For Sentient Beings
Tara Melwani
Director
Tara Melwani, eldest daughter of Singapore’s renowned entrepreneur, the late Moti Melwani, was actively involved in philanthropic initiatives and community service while developing extensive business and leadership experience within her family-owned enterprise, which she joined in 1989.
In 2001, Tara stepped down from her position as Managing Director of Jay Gee Enterprises to devote more of her time to humanitarian projects under the guidance of her spiritual teacher, Lama Zopa Rinpoche. She subsequently served on the Executive Board of the Jay Gee Melwani Group.
Beginning in 2004, Tara played an instrumental role in organising public talks by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama in Bangalore and Mumbai, India, on behalf of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT). In 2007, she also organised a three-day teaching event in Dharamsala for participants from Southeast Asia. Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, USA, FPMT also benefited from Tara’s service as a board member.
Tara oversaw the M. B. Melwani Family Trust, which supported educational opportunities for disadvantaged Sindhi refugee children from underserved communities across twelve cities in India. Her humanitarian work also extended to corresponding with prisoners in the United States who expressed an interest in exploring, studying and practising Buddhism.
She served on the Executive Committee of the Vegetarian Society (Singapore), contributing to its mission of educating the public about the benefits of reducing meat consumption.
Tara also served as Chairwoman of Essential Education, an initiative of the Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom, a UK-based non-profit organisation established in January 2005. The initiative promoted compassion, ethical awareness and practical wisdom through educational resources, training and community connections. Its work extended across schools, colleges, healthcare institutions, hospices, rehabilitation centres, prisons, workplaces and homes.
Throughout these roles, Tara brought together her experience in business leadership, philanthropy and humanitarian service, reflecting her longstanding commitment to education, compassion and the wellbeing of others.
She served on the Executive board of the Jay Gee Melwani group.
Tara runs the Moti Melwani Family Trust which provides education for disadvantaged Sindhi refugee children from slum areas in Ahmedabad, India and used to correspond with prisoners in the USA who were interested in exploring studying and practicing buddhism while in prison.
Tara sat on the executive committee of the Vegetarian Society Singapore ….
She was also a short-term Chairwoman for The Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom based in the UK.