DRIVEN BY THE PASSION FOR HERITAGE CONSERVATION

 

“If all the community organisations do their parts and put together a collage of interesting unique stories, the heritage scene in Singapore will be enriched and become very interesting indeed.”       - Gan Ee Bee -

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Marked by Family Legacy

Ee Bee's maternal grandmother, inspired by the likes of early Chinese pioneers, ventured into acquiring rubber land in Malaya. Despite being a widow, she fearlessly raised five children, often sharing tales of her entrepreneurial journey. Ee Bee's grandfather, a teacher from Guangxi, supported the villagers by assisting them in writing letters to their families in China. He left behind a collection of cherished books by Chinese authors Lu Xun and Ba Jin. Ee Bee's Hokkien paternal grandparents were also successful in their family businesses, passing down their entrepreneurial spirit to her. From her grandmother, Ee Bee acquired skills in using the abacus and studying traditional Chinese with advanced textbooks. Her parents, on the other hand, nurtured her artistic side by teaching her calligraphy and painting in the evenings.

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Early Influences and Entrepreneurial Beginnings

Born and raised to Chinese Malaysian parents in Melaka in 1974, Ee Bee’s entrepreneurial journey began in Siang Lin Primary when she sold Mother of Thousands plant sprouts to a hundred schoolmates. It was short-lived, and she was advised to focus on studies by the discipline teacher.

 

Ee Bee earned a spot in the express class at Pay Fong Middle School. She made the difficult decision to decline the offer, as her parents believed that public education offered more promising opportunities. During her time at Methodist Girls' School in the 1980s, Ee Bee developed a deep passion for Chinese reading, writing, and calligraphy, which she had cultivated since her secondary school days. Despite having Chinese lessons only twice a week, she found them to be the most engaging part of her education. Ee Bee's dedication to Chinese language and culture was recognised when she was appointed as the Head of the Chinese Society. She also excelled in calligraphy and Chinese essay competitions, working closely with her Chinese teachers to organise various festive and educational activities. Ee Bee's involvement extended beyond her school, as she participated in interschool programmes and collaborated with the student committee to propose and initiate the inaugural Nanyang Students Club in partnership with Nanyang Siang Pau.

 

During her time at Malacca High School in the 1990s, there was no option to take Chinese language as a subject in examinations, as it was believed that this would help maintain the school's ranking. Instead, students were encouraged to choose Islamic History, as it was seen as a way to secure higher scores for local university admissions. She was fortunate to receive the Tun Tan Cheng Lock Foundation scholarship for her first degree in Accounting at the National University of Malaysia, interviewed by Toh Puan Lim Cheng Neo. This scholarship allowed her to pursue her academic goals while still indulging in her love for Chinese literature as a hobby.

 

Ee Bee was offered positions at the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Malaysian Institute of Accountants, and Nanyang Press Holdings. Uprooted to Singapore shortly after her undergraduate study as a Chartered Accountant by practice, she has gained illustrious auditing experience in corporate governance across Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong SAR.

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In her educational journey, Ee Bee expressed gratitude towards several mentors who played a significant role in guiding her. These mentors include the late pioneering Malaysian Chinese educationalist and calligrapher, Dato Sim Mok Yu,  her esteemed Chinese language teachers, Madam Chong Chia Hua and Mr. Lim Kok Ann, as well as Malay history teacher Mr. Mohammad Ibrahim. Ee Bee also acknowledged the influence of Professor Kurt W. Fischer and Professor Howard Gardner from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, President Emeritus Professor Su Guaning for his support in the Chinese Heritage Centre at Nanyang Technological University. Additionally, she recognised the contributions of Professor Yen Ching-hwang and Associate Professor Wong Sin Kiong as academic advisors for the Gan Heritage Centre, Dr Neo Peng Fu and Associate Professor Lo Yuet Keung for their dedication to launching talks on the Analects at the Gan Heritage Centre, Mr. Lee Han Shih for his unwavering support in her academic pursuit, Dr. Gan See Khem for guidance on organisational transformation, and Mr. Goh Kia Hong for his mentorship in her auditing career.

 

A Passion for Heritage Conservation

Ee Bee is a curator, researcher, and heritage conservationist. Currently pursuing a PhD in Architecture and holding a MA in Chinese Studies from the National University of Singapore, she explores various aspects of heritage conservation and cultural management. Her research interests span rural-urban architectural and living heritage conservation, cross-cultural interactions of Chinese Voluntary Associations in Southeast Asia and beyond. Ee Bee's scholarly contributions appear in the edited volume China and Southeast Asia Hakka: Cross-domain Fieldwork and Discussion published by the National University of Singapore. She is also the co-author of Singapore Interpretation: The Heritage Story, a project supported by the SG50 Celebration Fund from the Ministry of Community, Culture and Youth and National Heritage Board.

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As the Founder of Neumind, Ee Bee has been instrumental in driving transformative changes within traditional institutions. She played a key role in the organisational transformation of Gan Clan Singapore with the Council’s leadership, spearheading the establishment of the Gan Heritage Centre as its Centre Director and Curator, which earned its inclusion on Museum Roundtable of National Heritage Board and International Council of Museums. The Centre's accomplishments include winning the President's Charity Cup in 2016, being named Clan of the Year in 2013 and 2015 by the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations. She was the elected Vice Honorary Secretary and Chair of Heritage Centre Management Committee to Gan Clan Singapore, and served Leaders Pow Wow Committee in Museum Roundtable of National Heritage Board.

 

Neumind has been appointed as the designated design service provider for five national museums by the National Heritage Board. Additionally, the organisation has been entrusted as an education service provider by the Chinese Development Assistance Council and the People's Association to deliver creative Mandarin learning programmes to students from underprivileged backgrounds. Ee Bee dedicated her time to community work in Malaysia, where in 2010, she collaborated with The Federation of Chinese Associations-Carlsberg Education Fund and the Ministry of Education to launch the Teachers Capability Development programme. This initiative aimed to enhance the teaching of the Chinese language and was carried out as a corporate social responsibility project across four states. The programme was co-organised by three private colleges - Han Chiang College, New Era College, Southern College, and the University of Tunku Abdul Rahman. It attracted 2,500 teachers, researchers, and policymakers.

 

During her time at the National University of Singapore, she crossed paths with the renowned American sinologist Professor Kenneth Dean who served as the thesis advisor for her Master's in Arts, Chinese Studies. His works and perspectives greatly influenced her research direction, blending theoretical knowledge with practical exposure. This experience propelled her towards a dual path of academic pursuit and social entrepreneurship.

 

Her endeavors have sparked thought-provoking and controversial discussions, challenging existing academic research and prompting paradigm shifts. She has presented at international conferences in Riyadh, Doha, Fujian, and Singapore, where she shares her insights gained from research, policy, and practice in academic, community, and government settings.

 

Currently, she serves as a Member of the Finance and Resources Committee for the International Council of Museums and as a Member of the Board of Governors at Nanyang Technological University's Chinese Heritage Centre. Her work extends to conservation management and sustainable development for the national monument at the Chinese Heritage Centre, where she initiated the Grow Heritage Fund to promote heritage awareness among the younger generation. She was named a Patron of the Heritage Awards in 2016 by the National Heritage Board.