The Singapore Fintech Association (SFA) has released 10 Years, 10 Voices, a publication marking the tenth anniversary of the Singapore Fintech Festival by profiling ten women whose work has influenced the development of the sector.
The honourees were selected through public nominations and reviewed by a panel from the SFA and the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
The report combines industry analysis with profiles of leaders across payments, lending, wealth management, digital assets and financial infrastructure.
Here are the ten leaders celebrated in the report:
1. Adeline Kim, Country Manager, Singapore & Brunei, Visa
Adeline Kim, Country Manager for Singapore and Brunei at Visa, is recognised for shaping Singapore’s payments infrastructure and advancing interoperability initiatives.
Her leadership includes representing Visa on the MAS Payment Council, where she contributes to national standards for payments.
She has also overseen stablecoin-related collaborations with DCS, dtcpay and StraitsX, which introduced stablecoin cards linking Web2 and Web3 payment networks.
Her work highlights Singapore’s push toward regulatory clarity and new cross-border payment models.
“It’s not just about hustling more; it’s about navigating differently. Women in fintech often bring a multidimensional lens to leadership, balancing strategic thinking with empathy, resilience and collaboration.”
2. Amanda Ong, Singapore CEO & Global Head of Partnerships, Arta Finance
Amanda Ong, Singapore CEO and Global Head of Partnerships at Arta Finance, is profiled for leading a partnership-led approach to digital wealth management.
She has formed collaborations with Bank of Singapore and Hong Leong to equip financial advisors with AI-driven tools.
She also worked with Income Advisory FA to introduce a platform designed for high-net-worth clients.
Her strategy helps institutions navigate margin pressure and rising operating costs by adopting scalable digital solutions.
“Technology is only as powerful as the problem it solves. The best products don’t start with code – they start with empathy.”
3. Caecilia Chu, Co-Founder and CEO, YouTrip
Caecilia Chu, Co-Founder and CEO of YouTrip, is featured for her role in building a multi-market payments business grounded in personal experience with financial exclusion.
When cross-border travel shut down during the pandemic, the company lost most of its transaction volume overnight.
Chu responded by developing YouBiz, a B2B platform that expanded the firm’s revenue base.
She is also an active member of the MAS Anti-Scam Working Group, where she contributes to efforts that strengthen user protection as digital payment fraud evolves.
“Be bold, and don’t be afraid to express yourself. If there is a problem out there that you believe you can solve, build the solution and be the change you want to see, regardless of your gender.”
4. Charis Liau, Chief Investment Officer, IFS Asset Management
Charis Liau, Chief Investment Officer at IFS Asset Management, is highlighted for her leadership during the early days of the pandemic when she launched an S$8 million SME Help Fund to address sudden cashflow disruptions.
The initiative, built with support from corporates and family offices, became the first private-sector programme of its kind in Singapore.
It used digital processes for applications and due diligence, enabling fast deployment of working capital to small businesses.
She also helped establish a standardised reporting framework for digital lending platforms in her role within the Singapore Fintech Association’s Marketplace Lending Subcommittee.
“Leadership in fintech isn’t about gender – it’s about clarity of vision, consistency, and the courage to build something meaningful.”
5. Huey Ru Lin, Board Member, SGX and Hang Seng Bank and Co-Founder, Built Different Ventures
Huey Ru Lin, a long-time fintech operator and now Board Member at SGX and Hang Seng Bank, is recognised for a career that began before the term “fintech” was widely used.
She was part of PayPal in its early years and later joined Affirm as its founding Chief Operating Officer, where she helped shape new ways for consumers to access credit. Her work has recently extended into environmental finance.
At Terraformation, she has applied lessons from digital payments and consumer fintech to create models that make biodiverse forests investable assets.
Her focus is on building trust for new climate-related financial instruments and enabling capital to flow more effectively into restoration projects.
“Do the AND instead of the OR.”
6. Rachel Freeman, Chief Growth Officer, Tyme
Rachel Freeman, Chief Growth Officer at Tyme, is profiled for her long-standing commitment to financial inclusion.
Her earlier work included co-creating AFIN and the APIX platform with MAS, which positioned Singapore as the IFC’s fintech hub and fostered cross-border collaboration.
At Tyme, she has led strategy and expansion into the Philippines, Indonesia and Pakistan, offering digital banking services tailored to underserved communities.
Her career reflects a sustained focus on building access to financial tools while navigating the fragmented regulatory and operational realities of emerging markets.
“Play the long game – this is a marathon and not a sprint.”
7. Rosaline Chow Koo, Founder & CEO, CXA Group
Rosaline Chow Koo, Founder and CEO of CXA Group, is recognised for challenging traditional health insurance models by creating a platform that integrates benefits, wellness and data-driven insights.
After investing her own savings to establish the company, she launched the HSBC Life Benefits+ platform, a SaaS solution that enables cross-selling to the bank’s SME clients.
CXA is now preparing to wind down after nearly twelve years, although parts of its platform continue through partner deals in Singapore, Hong Kong and China.
Her current focus on technology that supports aging in place is informed by her experience caring for elderly relatives.
She continues to refine solutions that address demographic shifts and rising demand for home-based support.
“When you reach a fork in the road, try to choose the harder path as it’ll force you to rise to the occasion to stretch and grow your skills.”
8. Samantha Horton, Chief Operating Officer, Syfe
Samantha Horton, Chief Operating Officer at Syfe, is featured for transforming wealth management operations and steering the company to become the first among its peer group to reach profitability in Singapore.
She led the acquisition of Australia’s Selfwealth to accelerate regional scale and broaden Syfe’s product capabilities.
Her approach reflects a focus on strong operational discipline and the belief that long-term success in wealth management is built on incremental improvements rather than single breakthroughs.
“Don’t ask, don’t get. If you don’t advocate for yourself then you can’t expect anyone else to. Back yourself and you won’t regret it!”
9. Sharon Lourdes Paul, Head of Gnosis Business & Ramps
Sharon Lourdes Paul, Head of Gnosis Business and Ramps, is recognised for her early role in developing one of the world’s first compliant SGD stablecoins while at StraitsX.
She helped secure early pilots and navigated regulatory considerations during the launch of XSGD.
She later founded HQ.xyz and led it through an acquisition that required approval by a public DAO vote, one of the first deals of its kind.
She also co-led the mapping of Singapore’s on-chain ecosystem through Singapore: The Onchain State, a project that documented builders, infrastructure and capital flows in Web3.
“In fintech, this heightened level of global awareness and conviction is a superpower.”
10. Chin Shi Mei, Chief Financial Officer, Spark Systems
Chin Shi Mei, Chief Financial Officer at Spark Systems, is profiled for strengthening financial strategy and governance at the trading infrastructure firm as it progressed from early stages to Series C.
She previously served as Treasurer of the Singapore Fintech Association, where she enhanced financial governance and helped secure the MAS FSTI Grant.
Her work includes mentoring founders through accelerator programmes, speaking at industry events and supporting early-stage companies through practical guidance on finance and operations.
“We don’t need to silence emotions to lead – we need t understand them. Emotional intelligence fuels courage, empathy, and clarity – and it’s one of the greatest strengths women bring to leadership.”
Holly said,
“The Singapore Fintech Association’s 10 Years 10 Voices campaign is our way of recognising the women who have pushed boundaries, redefined leadership, and inspired a more inclusive future for finance. True progress comes when we embrace different voices and experiences, that’s what keeps our ideas bold and our community resilient.
When women thrive, ecosystems thrive. Through our Women in Fintech Subcommittee and community initiatives, SFA is committed to ensuring that every voice has a seat at the table, and that the next generation of women in fintech see not just role models, but open doors.”
The report closes by noting the growing influence of AI, tokenisation and interoperability in shaping the future of financial services.
It also highlights the need for trust, talent development and regulatory clarity as the sector matures, and calls for continued support for women in leadership to build a more inclusive industry.
Explore all SFF 2025 updates on our dedicated hub here.
