chief_executive_officer

I was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Library Board, Singapore, with effect from 1 December 2019.  While I am not a trained librarian, I have vast experience in the Singapore public service, having served in various capacities across many Ministries and government agencies such as the Ministry of Manpower, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Education and the Singapore Workforce Development Agency, and most recently in SkillsFuture Singapore.  I am conversant in policy formulation, leading complex organisational changes and fronting public communications.  In the last 10 years, I have been working in the field of education and training, from pre-schools to university education, and more recently, focusing on lifelong learning.

 

In my last role, I was the founding Chief Executive of SkillsFuture Singapore and also concurrently the Deputy Secretary (SkillsFuture) in the Ministry of Education. I was responsible for driving the implementation of the national skills strategy known as SkillsFuture, in order to enhance the employability and competitiveness of Singapore’s workforce.  Leading the National Library Board therefore builds on what I have previously done at the Ministry of Education and SkillsFuture Singapore.

 

With knowledge and information now readily accessible, it is necessary for libraries to review how we stay relevant, and continue to facilitate learning and reading across different stages of an individual’s life. Technology also offers opportunities for libraries to personalise learning and increase accessibility particularly to working adults.  At the National Library Board, for example, we have witnessed strong growth in the loan of e-resources, which accounts for one in five loans in 2019.  We are currently working on a Libraries and Archives Plan 2025 to chart out the medium-term strategy for the National Library Board.  These are exciting times for libraries, and I look forward to having the opportunity to exchange views with you.