S’pore’s ex-air force chief to helm ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute
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Mr Choi Shing Kwok (left) will step down from his position on March 31, with Mr Ng Chee Khern stepping into his role a day later.
PHOTO: ISEAS-YUSOF ISHAK INSTITUTE
SINGAPORE – Former air force chief Ng Chee Khern will take over at the helm of the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute when veteran top civil servant Choi Shing Kwok steps down on March 31.
Mr Choi, who was ISEAS director for eight years, will become adviser to the think-tank’s ASEAN Studies Centre and the Climate Change in South-east Asia Programme.
Mr Ng, who will take over on April 1, was permanent secretary at the Ministry of Manpower between 2022 and 2025.
Before joining the civil service, he was chief of air force from 2006 to 2009. He later served in key roles, including director of the Security and Intelligence Division and permanent secretary for defence development.
From 2014 to 2016, Mr Ng was permanent secretary for health before becoming the first permanent secretary for Smart Nation and digital government in the Prime Minister’s Office from 2017 to 2022.
Education Minister Desmond Lee said ISEAS has grown into a leading research centre with distinguished international recognition under Mr Choi’s leadership.
ISEAS, a brainchild of then Deputy Prime Minister Goh Keng Swee, was set up in 1968. It is dedicated to the study of social and political trends, as well as developments in the security and economic sectors of South-east Asia.
It also houses the ASEAN Studies Centre and the Singapore APEC Study Centre.
