Hazlina Abdul Halim

Hazlina Abdul Halim began her career in journalism before dedicating the next chapter of her life to expanding opportunities for underserved communities. From establishing Singapore's first secular halfway house for women, Rise Above, during her tenure as president of the Singapore Muslim Women's Association (PPIS) to leading paediatric wish-granting operations as CEO of Make-A-Wish Singapore, her work has consistently centred on supporting women, children and families. Today, she also serves as a Member of Parliament for East Coast GRC, alongside her role as chief executive of the EtonHouse Community Fund (ECF).

Hazlina joined ECF in January 2026, bringing her years of experience in the social sector to an organisation that supports children from preschool through to institutions of higher learning. The move, she says, felt like a natural progression. “Moving to education is another sphere of impact which I felt aligned with.”

Reflecting on what decades of community work have taught her, Hazlina believes that creating opportunity begins with addressing the barriers people face long before success comes into view. “As we speak about smashing ceilings when it comes to the progress of women's development and leadership, it starts with the floors. You’ve got to wipe the sticky floors," she says. “If your floor is sticky, it will affect how far you can go. It can even affect whether you can lift your foot off the ground or whether you will slip and fall.”

That philosophy continues to shape her work today. Whether through education, philanthropy or community leadership, Hazlina sees lasting social impact as an ecosystem of support. As she puts it, “If all of us help to ensure that the floors at home are less sticky, then we can all jump higher to reach our potential, especially children.”