Philanthropists Connect 2022

Guest of Honor, President of the Republic of Singapore

Mdm Halimah Yacob served in the National Trades Union Congress for 33 years. She held various positions, as Deputy Secretary General; Director of departments including Legal Services, Women’s Development and Labour Studies; and Executive Secretary of the United Workers of Electronic and Electrical Industries. She was on various national committees including the Economic Review Committee.

She was Singapore’s representative in the International Labour Organization for 12 years and the first Singaporean to be elected into the ILO. She represented workers in many ILO committees.

In 2001, Elected as a Member of Parliament for the Jurong Group Representation Constituency. Her final and fourth term as an MP was in the Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC.

In 2011, Appointed Minister of State for Community Development and Sports. She introduced various programs for seniors and enhanced services for the disabled. She also laid the foundation for the Social Services Offices.

In 2013, Elected as Speaker of Parliament, the first woman to hold the position.

With her passion for social causes, Mdm Halimah is patron to more than 40 charitable and community organizations. She also championed women’s issues and was awarded Woman of the Year by Her World Magazine (2003) and AWARE Heroine Award (2011). She was inducted into the Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame (2014) and conferred the Berita Harian Achiever of the Year (2001).

Mdm Halimah obtained her law degree and Masters in Law from the National University of Singapore. In 2016, she was conferred the Doctor of Law by the NUS.

Managing Director, Climate and Sustainability, Eurasia Group, Chief Executive Officer, New World Development Company Limited, Founder & Chairman, K11 Concepts Limited, Owner of Rosewood Hong Kong, Executive Director, Chow Tai Fook Jewelry Group Limited, Vice Chairman and Group CEO, CTF Education Group

As CEO of New World Development Company Limited (HKEx:0017), Adrian oversees the strategy and operations across this US$ 77.4 billion* group. He is reinventing the 50-year old business by building a growing ecosystem of property development, infrastructure, healthcare, education, retail, hospitality projects and more. His vision in injecting sustainability, culture and innovation into his portfolio of businesses has led to several iconic projects in Greater China.

At 29 years old, Adrian founded the K11 brand, which intertwines art and commerce through shopping malls, offices and hospitality catering to Millennial and Gen Z consumers. His concept brand K11 is expanding its footprint to 40 projects across 10 Chinese cities in 5 years.

In 2019, Adrian launched Victoria Dockside, a US$ 2.6 billion cultural district that includes cultural-retail flagship K11 MUSEA, K11 ATELIER offices, K11 ARTUS luxury residence, and Rosewood Hotel’s first Hong Kong property. He also provides early-stage funding to technology start-ups and platforms that appeal to younger generation consumers, with several successful investments.

A graduate of Harvard University, he is the youngest person in Hong Kong to receive the Officer in the Order of Arts and Letters in 2017 by the French Government, was listed by Fortune as a '40 Under 40' global business star and a 'Young Global Leader' by the World Economic Forum in 2012.

Adrian’s dedication to Creating Shared Value to connect business success with social progress has won him the Shared Value Champion Award for two consecutive years since 2020, the first CEO in Asia to claim this title.

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Chief Executive Officer, AVPN

Naina joined AVPN as CEO from September 2013 and was appointed Chairperson from 2018 to 2021. Naina’s leadership over the past 8.5 years has nurtured the AVPN community, growing the membership base by more than 4x and elevating the organization into a truly regional force for good. Under her direction, the organization has grown from focusing only on venture philanthropy to supporting the entire ecosystem of social investors, from catalytic philanthropists to impact investors and corporate CSR professionals. She has also been instrumental in developing AVPN’s innovative services, like the collaborative pooled funds, that connect, empower and educate the now 600+ members of AVPN. In 2021, she was featured in the list of Asia's Most Influential by Tatler Asia and in 2019, awarded one of Asia's Top Sustainability Superwomen by CSRWorks. She is also serving as Board Member of the Global Resilient Cities Network, Vice Chair at the International Venture Philanthropy Center and Trustee at Bridge Institute. She has been the keynote speaker at several global gatherings and authored a chapter in the book ‘Generation Impact: International Perspectives on Impact Accounting’.
 
Prior to joining AVPN, Naina was a member of the senior leadership team of a purpose driven unit at The Monitor Group, a leading global strategy consulting firm, aimed at catalyzing markets for social change. Naina was also partner and Co-Founder of Group Fifty Private Ltd, curating contemporary Indian art with a view to providing a medium for upcoming and established Indian artists to showcase their work directly to a large and diverse audience.
 
Naina has a master’s degree in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University where she graduated at the top of her class. She also holds a bachelor degree in Economics and International Relations from Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts, USA and a General Course Diploma in economics from The London School of Economics.

Chairman, Asia Philanthropy Circle

Laurence Lien is Chairman of the Asia Philanthropy Circle (APC), a membership-based platform for Asian philanthropists to exchange, learn and collaborate. Laurence is also the Chairman of Lien Foundation, a family foundation that has become well-regarded for its forward-thinking and innovation-driven approach in the fields of education, eldercare and the environment.

Laurence was the CEO of the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre in Singapore from 2008-2014, and was the Chairman of the Community Foundation of Singapore from 2013-2019. Prior to his work in the non-profit sector, Laurence served in the Singapore Government. Laurence holds degrees from Oxford University, the National University of Singapore, and Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. He was also a Nominated Member of Parliament in Singapore from 2012-2014.

Chairman, Tsao Foundation, Singapore

Dr Mary Ann Tsao is the Chairwoman and Founding Director of the Tsao Foundation, a Singapore-based, but regionally oriented non-profit operational foundation dedicated to aged care and ageing issues. Previously, she was also its CEO and President. 

Established by her grandmother in 1993, the Foundation is a leader in community-based eldercare. A long-standing advocate for older people, Tsao Foundation’s vision is that of an inclusive society for all ages that optimizes opportunities in longevity. It aims to address issues of population ageing, promote successful ageing, and enhance wellbeing of older people at policy and practice levels by catalyzing constructive change. 

Through its five major initiatives – the Hua Mei Centre for Successful Ageing, Hua Mei Training Academy, International Longevity Centre Singapore, Initiative in Productive Longevity, and Community for Successful Ageing (ComSA) – the Tsao Foundation pioneers and provides community-based, person-centred primary healthcare for adults aged 40 and above; builds capacity in professional and informal aged care and self-care; fosters elder empowerment and community development; addresses issues of work and older adults; and forges cross-sector partnerships to initiate policy-relevant research, ideas, and approaches to actualizing health, wellness, and participation over the life course. 

Dr Tsao is also the current Chairwoman of the Tsao Family Office, the family investment office of a group of companies that started in shipping and led to the formation of the IMC Group. The Tsao Family Office aspires to deploy all its assets for impact through how they invest as well as philanthropy. She is currently also the Vice Chair for the newly established Tsao family foundation. 

Dr Tsao has worked with multilateral agencies, such as WHO’s Geneva office and UNESCAP, and served on various government committees as well as non-profit boards in Singapore and internationally. She was a former Board Director for Family Business Network (FBN) Asia and is currently a member of FBN Asia’s Ambassador Circle. 

For her work on ageing, Mary Ann has been recognized by the Singaporean Government as a recipient of the Public Service Medal, Public Service Star, and Public Service Star (Bar). A US-trained paediatrician with a public health background, she has extensive experience working with disadvantaged communities.

Director, Mitr Phol Group

Gavin founded Ad Lib hotels and Glowfish coworking offices, both of which continues to break new grounds and challenge conventions. He currently serves on the board of director of Mitr Phol Group, The Erawan Group Plc., and The Food School.

Gavin was also part of the first class of young business owners who founded the Young Entrepreneurs Chamber (YEC) under the Thai Chamber of Commerce, where he continues to support in the development of its next-generation leaders after having served a term as Chairman of the Bangkok Chapter, and another term as Chairman of the ASEAN Young Entrepreneur Council.

Since 2019, Gavin has been working on the Khon Kaen Innovation Center, where he engages both Ad Lib and Glowfish teams to conceptualize, develop, and operate a one-of-a-kind mixed use real-estate project for his family company, Mitr Phol Group. The project involves a wide-scale collaboration with the city of Khon Kaen aiming to become an international regional hub for creators and innovators. It is scheduled for launch in May 2022.

CEO Hong Kong, Head of Wealth Management Asia Pacific and APAC Sustainability Leader, Credit Suisse

Benjamin Cavalli is a Managing Director, CEO Hong Kong, Head of Wealth Management Asia Pacific and APAC Sustainability Leader at Credit Suisse.

In his senior leadership role, Mr. Cavalli leads the Wealth Management business in Asia Pacific. He also focuses on collaboration opportunities within Credit Suisse to capitalize on the synergies and business opportunities in the region, drive profitable business growth and advance market share.

He is the APAC Sustainability Leader, Co-Chair of the APAC Sustainability Committee, and Trustee of the Board of the Credit Suisse APAC Foundation. As APAC Sustainability Leader, Mr. Cavalli works across businesses to establish Credit Suisse as a global leader in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG).

Mr. Cavalli joined Credit Suisse in November 2009 as Head of Private Banking Singapore Market, based in Singapore. His most recent prior appointment was Head of Private Banking South Asia from August 2018 to December 2021. In addition, he also served as Singapore Chief Executive Officer from January 2017 to December 2021. Prior to that, he held the role of Head of Private Banking Southeast Asia and Head of Singapore Location from October 2014 to August 2018.

He was previously from UBS Wealth Management, where he was a Managing Director and the Head of Key Clients Singapore. He started his career in the Export Finance department at UBS in Switzerland in 1992, and headed Commodities, Structured Trade and Export Finance at UBS Investment Bank in Hong Kong from 1997 to 2000, before beginning his career in wealth management.

He has over 26 years of experience in both Investment Banking and Wealth Management across Switzerland and Asia, 20 of which he was based in Singapore and in various senior management capacities.

Mr. Cavalli is accredited under IBF Advanced (IBFA) by the Institute of Banking and Finance (IBF) in Singapore.

Vice Chairman Asia Pacific, Credit Suisse

Mr Jose Isidro N. (Lito) Camacho is a Managing Director in the Asia Pacific region of Credit Suisse, based in Singapore. He is also a Vice Chairman for Credit Suisse Asia Pacific.

Lito joined Credit Suisse in March 2005 after a distinguished career in government and international banking. He was appointed Secretary of Finance for the Philippines in 2001, a position he held until November 2003. As Secretary of Finance, Lito led the country's economic team and supervised the fiscal and financial sectors. 

Prior to that, Lito was the Secretary of Energy for the Philippines where he was credited with the successful passage of the country's power sector reform legislation. He was also Chairman of Land Bank of the Philippines, Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation, Trade Development and Investment Corporation (PhilExim), Home Guaranty Corporation, National Power Corporation (NPC), Power Sector Asset and Liability Management Corporation (PSALM), National Transmission Corporation (Transco), Privatization Council, Capital Market Development Council, and National Credit Council.

Prior to joining the government, Lito was a Managing Director and Chief Country Officer for the Philippines at Deutsche Bank, AG in Manila. Before Deutsche Bank, Lito worked for Bankers Trust Company for over twenty years in New York, Japan, Hong Kong, Philippines and Singapore. His last position at Bankers Trust was Head of Investment Banking for Southeast Asia.  Lito became a Managing Director at Bankers Trust in 1990 and obtained Partner status in 1996.

Lito is currently a Director of SymAsia Foundation (Singapore), a Founding Member of Asia Peace and Reconciliation Council (Thailand), the Non-Executive Chairman of Sun Life of Canada (Philippines), a board member of Sun Life Grepa Financial Inc. (Philippines), and a Member of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank’s International Advisory Panel (China). He was previously a board member of the National Gallery Singapore (2013-June 2021), the National Heritage Board of Singapore (2007-2013) and Sun Life Malaysia Takaful Bhd (2013-2019) and Sun Life Malaysia Assurance Bhd (2013-2022). Lito was also formerly a member of the Securities Industry Council of Singapore (2010-2017), the Securities Commission of Malaysia’s International Advisory Group (2008-2010) and the ASEAN Capital Markets Forum’s Group of Experts (2008-2012), a Senior Advisor to The Boston Consulting Group, Singapore (2017-2021) and the Chief Executive Officer of Credit Suisse Singapore (2007-2016).

Lito obtained his Bachelor's degree in Mathematics (cum laude) from De La Salle University in 1975. He received his MBA with concentration in Finance from Harvard University in 1979.  In 2017, Lito was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Business Administration from Thailand’s Eastern Asia University, and was a recipient of Singapore’s 2021 Public Service Medal (Pingat Bakti Masyarakat).