OUR TEAM

Siew Ching has over 12 years of leadership experience across social service, healthcare and public sectors. She has vast experience in managing business operations, programme implementation and corporate governance. Her expertise includes strategic planning, partnership development, community outreach and volunteer management.

Prior to her current role, Siew Ching was the Executive Director for a non-profit organisation and an Assistant Director at the National Council of Social Service. She holds a Masters of Art in Philosophy from the National University of Singapore and a First Class Honours in Psychology (Gold Award) from SIM University.

Siew Ching is passionate about serving the community and making a difference for others. Besides volunteering at local charitable organisations, she travelled overseas to help the needy.

siewching@redpencil.org

Joyce has been working in the communications and research field for more than 10 years. She has a master's degree in Southeast Asian Studies from the National University of Singapore and an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master's degree in Digital Communication Leadership from University of Salzburg and Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Her bachelor's degree is from the University of the Philippines.

Joyce is originally from the Philippines and has lived in Singapore, Austria and Belgium. Growing up in a developing country, she is passionate about becoming an agent of social change and hopes that her work at The Red Pencil will enable her to do that.

joyce@redpencil.org

Rainy has always been passionate about content creation and sharing stories. During her Polytechnic days, she was involved in a documentary about mental health disorders. This planted the seed in her motivation for mental health advocacy which led to her pursuing a degree in Psychology. Using her communication skills, Rainy wants to promote arts as a way of healing. She looks forward to working at The Red Pencil to facilitate impactful social change in the community.

After a tough day, Rainy can be found in the kitchen trying out new recipes or watching “Modern Family", her comfort show.

rainy@redpencil.org

Yoko has been passionate about art since young. Her love for art therapy was seeded from her volunteer work for Children's Cancer Foundation since she moved to Singapore in 2013 and had a career shift from architecture to art. Currently, Yoko is serving a few local charity and educational institutions in the capacities as an artist, art educator, or art therapist. Her clinical practice focuses on the population with special needs, chronic illness, physical challenges, women, and children.

Yoko holds a Master of Art Therapy from LASALLE College of the Arts in Singapore and accredited by Goldsmith’s College, University of London. She also holds a Master of Architecture from The Chinese University of Hong Kong and a Diploma in Fine Art from Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore. Yoko is an award-recipient of The most promising artist of the year, emerging artist, Singapore, from the Painting of the Year Competition 2016 by United Overseas Bank (UOB). She also won an Honorable Mention of the juried art exhibition from the 36th International Association for the Study of Dreams in the Netherlands.

yoko@redpencil.org

Natacha discovered arts therapy in 2009 and fell in love with it. She is motivated by bringing the benefits of arts therapy to a growing number of people in Europe, by contributing to the recognition of arts therapy locally and by advancing the research field.

Trained first as civil engineer, she tries to reconcile the scientific and art therapy approaches, building on the left-brain and right-brain skills she has developed in her career so far.

natacha@redpencil.org

Elisa joined The Red Pencil (Europe) in 2021 after working for international consulting companies in the field of cooperation and development projects for several years. She has two masters degrees: one in economics and business administration, and another one in European integration and development. Originally from Italy and having lived in Denmark, Japan and Belgium, Elisa loves travelling and learning about different cultures. She is motivated by the desire to help improve the wellbeing of the most vulnerable. This is the reason why she joined The Red Pencil’s team and its mission with enthusiasm. Currently, Elisa is in charge of the coordination of The Red Pencil projects in Europe.

elisa@redpencil.org

Originally from the UK, Catherine has lived in Belgium most of her life. She joined the Red Pencil (Europe) in 2021 after working for a Belgian NGO that helps and supports refugees and asylum seekers in Belgium, where she also worked as a project manager. Catherine holds a degree in Spanish and Portuguese from the University of Edinburgh, and a Masters in Caribbean and Latin American Studies from University College London (UCL). Her passion for travelling and her studies have given her the chance to live in different countries, including Brazil, Cuba and Colombia.

From a young age, she has been involved in several local and international grassroots initiatives. Driven by the desire to contribute to projects that facilitate a positive impact and support society's most vulnerable, she was drawn to The Red Pencil's mission and joined the team with enthusiasm.

Catherine@redpencil.org

For Pei Ling, art has been a major source of enjoyment and healing since childhood. Initially into animation, Pei Ling’s interests soon morphed into a love for surrealism and visual social commentary. As she grappled to reconcile her interests in pursuing social work and the arts, she witnessed how music supported domestic violence survivors during her stint at the Ministry of Social and Family Development. This memorable encounter struck a chord in her heart, emphasising to her the respite and solace that art can provide to individuals and communities in need.

Outside of work, the psychology graduate from Temasek Polytechnic can be found doing grocery shopping for the latest recipes she discovered. She also enjoys analysing films and runs an art account in her free time.

ANG_PeiLing@redpencil.org

After working several years as an event manager for a Belgian federal administration, Valérie joined The Red Pencil (Europe) at the end of 2021. She holds a Master’s Degree in translation (Dutch and English) and a Master of Arts in European Studies. She loves travelling, gardening and reading, and also sings in a choir. She discovered art therapy during a workshop in early 2021 and immediately felt how powerful and life-changing these tools can be for an individual. This deep realization and the positive impact of Red Pencil’s work made her very keen to join the organization and contribute to its overall mission. Valérie is in charge of project coordination.

Valerie@redpencil.org

Lay Choo holds a Bachelor of Accountancy degree from the National University of Singapore and is a member of the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants. She has extensive experience in finance roles in both private and public-listed companies, as well as statutory boards. In her leisure time, she enjoys watching travel variety shows.  Recently she has been inspired by the efforts of non-profit organizations in improving people’s well-being. Joining The Red Pencil provides her with the opportunities where she could grow and make a positive impact to the community.

laychoo@redpencil.org

Ara is a Registered Psychotherapist, Registered Art Therapist, Certified Canadian Counsellor, and current on full-time faculty with Lesley University in Cambridge, MA, teaching Expressive Arts Therapy.

aparke13@lesley.edu

Dr Mercedes ter Maat, Ph.D., LPC, ATR-BC is a professor in the Department of Counseling at Nova Southeastern University’s College of Psychology in Ft. Lauderdale. Prior to joining NSU she was the director of the school counseling graduate program at the George Washington University, Alexandria, VA campus and an assistant professor at Virginia Tech. She has over 30 years of combined working experience as a counselor educator, mental health counselor, school counselor, and art therapist.

Dr. ter Maat participates in local, state, national, and international leadership undertakings for the fields of mental health counseling, school counseling, and art therapy and frequently presents on topics related to multicultural counseling, ethics, motivational interviewing, and the use of art in counseling and therapy. She actively participates in humanitarian work, most recently in Argentina, Swaziland, and Lebanon, and her research interests are in enhancing the quality of life of immigrant, minority families in crisis by identifying risk and promoting protective factors through school- and community-based interventions. She is a past-president of the American Art Therapy Association, the current president of the Croatian Art Therapy Association, and the current president of the European Branch of the American Counseling Association.

Dr. ter Maat is a licensed professional counselor and a board-certified/registered art therapist.

mbtermaat@comcast.net

Dr Iva Fattorini (MD, MSc) is one of the pioneers and global leaders of the contemporary arts and medicine movement.

Iva attended Classical Gymnasium in Zagreb and became a medical doctor at 23 after graduating from the University of Zagreb Medical School where she also completed a postgraduate study in Biology and Biomedicine and got her Master of Science Degree. She completed her Dermatology Residency in Zagreb, then undertook an International Training program at Harvard University in Boston, USA.

In 2004, she moved to the U.S. and joined Cleveland Clinic. With strong motive to help international patients with limited access to good healthcare, she became Director of International E-health.

During her tenure at the Cleveland Clinic, she amongst other things chaired the Aesthetics Committee in USA and Sana’a Committee in Abu Dhabi, won Cleveland Clinic’s Innovator’s award and was on a steering committee of Empathy and Innovation/Patient experience summit. Spending time with many out of town patients and their families she noticed the need to address their emotional needs and help fill the voids of a stressful time with positive and enriching content. As a result, Iva founded the Arts and Medicine Institute at Cleveland Clinic in 2008. Under her leadership, first as Executive Director and then as a Chair, the Institute has grown and has become an integral part of the culture of one of the best and largest hospitals in the U.S. The Institute has set up a new paradigm and standards in the area of arts and medicine.

In 2011, Iva moved to Abu Dhabi to work with the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi team on expanding an arts and health concept to the new hospital facility.

Dr Fattorini is speaking and presenting to both arts and healthcare audience such as: Aspen Ideas Festival, Kennedy Center for the Arts, Istanbul Art Fair, Abu Dhabi Art, Kochi Muziris Biennale, Ernakulam General Hospital (India), Salzburg Music Festival, Arts Policy Roundtable by Americans for the Arts in Sundance, National Endowment for the Arts, Said Business school Oxford University, KOS musem Denmark, Sage and Scientists Symposium by Deepak Chopra, Global Impact Forum at Lake Nona Institute and many others.

She is a member of the first Arts and Medicine committee at the World Congress of Integrative Medicine, the founding member of Lincoln Center Global Exchange and ambassador for The Red Pencil Humanitarian Mission, based in Singapore and Geneva. In 2017, she was invited to join the National Organization for Arts in Health (NOAH) as a founding Ambassador.

She founded Artocene in 2014 and Artocene Digital in 2018, with a vision to activate the latent therapeutic power of the arts on a global level with the highest professional standards. The company’s focus is to provide consulting services and develop new innovative products in the intersection of arts and health. Iva lives and works in Oxford, United Kingdom with her 12 year old twins.

iva@artocene.com

“Following a life shared across four continents and a successful career in law (as a partner in an international firm and then as General Counsel of a world leading innovator in capital markets), the London Business School Sloan MSc, which I recently completed, led me to reflect on my dreams and aspirations. I look forward to contributing the breadth of my experience to the Red Pencil cause, whose therapeutic approach and values strike a deep chord with me."

servane@redpencil.org

Dr Penny Orr, Ph.D., NCC, ATR-BC, ATCS is the Chair for the Department of Counseling, School Psychology and Special Education and a Professor of Art Therapy at Edinboro University in Edinboro, Pennsylvania, USA. Prior to joining Edinboro, she was a Professor of Art Education . and Art Therapy at Florida State University. She has over 25 years of combined working experience as an educator, mental health counselor, and art therapist.

Dr Orr participates in local, state, national and international leadership undertakings for the fields of mental health counseling and art therapy, and frequently presents on topics related to digital media, ethics, and the use of art in counselling and therapy. She actively participates in humanitarian art therapy work, most recently in Cambodia and Thailand. She is a past-president of Art Therapy Credential Board, past board member of the Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education, and current program reviewer.

Dr Orr is a nationally credentialed counsellor, board certified art therapist and art therapy credentialed supervisor.

porr@edinboro.edu

From Environmental engineering, sustainable development to medical interpreter, from policymaker to teaching and professional translations, Manal has an array of skills and qualifications and is an eclectic person with diverse talents and the drive and determination to achieve success for any of the prestigious organisations she has worked with. Manal is an expert in any field she dedicates her mind to and brings awareness of what she considers important for all, including being the Founder and Chief Editor of the First Children Environmental Awareness Magazine in the world 2002. In recent years, motivated to support her family and the world, Manal became a professional and Certified Art Therapist. In 2012, she launched Art2Care program, the first art as therapy program in the Middle East offering psychosocial support to pediatric cancer patients and their families. She was in charged of supervising our first mission in Alexandria, Egypt starting in May 2022. Manal is also an advocate of ongoing learning, and a recipient of multiple international excellence awards and certifications, in addition to being an active Board Member in several international organisations.

Co-founder of The Centre for Creative Therapeutic Practice, Mary Rose Brady is a Consultant Art Psychotherapist, Parenting Practitioner and Lecturer with over 30 years’ experience in working with the impact of trauma on child and adolescent development. Mary Rose’s interest in the unique role that making art plays in trauma intervention began early in her career when co establishing the Post Graduate Art Psychotherapy course in the Netherlands and was involved in research projects in Asylum Seeker Centres assessing the impact of war on children’s drawing development. During “the fall of the iron curtain” she was invited to present at a Governmental Conference in St Petersburg on the therapeutic use of art with traumatised populations. She continues to work with, support and advise charities on the therapeutic use of art with trauma and developmental delay in the UK and overseas and has supported work with trafficked children in Europe and India. Mary Rose is a guest lecturer on trauma, attachment and child development at a number of Universities and Institutes including the University of Hertfordshire, the Institute of Arts in Education, the Anna Freud Centre and the British Association of Art Therapists.

Mary Rose was previously Director of Operations and Lead advisor for Children and Young People’s Mental Health at the British Association of Art Therapists and Head of Parenting and Creative Therapies at the Children’s Charity Coram.

Dr Neil Springham, based in the UK, is a champion at gently pushing the art therapy field, and in assessing the changes and improvements stimulated, thanks to the art therapy process. Mental Health is in general not easy to assess since the improvements (or the lack of improvements) experienced by patients might be due to other circumstances than the art therapy process. Therefore, Dr Springham is the originator, among many other achievements, of the Reflect Interview using audio-visual recording which is a deep source of inspiration for The Red Pencil Team in providing the evidence to our partners and donors of the real impact of art therapy on those we serve.