Laurence Lien

Chairman, Lien Foundation and Co-Founder & CEO, Asia Philanthropy Circle

MBA, Class of 2000 

Born into a family with a legacy of giving, Laurence’s commitment to social causes was predestined. He serves as the Chairman of the Lien Foundation, a family foundation known for its forward-thinking and radical approaches in fields such as early childhood development and care for seniors. 

With decades of experience in philanthropy, Laurence identified a critical issue in the philanthropic landscape; many ultra-high-net-worth individuals in Singapore, and beyond, were eager to contribute to philanthropic causes but often found the process challenging. In 2015, he co-founded Asia Philanthropy Circle (APC)–a platform for regional philanthropists to exchange and collaborate—to address this problem. Eight years later, in 2023, he founded Asia Community Foundation (ACF), an organisation that connects new donors with regional non-profit organisations and makes giving easy, accessible and efficient. Through these groups, he aims to facilitate strategic and impactful giving. 

Laurence credits his time studying for an MBA at NUS Business School as being instrumental to pushing him to consider roles outside a “comfortable” civil service career. The experience at NUS connected him with a diverse network of stakeholders, and helped him hone essential skills such as leadership, strategic thinking and a global perspective. These were invaluable in his journey to becoming a leader in philanthropy. 

In his various roles and initiatives, Laurence continues to inspire and influence the next generation of leaders in the non-profit sector, cementing his status as a stalwart of the charitable community in Asia.