Mr Roland Yeow

As Executive Director of Boys’ Town, Roland Yeow, together with his dedicated team, has led a sustained transformation in services for children and youths in need, strengthening service outcomes, organisational capability and professional practice, while extending the organisation’s impact across the broader social service sector.

Recognising the increasingly complex needs of children and youths including behavioural challenges, mental well-being concerns, school disengagement and reintegration difficulties, Roland steered Boys’ Town beyond a predominantly residential model towards an integrated continuum of care. Under his leadership, the organisation expanded its community-based services and clinical interventions, while strengthening the systematic use of outcome measurement, Action/ Practice Research to inform service development and improve practice.

Beyond programme and service development, Roland has placed strong emphasis on building professional and organisational capability. He embedded reflective supervision, ethical decision-making, critical reflection and evidence-informed practice into the organisational culture, while mentoring managers and strengthening leadership and succession readiness. This has supported the development of a more reflective, accountable and professionally grounded workforce, better equipped to respond to the evolving needs of children, youths and families.

His leadership has also strengthened governance, accountability and stakeholder confidence. Boys’ Town received the Charity Transparency Award for 3 consecutive years from 2022 to 2024, reflecting its commitment to good governance and transparency. Strategic partnerships with schools, social service agencies, funders and corporate partners have further extended service reach, strengthened collaboration and supported organisational sustainability.

Roland’s contribution extends beyond Boys’ Town through research, governance, education and volunteering. As an Associate Lecturer and Adult Educator for over two decades, he has taught in areas including children and youth services, non-profit management, human resources, leadership and organisational development. He has also supervised undergraduate and postgraduate research dissertations, supporting practitioners and emerging professionals in strengthening their critical thinking, research capabilities and application of evidence to practice. His wider sector contributions include participation in research ethics committees, competency framework development, organisational boards and sector workgroups.

Recognised as a SkillsFuture Fellow in 2022 and continually appointed as a Social Service Fellow by the National Council of Social Service, Roland exemplifies leadership grounded in service, ethics, evidence and continuous learning. His sustained contribution reflects a commitment not only to transforming services for children and youths, but also to developing people, strengthening organisations and advancing a more capable, professional and responsive social service sector in Singapore.