Janadas Devan has been appointed as the new non-executive chairman of the Singapore International Foundation’s (SIF) board of governors from Apr. 1, 2023.
He succeeds Ong Keng Yong who has served in the post for eight years.
Devan is the director of the Institute of Policy Studies at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in the National University of Singapore (NUS).
He was a journalist before joining the public sector in 2012 as chief of government communications for the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI).
He relinquished that position in March 2023, and remains as deputy secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office.
Devan said:
“The SIF has done much to connect Singaporeans to the region and the world. It exists because we know we really aren’t an island, but a piece of the continent, a part of the main. By working together with friends, near and far, SIF has helped raise mutual understanding and deepened people-to-people ties across the region. I am honoured to be asked to step into Keng Yong’s oversized shoes and to be a part of the Foundation,” Devan said regarding his new role.
Ong said Devan “will lead the SIF to greater heights as it continues on its mission to strengthen ties between Singapore and world communities at the people-to-people level”.
During his tenure, Ong saw the SIF through significant milestones and breakthroughs.
These included the foundation’s 25th and 30th anniversaries in 2016 and 2021 respectively, as well as the launch of programmes such as the Arts for Good initiative and Young Social Entrepreneurs Regional in 2016, and the Asean Youth Fellowship in 2018.
He had witnessed long-standing signature programmes, such as Young Social Entrepreneurs and Our Better World, achieve their 10-year mark.
The SIF aims to bring people together to share ideas, skills and experiences in areas such as healthcare, education, arts and culture, as well as livelihood and business.
Top Photo via LKY school of Public Policy
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