Founder / Director
Joanne worked in a local recreational club where she organised nationwide sporting events for eight years before deciding that it was time to chart her own course. Joanne started her own company that specializes in organising adventure races and mountain climbing activities in the year 2000 as she wants people to keep fit and stay healthy, due to her strong belief that a fit and healthy person is happier and more productive at work. That marked the start of Ace Adventure.
In 2004, Joanne joined a team of Singaporeans to form the first Singapore women’s team to scale Mount Everest. In preparation for Everest, she climbed Cho Oyu (8,201m), the sixth highest peak in the world and reached its summit in 2007. Joanne then proceeded to climb Mount Everest and reached its summit on 22nd May 2009. In the Autumn of 2011, Joanne successfully led an all-Singaporean team to climb Ama Dablam (6,812m) and reached its summit as well – Ama Dablam is acclaimed for having one of the most technically demanding peaks in Nepal.
Joanne has led more than 50 expeditions, including an all-women’s team on various trekking expeditions to places such as the Everest Base Camp and Mount Kilimanjaro – the tallest peak in Africa. Joanne has also led students on various mountain climbing adventures, with an education focus on leadership and character building.
Riding on her climbing experience, Joanne develops adventure programmes for educational institutions with the end goal of achieving extraordinary results through teamwork, leadership, and personal spirit. She is always keen to share her experience and learnings from all her climbs; she has to date delivered over 100 motivational talks and workshops to corporations, private institutions, and the public.
In recognition of her contribution to pushing boundaries, Joanne was honoured by Women’s Weekly as one of the Great Women of Our Time, she has also received a Special Commendation from the President of Singapore, and was inducted into the Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame.