Our Team

Esther has been supporting grant-makers since 2014, providing advisory services to donors and working with social purpose organisations tackling diverse social and environmental issues.

At Octava Foundation, Esther manages programs under our student finance domain, including scholarships and bursaries; partnerships with tertiary education institutions, and is currently developing an engagement program for our student awardees. She also manages impact and performance management across our programs in Singapore.

Elvira is a trained educator and a purpose-driven entrepreneur. She transitioned to the impact sector a decade ago, driven by her motivation to work with solutions empowering children and youth. She was responsible for direct program delivery while working for a local not-for-profit organisation.

Elvira joined the Octava family, working on the impact investment portfolio, where the focus was on assessing and monitoring the social impact value generated by the investees. Elvira subsequently joined Octava Foundation as Country Director, Singapore. She stewards the overall country program design and implementation across our Education Attainment, Transition to Work and Student Finance domains, while leading the country team on program development, partnerships, research and advocacy.

Raman is a passionate advocate of venture philanthropy and collective impact, and firmly believes in the potential of private capital collaborating with public and social purpose sectors to enable sustainable and just societies. While starting her professional journey in the private sector working across UK, India and Singapore, she has spent the past 10 years in the practice of venture philanthropy, working with diverse philanthropists, foundations, impact investors and social purpose organisations.

At Octava Foundation, Raman stewards our Regional Portfolio focusing on Education, Technology in Education and Social Innovation. She also advises the Foundation’s board on strategic projects and overall organisational strategy.

Debbie is a qualified early childhood educator and researcher who seeks to empower society’s young to acquire the best possible start to life. Her non-profit career in the Asia-Pacific region spans proficiency in operations management, education research and advocacy, and philanthropy advisory.

Debbie established Octava Foundation alongside the Board and helmed the organisation through its initial years. After 5 years of being at the Foundation, Debbie is currently on a year-long sabbatical, where she seeks to refresh her perspectives, deepen her competencies and to broaden her experiences in the social impact sector.

Immediately prior to her sabbatical, Debbie oversaw operations for the Singapore desk, and forged key partnerships for the foundation. She also helmed the grantee management and organisational branding strategies and steered selected projects in the verticals of Education Attainment and Transition to Work.