Address by Mr Damian Chan, CEO of the Singapore Food Agency, at the Singapore Institute of Technology Convocation 2024 (17 Oct 2024)

Ms Neo Gim Huay, Member of the SIT Board of Trustees

Associate Professor Foo Yong Lim, Associate Provost (Academic Programmes), SIT

Professor Jamie Quinton, Head of School, Food Technology and Natural Sciences, Massey University

Senior management and representatives of SIT and Massey University

Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed faculty, proud parents and most importantly, the graduands from SIT Class of 2024

1. I am honoured to stand before you today as we celebrate your remarkable achievements and the culmination of years of hard work, resilience, and growth.


2. Today, we mark not just a personal milestone for each of you, but also a significant moment in the journey of SIT as it celebrates its 10th anniversary as an autonomous university! As Singapore’s first University of Applied Learning, SIT has pioneered an education model that emphasizes practical skills and industry engagement, equipping you to tackle the challenges of a rapidly evolving world.


3. To the graduands of the i) Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Information & Communications Technology majoring in Information Security, ii) Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Information & Communications Technology majoring in Software Engineering and to those graduating with a iii) Bachelor of Food Technology with Honours from a joint degree programme with Massey University – Congratulations! Each of you has navigated the challenges of your respective programmes with determination and courage, and your efforts deserve to be celebrated.

Education to Meet Changing Landscape

4. As you embark on your careers, whether in information technology or food technology, you are entering fields that are pivotal to our nation’s growth and sustainability. The infocomm sector in Singapore is thriving today, contributing over 15% to our GDP. It is equally important that we develop capabilities to pre-empt, identify and defend against ever-evolving malicious cyberthreats. Cybersecurity isn’t just a safeguard, but a foundation for digital innovation and trust. As businesses increasingly rely on digital technologies, protecting sensitive data from breaches and cyber threats becomes paramount. A strong cybersecurity framework fosters trust among customers and partners, ensures compliance with regulations, and safeguards brand reputation. Moreover, effective cybersecurity practices are essential for business continuity, allowing organizations to maintain operations during cyber incidents and minimize downtime. By securing their digital landscape, companies can confidently adopt new technologies and processes, driving agility and resilience in an ever-evolving digital landscape.


5. In parallel, the food sector is undergoing a transformation of its own. Innovations in technology are driving productivity, enhancing food safety, and enabling more sustainable practices. Today’s food industry, from farm-to-table, is transforming with controlled environment agriculture, artificial Intelligence, data analytics for sense-making and automation transforming operations. As graduates from the Food Technology programme, you are stepping into a world ripe with opportunity, where your skills in technology and food science can intersect and lead to groundbreaking advancements. At the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), we safeguard the supply of safe food. We will need to continue to leverage technology innovations as we grow more with less, diversify our food sources to mitigate supply disruptions and co-create a resilient food future with our industry partners, local farmers and consumers.


6. Technology, like food, nourishes the mind. When blended with creativity, it has the power to feed both innovation and humanity. The food sector promises careers in areas ranging from the high-technology and high productivity controlled environment agriculture, food manufacturing, food distribution, food storage to food retail.  Some of you might find it meaningful to harness your new skillsets to help feed Singapore’s future, and contribute to Singapore’s food safety and food security efforts.

Preparing for the Future

7. As you step into the next phase of your lives, you carry with you the legacy of SIT’s values—curiosity, determination, and the spirit of a “Thinking Tinkerer.” In this new age, characterized by digital advancements and climate challenges, be bold in your pursuits and think big! Embrace a mindset of lifelong learning. The skills you possess today will evolve, and it is essential to adapt, learn, unlearn, and relearn.


8. My own journey reflects that evolution. As a young A-level student, I fell in love twice.  First, with my wife-to-be who was at the same time playing hard to get. Second, with economics which at least reciprocated my love at that time. I loved the subject so much that I would pore over economic theories outside of even the Special paper syllabus, and got a kick out of confounding my own Econs Special paper tutor. In fact, I had a dream of winning the Nobel Prize in Economics. After A levels, I took up the Economic Development Board scholarship to study Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford, thinking that the EDB values economists. However, reality hit me hard the moment I started work in EDB. I quickly discovered to my dismay that even in EDB, at least at that time over 25 years ago, engineers were a lot more valued because manufacturing and high-tech sectors were (and still are) the major sectors of focus by EDB. I remember being shocked hearing the EDB Chairman of that time telling us, “economists would say "On one hand, this... and on the other hand, that…," while the engineers would use both hands to make something useful”. After going through the 5 stages of grief, where the last stage is “acceptance”, I decided to roll up my sleeves. I put both hands to work by learning both the technology and business aspects of the manufacturing and high-tech sectors, and learning how to engage senior leaders in multinational companies. 


9. Though my path diverged from economics, that initial passion instilled in me a lifelong commitment to learning and adaptability. In my career, I have often been in boardrooms around the world filled with brilliant minds. I had the privilege to oversee various domains, including roles in Semiconductors, Energy & Chemicals, Advanced Manufacturing, Agrifood, Environmental Sustainability, and Planning and Policy.  I even had to set up from scratch EDB’s Central COVID-19 Operations to lead the policies, audit, inspection and enforcement of COVID-safety measures for EDB sectors. This was a totally new capability for EDB, which is a development and not a regulatory agency. Today, after almost 28 years in EDB, I am in SFA, playing a very different role. SFA is principally a regulatory agency, but we are building up our development capabilities, especially for our food security mandate. I continue my life-long-learning journey, while applying my leadership and public service lessons from EDB to SFA. There is a very cliché saying: “You can’t learn to ride a bike from a book.” But it’s true; you must get on the bike, feel the balance, and sometimes, yes, fall down a few times before you truly master it. Getting your hands dirty—immersing yourself in real-world challenges—will teach you lessons that no textbook ever could. Whether it’s through internships, projects, or entrepreneurial ventures, I urge you to seek opportunities that challenge you to apply what you’ve learned.


10. Remember that learning doesn’t end here. Embrace every experience, take risks, and don’t shy away from the hard work. Your practical experiences will shape your character and enhance your skills in ways you cannot yet imagine. And your ambitions will probably evolve together with your life experiences.  My JC ambition of being a Nobel Laureate in Economics will be unfulfilled, but I have been making a difference for Singapore, developing industry and creating good jobs, and now, helping to ensure food safety and security. And I fulfilled my other JC love, the romantic one, and we have a happy family of 4 kids.

Celebrating Your Peers

11. Now, let me share the profiles of some of our remarkable graduands who embody the values we celebrate today:


12. Nurfateha Binte Abdul Rahman, a graduand in Food Technology, is a shining example of resilience and passion. As a mother of two, Fateha chose SIT for its supportive environment and applied learning approach. Her passion for health and nutrition stems from personal experiences within her family. During her Final-Year Project, she conducted research on infant food products, exploring safety and quality to address critical gaps in dietary recommendations. Fateha’s ambition doesn’t stop there; she is now focused on her own retail business specializing in baby products, aiming to promote healthier eating habits for infants and toddlers. She embodies the SITizen-DNA of a “Thinking Tinkerer,” demonstrating creativity and hands-on problem-solving, as well as showcasing her dedication to both family and career.


13. Png Han Zheng, who majored in Software Engineering, discovered his passion for technology through a pivotal internship where he automated a tedious manual task, significantly improving efficiency. His experiences at SIT, including working with Archisen, an urban farming company to develop a growbox and his capstone project on a web-based file-sharing platform, showcased his varied skillsets. Now employed full-time at WizVision (the same company where he completed his IWSP), Han Zheng continues to make an impact by contributing to government projects. His journey reflects the importance of practical experience and innovation, illustrating how a single idea can lead to transformative solutions.


14. Tan Ci En Anne, a graduand in Information Security, initially chose this path out of practicality but found a deep passion for cybersecurity. Through her internships, she gained valuable insights into IT governance and risk management. Anne has already earned industry certifications and received the ISACA Singapore Cyber Leadership Youth Leader Award. She is now making meaningful contributions in her role at RSM, where she is committed to enhancing cybersecurity standards. Her journey exemplifies the adaptability and determination needed to succeed in a fast-evolving field.

Giving Back to the Community

15.  As you sit here with mortarboards and gowns celebrating your achievement, remember that you do not walk this path alone. Take a moment to acknowledge those who have supported you throughout your journey: your family, friends, mentors, and faculty members. Their encouragement and belief in you have played a significant role in your success. 


16. And your journey does not end here. I hope for you, it is the beginning of a lifelong commitment to excellence and service. I encourage you to keep the spirit of giving back alive. Engage with your communities, inspire those around you, and be active participants in shaping the future. As part of the SIT family, stay connected with your peers and mentors, take part in the various alumni activities in SIT’s new home in Punggol and be part of the SIT family as they reach out, engage and serve the community in Punggol and beyond, and contribute your insights to the next generation of SITizens. SIT's new Punggol Campus embodies the spirit of SIT, fostering an environment where ideas can flourish, and partnerships can thrive. As you transition into the workforce, this unique ecosystem will serve as a foundation for continued growth and learning.

Conclusion

17. Norman Borlaug, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for work in agriculture, once said: “If you desire peace, cultivate justice. But, at the same time cultivate the fields to produce more bread, otherwise, there will be no peace”. What Norman, who was also known as the “Father of Green Agriculture”, was emphasising was the role of technology innovation in advancing food security.  So, as you leave here today, carry with you a sense of purpose and create that positive impact the world needs.


18. Congratulations once again, Class of 2024. Thank you.