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Mary Tsao
President at Tsao Foundation
Dr. Mary Ann Tsao is the Chairwoman and Founding Director of the Tsao Foundation, a Singapore-based non-profit organization dedicated to addressing issues of population ageing and promoting the well-being of older people.13 Born in 1955 in Hong Kong to a prominent business family, she is a US-trained pediatrician with a public health background, specializing in community and primary care planning and social medicine.24
Dr. Tsao has been at the forefront of eldercare and ageing issues for over three decades. In 1992, she returned to Singapore from the United States to establish the Tsao Foundation, which was officially founded in 1993.25 Under her leadership, the foundation has developed innovative community-based programmes and services, including the Hua Mei Mobile Clinic, Hua Mei Seniors Clinic, and the Community for Successful Ageing (ComSA) project in Whampoa.5
For her contributions to society and work on ageing, Dr. Tsao has received numerous accolades, including:
- Public Service Medal (PBM) in 2000
- Public Service Star (BBM) in 2004
- Public Service Star (Bar) in 201534
In 2022, she was recognized by the United Nations as one of the "Healthy Ageing 50" - a group of 50 leaders credited for transforming the world to be a better place to grow older.15
In addition to her role at the Tsao Foundation, Dr. Tsao serves as the Chairwoman of the Tsao Family Office and Vice Chair for the newly established Tsao family foundation.1 She is also involved with the Family Business Network (FBN) International and its Asia chapter.1
Throughout her career, Dr. Tsao has worked with various multilateral agencies, including the World Health Organization's Ageing and Life Course unit, and has been a technical advisor to UN agencies such as UNESCAP and the ASEAN Secretariat.3



