Great Eastern spotlights 12 most inspiring customer stories from Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia
'The Great You' campaign received over 700 entries celebrating the diverse facets of human Greatness
‘The Great You’ Campaign Grand and Merit Prize winners at the premiere of their mini films at One Raffles Place with
Great Eastern Group CEO, Greg Hingston (Centre); Managing Director, RAFABA, Patrick Peck (L); and Managing Director,
Group Marketing, Colin Chan (R)
Singapore, 7 November 2024 – Great Eastern spotlights 12 most inspiring customers from Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia by turning their stories into mini films starring themselves. These shorts premiered on the outdoor screen at One Raffles Place today. They are also showcased on outdoor media, in cinemas and on Great Eastern's social media handles till December 2024.
The stories of these 12 inspiring individuals were selected from over 700 entries submitted for Great Eastern's regional campaign, 'The Great You', which encouraged customers to share their personal stories that showcase the many facets of human Greatness. The 12 customers stood out for their achievements, originality and relevance to the 'The Great You' theme as well as their positive impact on self and their communities. From sustainability advocates to entrepreneurs, each customer story exemplifies human ambition and resilience.
To honour these 12 customers, Great Eastern invited them – both Grand and Merit Prize winners – to the public launch of these feature shorts in Singapore and presented them with memorabilia as appreciation during a luncheon.
Group Chief Executive Officer, Greg Hingston, Great Eastern, who presided over the luncheon, said: "Our customers have dreams to pursue and goals to achieve. By protecting them against life’s uncertainties and empowering their financial freedom, they can live out their aspirations with courage and confidence. Today, we are celebrating 12 most inspiring customers who are living examples of our ‘Reach for Great’ brand promise. We are very proud to be part of their journey towards Greatness and we want to tell their uplifting stories, so that more people are motivated to be the greatest version of themselves."
Please refer to the Annexes for the list of recipients of the Grand and Merit awards as well as their achievements submitted for 'The Great You' campaign:
Annex A: The Great You Campaign Grand Prize Winners
Annex B: The Great You Campaign Merit Prize Winners: Singapore
Annex C: The Great You Campaign Merit Prize Winners: Malaysia
Annex D: The Great You Campaign Merit Prize Winners: Indonesia
About Great Eastern
Founded in 1908, Great Eastern is a well-established market leader and trusted brand in Singapore and Malaysia. With over S$100 billion in assets and more than 16 million policyholders, including 12.5 million from government schemes, it provides insurance solutions to customers through three successful distribution channels – a tied agency force, bancassurance, and financial advisory firm Great Eastern Financial Advisers. The Group also operates in Indonesia and Brunei.
The Great Eastern Life Assurance Company Limited and Great Eastern General Insurance Limited have been assigned the financial strength and counterparty credit ratings of "AA-" by S&P Global Ratings since 2010, one of the highest among Asian life insurance companies. Great Eastern's asset management subsidiary, Lion Global Investors Limited, is one of the leading asset management companies in Southeast Asia.
Great Eastern is a subsidiary of OCBC, the longest established Singapore bank, formed in 1932. It is the second largest financial services group in Southeast Asia by assets and one of the world’s most highly-rated banks, with an Aa1 rating from Moody’s and AA- by both Fitch and S&P. Recognised for its financial strength and stability, OCBC is consistently ranked among the World’s Top 50 Safest Banks by Global Finance and has been named Best Managed Bank in Singapore by The Asian Banker.
#GreatEasternSG #ReachforGreat
For more information, please contact:
Angeline Ang
Group Corporate Communications
Email: Corpcomms-sg@greateasternlife.com
Woo Jia Min / Jafri Jaafar
Edelman for Great Eastern
Email: GreatEastern@edelman.com
Profile
Stefan Phang, 56
From Singapore
Multi-award-winning sustainability advocate
Details
Stefan has led over 150 projects across more than 50 countries and is well-recognised for his active involvement in addressing waste management and poverty. His work includes:
- Soap for Hope: Diverted 3,200 tonnes of solid waste from landfills, providing hygiene essentials to over 1 million underserved individuals.
- Linens for Life: Transforms discarded hotel linens into valuable products, creating employment opportunities while reducing waste in 25 cities across 12 countries.
- PlasticShreds: Tackles plastic waste by converting it into durable materials for building essential infrastructure in impoverished communities.
- CoffeeBriques: Convert spent coffee grounds into coffee charcoal briquettes, which then could be used as alternative fuel, replacing charcoal or firewood for cooking, grilling or boiling water for drinking.
Profile
Christine Nalina Das, 58
From Malaysia
Multi-award-winning wildlife conservation artist and advocate
Details
- Christine's conservation journey began in 2013 after encountering an orphaned Bornean elephant, which inspired her art activism.
- She uses her artwork to fund reforestation projects in Sabah and support Malayan Tiger conservation efforts.
- She is the first Malaysian to join the Global Artist for Conservation Collective, gaining international recognition for her conservation-focused art.
- Christine regularly conducts educational workshops and speaks at major conferences, including TEDx and the Rainforest ASEAN Youth Summit.
Profile
Gilang Septian Nugraha, 36
From Indonesia
A true example of turning adversity into success
Details
- Gilang overcame severe financial hardship, leaving high school with no formal degree and minimal resources.
- He relocated to Bali in 2016, where he performed at cafes and discovered his entrepreneurial spirit.
- He launched UrShipper, initially a platform for selling Balinese handicrafts, and has since become one of Bali’s leading international parcel services. UrShipper provides employment opportunities for young scholars, embodying the principles of self-taught success and entrepreneurship.
Profile
Anna Vanessa Haotanto, 39
Overcoming health problems to empower women across Asia
Details
- Anna overcame five surgeries in a year and navigated perimenopause struggles.
- Founded Zora Health, one of Asia’s leading platforms for fertility and reproductive health. She uses her personal experiences with egg freezing to guide her work.
- She also established The New Savvy, a platform aimed to teach women about financial literacy.
- Anna earned her first million at the age of 29.
Profile
Sherry Soon, 43
Leading support for disabilities and autoimmune diseases
Details
- Sherry was diagnosed with vasculitis at 19, leading to hospital stays and extended bed rest.
- Founded Be Kind SG in 2017, now a registered charity, expanding from supporting individuals with disabilities to helping families with special needs children.
- She also founded the support group Autoimmune Diseases SG in 2013, to provide a sense of community and shared understanding for nearly 400 members.
Profile
Nabilah Islam, 38
Dentist turned founder of slow fashion clothing brand
Details
- Nabilah transitioned from dentistry to found One Puram, a tropical womenswear brand focused on eco-friendly production using certified Tencel and ethical practices. She aims to promote sustainable fashion and transform shopping habits in Singapore.
- Launched during COVID-19, she faced significant challenges but overcame them with perseverance and determination.
- She is currently balancing family needs while running her business and has plans to return to dentistry.
Profile
Lee Ling Wooi, 40
Innovative dietician and nutrition advocate
Details
- Ling Wooi turned to dietetics and became a registered dietitian after a personal health scare in her early twenties.
- At Pantai Hospital Ipoh (PHI), she improved a patient’s life by delaying dialysis for eight years through dietary management.
- She co-founded ft ER (My Dietician Next Door) in 2018, a digital platform for nutrition education. The platform offers personalised meal plans, cooking classes and consultations, and has grown to 11,000 followers.
Profile
Lim Kim Foong, 43
Resilient leader and founder of Kampangku, a clubhouse for seniors
Details
- Kim Foong serves as President of the Breast Cancer Welfare Association Malaysia (BCWA) and has a background in senior management.
- She also founded Kamoungku, a clubhouse for seniors.
- After overcoming stage 3 cancer and losing her sibling in 2020, she persevered to complete an MBA with distinction. Since then, she has become a certified patient support counselor and has returned to the corporate world.
Profile
Sinnadurai A/L Kathiripillai, 70
Dedicated founder and advocate of childcare
Details
- Sinnadurai and his wife were initially childless, and had adopted two children, which deepened their understanding of parental responsibility.
- They founded DESA AMAL JIREI 39 years ago with RM800 and a church-provided house. The charity began with two children and has since grown thanks to public support and government grants. The organisation now owns a RM6.5 million property in Semenyih and has cared for over 1,000 children.
Profile
Clara Alrosa Fernanda Sinaga, 21
Young Creator of AI-based waste sorting machine
Details
- At 21, Clara co-created an AI-based waste sorting machine with 73% accuracy and a capacity of 200kg per day.
- The AI-based waste sorting machine gained recognition in innovation competitions for its potential to sustainably tackle the waste crisis. To date, it has won multiple awards, including one with a 0.016% win rate, and Clara is currently in talks for research funding exceeding 200 million Rupiah.
- Clara has been featured in several media outlets and received recognition at FORDIGI by Indonesia Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises (Kementerian BUMN).
- As an awardee of the ISSMA programme, she is currently on a fully funded scholarship in Italy, representing Indonesia while studying AI and exploring ways to enhance the accuracy of these machines.
Profile
Daniel V.Lie, 52
Switched from a high-rise corporate job to chase his dreams as a digipreneur
Details
- In 2010, Daniel aspired to create a business centred on self-development through learning and training. In 2012, he transitioned from a high-level position to fulfill this dream, starting from scratch and encountering personal and financial obstacles along the way.
- Leveraging his Binus alumni connections, he joined a foundation and launched BINUS consulting.
- Daniel ultimately founded www.digimasia.com, a platform dedicated to helping individuals advance their personal development.
Profile
Robert Stahl, 68
Founder of a five-star Bali resort, realised through community, culture and innovation
Details
- Robert created The Lovina Bali Resort from 2009 to 2012, a premier 5 star resort in North Bali featuring private villas, swimming pools, a spa, diverse dining options with amazing views.
- The resort supports local art and cultural activities, providing jobs for the community - with over 400 locals employed and an emphasis on good employee wellbeing.