General Management Team

Home About DAS General Management Team

Lee Siang

Chief Executive Officer

Siang joined DAS on 15 December 2001 and assumed the post of CEO on 1 September 2014. He also sits on the Board of DAS subsidiaries, DAS Academy and DAS International. Siang was a member of the US-based International Dyslexia Association from 2016 to 2018 and Chair of their Global Partners Committee from 2016 to 2018, he still remains a member of the Global Partners Committee representing Singapore. He has played a key role in the rapid growth of DAS into a thriving social enterprise with a multi-disciplinary professional workforce that provides a continuum of services. He emphasizes that DAS"must strive to fulfil our social mission by combining entrepreneurial and business skills with the philanthropic characteristics of non-profits". In 2020, he was been awarded the International Dyslexia Association's Excellence in Leadership Award. He is co-author of the upcoming book titled "International Book of Dyslexia In Education" to be published by Routledge in 2022. Reflecting the significant overlap between dyslexia and other specific learning differences, Siang is presently on the SPARK (Society for the Promotion of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Research & Knowledge) 2.0 Steering Committee.

Siang obtained his BA from the National University of Singapore via the sponsorship of the Singapore Armed Forces. He also has a Certificate in Dyslexia Studies, a PGC in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education and a PGC in Specific Learning Differences from London Metropolitan University, a PGDip in Financial Management from the Singapore Institute of Management and an MBA from the University of Western Australia. It is this unique balance of experiences and qualifications that have allowed Siang to oversee the diverse services and functions of the DAS family.

Chai Soo Chiao

Chief Financial Officer and Director of Learning Centre Management

Soo Chiao is the Chief Financial Officer at the Dyslexia Association of Singapore. Soo Chiao joined DAS in 1 September 2014 and assumed the post of CFO on 1 January 2017. She oversees both Finance and Learning Centre Operations.

Soo Chiao has a Master's in Business Administration and a Bachelor's in Accountancy (Hons) from the National University of Singapore. She is also a Chartered Accountant (Singapore) and has over 20 years of working experience. She started her career as an external auditor with Price Waterhouse Coopers before joining the commercial sector. She has worked as a Management Consultant, Internal Auditor and Financial Controller of various organisations. Prior to joining DAS, she spent 13 years as the Chief Financial Officer of Oakwood Asia Pacific, which manages some of Asia's finest serviced apartments in China, India, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Philippines and Indonesia.

Geetha Shantha Ram (Dr)

Chief Operating Officer, Director of SpLD Assessment Services, Advisor, Register of Educational Therapists (Asia), Executive Editor, Asia Pacific Journal of Developmental Differences; DAS Academy Academic & Examination Board Member, International Dyslexia Association Board Member

Dr Geetha Shantha Ram is a passionate educator and researcher with over two decades of experience supporting learners with dyslexia and other specific learning differences. She currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer, Director of SpLD Assessment Services at the Dyslexia Association of Singapore (DAS).

Geetha’s work is grounded in research-informed practice. She chairs the DAS Research Committee and leads key initiatives that connect classroom practice with educational research. She is the Executive Editor of the Asia Pacific Journal of Developmental Differences, has been published in the field, and is a frequent invited speaker, presenting her work at both local and international conferences.

Geetha holds a Doctorate in Education, a Master’s in English, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (Distinction). She is also a trained Special Needs Educational Therapist and a strong advocate for inclusive education and equity.

She brings heart, intellect, and dedication to all her work, whether supporting students, mentoring staff, or shaping the direction of special education in Singapore.

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/geetha-shantharam

Edmen Leong (Dr)

Director of Specialised Educational Services and Educational Therapist

Dr Edmen Leong has been with the Dyslexia Association of Singapore (DAS) since 2010, serving as an Educational Therapist, Programme Manager, and Assistant Director before being appointed Director of Specialised Educational Services (SES) on 1 January 2019. He currently oversees a wide range of programmes including Preschool, Speech and Language Therapy, Math, Chinese, Science Prep 2 PSLE, Speech and Drama, and Art. Beyond programme leadership, he also drives DAS events such as the Preschool Seminar, Gift of Wonders showcase, and annual Art Competition, and serves as DAS’ Management Representative on the Child Safety Committee.

Edmen graduated from the University of Western Australia with a degree in Psychology, before completing a Post-Graduate Certificate in Specific Learning Differences with London Metropolitan University and a Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics at the National Institute of Education, Singapore, where he was awarded the Book Prize as top student in his cohort. In 2025, he completed his PhD, researching how readers with dyslexia can be motivated to read despite their challenges. Following this, he resumed classroom teaching alongside his leadership role to remain closely connected to students and fellow Educational Therapists, bridging the gap between management and ground practice.

Beyond his professional work, Edmen and his wife served as foster parents from 2020 to 2024, caring for several children, many of whom had special educational needs including dyslexia. This experience continues to shape his perspective, and he remains an advocate for fostering while also providing respite care when possible. It has strengthened his appreciation of the vital role parenting plays in supporting learners with specific learning differences and reinforced his conviction that DAS should extend its services to a broader spectrum of children from diverse backgrounds and circumstances.

Edmen strongly believes that every child has the potential to excel in their own way and is committed to empowering both educators and parents with the knowledge and strategies needed to support struggling learners.

June Siew (Dr)

Head, DAS Academy

Dr June Siew is the Head of DAS Academy.

She provides thought leadership in the field of special educational needs (SEN), focusing on dyslexia. She holds a grounded perspective of SEN, developed through her extensive experiences with students and their community of support. She is a pioneer in advocating inclusive practices in schools and has been training SEN Officers since they were first introduced to the mainstream school system in 2005. She passionately believes that the family and community are key to a child’s success and works closely with them to help students with SEN thrive.

Priscillia Shen (Dr)

Head, DAS International, Programme Director for School Based Programmes

Priscillia joined DAS on 14 November 2005 and assumed the post of Head of DAS International on 1 April 2025. Dr Priscillia Shen is the Head of DAS International and the Programme Director from School Based Programmes. She began her special education journey at DAS as an Educational Therapist in 2005. She became the Assistant Head of DAS Academy in 2014. Her previous experience working closely with struggling learners has allowed her to take on a constructive and practical pedagogical approach in her teaching practice. She believes in keeping up with current research and developments in the field to continually refine teaching practices and maintain professional passion. Her research interests are in dyslexia, bilingualism, Chinese language, and Mathematics.

Deborah Hewes

Director of Communications, Engagement & Fundraising

Deborah Hewes is the Director of Communications, Engagement and Fundraising at the Dyslexia Association of Singapore. Since 2011, she has led strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, and fundraising to strengthen awareness and support for individuals with learning differences. Deborah is also Managing Editor of the Asia Pacific Journal of Developmental Differences and has edited several landmark DAS publications, including Embrace a Different Kind of Mind. Living with dyslexia herself, she is passionate about advocacy and ensuring that every learner has the opportunity to thrive.

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