WHO HE IS: A trained lawyer with a heart for public service, Mr Danial Hakim is the inaugural Singaporean recipient of the ASEAN-Chevening Scholarship. The Scholarship enables outstanding emerging leaders from all over the world to pursue a fully-funded one-year master’s degree in the UK.
Mr Danial Hakim (Law ’16) is living proof that what you study may not be what you end up doing in life. While most of his peers are currently in legal practice, he is embarking on a Master of Public Policy programme at Oxford as Singapore’s inaugural ASEAN-Chevening Scholar. “Oxford is fertile ground for talks, conferences and encounters with professors who are steeped in their fields and truly esteemed in their domains,” said Mr Danial, 33. “Beyond the syllabus itself, I’m excited to build those networks — not just with faculty, but with peers who bring their own wealth of experience.”
The Blavatnik School of Government at Oxford is known for its diversity, and Mr Danial has joined a cohort of professionals from more than 60 countries, spanning the early, mid and later stages of their careers. “These are people who have spent their lives contributing to their communities in different ways,” he added. “I’m looking forward to learning how they organise, lead and make change — whether in government or through ground-up efforts.”
REALISING A DREAM
The scholarship will help Mr Danial realise one of his earliest ambitions: to make a real difference in the lives of those around him. He grew up in a stable but modest home, surrounded by friends who didn’t always have the same safety nets. Some juggled part-time jobs while in school to help their families. Others carried burdens they rarely spoke about. “I couldn’t give them money. I didn’t have resources,” he said. “But I could show up. I could be a friend. That planted the idea that support doesn’t have to be financial to be meaningful.”
He knows just how important a supportive environment is. After all, it was the people around him — mentors and bosses — who pushed him to raise his aspirations. Initially set on applying only to the UK, Mr Danial expanded his reach and received offers from both UK and US universities before choosing Oxford.
During his years at NUS, Mr Danial made a deliberate effort to step beyond the walls of the Bukit Timah Campus, where the Law Faculty was located. “The first two years I focused on law school-related CCAs and activities,” he said. “But in years three and four, I spent a lot more time on the main campus —meeting friends from other faculties, being a guest in spaces that weren’t mine and forming organic connections.” This experience exposed him to people from different social circles. “It helped me see how easy it is to stay in your own bubble,” he elaborated. “The best way to learn more in a natural manner is through human connection and mentorship.”
PUTTING PURPOSE TO PRACTICE
Mr Danial’s desire to make a difference also saw him pivot from the law early on. After a short stint in legal practice, he joined the public service — first the Ministry of Manpower, then the Singapore Police Force during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by the Ministry of Law, where his team helped set up Singapore’s first Public Defender’s Office. Most recently, he served in the Prime Minister’s Office’s Strategy Group, where he worked on socio-economic issues that cut across government agencies.
But beyond the corridors of the civil service, Mr Danial is also deeply rooted in the community: he co-founded PEGUAM, a collective providing free legal advice and Power of Attorney clinics to underserved communities, as well as the Jurong Spring Legal Clinic, which provides legal guidance to residents in the area. He also leads MENDAKI Club, an independent volunteer-run society uplifting Malay-Muslim youths through mentorship and development programmes.
These community initiatives have left a lasting impression on Mr Danial, who has seen firsthand how impactful they can be. One mentee stands out in his memory — a quiet teenager who, on the first day of a six-month mentorship programme, tried to leave before it even began. “She’d been signed up by her school and didn’t see why she should stay,” he recalled. “She was withdrawn, barely speaking. We had to gently coax her to give it just one session.”
What made the difference wasn’t luck. It was the strength of the mentorship structure. “Right before the programme starts, we interview over a hundred people,” he explained. “Some come through LinkedIn searches, others through open sign-ups. We use a clear rubric to assess their suitability — their past experience, interest, commitment, skills and personality. We’re looking for people who don’t just want to ‘help’, but who can build trust and walk alongside these youths.”
The mentors, in his opinion, are the heartbeat of the programme. Over the weeks, the same girl who had once stood at the doorway unsure if she belonged became the most outspoken voice in her group. “That transformation reminded me why this work matters,” he said. “The organisers can build the scaffolding, but it’s the mentors who bring it to life. Volunteers can change the trajectory of a young person’s life — sometimes in ways that even they don’t fully see.”
HIS JOURNEY SO FAR
- Early life: Almost was retained in JC1 due to lacklustre results, lacked early exposure to professional pathways.
- National Service: Sparked interest in law through exposure to operations and legal processes in the Police Force.
- 2012 – 2016: Studied law at the National University of Singapore Faculty of Law.
- 2016: Called to the Bar; began short stint in legal practice. Started volunteering with MENDAKI Club and other community organisations; co-founded Jurong Spring Legal Clinic.
- 2018 – 2023: Worked in public service: Ministry of Manpower, Singapore Police Force, Ministry of Law
- 2023 – 2025: Deepened community involvement by leading MENDAKI Club and its mentorship and youth development programmes, and co-founded PEGUAM to offer free legal clinics and Power of Attorney sessions; Continued work in public service at the Prime Minister’s Office (Strategy Group)
- 2025: Awarded the ASEAN-Chevening Scholarship — Singapore’s inaugural recipient.
