Brendan Loon

Conversations with Shawn Loh

Shawn Loh is the Deputy Director for Population Policy and Planning, at the Strategy Group of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). He got married at 24, had his first kid at 26, his second at 28, and his third at 31 this year. That is his explanation for why he is now leading the team working on population policies at PMO-Strategy Group. Shawn’s academic background is in financial economics. He started his life in public service at the Ministry of Education (MOE)’s Planning Division, where he worked to refine internal strategic planning capabilities and improve education policies for children with special needs. More recently, he led a team working with the Central Provident Fund (CPF) Advisory Panel to introduce a slew of CPF reforms at the Ministry of Manpower (MOM)’s…

Accommodation and food service activities / Education

Reflections with Ho Kwon Ping

Mr Ho Kwon Ping, founding Executive Chairman of Banyan Tree Holdings, an international hospitality business, founding Chairman of Singapore Management University, former journalist at the Far Eastern Economic Review, has worn many hats over the course of his long and illustrious career. It was, though, not always so smooth and successful a ride. Mr Ho has had many run-ins with the authorities: first at Stanford University in America while he was an undergraduate, then during his National Service and later under the Internal Security Act while studying at the National University of Singapore as an undergraduate again, having left Stanford after his run-in with the authorities. In all these occasions, Mr Ho’s conviction to speak truth to power prevailed…

Insights

Insights on Community Leadership from the Singapore Youth Awards

Advisory was given exclusive access to cover the Singapore Youth Award (SYA) Presentation Ceremony 2018. As noted by this year’s SYA Panel Chairperson Dr Sudha Nair, the SYA has, since 1975, served as the nation’s pinnacle youth award, recognising the excellence of young Singaporeans who have the tenacity to pursue their passions; dedication to serve others around them; and embody the best of the values of resilience, courage, service, leadership and inspiration – individuals with a vision…