LEADERSHIP TRANSITION
We, the Board of Directors, have now concluded our 2-year Executive Director succession planning effort for Beyond Social Services. During this period, the Board of Directors, the People’s Development Committee, and Gerard were instrumental to the success of this very detailed and stringent process to choose Gerard’s successor. Our confidence with our decision is absolute and we are positive the new Executive Director will continue our cherished long-term mission with strong leadership and innovation.
I am truly pleased to announce our chosen Executive Director will be Chia May Ling.
May Ling will join Beyond on 04 March 2024. She brings a tremendous wealth of non-profit and for-profit experience to Beyond to lead us into the next generation of growth as we continue to fulfil our long-term mission to uplift Singapore’s disadvantaged communities.
Gerard will work closely with May Ling and Beyond as Senior Advisor to assist with the transition for a period of six months following the leadership handover.
INTRODUCTION TO CHIA MAY LING
Chia May Ling was previously General Manager at the Singapore Business Federation Foundation, where she launched three flagship programmes that championed lower-income workers and employment inclusivity.
She also facilitated collaboration between small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and community agencies and helped the Foundation set up a new charity to support the health and wellbeing of migrant workers.
Before that, May Ling was Deputy Director for the Service Development Division of the National Council of Social Services (NCSS). She has also held roles in eldercare, children and youth services, fund-raising, and partner relations at the Council.
Get to know more about May Ling’s career journey, her numerous achievements and passions in her bio here.
TRIBUTE TO GERARD EE
Gerard was appointed Executive Director at Beyond in 1991, when it was still known as Bukit Ho Swee Community Service Project. He had joined the organisation at decade earlier as a youth worker.
During his tenure, Gerard has strengthened Beyond’s capabilities in engaging vulnerable children and youths at risk of crime, substance abuse and gang violence.
He oversaw Beyond’s evolution over the years, through its appointment as a public-funded Family Service Centre, the recognition that the challenges of poverty had to be addressed at the community level, and its more recent strategy of encouraging members to take ownership of their challenges, as a leading Community Development Agency.
Under Gerard’s leadership, Beyond adopted an island- wide focus on abandoned babies and the teen pregnancy crisis with Babes. This was subsequently spun-off as an independent organisation.
Beyond gradually expanded services to include rehabilitation for young offenders, child protection and early childhood education for its members, most of whom hail from low-income, at-risk families.
It also developed capabilities to support families within communities (particularly those with low income) to manage various challenges – domestic and otherwise – while also providing training on how to deal with such situations to other organisations, including the Singapore Police Force.
On a personal note, as President of the Board of Directors, it has been an absolute pleasure to work closely with Gerard over the last 3 and a half years. His outstanding leadership abilities and his inspiring vision for Beyond has made the organisation who we are today – a true leader in ABCD (Asset Based Community Development) that has benefited and uplifted so many members in Singapore’s most disadvantaged communities.
I look forward to working closely with May Ling as she takes the reins in March 2024.
Best regards,
Peter Hum
