​🌏 Elevate Edge: Mastermind Circles — Healthcare, Policy & Diplomacy

​Making a difference in healthcare beyond the clinic

​From caring for patients as a doctor to shaping public policy, communicating complex issues, advocating for healthcare workers and exploring health diplomacy, there’s more than one way to make a difference in health.

​But how do these worlds connect? And how can young people build meaningful careers across sectors while contributing to healthier, more equitable communities?

​At this edition of Elevate Edge: Mastermind Circles, we’re joined by Dr Sean Thum, a Malaysian medical doctor, healthcare advocate, public policy practitioner and author whose work spans clinical practice, psychiatry, government and healthcare reform.

​More about Dr Sean Thum:

​With seven years of clinical experience, including five in psychiatry, Sean has seen healthcare from the frontline. Today, alongside pursuing a Master of Public Health at Universiti Malaya, he serves as Special Functions Officer to Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of Communications and chairs the Malaysian Medical Association’s section representing house officers, medical officers and specialists in the public sector.

​He is also the author of Health, Harapan, and Healing Malaysia, which reflects on the intersections of medicine, policy and public communications, and how the systems we build ultimately affect people's lives.

​Drawing on his experiences across healthcare, advocacy, public service and international diplomacy programmes, Sean will share what it means to navigate different worlds, challenge conventional career pathways and contribute to change beyond one's immediate role.

​Whether you're interested in healthcare, mental health, public policy, communications, international affairs or simply figuring out how to turn your interests into meaningful work, this is an invitation to explore what becomes possible when we connect the dots.

​Sean was also a Fellow with the Temasek Foundation–LKYSPP Southeast Asia Next-Gen Leaders Programme at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and is a Singapore International Foundation ASEAN Youth Fellow.

​💬 What We’ll Explore

​Come curious and bring your questions. We’ll explore:

​🩺 Beyond the white coat: What does a career in healthcare look like beyond clinical practice? How can medical professionals contribute through policy, communications, advocacy and community health?

​🧭 Building a non-linear career: What does it take to move across different sectors and roles? How do we recognise transferable skills, navigate uncertainty and create our own pathways?

​🧠 Mental health & community well-being: What changes does Sean hope to see in mental health and community health across Malaysia and Southeast Asia?

​📚 From experience to ideas: What inspired Sean to write Health, Harapan, and Healing Malaysia? What are the key messages he hopes readers will take away, and what can young people learn from questioning how our institutions work?

​🌏 Health diplomacy & regional collaboration: How can science, health and diplomacy come together to address shared challenges across borders? What opportunities exist for young people to contribute to regional cooperation?

​🇸🇬 Looking ahead to ASEAN: With Singapore set to chair ASEAN in 2027, what opportunities might this create for regional conversations and collaboration aroundAnd most importantly: What can diplomacy teach us about being better leaders, collaborators and changemakers?

​🚀 Aspirations for the next generation: What does Sean hope to see from young people across Southeast Asia, and how can we move from caring about an issue to taking meaningful action?

​Most importantly, how do we build careers that not only fulfil us, but also help build healthier communities and better systems for everyone?

​👀 Who Is This For?

​This evening is for you if you're:

• ​🩺 Exploring careers in medicine, healthcare, public health or mental health

• ​🏛️ Curious about public policy, government, advocacy or communications

• ​🌏 Interested in diplomacy, international affairs and regional collaboration

• ​💡 Passionate about community health, social impact and systems change

• ​🎓 A student, early-career professional or emerging leader figuring out your next steps

• ​🔀 Exploring a career that doesn't fit neatly into one discipline, sector or job title

• ​🤝 Looking to exchange ideas with others who care about the future of Southeast Asia

​You don't need to be a medical student or healthcare professional to join us. If you've ever wondered how your skills, interests and experiences could contribute to a healthier society, there's a place for you at the table.

​🔥 More Than a Fireside Chat

​Expect an evening of candid conversation, thoughtful questions and shared reflections, with space to learn not just from Sean's experiences, but also from the perspectives of fellow participants.

​We'll begin by getting to know one another, dive into the stories and questions behind Sean's work, and close with reflections on what we can take forward into our own lives, careers and communities.

​Come with questions about careers, curiosity about the region, or simply a willingness to explore new possibilities. You never know which conversation might shift how you see your own path.

​🗓️ Programme Flow

​6:00–6:30 PM: Registration & Dinner (we'll provide pizza and drinks!)

​6:30–7:00 PM: Opening & Icebreaker

​7:00–8:15 PM: Fireside Chat & Q&A

​8:15–8:25 PM: Shoutouts & Reflections

​8:25–8:30 PM: Closing

​🌏 This event is supported by the Singapore International Foundation

​ASEAN: Ties That Bind. Celebrating 35 years of building people-to-people connections.

​This session is supported by the Singapore International Foundation (SIF), which builds ecosystems to catalyse change for a better world.

​Bringing together people from the public, private and philanthropic sectors across countries, SIF harnesses collective strengths to address shared environmental and social challenges. Its work spans climate, culture, education, health and youth, grounded in the belief that cross-border collaboration is critical to building sustainable solutions in an interconnected world.

​Through conversations like these, we hope to strengthen people-to-people connections across Southeast Asia and create more opportunities for young people to learn from one another, exchange perspectives and work together on shared challenges.

​✨ About Elevate Edge by Togather for Good

​Elevate Edge is a community-led platform creating spaces for young people in Singapore and across Southeast Asia to exchange ideas, build relationships and learn from one another.

​Through Mastermind Circles, fireside chats, mentorship and shared experiences, we bring together curious people who are building, learning and figuring things out — together.

​Togather for Good is a Singapore-based social venture building a more conscious, capable, connected and compassionate society.

​Come curious. Leave with new perspectives, new connections, and perhaps a new way of seeing your own path 🌏

​📩 For enquiries: togatherforgood@gmail.com