SINGAPORE - Social activist Melissa Kwee will be replacing Nominated Member of Parliament Laurence Lien as the chief executive of the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre's (NVPC) board.

The change in leadership was announced by the NVPC - which connects volunteers and donors with the non-profit sector here - on Wednesday. It will take effect on Sept 1.

Ms Kwee, a graduate of Harvard College and a Fulbright Scholar who embarked on social entrepreneurship right after university, is the founder of Project Access - a leadership education initiative to inspire and equip girls and young women to be role models.

She also pioneered service learning programmes in schools, and has worn various hats in social service.

"Volunteerism and philanthropy are vital pillars of our nation's social capital," she said.

"Not only does giving and volunteering assist with meeting needs in the community, the act of giving itself is transformational...As our nation evolves, we need to ask what kind of society we want to live in and leave for future generations...Giving should be what we get to do, not what we have to do."

Mr Lien, who led NVPC for over five years, said he admired his successor's work and capabilities.

"She is not only a role model for the values that NVPC champions, but is also well known for her ability to rally people around truly worthy causes and infecting them with her passion to make a difference," he said.

"I look forward to seeing how she will steer NVPC to develop a more compassionate and engaged society."