Tuminah Sapawi has 25 years of experience in the media industry and 16 years in the public and charity sectors.
As a journalist for both the Malay-language Berita Harian and the mainstream The Straits Times, Tuminah contributed to the extensive coverage of community and charity sectors. She left the media industry in 2008 after helming the successful lifestyle publication Manja at MediaCorp Publishing.
Tuminah joined the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) to oversee efforts at strengthening vulnerable Malay-Muslim families. After five years in the Ministry, she was seconded to Yayasan MENDAKI as its Chief Executive Officer, during which the self-help group expanded through the setting up of satellite centres and youth spaces. During her term, a major MENDAKI Education Review was conducted, resulting in several recommendations to enhance the pedagogy of the signature programme – MENDAKI Tuition Scheme. She represented Yayasan MENDAKI on several boards and councils, including the Northlight Board of Governance, OnePeople SG and MUIS Council.
In 2017, Tuminah headed Community Programmes at the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY). In July 2019, she became the Chief Executive Officer of the non-profit social service organisation PPIS (Singapore Muslim Women Association – Persatuan Pemudi Islam Singapura), where she oversees 10 centres islandwide.
Tuminah was instrumental in setting up the PPIS INSPIRASI hubs, which focus on programmes to strengthen young marriages, Vista Sakinah, a centre for reconstituted marriages and step-families, and the first secular halfway house for women, Rise Above.
She is currently a freelance learning and development consultant focusing on capability building for social service practitioners.
Tuminah joined the board on 1 September 2024. She is a member of CFS’s Programmes and Grants Committee.
