Jack Sim
Native name沈锐华
Birth nameSim Juek Wah
Birth date1957 (age 69–70)
Birth placeColony of Singapore
EducationInstitute of Technical Education
Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (MPA)
Known forFounding Restroom Association, World Toilet Organization, and World Toilet Day

Jack Sim Juek Wah[a] (born 1957), also known as Mr Toilet, is a Singaporean entrepreneur and philanthropist who is the founder of the World Toilet Organization and World Toilet Day initiative. He is also the founder of the Restroom Association of Singapore.

Sim started a number of successful business ventures before venturing into charitable work in his early forties. In 2001, he founded the World Toilet Organisation (WTO), an international non-governmental organisation for sanitation. After lobbying efforts with Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the founding date of WTO was later adopted as World Toilet Day by the United Nations in 2012. Sim's leadership of the WTO includes humanitarian, developmental, and advocacy work for sanitation.

Sim graduated with a Master of Public Administration from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore in 2011. He is currently an adjunct associate professor at the university's business school.

Early life and education

Sim was born the second of three children in 1957 to a grocery store assistant and a beautician, Tan Siam Kheng.[1][2] His family lived in an impoverished village in Upper Serangoon without a plumbing system.[3][4][5] He studied at Kim Keat Primary School and Whitley Secondary School, doing poorly academically and later failing his O-level secondary school examinations.[5] He attributes his academic difficulties to attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.[6] He later enrolled in the Vocational and Industrial Training Board (now the Institute of Technical Education), graduating with a certificate in hotel management.[5][7]

As an adult, he completed professional courses from the University of Strathclyde and Harvard University.[8] In 2013, he received a Masters of Public Administration degree from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore.[9][10] He was thereafter appointed an adjunct associate professor at the NUS Business School and an honorary professor at Shohbit University in Uttar Pradesh, India.[9][11] In 2022, he received an honorary Doctor of the University degree from the University of Strathclyde.[12] He is a fellow of the Singapore University of Social Sciences and the Global Federation of Competitiveness Councils.[13][14]

Business career

After leaving school, Sim worked as a construction site supervisor and salesperson at Diethelm (now DKSH) before starting a business at 24.[15] In 1982, he started Besco Building Supplies, which manufactured building materials.[16] By his early 40s, he had expanded his business portfolio to 15 companies, including a toilet cubicle manufacturer and a $115-million tiling factory.[10][17] He was also involved in real estate investments, at one point owning 15 properties,[18] and was a developer of the Australian International School Singapore.[19] In the late 1990s, Sim watched a speech by then-Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong on the social significance of clean public toilets.[20] By the end of the 1997 Asian financial crisis, he sold off a portion of his businesses and began to volunteer with the Samaritans of Singapore.[21]

World Toilet Organisation

In December 1998, he founded the Restroom Association of Singapore,[22] later launching a rating system for the cleanliness of public toilets in collaboration with the National Environmental Agency.[23][24]

On 19 November 2001, he founded the World Toilet Organization as an advocacy group for global sanitation. In his role as director of the WTO, Sim is a lobbyist and coordinator for sanitation efforts,[25] organising an annual World Toilet Summit,[26][27] and contributing to administrative and policy changes in Brazil, China, India, and Singapore.[10][28][29] Sim also lobbied Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) to support establishing 19 November as World Toilet Day, which led to Singapore's first-ever tabled resolution at the United Nations in 2012, which succeeded with 120 co-sponsors.[30][31][32]

Sim raises funds for WTO through hosting the World Toilet Summits and philanthropic grants, including from the Lien Foundation and Gates Foundation.[28][33] He uses emotional branding, humour, and celebrity endorsements to raise awareness of sanitation issues.[34][35] Under Sim's leadership, the WTO launched a series of World Toilet Colleges, which ran the world's first toilet-cleaning qualification programme,[36][37][38] and which currently provides sanitation training for people in the developing world.[39] He provided humanitarian aid for Turkey after the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes.[40]

In 2008, he was appointed to the World Economic Forum's Global Agenda Council for Water Security and the GAC for Social Entrepreneurship.[citation needed] He was appointed co-convenor of India’s Swachh Andhra Pradesh Initiative in 2015.[41]

For his work, Sim is also known as "Mr Toilet".[4][19] The eponymous documentary Mr. Toilet about Sim's activism premiered at North America's largest documentary festival, Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival on 27 April 2019.[42][43] Sim also worked with Singaporean director Jack Neo in developing the 2013 film Everybody's Business.[44]

Other social ventures

In the early 2010s, Sim ventured into social entrepreneurship as a means to diversify revenue for WTO.[28] Sim founded BOP Hub, a non-profit organisation targeting bottom-of-pyramid individuals at the poorest global income margins in 2011,[45] developing a $10,000,000 building in Ubi.[46] In 2016, the organisation engaged in food relief efforts for migrant workers in Singapore,[47][48] and currently acts as a startup accelerator for social enterprises.[49]

He was also involved in bringing Dialogue in the Dark, a global disability social business, to Singapore.[50]

Personal life

He lives in Meyer Road, Katong, Singapore.[51] His first marriage in 1989 ended in divorce after a year.[52] He remarried in 1990 and has two sons and two daughters with his current wife.[5][19][53] He identifies as having "no religion".[54]

Awards

Bibliography

Notes

  1. ^ simplified Chinese: 沈锐华; pinyin: Shěn Ruìhuá; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Sím Jōe-hôa

References

  1. ^ "Skoll | Social Entrepreneurship in 1960s Singapore: The Story of My Mother". Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  2. ^ "Humble beginnings". The Straits Times. December 9, 2009.
  3. ^ "Jack Sim". World Economic Forum
  4. ^ "Man of Missions". Singapore Magazine. Singapore International Foundation. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  5. ^ Nanda, Akshita (August 16, 2010). "Toilet break; Jack Sim is streamlining his business to focus on the group he founded, the World Toilet Organisation". The Straits Times
  6. ^ Yue, Reuben (2022-10-27). "Leading with ADHD Strengths: A Shining Light for the Greater Good". UnlockingADHD. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  7. ^ "Never too busy to go back to school". AsiaOne. 2013-07-12. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  8. ^ "Social Capital". Nanyang Technological University. Harvard Singapore Foundation.
  9. ^ "Jack Sim (MPA 2013) Re-appointed as Adjunct Associate Professor at NUS Business School". lkyspp.nus.edu.sg. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  10. ^ "Mr Jack Sim Juek Wah". NUS Alumni Awards 2021. National University of Singapore. 2021.
  11. ^ "Shobhit University India - MEET MR. TOILET: Prof Jack Sim". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  12. ^ "Ten distinguished figures honoured by Strathclyde | University of Strathclyde". www.strath.ac.uk. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  13. ^ "Fellows | SUSS". www.suss.edu.sg. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  14. ^ "Jack Sim". TheGFCC.org. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  15. ^ "'Toilet Man' Jack Sim has the last laugh". AsiaOne. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  16. ^ Leow, Claire (2 December 1991). "When being blissfully ignorant of danger helps". The Business Times. p. 11.
  17. ^ "Jack Sim's big business". AsiaOne. 2013-11-11. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  18. ^ "From O-level failure to millionaire at 29, on a policy of honesty first". CNA. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  19. ^ Tan, Christopher (October 29, 2021). "Mr Toilet drives humble Toyota Camry". The Straits Times
  20. ^ Teo, Ginnie (September 11, 1998). "First restroom association planned". The Straits Times
  21. ^ Khew, Carolyn (November 16, 2015). "He's on a roll to clean up dirty toilet habits; Jack Sim's helping to launch World Toilet College in India to spread sanitation message". The Straits Times
  22. ^ Kaur, Karamjit (November 25, 2001). "Lord of the Loos". The Straits Times
  23. ^ "Singapore's "happy" toilets to be given five-star hotel ratings". Agence France Presse. June 2, 2003.
  24. ^ Doran, D'Arcy (July 2, 2003). "SINGAPORE PUBLIC TOILET LEFT FLUSHED WITH PRIDE". The Independent
  25. ^ "A Stink Over Sanitation". berkleycenter.georgetown.edu. Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  26. ^ "Singapore firm eyes profit in cheap toilet market". NBC News. 2009-12-02. Archived from the original on 6 April 2024. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  27. ^ Bhanoo, Sindya N. (2010-03-01). "For Pennies, a Disposable Toilet That Could Help Grow Crops". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  28. ^ Chowdhury, Imran (2016). "Case Study: From Social Entrepreneur To Social Enterprise". Current Topics in Management. 18: 183–200. doi:10.4324/9780203788394-9. ISBN 9780203788394.
  29. ^ Au Yong, Jeremy (November 20, 2005). "Potty parity: New law requires all new buildings here to have as many loos for women as for men, if not more". The Straits Times
  30. ^ "UN declares Nov 19 as World Toilet Day: Resolution is the first that S'pore has tabled in 48 years as UN member". The Straits Times. July 25, 2013.
  31. ^ Experience Singapore. No. 48. Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 2013.
  32. ^ Chan, Robin (2013-07-24). "Singapore's first UN resolution adopted; now, every Nov 19 is World Toilet Day". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  33. ^ Tan, Dawn Wei (December 14, 2008). "Clinton gives tips to toilet champ". The Straits Times
  34. ^ Chia, Audrey & Yee Wei, Lim (2021). "Social Innovators Leading Change in Health". On the Emergence and Understanding of Asian Global Leadership. de Gruyter. pp. 57–64. doi:10.1515/9783110671988-004. ISBN 9783110671940.
  35. ^ Jervell, Ellen Emmerentze. "Ads for Bathroom Products Flush With Potty Humor". WSJ. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  36. ^ "Singapore is offering the world's first lavatory-cleaning training programme; The Bulletin". The Times. June 16, 2006. p. 3.
  37. ^ Toh, Elgin (June 22, 2006). "Toilet cleaners to get training to become restroom specialists". The Straits Times
  38. ^ "Toilet ambassadors help Singapore clean up" (in en-ZA). The Mail & Guardian. 2006-06-24. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  39. ^ Poon, Linda (November 19, 2014). "Toilets 'R' Him: Jack Sim Wants A Potty In Every Pad". NPR
  40. ^ Tang, Louisa (March 10, 2023). "Secondhand clothes donated by people in Singapore for Türkiye-Syria quake victims disposed of, sent to NGO". Channel News Asia
  41. ^ "Andhra Pradesh Collaborates With World Toilet Organisation for Sanitation Project". NDTV.com. Archived 21 May 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2017-04-05.
  42. ^ Lui, John (4 April 2019). "Singapore toilet activist's documentary to premiere at festival". The Straits Times. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  43. ^ Kenigsberg, Ben (2019-11-21). "'Mr. Toilet' Review: Getting a Handle on the World's Toilet Shortage". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  44. ^ Tan, Dylan (December 6, 2013). "When Jack Neo met Jack Sim". The Business Times Singapore
  45. ^ "Tackling poverty through 'social franchising'". The Business Times Singapore. November 3, 2011.
  46. ^ Ho, Olivia (August 1, 2016). "Jack Sim: Making it his mission to flush away the world's ills; 'Change maker' Jack Sim out to battle disease by ensuring proper sanitation". The Straits Times
  47. ^ "NGO steps in to ensure proper meals for foreign workers". TODAY. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  48. ^ "Five contractors keen on providing workers with healthier meals". TODAY. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  49. ^ Chang, Jonathan & Bhattacharya, Lipika (2021). "Base of Pyramid Hub: Connecting solutions". Asia's Social Entrepreneurs. Routledge. pp. 128–135. ISBN 9781003203582.
  50. ^ "DIALOGUE IN THE DARK COMING TO STORE". Today. 15 December 2007. p. 12.
  51. ^ Sajan, Chantal (2021-08-20). "How 'Mr Toilet' Jack Sim turned a ramshackle house into a bungalow worth $13 million". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  52. ^ Tan, Ee Sze (1989-02-16). "The couple who dared to be different". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
  53. ^ "Mr. Toilet Wants to Save the World From Drowning in Shit". MEL Magazine. 2019-11-06. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  54. ^ Abbugao, Martin (September 27, 2007). "Toilet talk serious business for Singapore's sanitation evangelist". Agence France Presse
  55. ^ "MPA Alumnus Jack Sim Received the SkillsFuture Fellowships Award". lkyspp.nus.edu.sg. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  56. ^ "Jack Sim, Tan Lai Yong and Carrie Tan honoured at NUS Alumni Awards 2021". lkyspp.nus.edu.sg. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  57. ^ Nonis, Jamie (2020-12-11). "Asia's Most Influential: Jack Sim, Founder of Restroom Association of Singapore and World Toilet Organization" (in en-SG). Tatler Singapore. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
  58. ^ McBride, Jake (2018-03-22). "Singapore". Points of Light. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  59. ^ "Jack Sim – 2018 Outstanding Peace Activist — Luxembourg Peace Prize". Retrieved 2019-08-15.
  60. ^ "Stories of past winners". www.nvpc.org.sg. Archived from the original on 21 May 2017. Retrieved 2017-04-05.
  61. ^ "Senior Fellow: Jack Sim". www.synergos.org. Archived 5 April 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2017-04-05.
  62. ^ "Jack Sim's big business". AsiaOne. 2013-11-11. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  63. ^ Beech, Hannah (24 September 2008). "Jack Sim". Time. Archived from the original on 1 May 2009. Retrieved 31 October 2009.
  64. ^ "Jack Sim | Ashoka". www.ashoka.org. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  65. ^ "Awardees". Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship
  66. ^ "Mr Restroom among 6 honoured for green efforts". The Straits Times. June 8, 2004.