One scholar attests how an EDB career has given him a diverse and challenging work experience.

By Joyce Lin

If there’s one thing an education in Engineering can give you, it’s being able to understand things better and gaining a strong foundation in analysis and logic, says Mr Ralph Foong, 33, Head of Transport Engineering at Economic Development Board (EDB).

After the ‘A’ levels, Ralph took up the EDB scholarship to further his studies in Electrical Engineering at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and completed his master’s degree at University of California, Berkeley.

The BCA is more than just about construction, as Tan Wee Kwang finds out in his role to help shape a better built environment for the future.

By Joyce Lin

Most people would be put off by the three “Ds” of the building and construction industry – “dirty”, “dangerous” and “demanding” – but not Tan Wee Kwang. The 28-year-old Senior Executive Engineer at the Building & Construction Authority (BCA) currently works in the Transit Shelter Engineering Department which regulates the planning, design and construction of Civil Defence MRT shelter stations in Singapore.

So the next time you pass by these MRT stations, such as those in the Northeast Line and Circle Line, everything from the environmental control system to the drainage system have been certified as good to go, thanks in part to Wee Kwang’s dedication to his job.

For Jane Foo, the MOE scholarship was a dream come true – it allowed her to do what she loved best.

By Joyce Lin

Ever wondered if you could take the stage one day as a performing musician? You could just be the next big thing, says Jane Foo, a Ministry of Education (MOE) scholar.

“I think one big misconception about music is that only people with talent can enjoy or play music. Actually, anyone can enjoy, perform and compose music as long as they are willing to learn,” she explains. “Even for people who are very good at it – brilliant performers or composers – talent only plays a small part. Hard work and perseverance are still the keys to success.”

It is this go-getting attitude that led Jane to apply for an MOE scholarship to pursue a music degree at King’s College London.

On her experience studying overseas, Jane has only positive feedback. “London is a city that is culturally vibrant, with museums, concert halls and top-notch musicians,” she says. “I enjoyed my time in King’s College London very much. There are so many resources available for a music student, and the teachers there were extremely helpful. I was able to meet people from diverse cultural backgrounds, which definitely deepened my curiosity for other cultures of the world.”

“Never say never” is the mindset that researchers must have in the field of R&D. Two experts from Makino Asia share what really makes them tick.

By Joyce Lin

Whenever a car drives by or plane flies past, SKC Mohanan feels a sense of pride in knowing that part of it was made from Makino machines.

The R&D Manager from Makino Asia Pte Ltd has worked in R&D ever since he graduated from the University of Kerala in India. It is this relentless passion for the field that has motivated him to work in Singapore for close to 18 years.

His younger counterpart, Jason Wan, an Engineer in the same company for three years, has remained enthralled by R&D ever since his first brush with it during a work stint at the Logistic Institute Asia Pacific after his graduation. The 31-year-old has an honours degree from National University of Singapore in Computer Engineering and a master’s degree in Computer Science.

Two employees from GSK spill the beans on what they love about working for one of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in the world.

By Joyce Lin

Whenever you step into a pharmacy or a supermarket, you’re likely to find a product from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). From mass consumer products such as Ribena, Lucozade and Horlicks, to prescription medicines and vaccines, GSK is one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies with a history that dates back to the early eighteenth century.

With its office facilities and three manufacturing plants including a new vaccine manufacturing plant which was officially opened by the Prime Minister in June 2009, GSK has certainly made its presence felt in Singapore.

Diversity in the field
A career with GSK is as varied and exciting as its range of products and brands. Young professionals like Nicholas Teo, an Associate Account Manager and experienced staff like Leow Kwee Foong, a Regulatory Affairs Director attest how every work day is different and eagerly anticipated.

For life planners Wong Kooi Fong and Abel Lee, the ‘people’ factor at work is something that money can’t buy.

By Joyce Lin

When Wong Kooi Fong, 30, an Executive Life Planner with Great Eastern Life, made her first call to a prospective client, she remembered standing outside a shopping centre, trembling and hesitating for 30 minutes before pressing the ‘dial’ button – even though the other party was her close friend.

Today, a year and a half into her job, Kooi Fong exudes a quiet confidence while recounting the incident, with nary a trace of her former self. A self-confessed introvert, you would find that this is hardly the case when you talk to her.

This same type of confidence is found in Abel Lee, 25, also an Executive Life Planner, who carries himself naturally and is experienced beyond his age.

By Joyce Lin

There are some jobs that offer stability even in times of economic uncertainty, such as the field of accounting, which remains relevant and necessary to almost every company regardless of its industry. And for Clement Chan, 28, choosing the Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS) to further his education has given him a good and stable career as an auditor which he enjoys today.

Clement first graduated with a diploma in Accountancy from Ngee Ann Polytechnic, and decided to further his education with MDIS thereafter. “I have always had a passion for numbers and I heard from my friends that accountancy would provide a good career path,” he explains. “So I enrolled in MDIS after coming across an advertisement in the newspapers and ascertaining that it was a reputable school to enrol in.”

From the drawing board to the big screen, digital created art brings movies, TV shows and computer games to life with illustrations and special effects. Find out more about this growing industry in Singapore.

By Joyce Lin

Do you remember being awestruck while in the cinema, watching movies such as Transformers, Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings? How about switching on your television to watch Heroes before proceeding to play Need For Speed with its top-notch graphic sequences.

Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes in policy-making? Career Central speaks to two civil servants, Lee Pak Sing and Charlene Han, who plan policies for a living.

By Joyce Lin

Nothing is by fluke when it comes to ensuring that a country has a growing economy, a cosmopolitan culture and a vibrant media landscape to boot. How does a country achieve all these? The answer: through proper policyplanning...

Find out how a young woman’s passion for engineering led to an enriching career at DSO National Laboratories.

By Joyce Lin

Thanks to her inquisitive nature as a child, Adele Chong would often take apart household appliances to find out how they worked. Today, 25-year-old Adele is a research engineer at DSO National Laboratories, also known as DSO, Singapore’s national defence research and development organisation...