On self-actualisation and 
clearing the obstacles to giving  

My earliest reflections consist of memories of witnessing my parents responding to the humanitarian needs of people around them, often financial and almost daily. My family’s commitment to compassionate Christian values, I believe, was a major influence on their actions and hence on us as children. I grew up in Sarawak, Borneo, in a tight knit community then under British rule. The province generated much wealth from rubber, timber and natural resources. However, little of it was invested back into the community. Unsurprisingly, the community’s ethos involved a strong sense of self-sufficiency and a duty of care towards each other. Philanthropy ensured services such as schools and hospitals were built. Sadly, other essential infrastructure such as roads lagged!

I have memories of my mother taking me to the poorer area to visit former house staff to check on their welfare. I witnessed deprivation. I also remember my father, who was a civil engineer taking me to an orphanage he had built and donated to the community to ensure buildings were maintained and programs adequately resourced. I witnessed philanthropy and its benefits. 

There was an alignment of early influences to giving at both personal and community levels. I guess the carry-through to giving in my adulthood was perhaps inevitable.

I would say from one’s lived experience as an international student and later as a young female lawyer in Melbourne. In both roles, I had to navigate complex challenges and barriers including cultural differences. These experiences heightened my awareness of and provided valuable insights into the journey of current skilled migrants in the settlement process. In response, founded an organisation to assist with acculturation and network support. These experiences have informed me and drive my giving. Today’s cohorts of Asian Australian professionals continue to grapple with issues such as equity to opportunities for career advancement, opportunities for a fuller self-actualisation of skills, a level playing field, inclusion, acceptance of differences are societal issues, negative perceptions of migrant Australians - these are all things I am keen to improve on through my giving.

As a patron AsiaLink and the Asian Australian Leadership Awards, I support the elevation of Asian Australian talents into the wider Australian consciousness. I am passionate about normalising perceptions about Asians as future leaders and addressing the current deficit of Asian leadership at large. In a similar vein, I have supported ANU’s William Ah-Ket Leadership program and continue to work in mentoring younger Asian Australians in their career journey. Other Asian leadership projects I am involved in include the yearly ‘Outstanding Chinese Leaders Award’ in collaboration with the Museum of Chinese Australian History, Victoria to name a few. 

In taking a holistic approach and wherever appropriate, my giving extends beyond the financial to a contribution of expertise. My giving is also supported in advocacy, in my capacity as a member of peak advisory bodies, such as the Australian Multicultural Council and Ministerial Advisory Council on Skilled Migration.

I feel strongly if we are privileged enough to be able to influence change for the better, it is incumbent on us to seize upon these opportunities to make the world a better place for all.

I’ve learned that there’s an incredible amount of need out there and so many ways one could make a difference. For me giving has been a humbling experience. It has connected me with different organisations and increased my awareness of how this country and our society works. It has allowed me into corners of grassroots community building, network building and friendships that I might not have otherwise encountered. It has opened my eyes to the incredible efforts that are carried out at the coalface of communities. My giving continually drives me to do more rather than less. It has enriched my life beyond measure.

There are these structural barriers that make it hard for private philanthropy to direct funds straight into these grassroots organisations. Often, social problems are best addressed by community members for their own community, but these organisations are invariably small and lack DGR status to qualify for public donations.

To leverage support, I would very much like to see a ‘community equivalent’ of the Australian Cultural Fund, a fundraising platform operated by Creative Australia for Australian artists to encourage donations through the Fund’s DGR status. Having an equivalent would leverage and encourage donations to support worthwhile community projects without the administrative burden of applying for government grants. 

There are so many ways one can use philanthropy as a platform to connect people to their community. Through EWC Philanthropy we’ve found it to be a powerful way to integrate migrants into their new community because it helps build this sense of belonging and provides the chance to meet lots of wonderful people.


I'd also love to see philanthropy become fashionable among the young ones. It would be lovely to foster a sense of giving as second nature and for our young people to know that it doesn’t have to be the domain of millionaires and billionaires. I think we need to cultivate that culture more in our schools and show the younger generations that one gets so much more back from one’s giving. The doors that open and the feeling that you get when a person comes to you with their needs and you can help them to do something about it – it’s unbelievable.