Margaret Thomas has a master's degree in sociology from the London School of Economics.
After two years of trying her hand as an investment analyst in the Monetary Authority of Singapore in the mid-1970s, Thomas found her calling in journalism.
She has some 30 years of print and online media experience, having spent time in the newsrooms of The Business Times, The Singapore Monitor and TODAY, mostly in senior editing positions. Thomas was also in the founding team of Singapore Press Holding’s Internet arm, AsiaOne. She was involved in media coverage of women’s issues and socio-political matters as a journalist.
Education[]
- The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), MSc (Econs), Sociology, 1974 to 1975
- University College, London, Postgraduate Diploma, Urbanisation in Developing Countries, 1973 to 1974
- University of Singapore, BA, Sociology/Philosophy, 1970 to 1973
Work experience[]
- Association of Women for Action and Research, Singapore, Board member, 2009 to the present
- M.E.D.I.A. Associates, Consultant, September 2008 to the present
- Tusitala Productions, Consulting editor, August 2009 to June 2011
- MediaCorp Pte Ltd, Director, Special Duties, November 2005 to August 2008
- TODAY, Deputy Editor, 2004 to 2005
- AsiaOne, VP, Content, June 1999 to January 2002
- SPH AsiaOne, VP, English Content, 2000 to 2001
- Singapore Press Holdings, Deputy Editor, Business Times, Singapore, 1986 to 1998
- The Singapore Monitor, various appointments, 1981 to 1985
Books published[]
Thomas currently works on book and related projects. She is the co-editor, together with Constance Singam, of The Art of Advocacy In Singapore[1], and the sole editor of The Politics of Defeat[2], both published by Ethos Books.
Civil society activism[]
Having inherited her father’s penchant for doing social good, she is active in civil society. In 1985, she was a founding member of AWARE (Association of Women for Action and Research) and in 2003 of TWC2, which promotes equitable treatment of migrant workers in Singapore.
A member of AWARE’s Board since 2009, Thomas was part of the team overseeing the professionalisation of AWARE. In April 2018, Thomas was elected as President of AWARE and continues to oversee the effort to expand AWARE’s services and strengthen its position as a leading civil society organisation in Singapore.
Video interviews[]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnDJqlcllN8
TOC news tonight 3 - Margaret Thomas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3RQ0kGCa04
Margaret Thomas and Lena Lim on the Origins of AWARE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PG9HwrrimcU
9th Anniversary of the AWARE saga
See also[]
References[]
- Margaret Thomas, Singapore Council of Women's Organisations[3].
- "AWARE votes in new Board, led by veteran journalist Margaret Thomas", aware.org, 7 May 2018[4].
- Margaret Thomas, Ethos Books[5].
Acknowledgements[]
This article was written by Roy Tan.