40-year-old Lee Shi Yan volunteers his time at the GP+ Co-operative as the Honorary Legal Advisor and part of its Committee of Management. He first came to know about the co-operative (co-op) through his wife who is a clinical psychologist at Annabelle Psychology and part of GP+’s allied health professional team.

Shi Yan is a transport disputes lawyer and recently left a law firm to embark on a new stint as part of an in-house legal team in the automotive industry.

Not quite knowing the full scope of what he volunteered for, he started his first task in assisting GP+ with its by-laws revision, but soon developed a strong interest in the meaningful work of the co-op. Reflecting on its origins, he shared that “co-ops often emerge from necessity or gaps in society,” yet it was the organisation’s strong sense of common purpose and mission-led approach that truly drew him in.

“Everyone brings a degree of impact no matter where they are, but the mission becomes a community focus when it comes to a co-op.” he says. “This is especially so for GP+ co-op where doctors (and other healthcare professionals) are already giving back in their own way, but the impact of collective effort is more than what they can achieve on their own.”

“Co-ops have the ability to organise people and channel efforts towards a shared goal fast,” he laughs on how co-operativism gives members a sense of solidarity and togetherness. “There is accountability, motivation and also … peer pressure (to do well and good).”

When asked on his thoughts on the recently launched SCM 10-Year Transformation Roadmap for the co-op sector, he shared that the Community Impact and Outreach pillar is something he’s interested in exploring. “Why do co-ops still exist and why is it important in society? There is a bit of a convergence with the Talent and Leadership pillar,” he says. “The outreach I have in mind will underscore the importance of attracting and developing talent in the sector, which is to develop the art and skill of rallying people to come together for a common mission.”

He shares that resourcing is what is lacking and the co-op sector needs people who are willing to give their time and who come with an open mind.

Shi Yan is also part of the Emerging Leaders Programme (ELP) which equips aspiring co-op leaders through exposure opportunities. Reflecting on his ELP learning journey to the Annual Co-operative Leaders Conference 2025 in Shenzhen, China, he shared that the relationships and friendships built are what enable co-ops to thrive, rooted in a strong sense of community.

Shi Yan and the rest of the emerging leaders at a networking session with Mr Lin Weiran during ACLC 2025. Mr Lin is the Chairman of the Operations Company of the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area Green Agricultural Products Production and Supply Base

Relationships forged through the ELP led to a collaboration between GP+ and POLWEL Co-operative in November 2025, where GP+ delivered a series of mental health talks to police officers, highlighting the importance of mental well-being and practical coping strategies.

Shi Yan with the emerging leaders at the networking dinner at ACLC 2025

When asked about a philosophy he lives by, Shi Yan shared that it is an acute awareness that his time on Earth is limited. He is quick to clarify that it has not a preoccupation with death but rather with a commitment to make his time on Earth as meaningful as it can be.

Shi Yan, who was a Scout in his younger years, often questioned whether volunteering was merely an act of self-fulfilment, or whether it truly made a difference to those it sought to help. This is perhaps what shaped his approach to doing good; addressing root causes through early identification, early intervention, and creating sustainable structures that empower people to seek self-help.

Photo by Sng Ler Jun

GP+ Co-op recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Allkin Singapore to pilot a 3-month integrated support for vulnerable individuals between Jan and Mar 2026. The partnership enables structured case referrals and co-management between GP+’s network of general practitioners (GPs) and Allkin Singapore’s social service practitioners. GPs within GP+ Co-op’s Northeast network will be able to link patients to Allkin Singapore’s community-based services; while Allkin Singapore’s social workers can connect beneficiaries to appropriate medical care within the GP+ network.

In another upcoming project supported by the Empowering Communities Fund, GP+ will be working with a halfway house to bring Hepatitis C care to residents onsite. More details to come.

By Mary Njo, Edited by Sng Ler Jun