Going Beyond: Technology for Population-Wide Healthy, Empowered, and Active Living in the Community

​​Abstract: 

Join us for an engaging session where leading experts showcase groundbreaking technological solutions that are transforming community wellness and active living. Our distinguished speakers from community organisations, government agencies and academic institutions will share real-world success stories of how technology has been reimagined beyond conventional digital applications to create meaningful impact.

This track explores innovative approaches that extend beyond physical health, demonstrating how technology can be leveraged holistically to empower communities and enhance quality of life. Discover how our partners have successfully implemented these solutions and learn from their experiences in deploying technology for social good.

Track Chairs

Mr Bernard Lee
Director, Operations and Admin (Northeast), Regional Health System
SingHealth

Bernard is a distinguished healthcare leader with deep expertise in mental health, primary care, community care, and traditional medicine policy development. Throughout his career, he has played pivotal roles in shaping Singapore's healthcare landscape through the development and implementation of key national initiatives.

His significant contributions to mental health policy include spearheading the National Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy, National Dementia Strategy, and leading crucial inter-agency efforts such as the Covid-19 Mental Wellness Taskforce (2020). His expertise spans regulatory affairs, operational leadership, and organisational development across both government and healthcare sectors.

Prior to his current role, Bernard held key appointments at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) and the Ministry of Health (MOH), where he demonstrated strong capabilities in fostering inter-agency collaborations to enhance healthcare services. His academic credentials include an Honours degree in Science from the National University of Singapore and a Master of Public Policy from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.  

Dr Teo Ken Wah
Associate Consultant, Public Health
Assistant Director, Strategic Planning & Evaluation, SGH

Dr Teo Ken Wah spearheads strategic initiatives in population health programmes, focusing on performance management and research evaluation. His expertise spans systems design, complexity methods for healthcare transformation, implementation science, and integrated care delivery.  His notable achievements include co-developing the Health System Transformation Playbook at Yishun Health and leading a groundbreaking national Community Hospital Redesign sandbox project at MOH Office for Healthcare Transformation.

A graduate of the National University of Singapore with both an MBBS and Master of Public Health, Dr Teo actively shapes the next generation of healthcare professionals through his teaching roles. He serves as Adjunct Faculty at Singapore University of Social Sciences, Sessional Lecturer at the University of Newcastle, and Guest Lecturer at Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health. 

Moderator

Dr Andrew Sayampanathan
Senior Resident, Preventive Medicine, SGH

Dr Andrew brings extensive experience in healthcare leadership and public sector innovation to his role as a public health physician at Singapore General Hospital's Division of Population Health & Integrated Care. Previously, he headed Science and Technology Systems at the Prime Minister's Office, where he drove technological transformation and capability building initiatives across government agencies. His public service career includes key positions at the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Home Affairs, where he shaped health systems planning, care transformation, and clinical informatics initiatives. Holding both a Master in Public Health and Master in Business Administration, Dr Andrew's expertise lies at the convergence of clinical medicine, public health, and business strategy. His work focuses on developing integrated healthcare solutions that bridge clinical practice with population health management. 

Presenters

Mr Adrian Tan
Co-Founder
SG Assist

Adrian Tan is the Co-founder of SG Assist, a social enterprise dedicated to enhancing support for caregivers, seniors, and persons with disabilities in Singapore. Drawing from his personal caregiving experience, he champions community-driven solutions that enable individuals to age in place with dignity and independence. His approach centres on strengthening collaboration between healthcare providers, social services, and community partners to build a more robust and inclusive caregiving ecosystem.

Through key initiatives including the CareConnect Call Centre, Age+ Living Lab, and Caregiver Resource Centre, Adrian works to integrate health and social care services while addressing caregivers' multifaceted needs. SG Assist further promotes active ageing through innovative programmes such as the Care Agent Programme, which empowers seniors to contribute meaningfully at Active Ageing Centres, with opportunities for flexible employment within the sector.

The organisation's Gerontech Ambassador Programme equips seniors with knowledge of assistive technologies that enhance independence and reduce caregiver burden. This initiative enables seniors to become advocates for active ageing, sharing insights from their lived experiences.

Adrian remains focused on advancing a future where caregivers and seniors are both beneficiaries and active contributors to Singapore's social support ecosystem.

Presentation Title: Assisted Living Technology for Ageing in Place: A Case Study of the Age+ Living Lab by SUSS and SG Assist 

The Age+ Living Lab is Singapore’s first community-based assisted living technology initiative, co-developed by the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) and SG Assist. Located in a dementia-friendly estate, the Lab showcases practical, affordable technologies that support ageing in place through experiential learning, health assessments, and co-designed solutions. It promotes collaboration among seniors, caregivers, healthcare providers, and innovators, and is grounded in the WHO ICOPE framework to encourage early intervention and preserve intrinsic capacity. Since its launch in March 2024, over 1,800 participants have visited the Lab. This session will share insights on how technology can enhance ageing in place within community care settings. 

Mr Caleb Tan
Assistant Director, mindline,sg

Dr Charmaine Lim
Assistant Director, mindline.sg

Caleb leads partnerships and growth initiatives at mindline.sg, Singapore's primary digital platform for mental health support. With a Masters in Public Health from Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health specialising in Health Promotion, he combines his interest in behavioural economics with digital health innovation to enhance mental health accessibility. His work focuses on leveraging technology to create meaningful impact in people's lives through effective digital health programmes.

Dr Charmaine brings over a decade of clinical psychology experience across community, higher education and private practice settings. Her commitment to accessible mental health care has led her to MOHT, where she focuses on developing scalable mental health solutions. At mindline.sg, she oversees clinical product development, safety assessment and protocol design.  Currently pursuing post graduate studies in public mental health at Johns Hopkins University, Dr Charmaine remains committed to making quality mental health care more accessible to all.

Presentation Title: Digital First, Human Always: Scaling Mental Health Support in the Community

Discover how mindline.sg is revolutionising mental health support in Singapore through its innovative digital platform. As the nation's pioneering mental wellness resource, mindline.sg creates a seamless journey from self-help tools to professional care, making mental health support more accessible than ever.

Learn how the platform simplifies the navigation of mental health resources, enhances mental health discussions in primary care settings, and fosters community support through 'let's talk' - an anonymous online forum. This presentation demonstrates the powerful synergy between digital innovation and human care, showing how technology can build community resilience and empower individuals to navigate their mental health journey—anytime, anywhere.

Karen Wee Siew Lin
Executive Director
Lions Befrienders Service Association (Singapore)

Karen Wee Siew Lin is a transformational leader with an extensive 36-year track record in volunteerism and 14 years of professional experience in the non-profit sector. Her career spans the APAC region, encompassing roles with government agencies like NCSS, civil organisations such as NVPC, international NPOs including YMCA and Lions Befrienders, and local charities like Children's Cancer Foundation. This comprehensive experience, coupled with volunteer work in Singapore and the USA, has established her as an accomplished leader known for revitalising programmes and driving innovation.

In her current role as Executive Director of Lions Befrienders Service Association (Singapore), Karen has transformed the organisation into a pioneer in preventive eldercare through digitalisation initiatives and innovative programming that supports seniors ageing in place. She serves on multiple boards of local and international non-profits in healthcare and public health and contributes to two of Singapore's Regional Health Systems as an Advisor and council member.

Her expertise encompasses strategic planning, programme innovation, volunteer management, fundraising, and operational leadership. Karen's professional credentials include pursuits in Certified Fund-Raising Executive and Chartered Marketer qualifications, complemented by existing certifications as a Chartered Accountant, Fellow in Marketing, and Certified Internal Auditor. She is also a member of the Singapore Institute of Directors.

A passionate mentor to young professionals and youths, including her own children, Karen is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of community leaders, believing strongly in their role as future stewards of society.

Presentation Title: Adoption of Technologies and Innovations to Care for Seniors: Exploring the Role of Lions Befrienders in Driving AI Adoption 

As Singapore’s senior population grows, their needs are becoming more diverse and complex, ranging from health monitoring and safety to social connection and mental well-being. The adoption of technologies, especially Artificial Intelligence (AI), offers new ways to address these evolving needs with greater precision and care. 

Lions Befrienders (LB), with its strong community presence and deep understanding of seniors’ daily challenges, is well-placed to lead this transformation. By focusing on the real needs of seniors to:  

• Introduce AI-powered tools that support early health detection, fall prevention, and social interaction;

• Promote digital confidence by equipping seniors and caregivers with the skills to use technology meaningfully; 

• Collaborate with partners to co-create accessible, user-friendly, and ethical AI solutions tailored to the ageing community. 
  

 Through responsible innovation, LB can ensure that technology serves as a bridge and not a barrier to active, independent, and dignified ageing.

Mr Bernard Tan
Regional Assistant Director, Centre-Based Ops
Seniors' Community Services, Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities

Bernard Tan brings over a decade of expertise in eldercare transformation, currently serving as Regional Assistant Director at Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities. His leadership focuses on integrating innovative technology solutions to enhance senior care delivery and operational excellence.  During his tenure at the Silver Generation Office, he successfully led initiatives that strengthened community networks and pioneered integrated care strategies. His approach combines deep understanding of senior engagement with strategic deployment of digital solutions and data analytics to create more efficient, person-centred care models.

Bernard's vision centres on leveraging technology to revolutionise eldercare services, making them more accessible, efficient, and sustainable. His work demonstrates how innovation can meaningfully improve seniors' quality of life while empowering communities to embrace new approaches in care delivery.

Presentation Title: Technological Innovations at Thye Hua Kwan AAC: Enhancing Senior Care and Well-being

The future of senior care lies in harnessing innovative technology to enhance the lives of our ageing population. Through the integration of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and AI-powered analytics, we can now deliver personalised, preventive care that addresses seniors' physical, mental, and emotional needs around the clock.  These technological solutions enable timely interventions, combat social isolation, and optimise service delivery, making quality care more accessible than ever. By creating safe, engaging environments that encourage community participation, we're establishing new standards in eldercare facilities. This forward-thinking approach offers a scalable model that empowers seniors to maintain their independence and dignity while ageing in place. Ultimately, these innovations are helping to build a resilient and sustainable ecosystem of care that's ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow's ageing society.