In an effort to support Asian ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families in understanding the benefits of philanthropy, Shirley Crystal Chua, founder and Group CEO of Golden Equator Group, is reinforcing her firm's bench of portfolio mentors.

The Singapore-based multi-family office has appointed Christopher Wilson as philanthropy ambassador for its Golden Equator Wealth unit and portfolio mentor for the group.

Wilson will take an advisory role and consult with Golden Equator Wealth’s clients to help them understand the benefits of philanthropy for the family and how to incorporate philanthropy in their family office.

Wilson is a social entrepreneur, philanthropy advocate, and finance professional with more than 30 years of experience in banking, consulting, asset management, and technology.

He has also been named one of Forbes Asia’s Heroes of Philanthropy and has been honoured with The Peak Magazine Game Changers Philanthropy Award and Tatler’s Annual Philanthropy Award.

“I have often witnessed wealthy families and individuals waiting for a certain milestone before starting to look into philanthropy, but what I want to encourage is to start the discussion now because of the benefits it brings to the families,” said Wilson.

“Philanthropy focuses the family on doing good and connecting, but also bonds the family and creates positivity, because they start to look at life from a different perspective,” he added.

A Singaporean citizen, Wilson is one half of an influential local couple. His wife Tan Su Shan is group head of institutional banking at Singaporean lender DBS. Prior to this, she was responsible for leading the group’s consumer banking and wealth management business for close to a decade.