Search begins for The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year 2025

SINGAPORE - Who are the heroes among us who have gone beyond the call of duty to serve the community, or whose achievements have put Singapore on the world map?

The Straits Times is seeking nominations for its annual Singaporean of the Year awards, which honour an individual or group who has made significant contributions to society.

Besides the Singaporean of the Year award, the 2025 awards have two new categories: The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year (International Impact) award and The Straits Times Young Singaporean of the Year award.

The International Impact award aims to recognise a Singaporean or a Singapore organisation that has made a positive impact beyond Singapore, boosting the country’s global reputation.

They must have delivered a project, initiative or body of work that benefited a community or country outside of Singapore.

The Young Singaporean of the Year award will honour a Singaporean under the age of 18 who has shown courage, compassion, empathy, kindness or a spirit of service, and has made a positive impact among peers.

ST editor Jaime Ho said these new award categories will be able to uncover and recognise more of the best of Singaporeans and the Singapore spirit.

“I am particularly thrilled at what we may uncover among younger Singaporeans, who are in their own ways making a positive impact on the community around them,” he said.

In past years, the Singaporean of the Year award has been given to Singaporeans whose achievements have placed the Republic on the world map – such as the first Singaporean Olympic gold medallist Joseph Schooling – and who have shown resilience in overcoming adversity.

It has also been given to others who have gone above and beyond to support their community, like 2024’s winner Mr Koh Seng Choon, who founded Dignity Kitchen, a foodcourt that employs people with disabilities.

The 2023 award went to former nurse Ronita Paul and volunteer coordinator Geraldine Lee, who founded Arc Children’s Centre in 2011 to give children with cancer a chance to enjoy a normal childhood.

Mr Anson Ng, founder of Hao Ren Hao Shi (Mandarin for “good people, good deeds”), which provides food and financial assistance to the less fortunate, won in 2022, and 2021’s winner was organ donor Sakthibalan Balathandautham, who donated 23 per cent of his liver to a one-year-old girl he had never met.

Nominees for The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year 2025 award must be those who made the news in 2025.

The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year awards, which is now in its 11th year, is presented by UBS Singapore.

Mr Edmund Koh, chairman of UBS Asia-Pacific, said the awards has become a “powerful symbol” of the Singapore spirit, in its recognition of those who exemplify resilience, compassion and courage.

He said: “With new categories introduced, we are excited to continue honouring Singaporeans making an extraordinary impact at home and abroad.”

Singapore Airlines is the official airline partner for the awards, while Millennium Hotels and Resorts Group is the global hotel partner.

Ms Lee Wen Fen, SIA’s chief sustainability officer and senior vice-president of corporate planning, said: “We hope this year’s nominees will inspire all Singaporeans to contribute meaningfully and help build a more caring society.”

Mr Kwek Eik Sheng, executive director of Millennium Hotels and Resorts, said: “Our continued support of the Singaporean of the Year awards reflects our belief in recognising those who inspire us through their resilience and acts of selfless service.

“With the expanded category of the new award for Young Singaporean of the Year, we are especially pleased to honour the passion and contributions of our youth, affirming that one is never too young to step forward, contribute and make a lasting difference in our society.”

ST will publish stories of the finalists of the Singaporean of the Year award before the winners are announced.

Meanwhile, the winners of the Young Singaporean of the Year and the International Impact awards will be unveiled, together with the Singaporean of the Year, during the awards ceremony in March 2026.

Nominations are open till Dec 15 at https://str.sg/soty25nominate

Singaporean of the Year award

The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year award is given to a Singaporean or group of citizens who have made a significant contribution to society. This can be through achievements that put Singapore on the world stage, or by going beyond the call of duty to selflessly improve the lives of others in the community, among other ways.

International Impact award 

The award seeks to honour a Singaporean or Singapore organisation that has made a positive impact beyond our borders, contributing to Singapore’s global reputation.

The person or organisation must have delivered a project, initiative or body of work that benefited a community or country outside of Singapore.

Young Singaporean of the Year award 

The award seeks to recognise a Singaporean who is under 18 years old and has shown courage, compassion, empathy, kindness and/or a spirit of service, and has made a positive impact among peers.

The awards are organised by The Straits Times and presented by UBS Singapore. The official airline partner is Singapore Airlines, and the global hotel partner is Millennium Hotels and Resorts. 

Prizes

Singaporean of the Year award 

• $20,000 in cash for award recipient

• One pair of Singapore Airlines business class tickets for each individual/group; up to three pairs of tickets for the winning group

• A five-night stay in any of Millennium Hotels and Resorts’ properties globally, up to a maximum of three sets of accommodation for the winning group

• $5,000 in cash for each individual/group finalist

• One pair of Singapore Airlines economy class tickets for each individual/group; up to a maximum of three pairs for each group of finalists

• A three-night stay in one of Millennium Hotels and Resorts’ properties globally, up to a maximum of three sets of accommodation for each finalist.

International Impact award

• $20,000 cash for award recipient

Young Singaporean of the Year award

• $5,000 in cash for award recipient

• A pair of SIA economy class tickets

• A three-night stay in one of Millennium Hotels and Resorts’ properties globally

How to nominate:

• Find out more about The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year at www.straitstimes.com/soty25

• Scan the QR code below or go to str.sg/soty25nominate to submit your nomination by Dec 15, 2025