Head of the Occupational Therapy Department at Sengkang General Hospital, where she focuses on developing staff capabilities and building a resilient team to meet the evolving needs of the community. Her commitment to improving access to rehabilitation extends beyond Singapore through her role as Chair of the Centre for Global Allied Health at SingHealth, where she supports international partnerships, workforce development and health equity. Jeyamany believes in the importance of collaboration, mentorship and knowledge exchange in advancing the profession. Through SAOT and the WFOT Council, she hopes to contribute her clinical and leadership experience to strengthen professional development, foster cross-country collaboration, support future leaders, and advance occupational therapy practice locally and globally.