Olivia Lum is the founder, group chief executive officer, and president of the Singapore-based Hyflux Group.
15 Facts About Olivia Lum
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When Olivia Lum was only three, her grandmother gambled away her savings; they lost the house in which they were living, and moved to a shack without running water.
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Olivia Lum came to Singapore at the age of 15 and enrolled at the Tiong Bahru Secondary School, where she supported herself through tutoring and sales jobs.
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Olivia Lum went on to study at Hwa Chong Junior College and graduated in 1986 with an Honours degree in chemistry from the Faculty of Science of the National University of Singapore.
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Olivia Lum started corporate life as a chemist with Glaxo Pharmaceutical.
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Olivia Lum hired three employees at the start; Lum herself rode around on a motorcycle selling her company's water filters and treatment chemicals.
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Olivia Lum got the Her World Woman award of the Year in 2002 for her contributions to Singaporean water.
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Olivia Lum is a board member of SPRING Singapore, the National University Singapore Council, and the Singapore Exchange, as well as the president of the Singapore Water Association.
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Olivia Lum is a member of the UNESCAP Business Advisory Council and the Singapore Green Plan 2012 coordinating committee.
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Olivia Lum was a Nominated Member of Parliament in the Parliament of Singapore from 2 July 2002 to 1 January 2005.
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On 3 October 2008, Olivia Lum resigned her position as independent non-executive director of the Singapore Exchange and relinquished her position on the audit, regulatory conflicts and remuneration committees of the Exchange, according to the Exchange's filing.
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Olivia Lum stated this was due to her heavy work commitments in line with Hyflux's rapid expansion, and that her resignation would enable her to focus more time and resources on Hyflux's growth.
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In 2013, Olivia Lum was appointed to the board at International Enterprise Singapore.
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In 2018, Olivia Lum resigned from this position citing business commitments as her reason for resignation.
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On 5 May 2023, Singapore's State Court added three additional charges against Olivia Lum, citing violations of the Companies Act related to an allegation that she failed to exercise diligence in the discharge of her duties as a director.