Olivia Lum

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Olivia Lum (Chinese: 林爱莲; pinyin: Lín Àilián), born in Kampar, Perak, Malaysia, is the Group CEO & President and founder of the Hyflux Group. She also heads the Research and Development function.

She came to study at Tiong Bahru Secondary School in Singapore, at the age of 16. She is said to have supported herself by giving tuition and paddling wares. She went on to study at Hwa Chong Junior College and then to National University of Singapore (NUS). She graduated with an Honours degree in Science from NUS.

She started corporate life as a chemist with Glaxo Pharmaceutical. After working for three years at Glaxo, she left in 1989 to start up Hydrochem (S) Pte Ltd, the precursor to Hyflux Ltd. Later, the company was transformed to Hyflux Ltd. In January 2001, Hyflux became the first water treatment company to be listed on SESDAQ. It was upgraded to Singapore Exchange's Mainboard in April 2003.

Lum holds several positions in the public service. She is board member of SPRING Singapore, the National University Singapore Council and the Singapore Exchange Ltd. She is also member to the UNESCAP Business Advisory Council, President of the Singapore Water Association (SWA) as well as a member to the Singapore Green Plan 2012 Co-ordinating committee.

In 2004, Lum was awarded the Global Female Invent and Innovate Award. She also won the International Management Action Award (IMAA) in 2003, and many other accolades recognizing her entrepreneurial achievements.