Speech by Dr Tan Lee Kim, Director-General (Food Administration) & Deputy CEO of the Singapore Food Agency, at Republic Polytechnic Graduation Ceremony
06 May 2025
Ms Jeanne Liew, Principal & CEO of Republic Polytechnic
Management of Republic Polytechnic
Distinguished Guests, Parents and Graduates
Introduction
1. Good afternoon. I am happy to celebrate this graduation milestone with the Class of 2025. Looking across this hall, I see not just our graduates, but those who have walked alongside you. Your family, friends and dedicated lecturers, have made this day possible. Your achievement today is a testament to your hard work, and also their unwavering support. Congratulations to the Class of 2025!
A Changing World
2. As we celebrate this joyous occasion today, it is important to recognise that the world you are stepping into is one of constant change.
3. I graduated 30 years ago. Then, there were no on-demand streaming services like Netflix. I could not shop or order food delivery online using a smartphone. In fact, there were no smartphones then. When I missed my family while studying in Perth, there was no Facetime or social media to reach out to them.
4. Looking ahead, there will be more profound changes reshaping our world.
- Artificial intelligence and big data are already transforming industries. You would have likely experienced this through tools like ChatGPT and DeepSeek.
- The urgent push for sustainability is driving innovation in clean energy and manufacturing.
- While climate change is shifting the world to transit to low-carbon technologies and changing our behaviours and lifestyles.
5. Just as social media managers, app developers, or jobs in the green economy did not exist 30 years ago, you might find yourself pioneering careers that we cannot even imagine today.
The 3Ds
6. Your time at RP has equipped you with the skills and knowledge to thrive in this rapidly evolving world. While challenges lie ahead, they also present opportunities. I would like to encourage you as you embark on a new chapter in your life. Singaporeans love to get As but I want to share with you 3Ds instead.
7. The first D - Dare to Try. Be brave. Have courage to try and do new things, even if it involves risks and uncertainties. It is normal to feel afraid or be uncomfortable, but that is where you will be stretched, and growth happens. Take risks and step out of your comfort zone. Even failure leads to learning. Great innovations come to those who embrace challenges.
8. At the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), where I am at, our mission is to ensure and secure a supply of safe food for Singapore. Let me share an example of how my team in SFA and I have Dared to Try.
9. In 2020, Singapore became the first country in the world to approve cell-based meat for human consumption. What did my team and I do?
10. We implemented the novel food regulatory framework, requiring companies to seek pre-market approval for novel food. Cell-based meat is an example of novel food, as they have no history of safe human consumption. We looked at the science, sought advice of experts in various disciplines and carried out robust food safety evaluation.
11. Since 2020, we have approved a few other novel food, such as proteins produced from precision and biomass fermentation.
12. If we did not Dare to Try what no one else in the world has done before, this would not have happened. Today, Singapore is recognised as a leader in future food for our progressive regulatory regime and strong R&D capabilities in food innovations. For those of you graduating from the Applied Science in Nutrition and Food Science, Singapore offers you opportunities to push the frontier of food innovations.
13. The second D - Desire to Grow: Today, you leave with a diploma in hand, but the knowledge and skills gained is just the start. Continuous learning is essential in an ever-changing world - whether through formal education, personal experiences, or learning from others. Stay curious, ask questions, and seek ways to improve.
14. SFA has worked with RP on talent development – a platform for growth outside of campus. Since 2013, we have welcomed RP students to complete their internships at SFA, giving them hands-on experience and the opportunity to contribute to national food initiatives. Two of you here today have interned with SFA’s Marine Aquaculture Centre on St John’s Island. They are Bushra Naz and Mavis Boey who studied Environmental & Marine Science.
- Mavis gained hands-on experience in broodstock husbandry and deepened her understanding of selective breeding in aquaculture.
- Bushra researched on the efficiency of feed additives in fish liver health. She was also responsible for maintaining and conducting fish egg quality testing during spawning periods.
I did not have the chance to meet them when they interned, but I hope that they had an enriching and unique learning experience at SFA.
15. I also want to acknowledge two graduates who show there is no age limit nor barrier to learning. Their spirit of continuous learning is an inspiration.
- Ann Lee who is receiving a Part Time Diploma in Applied Science in Nutrition and Food Science. She embarked on this academic journey in her early 50s. She is motivated by a passion for food and a deep curiosity about food science and nutrition. The course has prepared her for her new role as a panellist with a chemicals company that produces flavours and fragrances.
- Shariffah Fardhillah Binte Syed Ahmad Kamal, who is receiving a Part-Time Diploma in Applied Science in Pharmaceutical Science. She enrolled in this diploma course to improve her pharmaceutical knowledge after over 20 years in the healthcare sector. She was inspired by her colleagues and mentors. She has since improved her pharmacy knowledge, medication safety, and dispensing skills. She hopes to continue to gain experience, take on leadership roles, and continuously upgrade to make a meaningful impact in the pharmaceutical field.
16. Kudos to Ann and Shariffah!
17. The third D – Delight in the World. Life is challenging, especially in the working world. You may find yourself in difficult and unfamiliar situations. You will experience stress and pressure to deliver. I went through this when I started work. In fact, I am still experiencing this.
18. In January this year, Parliament passed a new law to boost food safety regulations and safeguard food security in Singapore. This new law was over 500 pages thick. It was the Food Safety and Security Act. I spent 2 years working on this. I am a veterinarian by training. I am not a lawyer. But I had to learn and lead my team to review 9 Acts, some of which were from half a century ago, to consolidate into a single mega Act.
19. During those hectic and stressful times, I continue to choose to find joy in life – in the little pleasures, in relationships with family, friends and colleagues, and in things that I choose to do, like practising yoga. I am sharing my experience to encourage you to also adopt a positive attitude, to continue to see the wonderful and beautiful things in the world and our lives, and to count our blessings, even as we deal with challenges. Staying positive will guide you through the most challenging times and open up new perspectives.
20. In conclusion - Have the spirit to Dare to Try. Desire to Grow your mind. And Delight in the World to fill your heart with joy and wonder.
Conclusion
21. To you, the Class of 2025, today marks the beginning of a new and exciting chapter ahead. Take with you the RP identity of #GreaterMe and the lessons learnt during your studies as you continue your journey to shape the future and contribute meaningfully to society. I hope my sharing of the 3Ds will come in of use in some way. Congratulations once again to the Class of 2025!
22. Thank you.
