Sing Ong Yu

Professor Yu brings with him over 35 years of senior management experience in the education, social service, healthcare, banking, and consulting industries. As a distinguished academician, he had held Deanship and Professorship at four Higher Education Institutions in Malaysia and Vietnam. Besides being a dedicated member of the Senate Committee of three universities, he had also made significant contributions to advancing the institutions’ academic standards and examination protocols as an active member of their Academic and Examination Boards. In addition to his role as a supervisor, Prof Yu served as an Examiner for Masters and Doctoral candidates, both within his own and external institutions.

Over his illustrious career, he had mentored and supervised many senior level professionals who successfully completed their postgraduate and doctoral studies. His mentees included CEOs of publicly listed companies, senior academicians, non-profit leaders, and public officials who credited him with shaping their strategic approaches to leadership.

As a successful business leader, Prof Yu made his mark in diverse industries, having held the role of Regional Vice President of Investment Banking of Japan’s second largest securities group, Chief Executive Officer of one of Singapore’s largest non-profit organisations, and Chief Commercial Officer of a global pharmaceutical company in Singapore.

On the community front, Prof Yu is a passionate advocate for community-based initiatives. He was the Chairman of a professional football club in Singapore and a strong advocate of the club’s outreach programs to local schools. He was also the Founding Chairman of a grassroot organisation under The People’s Association in Singapore as well as the Founding Vice Chairman of a non-profit organisation providing multiple social and welfare services to the community at large. His community involvement included being a member of the School Advisory Committee of a primary school in Singapore.

Prof Yu embodies a rare combination of academic brilliance and business acumen, excelling as a Professor and a successful business leader. He has developed a reputation for his engaging teaching style, blending rigorous analysis with real-world case studies drawn from his own experiences. He is a sought-after consultant and speaker, advising C-level executives on areas of leadership, strategy, and transformation. Throughout his career, he had provided invaluable guidance to hundreds of private and public organisations across Asia.

Beyond his business endeavours, Prof Yu was a regular guest on a leading financial program on Singapore’s leading television network, Singapore International Media. In addition to his television appearances, he is an accomplished writer on financial topics, having shared his works in a prominent financial magazine, Stock Exchange Journal. In addition, Prof Yu had presented his research papers at global conferences in the United States, Europe, and Asia, where he shared insights on education, transformation, and entrepreneurship.

Prof Yu earned his undergraduate degree in Life Sciences from Ohio State University, USA, a Masters in Business Administration from George Washington University, USA and a Masters in Design from Libera Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze, Italy. His academic journey culminated in a Doctorate in Business Management from Saint Mary’s University, Philippines and a Doctorate in Arts Management from Krastyo Sarafov National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts, Bulgaria.

In his pastime, Prof Yu likes to read books about Philosophy and Religion. He has published four books on Education Management, Oriental Management, Islamic Management and Digital Leadership. A passionate advocate for lifelong learning, Prof Yu consistently seeks out new knowledge and skills. His professional credentials included being a Certified Project Management Professional, a Certified Management Accountant, a Certified Business Analyst, a Certified SCRUM Master, a Certified Agile Coach, a Certified Practising Management Consultant, a Certified Financial Planner, and a Certified Financial Services Consultant.

Prof Yu is married to Jesslyn, a teacher, and they have two grown-up daughters. Together, they shared a deep commitment to education and community service.