AWWA to me is…“the best place to be”. 

As CEO, Karthik leads AWWA’s operations, which span 27 programmes and services that operate out of 16 locations. Karthik oversees and drives AWWA’s overarching strategy to ensure it remains a social service agency of excellence that maximises the participation of clients and their networks of support through holistic care driven by over 1000 skilled professionals. Karthik joined the organisation in 2007 and in collaboration with partners, was instrumental in strengthening AWWA’s allied health capacity and capability by setting up the Allied Health Professional Group – a therapy hub that serves thousands each year through internal AWWA services and external services in the social service and healthcare sectors. Under Karthik’s leadership, AWWA has been awarded the Charity Transparency Award four times and garnered its first SkillsFuture Singapore Employer Award (Gold), the only Social Service Agency to do so in 2024.

For his leadership, collaborative spirit, and commitment to strengthening inclusion in society, Karthik was awarded the President’s Award 2025, the highest award to social service professionals conferred by the President of Singapore. Karthik is also an accomplished Social Service Fellow, having been appointed thrice by the National Council of Social Service. An advocate of co-creating solutions to meet evolving social service gaps, Karthik sits on multiple external committees and actively builds strategic partnerships with concordant parties to engage and positively impact the community. Karthik’s participation in these committees – past and present, includes being a member of the:

• Advisory Committee for Persons with Disability (National Library Board – NLB)
• AMK-HG Constituency Community Response Roundtable (Ang Mo Kio – Hougang Constituency)
• Social-Health Integration Working Group (National Council of Social Service)
• Enabling Technology Advisory Group (Agency for Integrated Care)
• Career Development Panel (National Council of Social Service)
• Enabling Masterplan 2030 (EMP2030) Steering Committee (Ministry of Social and Family Development)
• Community Care Technology Council (Agency for Integrated Care)
• Community Rehab Transformation Workgroup (Ministry of Health)
• NHG Population Health Collective Leadership Council (National Healthcare Group)
• Central Health Leadership Council (National Healthcare Group)
• Workforce Singapore’s Volunteer Career Advisor (Workforce Singapore)
• National Allied Health Strategy Steering Committee (Ministry of Health)
• Leadership Selection Panel (National Council of Social Service)
• Fellowship Selection Panel (National Council of Social Service)
• NHG Cares Alliance for Social Prescribing (National Healthcare Group)
• Social Service SkillsFuture Tripartite Taskforce (Ministry of Social and Family Development)

Karthik is an appointed member of the Allied Health Professions Council (Ministry of Health), a member of the Centre for Healthcare Innovation Faculty, and a Board Director of the TTSH Community Fund.

Karthik is an alumni of Harvard Business School’s General Management Program, and in 2023, was one of a few community care leaders selected for the 3rd Leaders for Singapore Healthcare programme. An Allied Health Professional by training, Karthik holds a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, and a Master of Science in Fitness, Exercise Rehabilitation and Nutrition Care.