Social Service Summit 2025

From curated learning journeys, to foster experiential learning, to keynote sessions, panel discussions, workshops, and TribeX, the Summit brought together innovators and changemakers from around the world, equipping participants to build a resilient and future-ready social service sector.

A new $7.5 million SG60 Towards Sustainability Fund was also launched at the event. Eligible NCSS members may apply for a one-off $30,000 funding to measure and report the effectiveness of their programmes, ensuring impactful service delivery that improves the quality of life.

NCSS President Anita Fam’s Welcome at the Social Service Summit 2025.

Learning journeys

Learning journeys highlighted how cross-sector collaboration, innovative space utilisation, and technology integration can transform social service delivery and create more responsive, effective support systems for our community.

Reimagining housing solutions at Single Room Shared Facilities

Participants discover how shared facilities create natural touchpoints for community building.

New Hope Community Services demonstrated how innovative housing models can create lasting social impact. Beyond providing shelter, their pilot project revealed how thoughtfully designed shared spaces and strategic community partnerships create a supportive ecosystem for residents:

• Integration of digital literacy, healthcare support, and life skills programming help address residents' holistic needs

• Partnerships with neighbouring organisations strengthen community bonds and expand resource access

• Structured support systems and shared facilities foster peer support networks among residents

Breaking barriers at Community Law Centre @ Tian De Temple

Participants at Tian De Temple, home to Pro Bono SG's Community Law Centre.

Pro Bono SG's innovative approach to legal service delivery offered valuable insights into making essential services more accessible. Their success stems from:

• Strategic use of trusted community spaces to reduce barriers to access

• Building powerful partnerships between legal services and religious institutions, showing how seemingly unrelated organisations can work together effectively

• Demonstrating how unconventional collaborations can create new pathways for service delivery when partners share a common purpose

Data-driven innovation at Grab Singapore

Participants exploring one of Grab's innovations to inspire fresh thinking for social services.

Grab's innovations revealed the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to transform social services:

• User-centric design principles can significantly improve service delivery and outcomes

• Everyday tools like chatbots and automated workflows can streamline operations and free up time for meaningful client interactions

Building social capital at The Foundry

The Foundry’s collaborative ecosystem supports charities in driving social change.

The Majurity Trust's collaborative ecosystem demonstrated how shared spaces can catalyse social innovation:

• Purpose-built environments facilitate organic collaboration and resource sharing

• Trust-based partnerships multiply impact through combined expertise and resources

• Village-style approach breaks down traditional silos and enables creative problem-solving

Conference

Check out the Conference recording on the NCSS YouTube Channel or read on for the key takeaways.

Keynote 1: The Impact of Technological Advancements on the Future of Social Service by Prof Aawatif Hayar

Professor Aawatif Hayar, Hassan II University Casablanca, Morocco.

1. AI presents significant opportunities to transform social services but may present key challenges during implementation including algorithmic biases that could perpetuate existing inequalities, data and cybersecurity concerns, the risk of potential marginalisation of digitally disadvantaged groups, and the importance of maintaining human discernment in critical decision-making processes.

2. The concept of Social Frugality can guide AI adoption in the sector. This approach emphasises optimising resource efficiency, co-creating human-centric solutions with communities, and ensuring long-term sustainability – with service users’ improved outcomes as the central focus.

3. Successful technological transformation in social services must prioritise universal accessibility, human connection, and community needs.

Download Professor Aawatif Hayar’s presentation slides

Panelists discussing how we can meaningfully adopt technology to strengthen service delivery.

Keynote 2: Future of Social Service Workforce: Reshaping Social Service Careers for Tomorrow by Ms Trisha Suresh

Ms Trisha Suresh, Head of Public Policy, Southeast Asia, LinkedIn.

1. The future work landscape highlights that the impact of AI on jobs will be uneven across sectors and demographics, with research showing that women and younger workers may face greater disruption. However, human-centric roles like those in social services may be more resilient to AI automation.

2. Demographic shifts (ageing population alongside declining birth rates) intensify the need for care services while exacerbating talent shortages. This makes workforce planning and retention crucial for the social service sector.

3. Success in this evolving landscape requires developing both digital literacy and tech capabilities while strengthening human-centric soft skills. The goal is to augment, rather than replace meaningful human connection through inclusive, tech-enabled service delivery.

Download Ms Trisha Suresh’s presentation slides

Panelists examining how to build a future-ready eco-system that drives sustainable transformation.

Workshops

Using Evaluation Findings to Improve Programme Outcomes: The Sector Evaluation Framework (SEF) approach

1. The evaluation of programmes is crucial to determine their effectiveness and attract sustained funding.

2. It is important to apply evaluation findings to programmes to strengthen their effectiveness and impact on service users.

Learn more about NCSS’ efforts to evaluate youth development programmes.

Ms Ellysya Lee, NCSS Translational Research Specialist.

Digitalisation and AI - There are no Magic Bullets

1. Innovation need not begin with a ‘Eureka’ moment; it often emerges through iterative improvements to existing ideas.

2. Innovation involves risk and the willingness to fund projects with higher failure rates than we are typically comfortable with.

Associate Professor Ng Yih Yng, ex-military emergency and public health specialist.

TribeX

Minister Masagos Zulkifli and Dr Aawatif Hayar at a Scribe demonstration, an AI-powered transcription tool.

Meet the Tribe

(A) Social Service Career Pathways - My Career and Growth

Ambrose Lee showcased how the sector strengthens valuable connections within the social service community and highlighted the collaborative spirit and passion that drives it forward.

(B) School to Work, Fresh Graduate to Social Service Professional

Francis and Laila encouraged students to explore social service careers through volunteering and job shadowing, emphasising that the sector offers many diverse pathways in both direct and indirect roles.

Innovation

(A) Structuring for Innovation

Li Hongyi, Director, Open Government Products (OGP).

Li Hongyi from Open Government Products (OGP) shared how building innovative products is not just about ideas, but organisational structure, iteration, and accountability. He emphasised that successful innovation requires creating the right environment where teams can experiment, learn quickly, and focus on real outcomes that matter to users. His key message: innovation doesn’t happen by chance; it happens by design.

(B) Navigating the Landscape of Large Foundation Models: Limitations, Implementation, and Evaluation

Dr Siavash Sakhavi shared how organisations seeking to harness AI tools like Large Foundation Models (LFMs) must first understand their own processes, recognise the limitations of AI, and be clear on the outcomes they want to achieve. AI can amplify human potential — but only with the right mindset and literacy.

Social Service Professional Awards Ceremony

President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Minister Masagos Zulkifli with the recipients of the Social Service Professional Awards.

The inaugural Social Service Professional Awards recognised the contributions of social service professionals across diverse job roles in Singapore. In conjunction with the Year of Celebrating Social Service Professionals, 13 individuals and two teams from diverse backgrounds were conferred Awards for their contributions to the sector.

Learn more about the awardees in our programme booklet, or watch the video below to hear from them as they reflect on the moments that have shaped their journeys.