[SIG] Critical Core Skills - Unlocking Through Self-Management for Individuals and Enterprises

Kris is a seasoned professional with over 24 years of expertise in HR development, business advisory and consultancy, and adult education. Her multifaceted roles include serving as facilitator, courseware developer, and consultant across training providers. Her recent engagements include contributing to a focal agency in Singapore as an associate assessor, facilitator, and consultant, focusing on inclusive employability. Additionally, she holds an adjunct lecturer position for a Master's programme at a local university. Kris' leadership extends further as she assumes the co-chair position at IAL’s AEN Special Interest Group, emphasising the importance of critical core skills in the Adult Education community.

Her collaborative efforts span various sectors, including continuing education and training, early childhood care, construction, food services, hospitality, landscape, private education, retail, accounting, and transport. Particularly noteworthy is her decade-long commitment to supporting the retail sector in workplace learning and related initiatives, contributing significantly to over 40 projects across sectors in the last 8 years. Being ACTA/DACE certified, she is also involved in WSQ courseware development for various sectors, including interaction skills to commuters with special needs in the public transport sector and critical core skills development for human resource sector.

Kris brings a wealth of qualifications to her practice, with certifications such as IHRP Certified Professional, Certified Career Practitioner and Singapore Certified Management Consultant. She holds degrees including a Master of Arts in Lifelong Learning (IOE, UCL), a Graduate Diploma in System Analysis (ISS, NUS) and Bachelor of Science in Management (UOM). Her commitment to professional development is evident through certifications as a Workplace Learning Specialist, Specialist Adult Educator, and roles as an AE Mentor and Career Advisor, guiding professionals in the TAE sector. Past appointments as a SkillsFuture Mentor and Business Advisor (with ESG) underscore her extensive contributions to SMEs. Kris’ diverse skills set, coupled with her dedication to continuous learning and mentoring, positions her as a dynamic force in HR development, adult education, and consultancy.

Bi Xiaofang (Dr) holds a PhD from National Institute of Education (NIE), Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore. She has years of experience in conducting both qualitative and quantitative educational research.

Prior to joining IAL, she was involved in a number of research projects in NIE specializing on classroom interaction, pedagogy and professional development. Her main research interests cover pedagogy, professional development, adult education, skills development and workplace learning. Xiaofang’s most recent research includes CET learners’ sense-making to inform pedagogical innovations in blended learning and critical core skills usage and development in Singapore Workforce from different occupations. 

 

Dr Bi Xiaofang has recently completed a study on Critical Core Skills aligned to CCS framework developed by SkillsFuture Singapore. She has researched and published in areas such as CET learners’ sense-making and blended learning. She holds a PhD with research focus in Education and Pedagogy. 

Andrea Chan is the Head of TOUCH Mental Wellness at TOUCH Wellness Group.

As a professional counsellor with a decade of critical experience in the private and social service sector, Andrea has worked with clients from all walks of life on marital, mental health, cyber wellness, and youth-related issues. With domain knowledge in mental health, she spearheaded the development of a state of mental wellness programmes for all ages at TOUCH.

Andrea also leads the Beyond the Label Campaign, a national mental wellness campaign, in Singapore. She works with various stakeholders to bring mental health awareness and intervention to the community. In addition to her advocacy work, she is in various national task forces to influence and support the implementation of national policies to make mental health servcies more accessible to people in Singapore.

As an ACLP-certified trainer, Andrea trains youths and adults on mental wellness. She is also an SSI trainer for mental wellness and cyber-related topics

Joel Wong is a full-time social worker at TOUCH Wellness Group, a service group of TOUCH Community Services. Joel has been working with youths since 2015 through educational programmes, as well as engaging and providing counselling and intervention work for at-risk youths. Together with his team, he developed and runs the mental health education programme for secondary schools, "Do You M.I.N.D.?" which incorporates virtual reality components to educate youths in Singapore about the importance of mental wellness. Since 2022, Joel has also been actively involved in the nationwide movement, Beyond the Label, which focuses on addressing stigma and promoting social inclusion for persons with mental health conditions (PMHCs).

Prior to joining TOUCH as a staff, Joel has been a core volunteer for executing mental health initiatives, such as mental health awareness campaign, Light of Hope, since 2015. He is passionate about seeing society embrace positive attitudes towards persons with mental illness. He believes that with adequate support from professionals and the community, these individuals can live life to their fullest potential.