Joanne Yoong, PhD

Principal Economist and Behavioural Scientist

Dr Joanne Yoong is an applied micro-economist and interdisciplinary researcher working on consumer and household decision-making in vulnerable populations. Dr Yoong holds multiple faculty appointments and is the author of over eighty peer-reviewed articles in leading economics, medical and public health journals. She has worked on projects around the world including Singapore, the United States, India, China, Ghana, Kenya, Cambodia, Indonesia and Iraqi Kurdistan. Dr Yoong received her PhD in Economics at Stanford University as an FSI Starr Foundation Fellow after an early career in financial services, and her AB summa cum laude in Economics and Applied and Computational Mathematics from Princeton University.

- Behavioral economics
- Health, financial, and social services research
- Socioeconomic development
- Program design and evaluation

Contact Dr Joanne Yoong at joanne@rforimpact.com

Sherria Ayuandini, MA, PhD

Principal Anthropologist and Participatory Impact Researcher

With a double PhD in medical anthropology and political sociology from Washington University and the University of Amsterdam, Dr Sherria Ayuandini has almost two decades of experience in designing and leading research and monitoring and evaluation work in 18 different countries in Asia, The Middle East, Europe, and Africa. Previously, Dr Sherria led the implementation of CO-CREATE, a EUR 10-million European Union-funded multi-country participatory action research project and The Bernard van Leer Foundation's monitoring and evaluation efforts as their global lead. Her experience as both grantee and funder provided Dr Sherria with a comprehensive view of how to do meaningful monitoring evaluations that prioritise mutual learning and impact over compliance.

- Cultural medical anthropology and political sociology
- People-centred, participatory and qualitative research
- Strategic framing for monitoring, evaluation, and scaling
- Systems thinking and model building for public policy

Contact Dr Sherria at sherria@rforimpact.com

Amanda Goh, PhD

Senior Researcher

Amanda began as a preclinical researcher in cancer biology before moving to healthcare communications and consulting at Ogilvy. She then returned to academia to help drive education initiatives at Duke-NUS Medical School and NUS Medicine. She is excited to be able to apply her experience and skills to support the rest of the RFI team in enabling data-driven change. Amanda graduated from Princeton University with an AB cum laude in Molecular Biology and a Certificate in German Language and Culture, then obtained a PhD in Medical Sciences (Virology) from Harvard University.

- Education
- Data analysis
- Quantitative research

Contact Amanda at amanda.goh@rforimpact.com

Ng Jia Min, PhD

Senior Economist

Dr Ng Jia Min is a behavioural economist who explores how people make decisions under uncertainty, with a focus on incentive design and financial literacy. Her work combines data-driven research with practical insights to develop financial solutions that promote resilience and economic empowerment. She is passionate about strengthening financial protection for low-income communities and has worked globally on the design and implementation of microinsurance, microloans, and disaster-risk financing solutions, including projects in Zambia, Lebanon, and with the World Bank. Dr Ng is an FSA-qualified actuary with a Ph.D. in Risk Management and Insurance from Georgia State University, and dual bachelor's degrees in Bioengineering and Business from the University of Pennsylvania.

- Behavioural economics
- Financial risk management
- Inclusive insurance

Contact Jia Min at jiamin@rforimpact.com

Oliver Yuen, MSc

Senior Economist

Oliver specialises in cost-benefit analysis and has contributed to economic research projects spanning urban, energy, health, and social policy. He also works with clients, in programme evaluation, to improve the process of accounting, measuring, and managing the social value of programmes. Oliver holds economics degrees from both Singapore Management University and National University of Singapore, and won the Ministry of Trade and Industry (Economist Service) Best Thesis Prize for his insights on commuter behaviour.

- Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) including Health Technology Assessment (HTA)
- Social Value and Social Return on Investment
- Social policy

Contact Oliver at oliver@rforimpact.com

Nashwinder Kaur, MSc

Qualitative Systems Researcher

Driving change through systemic analysis and sustainable programs, Nashwinder Kaur has over a decade of experience in global development and social impact. Her dedication to advancing global equity empowers marginalized communities, especially youth facing disparities. At the University of Copenhagen and Duke-NUS, Nashwinder ran pivotal projects across Asia, Europe, Africa, Americas and the Pacific Islands, tackling critical health and social challenges. Holding a Masters in Global Health (Anthropology), Nashwinder’s work enhances system resilience and accessibility on a global scale, using qualitative and participatory techniques to foster deep community engagement. Her contributions invite a closer look at how strategic and co-creative initiatives can transform lives subtly but substantially.

- Social and behavioural research
- Co-creation in program implementation, evaluation and communication
- Participatory and qualitative methods
- Systems thinking and model building for public policy

Contact Nashwinder Kaur at nash@rforimpact.com

Loh Wei Kok, MSAE

Data Analyst

Loh Wei Kok is a data analyst at RFI with a background in applied economics. He specializes in econometrics and quantitative methods for policy evaluation and impact assessment, with experience leading quantitative research for government agencies and non-profits. His work spans education, health, and social policy in Singapore and internationally, including projects on early childhood, youth, and aging populations. Wei Kok holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Economics from the University of London and a Master’s in Applied Economics with Distinction from Nanyang Technological University. He is also a certified Social Value Associate by Social Value International. Passionate about teaching, Wei Kok previously co-founded a tuition company supporting undergraduates and graduates in understanding and appreciating Mathematics and Economics.

- Applied econometrics and causal inference
- Quantitative evaluation and impact assessment
- Survey design and data collection
- Education, health, and social policy research

Contact Wei Kok at weikok@rforimpact.com

Daniel Lin, BA

Senior Researcher

Daniel is a qualitative researcher passionate about improving health and social outcomes of individuals and communities so that they may be better empowered to thrive and lead meaningful lives. He trained in the social sciences (majoring in geography) at the National University of Singapore and has previously worked in the areas of population health programme development, asset-based community development, health informatics, as well as health services and policy research. Daniel hopes to help organizations develop sound policy and practice through quality evidence-based research.

- Qualitative research
- Programme development and evaluation
- Health services research

Contact Daniel at daniel@rforimpact.com

Michael Ang, BA

Researcher

Michael graduated from the National University of Singapore with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science (First Class Honours). His research experience spans from ethnography to policy analysis, as well as futures studies. Michael was also a Perdana Fellow on disaster risk reduction policy at the Prime Minister's Department in Malaysia. A strong advocate for the role of evidence in improving policy and decision-making, Michael supports the team’s work on research, evidence synthesis, and evaluation as a Research Associate.

- Qualitative research
- Monitoring and evaluation
- Public policy analysis

Contact Michael at michael@rforimpact.com