Being an Asian woman representing her community while staying true to herself has not been an easy path for Eva Chen MNZM. She describes her journey as one of constant learning — shaped by purpose and grounded in service. For Eva, it has always been about the people.

In her earlier years, Eva often faced discrimination. Her youthful appearance led to assumptions and misjudgements — at times even being mistaken for someone’s mistress. These experiences were deeply shaped by patriarchal and authoritarian structures, where women were confined to traditional roles and judged by how they looked. Navigating those expectations, particularly within a collectivist culture, added another layer of complexity. Even today, she observes how these biases can persist, especially in spaces where women from collective cultures are still treated differently based on appearance or age.

Eva’s hope is to empower the next generation of female leaders who come from similar cultural backgrounds — not by telling them who to be, but by sharing what she has learned through lived experience.

In collectivist cultures, asking hard questions is often avoided for fear of appearing rude. But Eva leans into that discomfort. She believes direct conversations with communities reveal truths that data alone can’t show. It's something she often reminds government officials — if we truly want to serve, we must listen first.

Eva’s community spirit is wide-reaching. She is a natural collaborator who builds capacity in others by working alongside different organisations. During COVID-19, she witnessed the gaps in support for ethnic and migrant communities. But Eva didn’t wait for solutions to be designed — she acted. Whether it was visiting a migrant in hospital, or quietly delivering food to families in crisis, she responded without needing recognition, simply because it was needed.

As a former international student and now a mother without extended family support, Eva knows intimately how isolating it can be — especially when caring for a sick child. These lived experiences have shaped her into a deeply empathetic and values-led leader. One of her guiding mottos remains: “Any help is better than no help.” And for those who know her, that’s not just a saying — it’s how she lives.