When Benjamin Tan, 48, took a gap year to contemplate the next lap of his life, little did he expect that his next role would meet three convictions on his heart.

Benjamin, who succeeds Lilian Chung as CEO for World Vision International Singapore from July 1 this year, told Salt&Light: “The position works primarily with children outside of Singapore, in vulnerable surroundings that have never even crossed my mind.

“But it is a good fit because my period of reflection revealed to me that the causes I am passionate about are education, children and people with special needs. World Vision allows me to do all three.”

Healthy children, healthy society

Benjamin brings to World Vision corporate experience across the technology, aviation and tourism industries. Most recently he was Deputy CEO of Mandai Wildlife Group and the founding CEO of corporate venture Mandai Global.

Previously Senior Vice President at Qantas Airways, he also held senior leadership roles at the Jetstar Group as well as Microsoft.

“The healthy development of children, beyond a moral imperative, is crucial to the future wellbeing of any society,” he said in a press release announcing his appointment to World Vision.

Even as he developed an impressive corporate portfolio over past decades, Benjamin had a heart for the underprivileged and underserved.

His work in the social service area started when he was a volunteer in the corporate space. For nine years, he worked with different organisations until the day came when “roles in the corporate space started feeling less fulfilling”.

“So I asked God to place me in a position where I can put my skills to good use, and in a place where I can make an impact,” he told Salt&Light. 

As parents of nine-year-old twins with special needs, Benjamin and his wife experienced first-hand the strain of meeting hefty medical expenses in providing care for the children. This ignited in him the desire to learn more about social structures and to serve in social service organisations to help families in similar situations. His family worships at Wesley Methodist Church.

Benjamin took a gap year to contemplate his future, after which the opportunity to serve as CEO of World Vision Singapore opened up.

One of his priorities in his new role is to enhance the use of digital channels for fundraising and increase engagement with donors and supporters of World Vision. He builds on Lilian’s leadership over the past six years, which includes creating the One Life Fund, an out-of-home care for children with special learning needs.

Said Benjamin: “I am a longtime admirer of the work done by World Vision International in support of the most vulnerable children around the world, and feel incredibly privileged to have the opportunity to help build on the great work done by Lilian and the Singapore team.”

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