The People's Parade
Explore the stories behind the people of the Parade.
Last updated 11 July 2026
Build
Sheila Manokaran: Co-founder of River Valley Irregulars
Sheila Manokaran is a youth leader and co-founder of River Valley Irregulars, empowering young people through mentorship, partnerships and real-world learning opportunities. She creates impactful programmes in portfolio-building, youth development and community engagement, while connecting youth with practical industry experiences that help them discover their purpose and develop the skills to become future changemakers.
Humphries Warren Sheldon: Mental Health and Inclusivity Advocate
Humphries Warren Sheldon is a disability advocate dedicated to building a more inclusive society through mental health support and advocacy. Living with Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease, he provides para-counselling to caregivers and persons with disabilities, champions inclusive employment, and offers compassionate peer support, empowering others through his lived experience and commitment to inclusion.
Mohamed Fareez Bin Mohamed Fahmy: Social Worker, Allkin
Fareez has dedicated his career to strengthening Singapore's social fabric by empowering vulnerable individuals, families, and communities. From pioneering Family Resource Centres and expanding restorative and psychological services to creating employment opportunities for lower-income women, his leadership has shaped national social work practice and strengthened support networks that help communities become more inclusive, connected, and resilient.
Peck Cher Hin: Lead Engineer at PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency
Peck Cher Hin is a Lead Engineer at PUB who played a pivotal role in developing Singapore’s NEWater programme. As part of the pioneering five-member team that brought NEWater from pilot stage to implementation, he later oversaw 24/7 operations at the Bedok NEWater Factory, contributing decades of expertise to Singapore’s sustainable water supply and water resilience.
Seah Chee Huang: Architect, DP Architects
Seah Chee Huang is an architect at DP Architects who designs purposeful spaces that foster vibrant, cohesive communities through shared experiences. Through projects such as Singapore Sports Hub, Our Tampines Hub and Goodlife Makan, he champions sustainable design and social impact. His work, spanning national landmarks and award-winning community projects, reflects a commitment to creating inclusive places that deepen social capital and enrich everyday life.
Woo Lai Lynn: Chief Engineer, PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency
Woo Lai Lynn is Chief Engineer at PUB specialising in underground and tunnel works. She was involved in the design and constructions of more than 200 km of deep tunnels and link sewers for the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System. By overcoming complex engineering and urban challenges, she has helped strengthen the nation’s long-term water resilience through one of Singapore’s most significant water infrastructure projects.
Care
Azlina Bte Ahmad: Founder of Smiles Salam
Azlina Ahmad founded Smiles Salam, a community initiative that rescues surplus food and redistributes it through pop-up groceries and community fridges, supporting families facing food insecurity. What began as a family effort during the pandemic has grown into a volunteer-driven movement promoting kindness, sustainability and community care, inspiring people to give, receive and support one another through local outreach and overseas service projects.
Tracy Lee Chye Hong: Community Befriending Coordinator, TOUCH Community Services
Tracy Lee connects isolated seniors with volunteer befrienders to ensure they remain supported, connected, and cared for. As the coordinator of the Community Befriending Programme at TOUCHpoint@AMK 433, she played a vital role during the pandemic by maintaining outreach with vulnerable elderly residents, earning the Healthcare Humanity Award 2023 in recognition of her dedication and compassion.
Wee Li-Phing Clarice: Deputy Director of Nursing, Advanced Practice Nurse, Ng Teng Fong General Hospital
Clarice Wee is a pioneering Advanced Practice Nurse and recipient of the 2025 President’s Award for Nurses. She has advanced Singapore’s nursing profession through clinical innovation, leading complex medical procedures, operationalising a 3,000-bed COVID-19 care facility, and launching a groundbreaking nurse-led post-ICU clinic, while championing excellence, leadership, and the future of patient-centred healthcare.
Anitha D/O Sivadasan and Sivachandran S/O T Palaniasmy: Foster parents
Anitha Sivadasan and Sivachandran T Palaniasmy have opened their hearts and home to more than 20 foster children since 2003. Driven by their love for children, they continue to care for children with special needs, creating a nurturing family environment through everyday activities while leaving a lasting legacy of compassion, stability, and lifelong connection.
Andrea Chan: Group Head of TOUCH Counselling & Psychological Services and Beyond the Label Representative
Andrea Chan is a mental health advocate with over 15 years of experience strengthening support for young people and families. She pioneered award-winning programmes such as The Upper Room and Live On!, combining early intervention, clinical expertise, and AI to identify youth in distress earlier and build a more compassionate, resilient mental health ecosystem in Singapore.
Faradilla Abdul Latiff: Senior Community Care Associate
Faradilla Abdul Latiff overcame years of personal challenges to build a new life caring for elderly residents at a senior care centre. After breaking the cycle of reoffending, she found purpose supporting seniors with conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and dementia, providing compassionate daily care while demonstrating resilience, personal growth, and the power of second chances.
Create
Yip Yew Chong: Artist
Yip Yew Chong is a Singaporean artist best known for his heritage murals in Chinatown, Kampong Glam and Tiong Bahru. In 2023, he completed a 60-metre long artwork titled I Paint my Singapore depicting Singapore’s daily life in the 1970s and 1980s. He is now creating I Paint my World, a multi-year, 100-metre long artwork that captures places around the world connected to his life and travels.
Damian D’Silva Jonathan: Chef
Damian D'Silva is a celebrated Singaporean chef dedicated to preserving the nation’s heritage cuisine for future generations. Through acclaimed restaurants including Rempapa and Folklore, and his latest ventures at the National Gallery Singapore, Gilmore & Damian D’Silva, he revives traditional recipes and culinary traditions, ensuring Singapore’s diverse food heritage remains vibrant, relevant, and accessible to new generations of diners.
Far’ain Jaafar: Author
Far’ain Jaafar is an award-winning bilingual children’s author, educator, and advocate who champions inclusivity through storytelling and education. With books such as Uncle Daniel’s Favourite Colour, she promotes empathy, diversity, and awareness of underrepresented communities. A foster mother and recipient of the Exemplary Young Mother Award, she also advocates for women, children, youth, families, and neurodiversity.
Shaikh Ismail Sathakuthamby: Co-Founder of Byte.sg
Shaikh Ismail leads BYTE.sg, a non-profit initiative dedicated to bridging the digital divide by empowering disadvantaged communities through science, technology, and design. Together with his team, he expands access to technology and digital skills development, equipping communities, especially our young people, to innovate, build brighter futures, and improve their quality of life in an increasingly digital world.
E Ian Siew: PhD Candidate, Department of Design, College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore
E Ian Siew is a transdisciplinary designer and researcher who develops innovative healthcare solutions inspired by personal experience. Following his own open-heart surgeries, he created Autobrace, an award-winning cardiac rehabilitation device that won the 2023 James Dyson Award. His work combines design, research, and technology to improve patient care while exploring new applications of materials and engineering.
Skylar Chua and Elon Chan: Students
Skylar Chua and Elon Chan are young inventors behind RoboBuddies, an award-winning robot designed to encourage healthy screen habits and protect children’s eyesight. Built using LEGO components, sensors, and 3D-printed parts, the robot automatically adjusts screen distance when users lean in too closely, earning the pair a place in the World Robot Olympiad finals.
Justice
Guy Bte Ghazali: Deputy Commissioner, Online Safety Commission, Former Senior President of the Syariah Court (2020–2025)
Guy Ghazali is Singapore's first female Senior President of the Syariah Court. During her time leading the Syariah Court, she championed court reforms that promote reconciliation, preserve family relationships and protect welfare of children. As Deputy Commissioner of the new Online Safety Commission, Guy provides Singaporeans stronger protection against online harms.
Sadhana Rai: Chief Representation Officer at Pro Bono SG
Sadhana Rai is Chief Representation Officer at Pro Bono SG, a charity that provides community legal services and criminal defence aid. She leads a team of dedicated lawyers, working closely with the legal fraternity and the Government to serve the most vulnerable among us. This includes Pro Bono SG's Community Law Centres, which bring legal help directly into the heartlands.
Stephen Poh Yong Meng: Executive Master Mediator
Stephen Poh is an Executive Master Mediator who has served with the Community Mediation Centre since 1998, helping resolve conflicts between neighbours, families, and co-workers for close to 30 years. Through his dedication, he has mended ties and fostered understanding, bringing Singaporeans together as one community and strengthening social harmony.
Amelia Ang Yu Wen: Assigned Solicitor of the Legal Aid Bureau
Amelia Ang is a Partner at Lee & Lee and a family lawyer who volunteers at the Legal Aid Bureau. Her practice covers complex family disputes, including child-related matters, maintenance, and division of assets. She brings this same expertise to the families she assists through the Legal Aid Bureau, helping them navigate challenging times with empathy and legal rigour.
Protect
Dr Chong Chee Seng: Director, Environmental Epidemiology and Toxicology Division, Environmental Health Institute, National Environment Agency
Dr Chong Chee Seng, Director of NEA’s Environmental Epidemiology and Toxicology Division, pioneered the islandwide Gravitrap surveillance system and led Project Wolbachia to strengthen Singapore’s fight against dengue. Under his leadership, Aedes aegypti mosquito populations were reduced by up to 90% and dengue risk lowered by over 70% at project sites. The project now protects 740,000 households and is a globally recognised model for urban vector control.
Neo Mei Lin: Marine Ecologist, Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore
Dr Neo Mei Lin, affectionately known as “Giant Clam Girl,” is a marine ecologist whose research helps safeguard Singapore’s coastal waters and biodiversity. A co-founder of Celebrating Singapore Shores and co-author of the Singapore Blue Plan 2018, she champions marine conservation through research and advocacy, while inspiring youth, empowering women in science, and leading efforts to protect endangered giant clams.
Haniman Boniran: Wildlife Educator, Mandai Wildlife Group
Haniman Boniran is a dedicated wildlife educator with nearly 16 years at Mandai Wildlife Group (MWG), inspiring students and communities through immersive conservation education. Starting as a part-time tram ambassador at Night Safari and and education facilitator at Singapore Zoo, he has grown into a passionate advocate who represents MWG at outreach events, using engaging storytelling to foster appreciation for wildlife and the importance of protecting nature.
Lengkok Bahru Emergency Response Team
The Lengkok Bahru Emergency Response Team is a group of 10–14-year-olds from underprivileged backgrounds who patrol their neighbourhood, support their community, and look out for one another. Through teamwork, responsibility, and community service, these young volunteers play an active role in keeping their neighbourhood safe while inspiring others with their commitment to helping those around them.
Firdaus Sani: Founder of Orang Laut SG
Firdaus is a cultural advocate dedicated to preserving the stories, traditions, and heritage of Singapore's Indigenous island communities. A descendant of Pulau Semakau, he documents cultural practices and living traditions while collaborating with partners to ensure these histories remain visible, relevant, and accessible through research, advocacy, and community programmes that celebrate Singapore's rich island heritage.
Zac Toh Hong Yew: Founder of City Sprouts
Zac Toh is an eco-advocate driving environmental sustainability and climate action in Singapore. Through City Sprouts, and it’s initiatives such as the annual Earthopia Festival, he empowers youth and the broader community to champion environmental stewardship and build a greener, more climate-resilient future for Singapore.
Provide
Ozzy Roje Bin Puteh: Property Maintenance Supervisor, Agape Services Pte Ltd
Ozzy Roje Bin Puteh is a public hygiene leader who improves cleaning operations through innovative zoning systems, smart cleaning apps, and hands-on leadership. A Supervisor at Agape Services and recipient of the 2025 Environmental Services Star Award, he works alongside his team while championing continuous learning, embracing technology, and mentoring colleagues to raise productivity and professional standards across multiple sites.
Shamimah Mujtaba: Friend of the Library
Shamimah Mujtaba is a volunteer who champions Singapore literature, local authors, and inclusive community engagement. She founded the Singapore Literature Book Club and organises social dance, arts, and ukulele sessions that bring people together through shared heritage and creative expression. Through her programmes, she has created welcoming spaces that connect hundreds of participants within Singapore’s public libraries.
Daniel Yap Eng Yeow: Founder, Fridge Restock Community SG
Daniel Yap is the founder of Fridge Restock Community, a volunteer-led initiative tackling food waste and food insecurity. After seeing large amounts of unsold produce discarded, he mobilised a team that now rescues around 9,000kg of fruits and vegetables each week, supplying more than 44 community fridges and collection points across Singapore to support those in need while promoting sustainability.
Prof Mohan Rajesh Elara: Professor at the Singapore University of Technology and Design
Professor Mohan Rajesh Elara is an internationally recognized robotics visionary shaping Singapore's Physical AI future. As a Professor at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), he pioneers autonomous systems transforming cities, infrastructure, and aviation. He co-founded LionsBot, a Singapore-born robotics company with over 6,000 autonomous robots deployed across 30+ countries. Passionate about inspiring future innovators, he engages over 1,000 local youths annually through robotics education.
Mohamed Ghafar Bin Mohd Yusof: Engineer, Sembcorp Tengeh Floating Solar Farm
As one of the engineers behind Singapore's first inland floating solar farm at Tengeh Reservoir, Mohammad Ghafar played a key role in laying the foundation for its successful operation. He has also helped establish the standards and processes that continue to support the facility’s performance today. Passionate about developing future talent, he actively shares his expertise and mentors aspiring engineers entering the industry.
Dr Zubair Amin: Senior Consultant, Neonatology at National University Hospital (NUH)
Dr Zubair Amin is a neonatologist at the National University Hospital whose team has advanced family-centred neonatal care. Together, they expanded neonatal intensive care capacity, established a home equipment loan library for high-care-needs patients, and made family engagement a core part of care. Dr Amin and his team are committed to giving every newborn and their family the best possible start in life.