He succeeds Lim Seok Hui who will lead international affairs at Temasek Trust
Singapore, 15 January 2025 - Mr Shaun Seow has been appointed CEO of the Philanthropy Asia Alliance (PAA), with effect from 1 April 2025. Mr Seow is currently the Managing Director and Head of Community Stewardship at Temasek, where he leads a team dedicated to seeding social capital so that every generation prospers. He succeeds Ms Lim Seok Hui, who joined Temasek Trust in April 2022 and has served as PAA’s CEO since its initiation in September 2022.
Priming Asia as a Force for Good
PAA was established with the vision to bring like-minded partners and alliances together, to catalyse positive impact and prime Asia as a force for good. Since its initiation, PAA has achieved several key milestones:
• Garnering collective pledges of over SG$1B to advance the interconnected areas of climate, health, and education, with more than 80 global members and partners at its official launch in September 2023
• Expansion of the Philanthropy Asia Summit (PAS) as a global convening platform for impact with key stakeholders from across the public, private, and philanthropic sectors in Asia and beyond
• Formation of an Impact Action Council, a global network of partners and alliances, to guide action and impact across climate, health, and education issues in Asia
• Establishment of a strategic partnership with the World Economic Forum and support of its Giving to Amplify Earth Action (GAEA) initiative to facilitate public-private-philanthropic partnerships in driving climate action
• Launch of Amplifier Programme in partnership with the Centre for Impact Investing and Practices (CIIP) to support promising impact startups in their journey to financial sustainability
Propelling the Next Chapter
PAA, working in close collaboration with its members and partners, is now poised to embark on its next phase of growth, supported by the leadership transition. Seok Hui will rejoin Temasek Trust as Co-Head, Partnership & Advocacy, to lead developments in International Affairs. Reporting to Mr Desmond Kuek, Executive Director and CEO, Temasek Trust, she will actively shape partnerships across the Temasek Trust ecosystem and continue to support PAA’s growth.
Ms Lim Seok Hui, CEO, PAA, said, “Leading the Philanthropy Asia Alliance (PAA) has been an extraordinary privilege. Working closely alongside our global members and partners, we have shaped PAA into a powerful catalyst and convenor for impact, priming Asia as a force for good. The milestones we have reached and impact we have created are the culmination of our shared vision and collective action. I will continue to support PAA and the wider Temasek Trust ecosystem in my new role as Co-Head of Partnership & Advocacy at Temasek Trust.”
To facilitate a smooth leadership transition, Shaun will assume the role as PAA CEO-designate with effect from 15 January 2025, before officially taking on the appointment as PAA CEO from 1 April 2025. He will continue to hold the concurrent appointment as Head of Community Stewardship in Temasek until 31 December 2025.
Mr Shaun Seow, CEO-designate, PAA, said, “Philanthropy in Asia is evolving rapidly, presenting unprecedented opportunities to drive sustainable impact across the region. As CEO of the Philanthropy Asia Alliance, I am committed to building on the success of the team led by Seok Hui. Together with our dedicated members and partners, we will accelerate efforts to drive lasting, transformative change, and advance Asia’s role in shaping a more sustainable and inclusive world.”
Shaun is the Managing Director and Head of Community Stewardship at Temasek. The Community Stewardship team seeks to drive societal improvement through catalytic philanthropy and partnerships with non-profit entities, such as Temasek Trust, as well as players from the public, private and people sectors. Before leading the Community Stewardship team, Shaun had held Managing Director positions in other functions within Temasek, including its Investment Group and Singapore Market. Before joining Temasek in 2017, Shaun was CEO of MediaCorp Pte Ltd., a Temasek portfolio company. Earlier in his career, he was a financial editor with The Straits Times and a civil servant in Singapore’s Administrative Service.
Mr Desmond Kuek, Executive Director & CEO, Temasek Trust, said, “I would like to thank Seok Hui for her leadership in establishing the Philanthropy Asia Alliance and guiding the team in achieving several key milestones since its inception in 2022. Her tenacity and dedication have been instrumental in advancing PAA’s mission. In her new role, she will deepen Temasek Trust’s global engagement efforts and foster partnerships for greater collective impact. I also welcome Shaun as he takes the helm at PAA. His leadership and expertise will be vital as we steer PAA into its next phase of growth, amplifying its global reach and advancing its mission to prime Asia as a force for good.”
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About the Philanthropy Asia Alliance
Philanthropy Asia Alliance (PAA) is a Temasek Trust initiative dedicated to catalysing collaborative philanthropy in Asia through dynamic multi-sector partnerships. By harnessing collective strengths, PAA multiplies impact, accelerates positive change, and takes urgent action to address the pressing environmental and social challenges of our time. PAA’s flagship programme is the annual Philanthropy Asia Summit. For more information, visit www. philanthropyasiaalliance.org
About Temasek Trust
Temasek Trust, established by Temasek Holdings, is a steward of philanthropic assets, advocate of sustainability and catalyst of positive impact. It provides governance and financial oversight of endowments for an ecosystem of entities with the shared purpose of building better for every generation by protecting the planet, uplifting communities, connecting people, and advancing capabilities. In forging new pathways for philanthropy and impact investing with like-minded partners, Temasek Trust aims to promote catalytic philanthropy as a force for good. For more information, visit www.temasektrust.org.sg
Contacts
Ms Tess Chia
Head, Communications & Engagement
Temasek Trust
[email protected]
Ms Nicole Tan
Lead, Communications
Philanthropy Asia Alliance
[email protected]