Hwee Peng Tan – Purpose-Driven Advocacy Through Lived Experience
Hwee Peng Tan is the Founder of the Neuro-Affirmative Network and an award-winning author known for bridging education, mental health, and inclusion. Based in Perth, Australia, she brings a background in corporate planning together with lived experience to advance neuro-affirmative practices across schools, workplaces, and communities. Her work centers on clarity, compassion, and building systems that help people thrive as they are.
Some professional journeys begin with clear ambition. Others evolve quietly, shaped by lived experience and a growing sense of responsibility. For Hwee Peng Tan, the transition from corporate planning in Singapore to neuro-affirmative advocacy in Australia reflects a steady realignment of purpose rather than a dramatic pivot.
Now based in Perth, Western Australia, Hwee Peng works at the intersection of education, mental health, and inclusion. Her career spans governance, authorship, and community leadership, all anchored by a consistent belief that systems function best when they are designed to respect how people actually live, learn, and communicate.
From Corporate Structure to Human-Centered Work
Hwee Peng spent more than a decade in Singapore building her career in corporate planning. The experience sharpened her strategic thinking and introduced her to the discipline required to manage complex systems. In 2011, she relocated to Australia to start a family, a move that gradually reshaped her professional direction.
As her personal responsibilities expanded, so did her awareness of how rigid systems often overlook human nuance. Education, parenting, and mental health became central to her focus, not as abstract interests, but as lived realities. Over time, this awareness translated into active involvement in school communities and education governance.
Leadership Through Education Governance
Her commitment to inclusive education became most visible through her work with the Joondalup Education Support Centre. Beginning in 2021 as a Parent Representative on the School Board, Hwee Peng went on to serve as Chairperson of the Board from February 2022 to November 2025.
During this period, the school received significant recognition, including WA Primary School of the Year in 2021 and Excellence in Disability and Inclusion in 2023. These outcomes reflected sustained efforts to strengthen literacy and numeracy programs, expand community engagement, and foster a culture where students and families felt genuinely supported.
Those who worked alongside her often noted her ability to bring clarity to board discussions and keep decision-making grounded in student outcomes. Her leadership style emphasized collaboration, thoughtful facilitation, and respect for diverse perspectives.
Advocacy Rooted in Lived Experience
Alongside her governance roles, Hwee Peng deepened her advocacy for mental health and neurodiversity. As a certified Mental Health First Aider and Certified Neuro-Affirmative Practitioner, she has consistently spoken about invisible disabilities, inclusion beyond policy, and the cost of forcing individuals to adapt to systems not designed for them.
Her reflections often address themes such as masking, especially among neurodivergent men, and the importance of creating safe environments where people can ask for support without stigma. In her view, inclusion is not about special treatment, but about removing unnecessary barriers.
This philosophy also shaped her decision to establish the Neuro-Affirmative Network in 2024. The initiative focuses on education and advocacy across workplaces, schools, healthcare settings, and everyday community interactions, aiming to normalise neuro-affirmative practices in practical, accessible ways.
Writing as a Platform for Change
Authorship became a natural extension of Hwee Peng’s advocacy. Drawing from research and personal experience, she wrote How To Be A Neuro-Affirmative Parent, published by Global Influencers Publishing House.
The book gained international recognition, becoming an Amazon Number One Bestseller in two categories and receiving multiple awards between 2024 and 2025. Rather than positioning herself as a distant expert, Hwee Peng wrote as a parent navigating uncertainty, offering guidance rooted in compassion and evidence rather than rigid standards.
Readers have described the book as both practical and validating, particularly for families seeking approaches that respect each child’s individuality.
A Reflective Public Voice
Beyond formal roles and publications, Hwee Peng’s public writing reflects a consistent, grounded voice. Her reflections often focus on growth that happens quietly and progress that is not always immediately visible. She has written candidly about learning curves, near misses, and the value of trying again, even when outcomes are uncertain.
As she has shared, “You never really know what’s possible until you put yourself out there.” This perspective underpins her willingness to continue contributing to conversations around education, leadership, and inclusion, even when change unfolds gradually.
She also advocates for clarity in communication, believing that accessibility is a form of respect. In her words, “Real intelligence isn’t about sounding impressive, it’s about making the complicated simple.”
Education and Continuous Development
Hwee Peng’s work is supported by a strong academic and leadership foundation. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Wales, Cardiff, and a Diploma of Education in Instrumentation Technology from Singapore Polytechnic. In 2022, she completed the LeadAbility Leadership Program with Leadership WA, further strengthening her governance and stakeholder engagement skills.
These experiences continue to inform her ability to navigate structured systems while remaining responsive to community needs.
Shaping What Comes Next
Today, Hwee Peng Tan continues to build bridges between systems and lived experience, focusing on work that values long-term cultural change over short-term visibility. Through the Neuro-Affirmative Network, her ongoing authorship, and her contributions to education and community leadership, she remains committed to creating environments where understanding replaces assumption.
Her leadership philosophy centers on inclusion and mutual growth. As she often reminds her audiences, “We don’t need to make everyone the same. We need to help everyone grow while supporting each other.” This outlook continues to guide her work as she contributes to conversations that matter and helps shape systems designed to serve people as they are.
Editorial Note
This biography has been reformatted to align with the current Executives Diary Magazine narrative standard. The original title structure has been preserved for SEO continuity, while the content has been reshaped to enhance thematic flow, emotional resonance, and editorial clarity. The biography is ready for publication without further edits.
