Our founder Agnes Kwek is a policy-wonk-turned-designer with a niche in transforming people and organisations through design. She has spent nearly three decades in the engine rooms of the Singapore Government, industry, and international networks, working on portfolios spanning defence diplomacy, labour policy, community organisation and social welfare, public service transformation, land transport, and industry development.

Agnes has spent a lot of time doing things that haven’t been done before – from hands-on design work in her attachment with IDEO (San Francisco), to setting up the Singapore public service’s first in-house design team, championing design-led transformation across government, and then stepping into what’s possibly the world’s first role of Design Ambassador for a nation.

Through these experiences, she has a first-hand understanding of what government agencies, non-profits and businesses actually need, to build capabilities and confidence in tackling complex problems. After leaving the Singapore public service, Agnes founded MindTheSystem in May 2021. She offers clear, practical approaches to change management through systems thinking, futures foresight, and human centred design.

Agnes is based in Paris, France, but works virtually with all countries. Her multicultural and international background allows her to connect easily with a wide array of people from different cultures.