About Us

About Us

Who We Are

The Girls’ Brigade Singapore (GBS) is one of the oldest Uniformed Youth Organisations endorsed by the Ministry of Education, Singapore to run a co-curricular activity for Girls in schools. We are a values-driven uniformed group that teaches Girls to lead and serve by example – to put others before self. In the Girls’ Brigade, ‘Servant Leadership’ changes every Girl as she changes the world around her.

Our Objective

The objective of The Brigade is to develop each Girl and Officer to her fullest potential by Equipping, Empowering and Enabling every Girl to be a leader, and every Officer a servant leader.

Our Strategy

Within the next three years, GBS aims to enhance our organisational culture, build the competency of our staff and volunteers, and contribute greater value to the community To view our in-depth strategy, please click here

About Us

Our Founder

Our Founder

Mrs Elsie Lyne nee Duncan was born in 1892. At the age of fifteen, she joined the Girls’ Life Brigade in Durham, England and rose through the ranks quickly to become an Officer. She arrived in Singapore in 1927 and taught English at the Methodist Girls’ school. Ignited by her passion for the Girls’ Life Brigade, Mrs Elsie Lyne decided to create Singapore’s first GB Company at the Methodist Girls’ School.

Over the years, Mrs Lyne built up a nucleus of dedicated young leaders who assisted in starting more Companies. Not long after, the 2nd Singapore Company at Geylang Methodist Girls’ School was formed followed by Fairfield Methodist Girls’ School, Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ School and then Kuo Chuan Girls’ School. She ensured that each Company was functioning well before moving on to open the next one. By the start of World War II, there were already five flourishing companies with hundreds of Girls, serving and leading in The Girls’ Brigade.

History & Milestones

1st Singapore Company Formed
1893
THE GIRLS' BRIGADE

Founded in Dublin, Ireland

1st Singapore Company Formed
1900
THE GIRLS' GUILDRY

Founded in Scotland

1st Singapore Company Formed
1902
THE GIRLS' LIFE BRIGADE

Founded in England

1st Singapore Company Formed
1927
1st Singapore Company Formed

Mrs Elsie Lyne started the 1st Singapore Company of The Girls' Life Brigade (GLB) at the Methodist Girls' School.

1st Singapore Company Formed
1964
Amalgamation of 3 Organisations

The Girls’ Life Brigade, England, and the Girls’ Guidry, Scotland, amalgamated with the Girls’ Brigade Ireland, to form a united organisation, assuming the name of The Girls’ Brigade. Since that date, the Girls’ Life Brigade in Singapore came to be known as The Girls’ Brigade Singapore

1st Singapore Company Formed
1985
Registered as a Charity

The Girls’ Brigade Singapore was registered as a charity and obtained the recognition as an Institution of Public Character under Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY), Singapore.

1st Singapore Company Formed
2017
90th Celebration

The Girls’ Brigade Singapore celebrated its 90th Anniversary with the launch of GB aspirational Values accompanied by an Orchid – ‘Papilionanda The Girls’ Brigade Singapore’

Our Mission

Developing each Girl and Officer to her fullest potential by Equipping, Empowering and Enabling:
Every Girl a Leader,
Every Officer a Servant Leader.

OUR ASPIRATIONAL VALUES

Our Aspirational Values are accompanied by an orchid which was first unveiled at the 90th anniversary of Girls' Brigade Singapore's (GBS) founding. Named after The Girls' Brigade Singapore, this special breed of orchid is derived from the Papilionanda orchid family. Each segment of the flower represents characteristics that GBS aspires Girls to achieve.

Flowers
Roots

Being Rooted in Heritage

  • Love
  • Joy
  • Peace
Flowers
Leaves

Becoming Resilient Individuals

  • Gentleness
  • Faithfulness
  • Self-Control
Flowers
Flowers

Blossoming as Servant Leaders

  • Patience
  • Kindness
  • Goodness
Girls’ Brigade Day

Girls’ Brigade Day

Girls’ Brigade Day

Girls’ Brigade Day commemorates the founding of The Girls’ Brigade Singapore. On every 3rd Monday of July, Girls will don their full uniform and present themselves as a Company on parade at their school assembly. During the ceremony, a message from the Brigade President will also be delivered.

Brigade Companies

‘Companies’ are GB units operating in schools and institutions as a co-curricular activity. When a unit begins, it will be given a Company number and assigned Officers to run it. Every Company provides a nurturing environment through which the GB programme and method are administered.

Our Organisation

Executive Board

Ms Sharon Liat
President
26 March 2022
(Member since 2020)

Vice Principal,
Ministry of Education

Past Appointments:
President, 28 Mar 2020
Ms Joann Gor
Vice President
26 March 2022
(Member since 2018)

Director,
Biohealth Link Pte Ltd

Past Appointments:
Asst Treasurer,
24 Mar 2018
Vice President,
28 Mar 2020
Ms Juliet Ang
Treasurer
21 March 2024

Homemaker,
15 years of prior experience in the financial sector.


Past Appointments:
Ordinary Board Member,
26 March 2022
Dr Sandra Tan
Secretary
26 March 2022
(Member since 2020)

Company Chaplain,
The Girls' Brigade
45th Singapore Company

Past Appointments:
Secretary,
28 Mar 2020
Ms Heng Ci Pei
Assistant Secretary
26 March 2022


Subject Head,
Ministry of Education
Ms Cheryl Lim
Ordinary Board Member


26 March 2022
(Member since 2020)

Executive Director,
Deloitte Singapore

Past Appointments:
Audit Committee Chairperson,
28 Mar 2020
Eunice Yao
Ordinary Board Member


21 March 2024

Partner,
Dentons Rodyk & Davidson LLP
Christopher Chow
Ordinary Board Member


21 March 2024

Director,
Sleep Works Pte Ltd








Selection & Evaluation of Board Members

Board members are selected biannually by a Nominations Committee and elected according to our Constitution. Board Members do not receive any remuneration for their involvement. No Board member holds a staff appointment. The Executive Director is an ex-officio member who has the right to attend all Board and Committee meetings but does not vote on the Board’s decisions.

Except for the Treasurer, all members serve a term of 2 years for a maximum of 10 consecutive years. The term of office for the Treasurer shall not be more than four (4) consecutive years. Thereafter, reappointment to the Treasurer position can be considered after a lapse of at least two (2) years.
All current Board Members have not reached their maximum term of service.

All incoming Board members are recommended a list of training lessons to attend, given an orientation to GBS, and provided a handbook that states their roles, responsibilities, and the spirit in which they are to perform their duties.

The Nominations Committee is responsible for selecting Board Members based on the final composition of the board which would fulfill the following:
• Specific governance skill-sets
• Sector experience
• Diversity e.g. age, organisational passion etc.

Once every two years, board members are required to fill in a Board Evaluation Checklist and self-reflection sheet.

Brigade Office

The Girls' Brigade Singapore Headquarters provides administrative and programme support for all our companies. Its role is essential in ensuring the smooth functioning of GB in all schools.

Executive Director Biography

Glen has worked with non-profit organisations for more than 19 years before joining The Girls’ Brigade Singapore as its Executive Director in May 2019.
Together with the board, he has facilitated the rebuilding of the Brigade’s structure, policies, and processes needed for it to sustain its impact and ready itself for the future.

The Brigade has since pivoted its signature programmes and launched an annual nation-wide community service platform during the pandemic.

An IT engineer by training with a Master of Arts in Inter-cultural studies, he has served and led on the boards of local and internationally affiliated faith-based organisations and enjoys the gruelling but necessary adventure of bringing structure, excellence, relevance, and a pioneering spirit to organisations who have an inherent passion for community transformation.

Process for setting renumeration

The Girls’ Brigade Singapore is governed by its Board. Members of the Board are volunteers and do not receive any remuneration for their contribution, except for reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses. No staff member, including the Executive Director, sets or decides on matters of salary. Staff salaries are set to the standards within our means. Our staff management committee approves the salaries of all staff, including key personnel.

Our Method