From SQ Cabin Crew to Cancer Society: Lynn Koh’s Journey of Service

Former Singapore Airlines stewardess Lynn Koh transitioned to corporate roles and eventually the social services sector after experiencing a mid-flight passenger death during a flight to Auckland, New Zealand, stomp.sg reported. The incident occurred three years into her flying career on a flight bound for Auckland, where Koh spoke briefly with a solo male traveler before her scheduled break. When she returned, she witnessed colleagues performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the same passenger.

Mid-Flight Emergency Diverted to Sydney

Koh recalled feeling stunned by the emergency but had to continue serving remaining passengers calmly. The flight diverted to Sydney for local authorities to handle the deceased passenger before takeoff resumed without him. The event highlighted the unpredictability of life for Koh, prompting her to rethink her career path about a year later.

Corporate Shift to Loyalty Marketing

In 2015, Koh left her cabin crew position to take on a corporate role within Singapore Airlines’ loyalty marketing department. She spent about five years curating events for top customers after serving as a flight attendant from 2010 to 2014. She made the switch to experience ground operations and challenge herself with a new professional environment.

Leadership at Singapore Cancer Society

Koh currently serves as the head of community advancement at the Singapore Cancer Society, leading a team of six in driving fundraising and partnerships. Her dedication to the social services sector deepened after her best friend, a mother of two young children, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Koh and a group of friends rallied to support her friend throughout treatment.

She was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago. She has two very young kids.

Lynn Koh

Working at the Singapore Cancer Society exposed Koh to broader health statistics, including the finding that one in four people is at risk of developing cancer before reaching 75 years of age. Before joining SCS, she held roles in the National Council of Social Services, the Agency for Integrated Care, and the Football Association of Singapore.

Volunteer Work in Siem Reap

Koh’s commitment to community service began while studying communications and new media at the National University of Singapore between 2007 and 2010. Through the Youth Expedition Project, she traveled annually to Siem Reap, Cambodia, to volunteer at an orphanage. She and her peers taught English, refurbished the compound, and helped construct a house for a local family. She maintained these annual volunteer trips during her years as a flight attendant, coordinating visits with friends during year-end leave.