SMU’s first female valedictorian, Lim Kexin graduated from the university’s pioneer Accountancy cohort in 2005 with a Bachelor of Accountancy and a major in Law (summa cum laude) on dual scholarships. Active since her school days, she has been making waves and contributing back to society in many ways. She was recently appointed to the SMU Board of Trustees, the first alumna to do so.

On her appointment as SMU Board of Trustee, Kexin had this to say, “As one of SMU's pioneer undergraduates, my university education provided a game-changing foundation to my career, fuelled my passion for multi-disciplinary pursuits and built unforgettable friendships I treasure to this day. As SMU turns 19 under Professor Lily Kong and her team's new leadership, it is humbling to have come full circle and join the governing Board of Trustees at its point of inflection. I look forward to sharing my voice on behalf of all alumni to keep what keeps SMU special burning and drive the university's next phase of growth.”

Having spent time in Singapore, London and Jakarta, Kexin considers herself an ‘Indonesian-ised Singaporean’. She is passionate to leverage her global and regional experiences to make a difference, every step of the way.

Over her 13-year career at PwC, Kexin has advised on a wide range of Singapore, Indonesia and international tax matters across structuring, advisory, transactions, compliance and thought leadership projects. Her clients span leading family businesses, start-up entrepreneurs, Singapore and multinational corporations as well as financial institutions. In particular, she volunteered to spend 3 and a half years on secondment with PwC Indonesia, working closely alongside Indonesian and Indonesia-focused businesses given her belief in the potential of Southeast Asia.

She is currently a tax director with PwC Singapore and a part of PwC’s Entrepreneurial and Private Business practice. Kexin is also a Chartered Accountant (Singapore) and Accredited Tax Practitioner.

Community Involvement

Actively volunteering since 17, her community involvements cut across a wide-variety of sectors as well as roles from organising to advisory ones. She has worked with organisations such as the YMCA, Yellow Ribbon Project, Financial Women’s Association (Singapore), SUNDAC, Rotaract, People’s Association grassroots organisations, Singapore Environment Council, Choson Exchange, Initiatives of Change among others.

From organising overseas community projects for colleagues, organising national youth initiatives, volunteering at Meet-the-People sessions, mentoring teenagers in Indonesia or fundraising for natural disasters, Kexin finds satisfaction in making a difference.

Said Kexin, “Volunteering keeps me anchored and reminds me to always count my blessings, even on the most challenging days. It has introduced me to amazing mentors and friends from all walks-of-life, enriching my life experiences. It inspires me to believe that together, we can really make this a better world.”

Some of Kexin’s previous and current key appointments include:

• From 2005 to 2012 - Key member of PwC’s Singapore and later, the China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore corporate responsibility team;
• From 2009 to 2013 - Council member of the National Youth Council, Singapore’s government body for youth affairs;
• Between 2013 to 2018 - Youngest governing Council Member in the history of Singapore’s national accountancy body, the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants’, where she chaired its Young Professionals Advisory Committee;
• Between 2016 to 2019 - Council Member of the Singapore Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia
• Since 2016 - Chairperson of SMU School of Accountancy’s inaugural alumni advisory board
• Since 2018 – Member of SMU’s International Advisory Council for Indonesia

In 2019, Singapore’s Ministry of Education appointed Kexin to be on SMU’s governing Board of Trustees.

Accolades

Widely profiled in the media and a frequent public speaker, Her World magazine online described Kexin as ‘one of Singapore’s most successful and inspiring achievers’ in 2016. Often globetrotting, she has represented Singapore internationally at premier invitation-only emerging leader programmes in the US, China, Taiwan, Malaysia and Switzerland.

She has been named by the magazine as one of ‘Singapore’s 50 most inspiring women under 40’ in 2010, ‘Rising Star’ at the Financial Times-RBS Coutts Women in Asia Awards 2010, ‘Young Accountant of the Year’ (public practice) at the inaugural Singapore Accountancy Awards 2014 and one of Prestige Singapore magazine’s ’40 under 40’ to watch 2015.

More about Kexin here:

• https://alumni.smu.edu.sg/lim-kexin
• https://www.herworld.com/beauty/sponsored/why-lim-kexin-one-singapore%e2%80%99s-most-inspiring-and-successful-achievers
• http://thefutureisfemale.sg/lim-ke-xin/

Watch Kexin in action at PwC Singapore’s Inspire Talk 2019 where she moderated a fireside chat with Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong.

[Profile photo credit: Her World © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Permission required for reproduction]