Who is Deryne Sim, new face seen on PAP walkabout in Nee Soon?

A new face has appeared during a People's Action Party (PAP) walkabout in the Nee Soon Group Representation Constituency (GRC).

Deryne Sim, 40, a media and entertainment lawyer with more than 10 years' experience, was seen giving out oranges to Nee Soon residents alongside Minister for Law and Home Affairs K Shanmugam on Jan. 26.

She was also seen chatting with residents and wishing them a happy Lunar New Year during the walkabout held at Chong Pang Market and Food Centre.

Offers pro-bono legal advice to Nee Soon residents

Sim has been volunteering with the PAP for a "couple of years".

She started by visiting Meet-the-People sessions in Nee Soon and decided to help out.

With her background as a lawyer, Sim provides pro-bono legal advice to residents who come forward with such issues.

"When residents are facing legal issues such as scams or notices from the various government departments, and they don't quite know what's going on, I help them out with that," said Sim.

Sim also attends to more serious cases involving the likes of neighbour disputes and domestic issues.

"I've been given many opportunities and chances in life, and one of them is the chance to study law. That is why I feel very strongly about making sure legal advice is accessible to the people."

Sim, who feels strongly about inclusion, also volunteers with charity movement NSCF Uplift, and provides strength training sessions to children with special needs once a week.

Like a granddaughter: Resident

A Nee Soon resident of 30 years, surnamed Lee, told Mothership that Sim is a kind person with "a good heart", saying she is like a "granddaughter".

Lee said in Mandarin that Sim had helped her at previous Meet-the-People sessions.

"If there's any problems, you can bring it to her, and she will help you with lots of love."

In her free time, Sim is passionate about powerlifting — a hobby she's done for about two years.

Sim said that she tried it previously when she used to do muay thai, and was inspired to pick it up again when national powerlifter Farhana Farid broke the world record for the sport.

"I was like, 'Oh, if she can, then I can do it', but obviously it's way harder than what she made it look like," said Sim.

Background

Sim studied law at the National University of Singapore (NUS) and graduated in 2008.

From 2012, Sim has worked as a legal counsel for various companies, such as American news outlet CNBC, Sony Pictures Entertainment and the Walt Disney Company, according to her LinkedIn page.

She currently serves as a legal director at Infront Sports and Media, a sports marketing company based in Switzerland, and handles legal contracts for Badminton World Federation (BWF) tournaments, the Sydney Marathon and the Olympics.

In 2019, Sim was awarded the Chevening Scholarship by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the U.K.

She went on to pursue a postgraduate diploma in Innovation, Technology and the Law at the University of Edinburgh.

In 2021, Sim was awarded the Fulbright Scholarship and obtained a Master of Laws at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Top image by Mothership