Dr. Penny Low

Dr. Penny Low is a Trustee at The Garibay Institute for Soft Power and Public Diplomacy. She is a former Member of Parliament of Singapore, a serial entrepreneur, and a leading advocate for social innovation and mindful leadership. First elected in 2001 as one of the youngest female parliamentarians, she served for nearly 15 years, during which she held significant oversight responsibilities across multiple ministries, including Finance, Trade and Industry, National Development, Information, Communication and the Arts, Environment and Water Resources, Education, Community Development, Youth and Sports.

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During her parliamentary tenure, Dr. Low chaired the Government Parliamentary Committee for the Ministry of Information, Communication and the Arts. She also led the town development taskforce, collaborating closely with government agencies and the private sector to redesign and develop Punggol—Singapore's first eco-town in the tropics.

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An accomplished entrepreneur, Dr. Low has co-founded several technology-based ventures and has played pivotal roles in building and shaping over 100 deep-tech institutes and more than 350 innovation centers globally. Her extensive experience in wealth management led her to develop a unique financial advisory algorithm that outperformed the market during the financial crisis. She anchored a national television program on wealth management and was a regular guest on radio interviews. In academia, she lectured the final-year Financial Management module at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and developed curricula for professional financial certifications, including the Chartered Financial Consultant, Chartered Life Underwriter, and Certified Financial Planning programs.

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In 2006, Dr. Low founded Social Innovation Park Ltd. (SIP), an award-winning non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for and supporting social innovation globally through projects, forums, and television documentaries. As a pioneer and sector developer, she has significantly contributed to the development of the social enterprise sector in Singapore and internationally, having incubated and supported hundreds of social entrepreneurs, organized the high-impact Global Social Innovators Forum, and co-produced and consulted on three television series on social entrepreneurship.

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Dr. Low's leadership extends to numerous national committees and global boards, including the Asia Society Global Council, the Yale World Fellows Advisory Board, Imperial College London's Leonardo Centre Advisory Board, the Interlink Group, and Operation HOPE. Her vast global network and extensive travels to over 100 countries have enabled her to foster conscious leadership and global collaborations across sectors.

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Her contributions have been recognized with numerous accolades. She is a founding member of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders and the Global Shapers Community, a Yale World Fellow, an Aspen Scholar, an NTU–Lien Ying Chow Legacy Fellow, and a Salzburg Global Fellow, among others. These honors underscore her influence in shaping global innovation and social change.

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Currently, Dr. Low advises and mentors C-suite executives and political leaders, focusing on mindful leadership, technology for good, and innovation. Her insights as a frequent speaker on prestigious platforms and her publications on mindfulness, social innovations, and sustainability reflect her thought leadership and commitment to creating a more inclusive, sustainable, and mindful world.