OUR TEAM
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OUR STAFF

Laurence de Groote Vandenborre
Founder and Managing Director | Registered Art Therapist, (MA) (A Th) AThR
Laurence started practicing arts therapy at Raffles Hospital, in Singapore, for a few years before opening her own private practice “The Arts Therapy Studio”. For years, her interest has included working with adults and family dynamics, in a multicultural context, helping them to journey through their challenges towards a happier, more fulfilled and hopeful life.
Laurence has served as a Board Director of Very Special Arts Singapore, a charity whose mission is to bring the benefits of the arts for people with disabilities. She is currently a Board Member of The Art Therapy Association of Singapore (ATAS) and of the Australian and New Zealand Art Therapy Association (ANZATA).
Laurence holds a Masters of Arts in Germanic Philology (Dutch and English) from the University of Louvain-La-Neuve (LLN, Belgium) and a Masters Degree in Art Therapy (LASALLE College of the Arts, accredited by the UK Open University). She has also received diplomas in Teaching Aggregation (University of LLN), Corporate Coaching (USA Corporate Coach U), Applied Skills Counselling (Singapore), and Expressive Therapies (Australian Institute of Expressive Therapies and US National Institute of Expressive Therapy).
laurence@redpencil.org

Sim Siew Ching
General Manager, Singapore
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

Tan Kee Yun
Marketing & Communications Manager, Singapore
Kee Yun brings with her over 14 years of experience in journalism and communications. For eight years, she had the privilege of being an entertainment journalist with The New Paper. In addition to her journalistic experience, she has also done marcomm work in the sports, recreation and hospitality industries, including the Football Association of Singapore, Sembawang Country Club, and The Scarlet Hotel.
An interesting fact about Kee Yun: She spent a couple of years as a kindergarten teacher! That experience as a preschool educator taught her the importance of patience and empathy — skills that have been invaluable to her career.
As she moves into her 40s, she looks forward to creating an impact on a deeper level for the community. Communication can be a powerful tool for positive change and she is excited to use her skills and experience to make a difference.
keeyun@redpencil.org

Rainy Mak
Marketing & Communications Executive, Singapore
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 Choi
Programme Manager, Singapore | Art Therapist
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 Pirotte
General Manager, Europe, Brussels | Art Therapist
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 Bongiovanni
Programme Implementation Manager, Europe, Brussels
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

Ang Pei Ling
Programme Administration Executive, Singapore
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.
peiling@redpencil.org

Valérie Marichal
Programme Implementation Manager, Europe, Brussels
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

Lee Lay Choo
Finance Administrative Executive, Singapore
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

Nicole Yeo
Programme Executive, Singapore | Art Therapist
Nicole first discovered art therapy during a visit to Lebanon in 2017, where she witnessed the power of the art that brought Lebanese communities together. It inspired her to embark on her journey as an art therapist. She aims to use the power of art to inspire hope among different communities within Singapore and beyond. Her clinical experience includes working with children with special needs, adolescents, and adults with various mental and emotional health needs.
Nicole holds a Master of Arts in Art Therapy from LASALLE College of the Arts, accredited by Goldsmiths’ College, University of London. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Degree in English with a Minor in Sociology from Nanyang Technological University, and she holds a Diploma in Media and Communication from Singapore Polytechnic.
nicole@redpencil.org

Joey Chang
Corporate Partnerships Manager, Singapore
Joey has over 2 decades of leadership experience in startups and established enterprises. His strengths lie in implementing effective strategies that help break new ground and scale untapped opportunities. He has a wealth of knowledge and experience in a variety of cultures in Southeast Asia. Joey has held leadership positions in non-profit and corporate sectors, including Aries Fresh Pte Ltd, a leading trading company in Singapore.
Joey holds a Master of Business Administration from The University of Melbourne and a Bachelor of Business Administration from National University of Singapore. He is also a sword winner and marksman in Singapore Armed Forces.
Passionate about creating solutions to life's challenges, Joey strives to help others journey through life and bring out the best in them. With the keen support of like-minded donors and his colleagues, he aims for The Red Pencil to quickly scale up so that more beneficiaries can start to heal and grow.
joey@redpencil.org
OUR AMBASSADORS

Dr Ara Parker
Ambassador & Adviser in Arts Therapy, Dmin (Cand), MA, CCC, RCAT, RP
aparke13@lesley.edu

Dr Mercedes Ballbe ter Maat
Ambassador & Adviser in Arts Therapy, PH.D, LPC, ATR-BC, Past-President - American Art Therapy Association
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
Ambassador & Adviser in Arts Therapy, MD, MSc, Artocene Founder
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

Servane Bonnet
Ambassador-at-Large
“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 Penelope Orr
Ambassador of Arts Therapy, Ph.D., NCC, ATR-BC, ATCS
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

Dr Eng. Manal Elewah
Founder & CEO Art2Care Program Ph.D., DATC
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.

Mary Rose Brady
HCPC Registered Consultant Art Psychotherapist, Co-founder of The Centre for Creative Therapeutic Practice
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
Consultant Art Therapist, Director of Therapies, Executive Lead for Patient Experience, Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, Ph.D.
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.