Associate Professor Helen Ko

2021 – present
Advisor, St Luke’s Eldercare

2021 – present
Centre Fellow (Honorary), Sau Po Centre on Ageing, The University of Hong Kong

2018 – 2020
Research Fellow (Honorary), Sau Po Centre on Ageing, The University of Hong Kong

2018 – 2020
Research Advisor (Honorary), Singapore Ministry of Social & Family Development

2017 – 2020
Member, Board of Governors, SIM [Serving In Mission] (International). SIM is an international Christian charity providing education, healthcare, development, humanitarian and relief work to about 80 countries in 6 continents.

2011 – 2020
Board Director, SIM [Serving In Mission] (East Asia)

2016 – 2019
External Examiner, Diploma in Social Sciences in Gerontology (previously Diploma in Gerontological Management Studies), Temasek Polytechnic

2015 – 2019
Board Director, Council For Third Age

2012 – 2018
Board Director (Alternate), St Luke’s Hospital

2014 – 2015
Member, Domain Advisory Committee - Workplace Age Management

2010
Vice-chairman, Singapore National Feedback Unit REACH’s Policy Study Workgroup (Manpower Issues)

2004 – 2006
Member, Committee on Ageing Issues, chaired by the late Senior Minister of State for Health, Dr Balaji Sadasivan

2004
Member, Inter-Ministerial Committee on Ageing Population, chaired by Minister Lim Hng Kiang

2002 – 2005
Member, Industry Skills Standards Committee of the Workforce Development Agency. This Committee developed the skills standards for the Eldercare Sector under the National Skills Recognition System

1996 – 1998
Member, Committee on Aged, National Advisory Council on Family and the Aged (NACFA)

Ageing workforce management, retirement issues

Lifelong learning, training/instructional design for older adults/workers

Gerontological counselling

End-of-life care, grief and loss, death and bereavement

Ko, H. (2025, November 18–19). Evidence-based principles and strategies for engaging older learners. Paper presented at the International Conference on Geriatrics and Gerontology (ICGTGY-25), organised by the Institute for Scientific and Engineering Research (ISER), Melbourne, Australia.

Sng, H. C., & Ko, H. (2025, November 18–19). Strategies to promote exercise adherence of older adults: A process model from Singapore. Paper presented at the International Conference on Geriatrics and Gerontology (ICGTGY-25), organised by the Institute for Scientific and Engineering Research (ISER), Melbourne, Australia.

Ko, H. (2025, September 8–10). Age-inclusive instructional design: An evidence-based process model from Singapore. Paper presented at the Re:Define Success Conference 2025: Empowering Change, Shaping Inclusive Futures, organised by Singapore University of Social Sciences and University of Leeds, Singapore.

Ko, H. (2019, June 21–23). An evidence-based model for training older workers. Paper presented at the 4th International Conference on Humanities, Science, Management and Education Technology, organised by Academic Exchange Information Centre, Singapore.

Ko, H. (2018, June 20–21). Caring for the elderly: Facilitating a good closure to life. Paper presented at the Conference on Innovation.Impact: The review and vision of community end-of-life care, Hong Kong.

Ko, H. (2013, September 11–13). Training designs for older workers: A literature review and implications for research. Paper presented at the British Society of Gerontology Annual Conference: Global ageing: Implications for individuals and society, Oxford, England.

Ko, H. (2011, March 24–26). ECADIT – A procedural model for counselling older persons. Paper presented at the First Asia Pacific Conference on Ageing (APCA 2011): Dignity and grace of ageing, Singapore.

Ko, H. (2010, June 9–11). Extending working life: Individuals’ responses, attitudes and practices of employers in Singapore. Paper presented at the International Research Conference: Older workers in a sustainable society – Great needs and great potentials, Oslo, Norway.

Ko, H., & Khan, H. T. A. (2010, June 6–9). Re-employment of older workers in Singapore: Preliminary insights. Paper presented at the 4th Symposium on Work Ability: Age management during the life course, Tampere, Finland.

Ko, H. (2006, March 10–12). Elder suicide prevention in Singapore – a multi-agency model. Paper presented at the 2nd Asia Pacific Suicide Prevention Conference, Singapore.

Lee, A. E. Y., Ko, H., & Chokkanathan, S. (2005, November). Development and pilot testing of a gero-counselling model for older Asian adults and their families. Paper presented at the 57th Annual Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America.

Ko, H. (2004, September). Elder suicide prevention – the Singapore experience. Paper presented at the 7th Global Conference of International Federation on Ageing, Singapore.

Ko, H., & Chiang, H. D. (2001). Needs of retirees and strategies to address them. In Proceedings of Regional Conference “Into The Millennium of the Older Adult: Releasing Potentials & Erasing Prejudices”. Singapore: Gerontological Society.

Ko, H. (2022). Better with age. Invited address, The Singapore WSH Conference 2022 (19–20 Sep 2022), organised by Workplace Safety and Health Council, Ministry of Manpower, National Trades Union Congress, Singapore National Employers Federation.

Ko, H. (2021). Losses of Older Adults: Impact and Interventions. Invited address, Samaritans of Singapore Inaugural Symposium (9–11 Sep 2021), organised by Samaritans of Singapore. Singapore.

Ko, H. (2019). Facilitating lifelong learning: An evidence-based instructional model for older adults. Plenary address, engAGE Ageing Symposium 2019, “Cognition and Lifelong Learning” (8 Nov 2019), organised by the Centre for Applied Gerontology, School of Humanities & Social Sciences, Temasek Polytechnic. Singapore.

Ko, H. (2019). Planning for my silver years. Keynote address, Symposium Wanita 2019 (20 Oct 2019), organised by Research and Engagement Department, PPIS, Singapore.

Ko, H. (2019). Spiritual care in a multicultural community: Patient and caregiver perspectives. Roundtable address, Singapore Health and Biomedical Congress 2019 (10–12 Oct 2019), organised by the National Healthcare Group. Singapore.

Ko, H. (2019). Evidence-based principles for coaching older learners. GS Conference 2019: The Art and Science of Ageing Well (24 Aug 2019), organised by the Gerontological Society of Singapore. Singapore.

Ko, H. (2019). An evidence-based model for training older workers. Plenary address, 4th International Conference on Humanities Science, Management and Education Technology (21–23 June 2019), organized by Academic Exchange Information Centre. Singapore.

Ko, H. (2018). Promoting age-friendly workplaces: Singapore’s strategies. Keynote address, Age-Friendly Hong Kong Summit cum 2018 Age-Friendly City Appreciation Scheme Recognition Ceremony, Gerontech & Innovation Expo cum Summit 2018 (22–25 Nov 2018), organised by The Hong Kong Council of Social Service. Hong Kong.

Ko, H. (2018). Holistic framework for harnessing an ageing workforce: The case of Singapore. International Labour Organisation/Korea TVET Forum 2018: Skills and the future of work: Strategies for inclusive growth in Asia and the Pacific (19–20 Nov 2018), organised by International Labour Organisation and the Ministry of Employment and Labour, Republic of Korea. Bangkok, Thailand.

Ko, H. (2018). An evidence-based model for developing older workers. Keynote address, Singapore National Employers Federation-Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (SNEF-TAFEP) Age-Inclusive Symposium: Creating meaningful careers for the future (25 Sep 2018). Singapore.

Ko, H. (2017). Healing strained intergenerational relationships in ageing families: Insights & implications for practice. Plenary address, Asian Family Conference 2017: Ageing families in Asia: Challenges and opportunities (29 Nov 2017), organised by the Ministry of Social and Family Development. Singapore.

Ko, H. (2017). Promoting caregiver-friendly workplaces: Singapore’s approach. Financial and Employment Impacts of Family Caregiving Academic Seminar (19 June 2017), organised by The University of Hong Kong. Hong Kong.

Ko, H. (2017). The impact of media on older adults. Third Conference on Counselling for Malaysian Caregivers: The impact of media on people of different age groups (27–29 May 2017), organised by Agape Counselling Centre. Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.

Ko, H. (2016). Employment and ageing in Singapore. Plenary address, First Working Women in an Ageing Society Conference: Work, age, gender (3–5 Jun 2016), organised by Fukuoka Women’s University, Kyushu University, SALT (Stepping Across the Line Transitions into Retirement), Coalition of Advancing Women in Fukuoka. Fukuoka, Japan.

Ko, H. (2016). Older women, health and lifelong learning (25 Jan 2016), jointly organised by Modern Ageing and SIM University.

Ko, H. (2015). Teaching older workers: Principles distilled from a recent study conducted in Singapore. Plenary address, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School (Singapore) Centre for Ageing Research and Education Symposium: Live, learn and work – Exploring possibilities with longevity (12 Nov 2015). Singapore.

Ko, H. (2011). Will I ever get over my child’s death? (22 Oct 2011), jointly organised by Assisi Hospice & Lien Centre for Palliative Care.

Ko, H. (2011). Managing an ageing workforce. Plenary address, Asia Pacific Employee Assistance Roundtable (APEAR) Conference: Multigenerational workforce - Opportunity for competitive success (27–29 Apr 2011), organised by the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP). Singapore.

Ko, H. (2008). Singapore’s response to an ageing workforce. Presentation at Oxford University’s Institute of Ageing’s Seminar Series, 7 May 2008.

Ko, H. (2021, July 27). Heeding cries for help – getting to the heart of elderly suicides requires more than counselling. CNA. Available at: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/elderly-suicide-cries-help-helpline-support-2077891

Ko, H. (2020, August 3). Singapore's public sector ought to take the lead in hiring older workers. Today Online. Available at: https://www.todayonline.com/commentary/singapore-public-sector-civil-service-take-lead-hiring-older-workers

Ko, H. (2019, August 25). Seniors do well at their jobs yet ageist myths and negative stereotypes persist. CNA. Available at: Original version (updated version: Updated version)

Ko, H. (2019, August 17). It’s high time for a Ministry on Ageing Issues. CNA. Available at: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/commentary/ageing-issues-ministry-singapore-policy-elderly-seniors-ageing-11782364

Ko, H. (2019, June 4). High time Singapore employers ditch ageist attitudes towards older workers. Today Online. Available at: https://www.todayonline.com/commentary/high-time-singapore-employers-ditch-ageist-attitudes-towards-older-workers

Ko, H. (2017, November 3). Valuing and capitalising on an ageing workforce. The Straits Times. Available at: http://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/valuing-and-capitalising-on-an-ageing-workforce

Ko, H. (2015, March 24). The business of integrating ageing and employment in Singapore. Singapore Business Review.

Ko, H. (2010, December 15). It pays to hire older employees. The Straits Times.