The National University of Singapore (NUS) has appointed three new members to its Board of Trustees.

Ms Chan Chia Lin, former chief investment officer of Fullerton Fund Management, and Housing Board chief executive Cheong Koon Hean will take on their appointment on April 1. Dr Noeleen Heyzer, who is undersecretary-general of the United Nations and executive secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, will do so from Aug 1.

With the addition of the three members to the board, two current trustees will step down. They are Mr Sunny Verghese, group managing director and chief executive officer of Olam International, and Mr Hiew Yoon Khong, group chief executive officer of Mapletree Investments.

The university's chairman, Mr Wong Ngit Liong, said that with the new members, there will be a stronger representation of women at the board level, and a greater diversity of views among the trustees. There are currently four women on the 23-member board. With the latest appointment, there will be seven women on a 24-member board.

Describing the new members as leaders in their own fields, Mr Wong, who is chairman and chief executive officer of Venture Corporation, said:

"They bring with them a wealth of diverse experiences and enriching perspectives that will help steer Singapore's flagship university in its journey as one of the leading universities in Asia and the world."