15 Facts About Denise Phua

1.

Denise Phua Lay Peng born 9 December 1959 is a Singaporean politician who has been serving as Mayor of Central Singapore District since 2014.

2.

Denise Phua became the president of the Autism Resource Centre and co-founded Pathlight School.

3.

Denise Phua is a member of both the Government Parliamentary Committees for Education and Social and Family Development.

4.

Denise Phua went on to complete a Master of Business Administration degree at Golden Gate University.

5.

Denise Phua then founded a regional leadership training firm, the Centre of Effective Leadership.

6.

Denise Phua's son was diagnosed with autism at the age of three.

7.

Denise Phua subsequently founded WeCAN, a charity which helps caregivers of autistic people and offers early intervention programmes for autistic preschoolers.

8.

In 2005, Denise Phua left the corporate world to be a full-time special needs volunteer.

9.

Denise Phua often wrote to newspapers and government agencies on issues affecting the special needs community.

10.

Denise Phua is one of the key architects behind three 5-year Enabling Masterplans for the Disabled in Singapore.

11.

Denise Phua is the co-founder and former acting principal of Pathlight School, the first special school for autistic children in Singapore.

12.

Denise Phua joined the ruling PAP's Jalan Besar branch in 2004.

13.

In July 2006, the PAP formed a workgroup, headed by Denise Phua, to explore initiatives to improve the financial security of disabled and special needs children.

14.

Denise Phua led a committee that drew up a five-year plan to improve services for special needs children.

15.

Denise Phua was appointed Mayor of Central Singapore District in 2014 for a three-year term, and was reappointed for the following term in 2017.