Latest news with #KennethEr
Straits Times
01-08-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Synapxe chief executive, MND deputy secretary to become new perm secs on Sept 1
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox From Sept 1, Ms Ngiam Siew Ying will be appointed second permanent secretary for finance, while Mr Kenneth Er will be second permanent secretary for manpower and education. SINGAPORE – Two senior public servants are set to become permanent secretaries, and two current permanent secretaries will change portfolios in the coming months, the Public Service Division said in a statement on Aug 1. From Sept 1, Mr Kenneth Er will be appointed second permanent secretary for manpower and education, while Ms Ngiam Siew Ying will be second permanent secretary for finance. Mr Er, 53, is currently deputy secretary (planning) at the Ministry of National Development (MND), while Ms Ngiam, 49, is currently the chief executive of health technology agency Synapxe. The two current permanent secretaries who will take on new portfolios are Mr Augustin Lee, 54, and Mr Chng Kai Fong, 46. Mr Lee will relinquish his current role as second permanent secretary for education on Sept 1, and his role as second permanent secretary (Smart Nation) in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on Oct 1. He will be appointed permanent secretary (energy and trade) at the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) from Sept 1. Mr Chng will take over Mr Lee's Smart Nation portfolio and be concurrently appointed permanent secretary (development) (Smart Nation) (cybersecurity) in the PMO from Oct 1. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Tech Reporting suspected advanced cyber attacks will provide a defence framework: Shanmugam Singapore Tanjong Katong sinkhole: Affected road will open progressively to motorists from noon on Aug 2 Business Singapore's US tariff rate stays at 10%, but the Republic is not out of the woods yet World As China-US tariff truce talks drag on, what are prospects for a 'big deal' for Trump? Singapore Thundery showers expected on most days in first half of August Singapore 5 women face capital charges after they were allegedly found with nearly 27kg of cocaine in S'pore Business Sumo Salad had valid insurance coverage for work injury claims: MOM He is currently permanent secretary (information and development) at the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI). Mr Augustin Lee (left) will be appointed permanent secretary (energy and trade) at MTI from Sept 1, and Mr Chng Kai Fong will be appointed second permanent secretary (Smart Nation) in the PMO as well as permanent secretary (development) (Smart Nation) (cybersecurity) in the PMO from Oct 1. PHOTOS: PUBLIC SERVICE DIVISION Permanent secretaries are senior public servants who typically helm ministries, working closely with their respective ministers. Mr Er has held various roles at the National Parks Board, MND and Gardens by the Bay before being appointed chief operating officer at Gardens by the Bay in 2012. He was chief executive of the National Parks Board between 2014 and 2023. Ms Ngiam has held various appointments in the Defence Science and Technology Agency, the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Transport, and the PMO before being appointed deputy secretary (policy) at the Ministry of Health (MOH) in 2016. She has headed Synapxe since 2022. Mr Lee has held various appointments at the former Ministry of Labour, MOH, the National Healthcare Group and MTI. He had also served as principal private secretary to then Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong before being appointed deputy secretary in the Ministry of Manpower. Between 2019 and 2023, he was chief executive of the Central Provident Fund Board. Mr Chng has held various roles at the former Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Civil Service College, MTI, and the Communications Group in the PMO. He had also served a two-year stint in the private sector at Shell Eastern Petroleum. He was appointed principal private secretary to then Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in 2014 and became managing director at the Economic Development Board in 2017. In 2021, he was appointed second permanent secretary for the Smart Nation and Digital Government Group (SNDGG) in the PMO. In 2022, he was concurrently appointed second permanent secretary (communications and information) and second permanent secretary (cybersecurity) in the PMO. In 2023, he was redesignated permanent secretary (development) in the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) and for the SNDGG and cybersecurity in the PMO. He later relinquished his appointment as permanent secretary (development) at the SNDGG, and was redesignated permanent secretary (information and development) at MCI. He later became permanent secretary (information and development) at MDDI after MCI was renamed MDDI in 2024.
CNA
01-08-2025
- Business
- CNA
Public Service Division announces permanent secretary appointments and re-designations
SINGAPORE: The Public Service Division (PSD) on Friday (Aug 1) announced permanent secretary appointments and re-designations that will take effect in the next two months. Mr Kenneth Er Boon Hwee, 53, will be appointed Second Permanent Secretary (Manpower) and concurrently Second Permanent Secretary (Education) from Sep 1. Mr Er has been Deputy Secretary (Planning) at the Ministry of National Development (MND) since 2023. He was the former CEO of the National Parks Board (NParks) from 2014 to 2013, and previously held various appointments in MND, NParks and Gardens by the Bay. Ms Ngiam Siew Ying, 49, will be appointed Second Permanent Secretary (Finance) from Sep 1. She has been the CEO of Synapxe, the national health tech agency, since 2022. Ms Ngiam held various appointments in the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA), Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), Ministry of Transport (MOT) and the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), before her appointment as Deputy Secretary (Policy) at the Ministry of Health (MOH) in 2016. Mr Augustin Lee, 54, will be appointed Permanent Secretary (Energy and Trade) at the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) from Sep 1. He will relinquish his roles as Second Permanent Secretary (Education) and Second Permanent Secretary (Smart Nation) at the PMO on Sep 1 and Oct 1 respectively. Mr Lee was the former CEO of the Central Provident Fund (CPF) Board from 2019 to 2023 and previously served as Principal Private Secretary to then-Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong. He has also held various appointments in the then-Ministry of Labour, MOH, National Healthcare Group and MTI. Mr Chng Kai Fong, 46, will take over Mr Lee's Smart Nation portfolio. He will also be concurrently appointed Permanent Secretary (Development) (Smart Nation) (Cybersecurity) at the PMO from Oct 1. In 2014, Mr Chng was appointed Principal Private Secretary to then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and was named as managing director of the Economic Development Board (EDB) in 2017.
