GIVING NATURE

From those leading Tamily to changemakers and fundraisers, these standout women in philanthropy share how they are making a difference through the causes they support

- Hashirin Nurin Hashimi

TRINA LIANG-LIN

Whether in finance, sustainability or philanthropy, every role that Trina Liang-Lin has taken on is "for the good of my country". She explains, "Wherever I feel my voice or help can change things for the better for my country, I will do it. There are many things I've said no to, but there are things I feel are critically important. If I get asked to do it, I will step up and try to make the time."

One only has to look at her philanthropic commitments to see the scope of her impact. Liang-Lin currently sits on the boards of the Community Foundation of Singapore, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and World Wide Fund for Nature (Singapore), among others. She is also the president of Netball Singapore, and, together with her husband Edmund Lin, founded the Lin Foundation.

Empowering women has always been a cause that she is passionate about-Liang-Lin was past president of the then Singapore Committee for UN Women and the Financial Women's Association of Singapore. "There has been so much progress since I started 25 years ago", she says. "There are so many more voices in the space, so I feel that it's time for me to look at the other causes. Giving is never static. Let me look at the community, where I am, what I'm doing, where I can give back to those that still need help."

Liang-Lin always has her eye on the next generation. "Even as I consider the charitable landscape in Singapore, and the boards that I serve, I'm always looking for who can take my place on a charity board, and who is the next leader of the next charity. I think it's incumbent on the boards and charities on which you sit on, that you keep thinking about the next generation, and who can continue that work that you do. Whatever legacy that you have will last-if you're being optimistic-10 years after you pass. But if you invest in the next generation, that can go on and on for many decades after that."