Associate Professor Wee Shiou Liang
Deputy Director, Geriatric Education and Research Institute

Associate Professor Wee is Director, Frailty Research Program at the Geriatric Education and Research Institute (GERI). Set up by the Ministry of Health in 2014, GERI conducts, guides, and coordinates Singapore’s research initiatives related to geriatric services and age-related healthcare issues. GERI also has a role to strengthen training content and curriculum so as to adequately equip healthcare workers with skills to better care for elderly patients. Previously, Dr Wee was Head of Research at the Agency for Integrated Care and the Deputy Director of Sports Division at the Ministry of Community, Development, Youth and Sports.

Dr Wee is passionate and has been active in work to translate evidence into policy and practice to help people remain productive and maintain their health and function. As Faculty of Health and Social Sciences at SIT and Masters of Science in Applied Gerontology at NTU, he is also involved in educating workforce-ready health and social care professionals through integrating learning, industry and community.

Dr Wee’s areas of interest include aged and integrated care, frailty and health, exercise and nutrition science, as well as health services research, which includes implementation research, program evaluation and outcomes research. Dr Wee is particularly interested in multi-disciplinary research collaboration to strengthen health-social system capability to towards ageless living and working.

Mr Dan Levitt
Adjunct Professor, Gerontology, Simon Fraser University

Dan Levitt is an acclaimed international speaker, elder care leader, writer, and gerontologist, specializing in helping others to create better lives for seniors. Dan’s purpose is to teach millions of people how to transform the lives of older adults across the globe. As a popular professional speaker, he has delivered inspiring keynote speeches impacting thousands of people on four continents. Dan doesn’t tell people where to go but guides them in the direction of where they need to go. His talks leave the audience with a new mindset on aging needed to thrive in the 21st century.

Dan Levitt shepherds the enhancement of social, spiritual and care needs for more than 300 seniors, inspiring a team of over 400 employees and volunteers with a commitment to continuously improving the quality of life. Dan is an Adjunct Professor in Gerontology at Simon Fraser University an Adjunct Professor, School of Nursing, University of British Columbia and a Sessional Instructor, British Columbia Institute of Technology.

Dan’s adventure exploits have taken him from Africa’s highest peak Mt. Kilimanjaro to the Caribbean Sea’s coral reefs, from canoeing across the Yukon to racing in the six World Marathon Majors.

Mr Gabriel Lim
Programme Director, LIEN Foundation

Gabriel is Programme Director at the Lien Foundation where he oversees the eldercare projects of the Lien Foundation. Amongst others, these includes a campaign (Forget Us Not) to foster a dementia friendly Singapore, and a flagship project (Gym Tonic) to tackle frailty amongst community-dwelling seniors. He has a keen interest in global and cross-disciplinary best practices in eldercare, particularly in their application towards dementia and end-of-life care in Singapore.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Gabriel was involved in the research of social enterprises. He was also Module Chair for a foundational diploma course in a local polytechnic. He graduated from the business school of the Singapore Management University, and holds a graduate research degree where he examined the factors that drive service innovation in Singapore’s non-profit sector. In his spare time, Gabriel indulges in philately.

Ms Teresa Wong
CEO-Founder, BODYENGINEERING

Teresa Wong is the Founder/CEO of BODYENGINEERING, a tech company focused on democratizing individualized health-wellness care. Her cross pollination over the last 25 years as a neuro-based physio and technology implementor led to her evolving roles as a Senior Clinician, Academic Researcher, Industry Consultant and Executive for biotechnology companies. She also founded the Innovation Center at REHAB Hospital of the Pacific which led to TIME magazine naming it one of the Top 10 Rehabilitation Hospitals for its innovative programmes. She has been recognized for her work in both research and business innovation by the American Physical Therapy Association and Pacific Business News’s “20 for the Next 20” people to watch. In 2012, she presented her TED talk “Modern Art of Recovery” highlighting the impact of technology in rehabilitation. She has led workshops and presented at professional conferences in US, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, China and Hong Kong. Her interests are reflected in the projects and programmes she’s built including stroke, elderly frailty, military rehabilitation, elite performance optimization and rehab robotics. She deeply believes technology opens the door for raising the standards and potential for physical recovery. She received her Masters in Physical Therapy from the University of California, San Francisco.

Isaiah Chng
Founder and Director, ProAge Pte Ltd

Isaiah Chng is the founder and director of ProAge Pte Ltd, a President’s Challenge Social Enterprise Award recipient, awardee for Singapore’s Ten Outstanding Young Persons Award. He is a clinical exercise physiologist and a social entrepreneur who has been working with seniors for 12 years. His passion to see seniors age well helps him to leverage on his experience to bring positive change. He speaks widely to reach the masses, from conducting workshops for cabinet ministers at distinguished events to meeting vulnerable seniors at rental flat parties. Isaiah was a founding member of the taskforce “Exercise is Medicine” at Changi General Hospital, a member in "Senior Empowerment" committee at National Council of Social Service and is a member of the International Council of Active Ageing based in Vancouver.

Associate Professor Huang Dejian PhD
Food Science and Technology Programme, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore

Huang Dejian was trained as a chemist with a PhD degree (1999) in inorganic chemistry from Indiana University and postdoctoral research experience (Chem Eng) from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He began his independent research career in 2001 by venturing into the chemistry of food bioactive constituents for health promotion and disease prevention. His lab develops and applies high throughput assay guided fractionation, isolation, and characterizations of natural products found in fruits, vegetables, and traditional herbs for their activity in the following aspects:

• Starch hydrolase inhibitors for controlling postprandial hyperglycemia
• Anti-aging natural products for mitigating chronic disease risks
• Dietary antioxidants for reducing oxidative stress, which is the causative factor for many chronic diseases
• Natural H2S donors from organosulfur compounds found in alliums for promoting heart health.

In addition, his research group has been working on design and synthesis of molecular and nanocrystal based luminescent probes for detection and quantification of small molecules of biological and pathological importance. These molecules include H2S, hypochlorite, singlet oxygen, nitric oxide, and nitrogen dioxide. He was named by Thomson Reuters as a Highly Cited Researcher 2014 and 2015. Dejian is the associate editor of the Journal of Functional Foods.

Adjunct Assistant Professor Samuel TH Chew (NUS)
Senior Consultant Geriatrician, Department of Geriatric Medicine, Changi General Hospital, Singapore Health Services (CGH Campus)

Dr Samuel TH Chew is a senior consultant at the Geriatric Medicine Department, Changi General Hospital, SingHealth CGH Campus. He is also Adjunct Assistant Professor of Medicine with Yong Loo Ling School of Medicine, National University of Singapore. He is a tutor for the Centre of Healthcare Simulation at NUS and the Geriatric Medicine Modular Training Program, Academy of Medicine Singapore and Chapter of Geriatrician, College of Physicians Singapore. Dr Chew is also faculty member for the SingHealth Residency Program in Geriatric Medicine, Internal Medicine and Family Medicine.

Dr Chew received his medical degree from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in 1997; a Postgraduate Diploma in Health Informatics from University College London in 2007 and his specialist training in Internal Medicine and Geriatric Medicine from the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board in UK in 2009. He went on to obtain his Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh in 2013 and Fellowship of the Academy of Medicine Singapore in 2014.

He has a deep passion in delivering evidence-based individualised care for geriatric patients, teaching undergraduate students and postgraduate trainees, and the application of health-care technology in the real-world clinical setting. Clinical work includes acute geriatric medicine, geriatric rehabilitation and discharge planning, management of multi-morbidity in the acute and ambulatory setting, pressure injury prevention, management of sarcopenia and championing good nutritional health in the elderly. He is a member of the National Telemedicine Guideline Review Committee. Current research areas include nutritional health, sarcopenia, clinical pharmacology and pressure injury prevention in the older population.

Ms Annie Barr
Clinical Director (Founder), Annie Barr International

Annie was awarded the MBE for her majesty the Queen in 2018 for her services to export in China with specific reference to older people’s services. Annie is an international expert, speaker and strategist and thought leader behind many innovative projects for improving patient care via technology, digital health and workforce development. After a 35-year career in the NHS Annie established education and training programmes for clients nationally and internationally. She is passionate about high quality training and career pathways for healthcare staff. Annie has served on the board of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) for the North East Faculty and is the RCGP representative on the North delivery board for the 10-year forward view.

Annie also has a specialist interest in Vitamin B12 deficiency and is considered an expert in this field throughout the UK.
She is enthusiastic about health care and works with national and international RCGP colleagues. Annie also works with the NHS senior leadership and provides training for NHS organizations throughout the UK. Annie has written and published the national competencies for Advanced Clinical Practice for the RCGP (2015).

Annie Barr works closely colleagues based in Newcastle University and is working with leading scientists in the UK and China to expand personalised medicine approaches using scientific research.

Annie is an expert and has devised home care and community based healthcare packages for clients with high level needs including brain injury and she works with rehabilitation therapists and professionals to facilitate these. This includes providing personalised bespoke training services.

Annie accompanied George Osborne to China in 2015, and in Dec 2016 with Rt Honorable Jeremy Hunt Secretary of State for Health. She was also involved in President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the UK in 2016 and accompanies the foreign office on visits to China to advance healthcare.

Annie Barr has been active in China for 6 years working with various clients in China to improve health care services and practices throughout China. Annie regularly speaks at conferences and events in China. Regularly providing training programmes throughout China in areas such as Elderly Care and Paediatric referral pathways for GP’s in Beijing and Hangzhou. Annie is also a frequent visitor to Singapore.

Dr Lim Yen Peng
Head and Senior Principal Dietician, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Tan Tock Seng Hospital

Dr Lim Yen Peng is Head and Senior Principal Dietitian of the Nutrition and Dietetics Department at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH). She holds a BSc in Nutrition and Dietetics (Honours) from King’s College London, UK, MHSc in Gerontology from University of Sydney, Australia, and a PhD in Clinical Dietetics from Queensland University of Technology, Australia.

Dr Lim’s clinical interest is in nutrition care for the elderly. She plays a leadership role in the development of dietetic services, spanning across the care continuum. Clinically, she has extensive experience in the acute hospital setting and is concurrently consulting at several Intermediate & Long Term Care (ILTC) institutions. As the chair of the TTSH Nutrition subcommittee, she leads an inter-professional team to pioneer nutrition care initiatives and effect changes to achieve optimal nutrition care of the frail elderly. The team was awarded with the NHG Team Recognition award (Silver) in 2018. Nationally, she was appointed by the Silver Industry Standards Committee to co-develop the Nutrition and Food Service Standards for Older Adults. She is also committed to the MOH Nursing Home workgroup where she provides thought leadership towards development of the model of nutrition care for nursing homes. Dr Lim’s current research interests are in the area of nutrition in frailty, ageing, population health and food innovations for the seniors.

Dr Judy Walker
Chief Medical Officer, Cerecin

Dr Walker has over 20 years of experience in the global biopharmaceutical industry, with a wealth of expertise in neurology drug development. Prior to joining Cerecin as Chief Medical Officer, Dr Walker was with IQVIA where she held the position of Vice President of Product Development Advisory Services, providing leadership for the global clinical development of drugs in the areas of neurology and pain.

Before IQVIA, Dr Walker served as Senior Director of Medical Affairs at Teva Neuroscience, a division of Teva Pharmaceuticals. Before Teva Neuroscience, Dr Walker held leadership roles in global product and global clinical development in neurology at Serono International (Merck KGaA).

Advisory experience
Dr Walker continues to serve on the pharmaceutical advisory board of the non-profit Accelerated Cure Project.
Dr Walker is the co-chair of Alzheimer’s Association Business Consortia (AABC), a US-based organisation advancing AD research and innovation in small, start-up biotechnology, diagnostic and contract research organizations.

Education
A Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, Dr Walker received her medical degree from the University of Montréal and completed her residency in neurology at the University of Western Ontario.

Ms Grace Gan is a silver industry stalwart having spearheaded the transformation of elderly nutrition. She is a co-founder of a pioneer health food company in Singapore among other enterprises. Over the last decade, Grace has built a portfolio of experiences in the eldercare industry, ranging from clinical practice to gerontechnology, education, R&D, and business. She has had extensive experience in selecting high-potential technologies around the world to assimilate them into our eldercare landscape. Her deep insight into the industry and its future will add immense value to the ELDEX Advisory Board.

Professor Tai E Shyong
Senior Consultant, Division of Endocrinology, National University Hospital

Prof Tai has held several National Medical Research Council/ Biomedical Research Council individual research grants as principal investigator since 1996. He has published more than 100 original articles in top journals in the area of genetics (including nature, nature genetics) and diabetes/metabolism (including diabetes, diabetes care, diabetologia and the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism). His work on the epidemiology of metabolic diseases forms the basis for the clinical practise guidelines for obesity, diabetes mellitus and lipids.

He is experienced in the area of risk assessment, having developed the risk assessment tool that is used for the estimation of risk of cardiovascular disease in Singapore to make clinical decisions on lipid lowering. As such, he has demonstrated the ability to translate findings from his research into clinical practice.

Prof Tai runs a research programme that spans public health, human physiology and health services research in the area of diabetes and metabolic disease. He has extensive collaborations across disciplines such as behavioural science and food science to examine the various factors and reasons affecting health behaviours such as food choices. He is currently working on innovative models of care delivery that seeks to transform the care and management of chronic diseases in Singapore.