SILS: Innovating and Scaling Emergency Responses

From a global economic crisis to social distancing measures, the COVID-19 pandemic has created tremendous challenges for social sector organizations around the globe. While these emergencies have forced many organizations to focus on survival rather than growth, the pandemic has presented many unexpected opportunities for organizations to reimagine the possibilities of their work – whether by revisiting missions, rethinking service models, or scaling existing efforts. With new community needs and major disruptions in all aspects of business and society, the current climate is ripe for the social sector to pursue exciting innovations.

Held virtually via Zoom, this global, one-hour session will feature panelists from Chicago, Singapore, and Hong Kong, who will share insights on how social sector organizations can embrace the challenges, changes, and new opportunities presented by COVID-19 to maximize their impact.

Event Schedule

8:30 a.m.: Opening remarks

8:35 a.m.: Fireside chat with panel

9:15 a.m.: Q&A session

9:30 a.m.: Close of event

About the Speakers

Nicole Robinson, Vice President of Community Impact, Greater Chicago Food Depository

Born in Chicago and a product of the public school system, Nicole R. Robinson has spent her career building bridges between communities, individuals, and corporations. Today Nicole proudly serves as VP of Community Impact for the Greater Chicago Food Depository. She leads the Food Depository’s partnerships with community organizations to address the root causes of hunger and provide nutritious food for people in need across Cook County.

Prior to joining the Food Depository, Nicole served as head of the Mondelēz International Foundation funding community programs designed to promote good nutrition and healthy lifestyles. These award-winning programs spanned the globe, touching five continents, while reaching underserved and underrepresented neighborhoods. She has worked with the United Nations World Food Programme and a variety of multinational NGOs, including CARE, Save the Children and INMED Partnerships for Children.

Sky Siu, Executive Director, KELY Support Group

Sky has been with KELY Support Group (KELY) since 2011, and was appointed as the organization’s Executive Director in April 2015. Having spent 16 years growing up in Ghana, West Africa, she experienced first-hand the challenges that poverty, lack of access to education and health can have on a young person’s development.

With a background in Public Health practice and a passionate vision to see youth thrive regardless of their environment, Sky has worked in adolescent health research and local and international community development projects, including those related to girls’ empowerment and education in developing South Asian nations. In 2005, Sky co-founded a support network in Hong Kong for ethnically Chinese third culture teens. She was a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Shaper Community serving as curator for the HK Hub in 2015, a TEDx speaker and since 2016 has been supporting HK welfare development through various Committees and Networks within the Hong Kong Council of Social Services.

Sky’s aspiration for KELY lies in nurturing young people throughout important developmental stages, and creating sustainable impact in substance abuse prevention and wellbeing support for at-risk, marginalised young people.

Pei Ling Tin ’15, Elected Member of Parliament, Republic of Singapore; Chief Executive Officer, Business China

Ms Tin Pei Ling is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Business China, a non-profit organisation that harnesses the support of the public sector and private enterprises to strengthen the ties between Singapore and China, so as to sustain and grow the global connectivity of Singapore.

Pei Ling is also an elected Member of Parliament in Singapore since 2011. She concurrently serves as the Chairperson of the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for Communications & Information, and a member of the GPC for Culture, Community & Youth. Prior to this, she served on the GPC for Home Affairs and Law (2011 – 2015), Health (2011 – 2020), and Social and Family Development (2015 – 2018, Deputy Chairperson). She also served on the Public Accounts Committee in the previous term of Parliament (13th Parliament).

In Parliament, Pei Ling actively championed issues pertaining to public healthcare, elderly, youth, women and smart nation.

Pei Ling co-authored PAP Women’s Wing’s position paper in 2016, specifically in the areas of Family and Caregiving and Smart Women in Smart Nation. Key ideas included freeing up capacity and giving options to working mothers (and fathers) who also have to care for their loved ones through innovations and leveraging technology.

In April 2017, Pei Ling moved a substantive motion with fellow Parliamentary colleagues. It was titled “Aspirations of Women” in Parliament to seek the House’s affirmation of the familial, social and economic contributions of Singapore women and its support for them to fulfil their family and career aspirations and to be future-ready. The motion was passed unanimously in Parliament.

Pei Ling holds a Master of Business Administration from the leading business school of the University of Chicago (Chicago Booth). She also holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) (University Scholars Programme) from the National University of Singapore. Pei Ling is a Lien Fellow under the Lien Ying Chow Legacy Fellowship programme from the Nanyang University of Singapore, and an alumnus of Crescent Girls’ School and Hwa Chong Junior College.

About the Hong Kong Jockey Club Programme on Social Innovation

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Programme on Social Innovation provides resources and programs to help the city’s NGOs, nonprofit leaders, and social entrepreneurs do their best work. Operated by the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, the Programme offers a range of opportunities, including scholarships, social entrepreneurship workshops, and trainings for NGO boards of directors and board members.