In May 2025, A Rocha Singapore became A Rocha's first national organization in Southeast Asia!
Staff
James Khoo, Science Officer
James’ love for insects started when he was catching grasshoppers and other fascinating beasts around his primary school. A love he nurtures and expresses in his work at The Curious Pangolin, engaging in education work for the public, schools, and anyone curious about the world of insects. He also conducts research and consultancy work on insects in Singapore.
He works as ARSG’s Science officer and oversees its conservation plan, focusing on groundwork for a monitoring programme for urban insects for Singapore and the region.
Listen to James in his episode on the A Rocha Field Notes podcast.
Shai Kroeker, Environmental Education Officer
Shai grew up in a pre-believing home, but always had a deep love for nature. When she became a Christian and read the Bible, it made sense why she loved God’s creation! But she felt very alone in her creation care journey until she found out about A Rocha’s work through Melissa. Having taught Geography & Social Studies in a secondary school for nine years, Shai (through Melissa's encouragement) did a sabbatical at A Rocha Canada (ARC) where she had the opportunity to teach environmental education in God’s amazing creation! She met her wonderful husband Steve there, and both of them served joyfully at ARC for 12 years as a married couple. They have a spirited daughter who constantly helps them to discover awe and wonder in their family life!
Shai has a heart for all of God’s creation (places & people) and a desire to see more come to care for creation as an expression of love for him. She loves learning and backpacking, and has a keen interest in nature, food, faith and culture. Shai serves at Adam Road Presbyterian Church as a part-time ministry staff in Children’s Church. She is excited to serve at ARSG part-time as a bilingual Environmental Educator & Community Builder. She firmly believes that A Rocha’s work is an authentic way of sharing faith.
Melissa Ong, Conservation Project Officer
When Melissa first encountered A Rocha in 2003, it felt like coming home to one’s long-lost family. Mel served in AR International for 13 years as their filmmaker. In 2005, she and Dan left Singapore for a year to film AR’s conservation projects around the world. From 2006-2008, they lived and worked in community with A Rocha Canada.
Upon returning to Singapore, she continued working in comms for ARI while raising creation care awareness locally. In December 2011, she and others inspired by A Rocha came together to work on a project – a Rail Corridor Ideas Competition submission. Together with Mary-Ruth Low and Prarthini Selveindran, they formed Friends of A Rocha in Singapore in 2015 to focus on faith and ecology.They ran a two-year citizen science project surveying amphibian diversity in urban parks.
In 2020, Mel and Prarthi published and co-edited Singapore’s first creation care book, God’s Gardeners: Creation Care Stories from Singapore and Malaysia (Graceworks). A Rocha Singapore is a dream come true for her.
She works part-time for ARSG, loves studying wild bees, and also trains dogs through Natural Dog Training.