Karen Ngui

Head of DBS Foundation

DBS Bank

Karen Ngui joined DBS in June 2005. She is managing director and head of DBS Foundation, where she brings DBS’s purpose-driven spirit to life and drives the bank’s commitment to being a force for good and creating impact beyond banking. Ngui also oversees the bank’s employee volunteerism initiative, DBS People of Purpose.

DBS Foundation is committed to uplifting the lives and livelihoods of vulnerable communities in Asia by providing essential needs and fostering inclusion. It also nurtures innovative social enterprises and other businesses for impact that create positive impact.

Ngui was instrumental to the foundation’s formation in 2014, when it was established to champion social entrepreneurship. Since then, DBS Foundation has catalysed the growth of numerous purpose-driven businesses through grants, mentorship, capacity-building and business and networking opportunities. In 2022, its mandate broadened to support the vulnerable directly through community programmes.

DBS Foundation’s efforts in its first decade have benefitted 10 million beneficiaries. In 2024, the bank further deepened its commitment to supporting the vulnerable by pledging up to SGD 1 billion and 1.5 million employee volunteer hours over ten years.

With ageing societies becoming an increasingly urgent concern, DBS Foundation is also intensifying efforts to redefine ageing and enable people of varying life stages and circumstances to age well with dignity, purpose and joy.

Ngui was previously head of DBS Group’s strategic marketing and communications for 20 years from 2005 to 2025. Ngui has over 35 years of experience in corporate branding, marketing and communications for financial institutions, and joined DBS from Standard Chartered Bank where she was global head, brand management and strategic marketing.