[1] Chia was educated in Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School[2] between 1969 and 1978 and later attended Catholic Junior College from 1979 to 1980.
In media interviews, Chia expressed her passion for her work and overcoming challenges to conclude business deals.
[6] In August 2014, Chia was one of 9 individuals selected out of 36 candidates by a parliamentary committee to take on the role of Nominated members of parliament in Singapore.
[12] In June 2015, Chia was involved as a member of the Singapore Government's delegation to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Conference of the State Parties, serving as speaker at the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA)[13] Forum on Disability and Development,[14] jointly organised by the UNDESA and the Republic of Singapore, and as moderator at the forum "Women with Disabilities", organised by the Republic of Korea.
[18] Chia is a member of the Zion Bible-Presbyterian Church and formerly sat on its Board of Deacons between April 2007 and 2010.