A little about who I am

My career, first in journalism and now in public service, has shaped a lot of how I think.

In 2005, I started out as a journalist in the Chinese media. For someone who is always curious about people and the world, it was my dream job. Those early years were spent learning how to ask good questions and tell meaningful stories. My favourite moments were always the conversations, with heartlanders, with policy makers, with everyone in between, and the privilege of carrying their stories into print.

After more than eight years in journalism, I moved into public service. The storytelling, the communications skills, the habit of thinking critically — they gave me the foundation for a second career I had not quite planned for, but have grown to love.

Through all of it, one belief has stayed constant: that people thrive when they are given access to knowledge, support, and people who genuinely believe in them.

At the National Library Board where I work today, libraries are not just buildings. They are equalisers. Watching how access to reading and learning can quietly transform a person's life has made the purpose of this work very real for me.

Since 2022, I have had the privilege of walking with people through career transitions and moments of uncertainty as part of the Public Service Career Coach Network. My interest in career coaching is to help others gain a fresh perspective into their career exploration journey, just as how I have received valuable career advice over the years. Sometimes a conversation is all we need to get started.

And volunteering, is one of the most underrated ways to grow as a person while contributing to something larger than yourself. Part of what I hope to do here is share my volunteering experiences, and lower the barrier for anyone who wants to help but is not quite sure where to begin.