BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Professor Liu Bin
Co-Chairman
Deputy President (Research and Technology)
National University of Singapore (NUS)
Professor Liu Bin
Professor Liu Bin is Deputy President (Research and Technology) at the National University of Singapore (NUS). Prior to her current appointment, she served as Senior Vice Provost (Faculty & Institutional Development) from 2022 to 2023, Vice President (Research and Technology) from 2019 to 2021, and Head of Department at the NUS Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering from 2017 to 2022. She currently holds the appointment of Tan Chin Tuan Centennial Professor.
Prof Liu Bin graduated with a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Nanjing University, and a PhD in Chemistry from NUS. She received her postdoctoral training at the University of California at Santa Barbara. She joined NUS as an Assistant Professor in 2005 and was promoted to full professorship in 2016.
An internationally acclaimed leader in the field of organic functional materials, Prof Liu Bin has been highly recognised for her contributions in polymer chemistry and applications of organic nanomaterials for biomedical, environmental and energy research. Since 2014, she has been named annually among the World's Most Influential Scientific Minds by Thomson Reuters and the Top 1% Highly Cited Researchers by Clarivate. In 2014, she co-founded LuminiCell, an NUS spin-off company that produces organic luminescent nanoparticles for use in biomedical applications.
Prof Liu Bin has an impressively extensive list of accolades to her name, including the National Science and Technology Young Scientist Award (2008), the L'Oréal Women in Science National Fellowship (2011), the President’s Technology Award (2016), and the American Chemical Society ACS Nano Lectureship Award (2019). In 2021, she bagged the Kabiller Young Investigator’s Award in Nanoscience and Nanomedicine, and the Royal Society of Chemistry Centenary Prize. She was one of 12 women in the world who received the 2023 International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry Distinguished Women in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering award.
Prof Liu Bin is a Fellow of the Singapore Academy of Engineering, Singapore National Academy of Sciences, Asia Pacific Academy of Materials, and the Royal Society of Chemistry in Britain. In 2022, she was elected as an international member of the US National Academy of Engineering. She serves on the editorial advisory boards of more than a dozen top peer-reviewed chemistry and materials journals. Since 2019, she has served as Deputy Editor of ACS Materials Letters, launching and developing the flagship materials journal of the American Chemical Society.
At NUS, Prof Liu Bin has been instrumental in the development of vibrant innovation clusters across the University’s colleges, faculties, and schools, including the NUS Sustainability Cluster, as well as the strengthening of efforts to build up and develop the University’s talent pool. She is especially passionate about nurturing the next generation of research leaders and encouraging more women to pursue careers in science and engineering.
Professor Lim Keng Hui
Co-Chairman
Assistant Chief Executive
Science & Engineering Research Council
Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
Professor Lim Keng Hui
Professor Lim Keng Hui is the Assistant Chief Executive Officer of the Science & Engineering Research Council (SERC) at A*STAR. He drives the implementation of A*STAR’s strategies and initiatives in the Science and Engineering domains to create industry and societal impact, and to build long term R&D capabilities for Singapore. With more than 2,500 scientists, engineers, project and admin managers under SERC, the R&D portfolio he oversees includes advanced manufacturing, urban and sustainability solutions, transport, digital and medical technologies.
Professor Lim was the former Executive Director of the Institute of High Performance Computing (IHPC) in A*STAR, where he led the research institute to create science and technology impact in artificial intelligence (AI), computational modelling and simulation. He was also concurrently the Executive Director of the Artificial Intelligence, and Social Sciences and Technology Horizontal Technology Programme Offices in A*STAR, where he drove and coordinated research in these two fields across all A*STAR research institutes. He was also the founding co-lead of the National Quantum Computing Hub in Singapore.
Prior to A*STAR, Professor Lim was the Director of the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD)’s Digital Manufacturing & Design Centre (DManD), where he co-led the research centre to develop leading edge capabilities in digital manufacturing and computational design. Concurrently, he was the Director of the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster (NAMIC) at SUTD, where he established and led the translational research centre which focused on additive manufacturing R&D with companies, standards development, and outreach.
Professor Lim has also previously held several key appointments in A*STAR, including as Director of the SERC Engineering Cluster where he established and managed strategic programmes in Future of Manufacturing, Marine & Offshore, Urban Solutions and MedTech. Professor Lim’s industry experience includes positions as Head of Product Development at a Singapore manufacturing company; Chief Technology Officer and co-founder of two medical imaging and robotics start-ups in Singapore and Boston.
Professor Lim holds adjunct positions in the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Singapore Management University (SMU), and his R&D interests are in AI, digital manufacturing, and the management of technology. He sits on numerous boards and national-level R&D committees in domains such as advanced manufacturing and digital technologies.
Professor Lim holds several patents, and is a recipient of numerous technology awards including the Innovator’s Award from the Prime Minister’s Office. He was educated at Imperial College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the National University of Singapore, and INSEAD.
Mr Damian Chan
Board Member
Executive Vice President
Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB)
Mr Damian Chan
Mr Damian Chan was appointed Executive Vice President of the Singapore Economic Development Board on 1 October 2019. He oversees EDB’s Policy and Planning Group and Strategy divisions including AgriFood, Environmental Sustainability, Hub Services and Supply Chain & Connectivity.
Mr Chan’s career in EDB began in 1996. Subsequently, he was appointed the Centre Director of EDB Chicago Centre in 2001 and the Centre Director of EDB Dallas Centre from 2002 to 2005. He went on to be the Director of Electronics Cluster in EDB.
Between 2011 and 2015, he led EDB’s operations across North and South America in his role as International Director for Americas, working closely with the global companies there to help them succeed in Asia via Singapore. He later added the role of Executive Director for the Energy & Chemicals Cluster to his portfolio.
Mr Chan graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (First Class Honours) in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Oxford University in 1996.
Mr Kenneth Lim
Board Member
Assistant Chief Executive (Industry)
Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA)
Mr Kenneth Lim
Kenneth is the Assistant Chief Executive (Industry) of Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) since 1 Jan 2021.
Kenneth has built up a strong network of maritime Singapore industry players including the digitalisation and HR innovators of shipping companies and the start-ups community. He currently is overseeing Maritime Strategy and Policy, International Maritime Centre, Business Capability Development as well as Innovation, Technology, and Talent Development.
Kenneth was seconded from Government Technology Agency (GovTech) in 2017 as Chief Technology Officer. In GovTech, he was the Cluster Director tasked with harnessing info-communications technology and related engineering for public sector transformation covering 10 public agencies’ CIO teams.
Kenneth has over 25 years of technology-related experience, starting his career as a programmer in PSA, and becoming Vice President Technology Development, Trade & Logistics in CrimsonLogic and Senior Vice President in Energy Market Company before joining the public sector in 2011. His professional experience covers sectors in the Sea Port, Logistics IT and Energy industries.
Kenneth has also previously contributed his professional knowledge at various forums, including:
- Head of Singapore delegation to United Nation for Trade Facilitation
- Council member of Singapore IT Federation (SITF)
- Rule Change Panel Member of the wholesale Electricity Market
- Advisory Council member to e-Commerce and e-Fulfilment
- Steering Committee member of Pan Asia E-Commerce Alliance
Kenneth has been awarded the “Supply Chain Asia– Visionary of the Year” in 2019 and is a frequent speaker in many conferences and events advocating digitalisation.
Mr Quek Gim Pew
Board Member
Senior R&D Consultant
Singapore Ministry of Defence (MINDEF)
Mr Quek Gim Pew
Mr Quek Gim Pew is the Senior R&D Consultant of the Singapore Ministry of Defence (MINDEF).
He is also Chairman of the Governing Board of the Center for Quantum Technologies and Deputy Chairman of the Office for Space Technology and Industry. He is a board member of A*STAR, SMRT Trains Ltd, Technology Center for Offshore and Marine, Singapore, Singapore University of Technology and Design, Singapore Institute of Technology and NUS High School.
He is also a member of the Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE) Scientific Advisory Board, National Supercomputing Center (NSCC) Steering Committee, and member of the Management Board of the Center for Remote Imaging, Sensing and Processing (CRISP), Tropical Marine Science Institute (TMSI) and Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Initiative (SNRSI).
He is a Fellow of the Academy of Engineering, Singapore, and an Adjunct Professor in the NUS Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
In his career, he has held various appointments in the defence and technology community including Director of R&D at the Ministry of Defence and the Deputy Chief Executive (Technology) of the Defence Science and Technology Agency Board. He was the Chief Executive Officer of DSO from 2004 to 2016 and the Chief Defence Scientist of MINDEF from 2016 to 2021.
Mr Quek was presented the Defence Technology Prize (Individual) in 1992. He was also conferred the Public Administration Medal (Gold) in 2007 and the NUS Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award in 2014.
Executive Management
Professor Chan Eng Soon
Chief Executive Officer
Professor Chan Eng Soon
Professor Chan Eng Soon is the Chief Executive Officer of TCOMS.
Professor Chan had held several key positions in the National University of Singapore (NUS), including the Provost’s Chair Professor at the Faculty of Engineering, Vice Provost (Special Duties) in the Provost Office, Keppel Chair Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Dean of Engineering, Head of the Civil Engineering Department, Director of the Tropical Marine Science Institute and Executive Director of the Centre for Offshore Research and Engineering.
He was also on the management board of several institutions and research facilities, such as the Centre for Remote Imaging, Sensing and Processing (CRISP), Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Temasek Laboratories, Temasek Defence Systems Institute and Tropical Marine Science Institute.
Professor Chan is currently a member of the Workplace Safety and Health Council. He also serves on the PUB Board and the Board of the DSO National Laboratories.
Professor Michael Si
Director (Projects)
Professor Michael Si
Professor Michael Si has over 35 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, predominantly with Royal Dutch Shell in the areas of offshore structures in research, design, engineering and project management. He was involved in a number of large offshore oil and gas development projects worldwide.
Leveraging his industry experience, he brings invaluable perspective and insights to his current role in TCOMS, addressing the R&D needs in the offshore and marine industry. He also holds a joint appointment with the National University of Singapore (NUS) as a professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering specialising in arctic offshore structures. His research interests include ocean wave-structure interaction, ice-structure interactions and elastic wave propagation in porous media.
Professor Si started his engineering career in 1983 as an offshore structure design engineer with McDermott Engineering Singapore. He initially joined the Royal Dutch Shell Companies as Head of Structural Integrity in Sarawak Shell Berhad, Malaysia and was subsequently a Senior Offshore Structures Engineer on Structural Reliability at Shell Research in the Netherlands. In 2000, he moved to Canada where he worked with Sandwell Engineering, Vancouver as Technical Lead on the design of offshore structures for the Arctic Beaufort Sea, Chukchi Sea and Sea of Okhotsk, Sakhalin.
He returned to Shell International in the Netherlands in 2007, followed by overseas assignments in Monaco, London and Kuala Lumpur as the Project Technical Lead/Authority for various oil and gas development projects. During this period in his career, he led the development of arctic platform concepts for arctic and sub-arctic seas, and subsea and floating concepts for deepwater developments.
Professor Si was also the Shell Group Frontier Technology Lead championing the ice-class jack-up to support the all-year-round drilling for the Arctic region. Prior to NUS and TCOMS, he was an extended leadership team member of Shell’s Project & Technology East organization and Malikai project leadership team overseeing the Malikai Tension Leg Platform design.
Professor Si is a member of the Tau Beta Pi Honour Engineering Society and the Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society (MIT). He has also served as Program Committee Chairman of the American Society of Civil Engineers for the Offshore Technology Conference (Asia).
Professor Choo Yoo Sang
Director (Special Duties)
Professor Choo Yoo Sang
Professor Choo Yoo Sang is the Director (Special Duties) of TCOMS. He is also Adjunct Professor at the National University of Singapore (NUS). He has served as the Lloyd’s Register Foundation Chair Professor in NUS from 2009 to 2017. He was the 106th President of the Institute of Marine Engineering Science & Technology (IMarEST) in 2008, and was IMarEST's first Asian President.
He was the Founding Director of the Centre for Offshore Research and Engineering, NUS when it was established in 2003, and subsequently served as Director (Research) until 2019. He is the Chairman of the Singapore Mirror Committee for International Standards Organisation TC67/SC7 Offshore Structures, and a member of the International Institute of Welding Sub-commission XV-E: Tubular Structures.
Professor Choo has served in many scientific and technical committees of international organizations and conferences, and hosted some conferences and symposia as Chairman or Co-Chairman. He served as President of the Singapore Structural Steel Society from 1992 to 1994. He was on the board of directors for the International Society of Offshore and Polar Engineers (ISOPE) from 2000 to 2002, and President of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers Singapore from 2012 to 2015. He was Guest Professor at Delft University of Technology (2000–2012), University of Southampton (2011) and Seoul National University (2014–2015). He was also a Distinguished Visiting Fellow for the Royal Academy of Engineering at the University of Oxford (2014).
In recognition of his technical expertise, outstanding contribution and development in Offshore and Structural Engineering, Professor Choo was conferred the Honorary Fellowship of Singapore Structural Steel Society (SSSS) in 2004. He has served as a technical consultant in major offshore projects, and initiated or participated in international joint industry projects. He has also served as Principal Investigator in a number of R&D projects, including the Structural Integrity Management of Offshore Structures and Joint Industry Project on Grouted Joints.
Professor Choo has received a number of international and national recognitions, including the Lifetime Achievement Award - Maritime Academics. He and his research team have won awards for best paper, including the Stanley Gray Award 2001 and 2005 from IMarEST (United Kingdom), Prestigious Engineering Achievement Awards 2003 and 2015 presented by IES (Singapore), and James Watt Medal 2005 from ICE (United Kingdom). He also received the Kurobane Award in 2015 from the International Institute of Welding (IIW) Sub-commission XV-E for his outstanding contributions and achievements in the field of tubular structures.
Mr Wong Tien Loong
Director (Business)
Mr Wong Tien Loong
Mr WONG Tien Loong is Director (Business) of the Technology Centre for Offshore and Marine, Singapore (TCOMS) since April 2022. His primary focus is to drive TCOMS’s industry collaborations and commercial activities, and position TCOMS as a national platform that harnesses the collective strengths of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) Research Institutes and Institutes of Higher Learning to support Singapore’s Marine and Offshore Engineering, Maritime and other ocean-related sectors.
Tien Loong is concurrently Deputy Director of the Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC) in A*STAR, responsible for the conceptualisation of research strategies for Singapore to realise future concepts in the Marine and Offshore Engineering sector. He has been participating in SERC’s Marine & Offshore (M&O) programme since 2015. This involves the operational execution and strategic planning of the M&O programme, including the key industry engagement strategies. He also played a key role in the successful funding of the ocean basin infrastructure and the setup of TCOMS in Oct 2016 as a joint venture between A*STAR and the National University of Singapore to host the ocean basin infrastructure.
Before joining A*STAR, he held various roles in Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry. He was also previously with the Singapore Economic Development Board and its investment arm, EDBi, where he focused on growing the Cleantech sector in Singapore.
Tien Loong holds a Diplôme d'Ingénieur in Telecommunications from ECE Paris, France. He has a passion for technology and the financial markets that help bring emerging technologies to commercial life
Mr Tan Ching Eng
Director (CEAOPS)
Mr Tan Ching Eng
Mr Tan Ching Eng is the Director, Centre of Excellence for Autonomous & remotely OPerated vessels (CEAOPS), of the Technology Centre for Offshore and Marine, Singapore (TCOMS) since January 2023.
Before joining TCOMS, Ching Eng held various positions in the Singapore Technologies Mariine Limited (STEML, a member of ST Engineering). Ching Eng was the Executive Vice President / Head Engineering Design Center, Environmental Engineering Service from 2020 to 2022, the Chief Technology Officer / Chief Innovation Officer (CTO/CIO) in 2019, Senior Vice President, Engineering Design Centre (EDC) from year 2008 to 2018. He was also a member in the Technologies Management Committee of ST Engineering for more than 10 years.
As Senior Vice President (EDC) he managed a team of designers of various disciplines, responsible for research and development in product and technologies, and detailed design and engineering. He has extensive experience working with various divisions in the company and external business partners includiing research institutions, classification societies and government authorities. In the capacity of CTO/CIO he led technology scouting, business product technology roadmap plan and the frame work for digital transformation.
Ching Eng has been a practicing naval architect since the beginning of his career. He carried out feasibilty studies, conceptual design/product development, model tests validation and analysis, detailed design, submission of design for approval, production design, detail design schedule planning, procurement, Harbour Acceptance Tests and Sea Acceptance Trials (HAT/SAT). He has more than 36 years of industry experience on Naval Architecture / Ship design.
Awarded a Public Service Commission (PSC) scholarship in 1980, he pursued Naval Architecture at the Institute of Shipbuilding, Hamburg University in Germany. Graduated in Oct 1985 with a German Masters Degree of “Diplom-Ingenieur” in Naval Architecture and a Welding Engineer degree, he joined ST Marine in March 1986 as a designer. In 1996, he obtained a company sponsorship to pursue a party-time study in Executive MBA program from State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY) conducted at Singapore Institute of Management (SIM), and graduated in 1999 with a MBA degree. In June 2003, he attended the Stanford Executive Program at the Stanford University, USA.