Denise Phua Lay Peng
 | |
| Input Name | |
|---|---|
| Party Affiliation | |
| Current Role | • Pending • |
| Past Roles | • Pending • |
| Others | • Pending • Pending |
| Background | |
| Education | • Pending • • • |
| Personal Details | |
| Age | 65-
66 |
| Others | Pending |
Denise Phua Lay Peng (Chinese: 潘丽萍; pinyin: Pān Lìpíng; born 9 December 1959) is a Singaporean politician from the governing People's Action Party (PAP). She has been the Mayor of Central Singapore District since 2014. She is also a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Kampong Glam division of Jalan Besar Group Representation Constituency (GRC), a role she has held since 2015.[1]
Beyond politics, Phua is a well-known activist for individuals with disabilities. Before joining public service, she worked in the private sector for two decades before dedicating herself to special needs advocacy. She co-founded Pathlight School and led the Autism Resource Centre (ARC) in Singapore.
For the full list of positions, refer to https://www.parliament.gov.sg/mps/list-of-current-mps/mp/details/denise-phua-lay-peng
Early Life and Education
Phua’s early education started at Balestier Girls' Primary School, followed by Raffles Girls' School and Hwa Chong Junior College. She later pursued higher education at the National University of Singapore (NUS), earning an English Bachelor of Arts degree.
She continued her studies in the United States, obtaining a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Golden Gate University.
Early career
Before entering social service and politics, Phua spent two decades in the corporate world, holding senior management positions at Hewlett-Packard and Wuthelam Group. She later founded the Centre of Effective Leadership, a regional firm specializing in leadership training. The firm was eventually sold to Right Management, a subsidiary of Manpower Inc.
Advocacy and Volunteer Work
Phua’s advocacy for individuals with special needs was primarily shaped by personal experience—her son was diagnosed with autism at the age of three. Her journey in seeking his best support led her to take on a more significant role in special education and disability advocacy in Singapore.
She founded WeCAN, a charity supporting caregivers of autistic children and providing early intervention programs for preschoolers on the autism spectrum. In 2005, she left the corporate world entirely to focus on full-time volunteer work, becoming president of the Autism Resource Centre (ARC).
Her efforts have contributed to shaping government policies, particularly in special education. She contributed to drafting Singapore’s Enabling Masterplans, five-year strategic blueprints to improve services for individuals with disabilities.
Pathlight School
Phua is the co-founder and former acting principal of Pathlight School, Singapore’s first autism-focused school that integrates mainstream academics with life skills education. She was instrumental in developing several of the school’s pioneering initiatives, such as:
- Employability skills training through a student-run café.
- Specialized vocational training for older students.
- Satellite class programs, where Pathlight students interact with mainstream school students. Under her leadership, the school’s enrolment grew tenfold within just four years, drawing local and international attention for its innovative approach to autism education.
Today, Phua oversees the Autism Resource Centre (Singapore), the Autism Association (Singapore), and two special education schools—Pathlight School and Eden School.
Political career
Phua entered politics in 2004, joining the PAP’s Jalan Besar branch. The following year, she was appointed to the Feedback Supervisory Panel, which oversaw public engagement efforts for government policies.
In the 2006 general election, she contested as part of the PAP team for Jalan Besar GRC, which won with 69.26% of the vote. Throughout her political career, Phua has focused on special needs, education, and social welfare issues.
Parliamentary work
She has led multiple parliamentary workgroups on disability policies, including initiatives to improve financial security for families with special needs children. Some key policies that stemmed from these efforts include:
- Establishment of a Special Needs Trust Fund to help families financially plan for children with disabilities.
- Legal amendments to protect mentally disabled individuals from abuse
- Policies allow parents to appoint legal guardians for disabled children after their passing.
Mayor of Central Singapore District
Phua was appointed Mayor of the Central Singapore District in 2014, a role she continues to hold. As Mayor, she has introduced numerous community programs to support residents and promote inclusivity. Some of her key initiatives include:
- Nurture – A 40-week programme to foster confident, self-directed learners through problem-solving and communication skills development.
- In Search of Purpose – A talk series designed to inspire residents to find meaning and direction in their lives.
- Silver Friends – A platform that connects volunteers with elderly residents through senior-friendly activities.
- The Purple Symphony – Singapore’s largest inclusive orchestra, bringing together musicians with and without special needs.
Under her leadership, the Central Singapore Community Development Council (CDC) has introduced over 50 community programs to create a "Do-Good District" where residents are empowered to help one another.
Debate over "alleged excessive salary for mayors"
In 2018, Denise was involved in a debate with Pritam Singh (Workers' Party) about the excessive salary for mayors and the Community Development Councils (CDCs). Singh claimed that many Singaporeans considered the annual salary for mayors worth S$660,000 excessive.[2]
Singh suggested that that grassroots volunteers could handle some of the responsibilities. However, Denise snubbed the remarks, criticizing Singh for politicizing the issue.
Social media pages
References