Laurence de Groote is the founder and managing director of The Red Pencil, an international humanitarian organisation that brings creative arts therapy to children, adults, families and communities in crisis. Her work supports those affected by trauma from natural disasters, conflict zones, human trafficking, abuse, long-term hospitalisation and the mental health impact of the pandemic. Under her leadership, The Red Pencil has established operational entities in Singapore, Geneva, Brussels and Monaco, creating a global network of care. 

Laurence pioneered arts therapy at Singapore’s Changi Women’s Prison, providing rehabilitation through individual and group sessions and later extending her work to the maximum-security section of Changi Prison. She was also invited to run mental wellness workshops for prison staff. Her groundbreaking efforts have shaped the role of arts therapy in humanitarian and correctional settings worldwide, advancing access to creative mental health support in some of the world’s most vulnerable communities.