SPEECH BY 2M INDRANEE RAJAH AT NUS CEE 70th ANNIVERSARY SYMPOSIUM

It is an honour to be here today to join you to celebrate this significant milestone – the 70th anniversary of NUS Civil & Environmental Engineering, or CEE Department.

Today’s symposium on civil, environmental and sustainability engineering is timely. As we face challenges like climate change and resource scarcity, the role of civil and environmental engineers has never been more critical – or more exciting.

Notable Alumni from NUS

Many of you chose engineering because you want to make a meaningful difference in the world. A career in the Built Environment sector, or BE sector in short, offers just that.

Every day, BE professionals shape how we live, work, and play. Their work creates the infrastructure that connects communities, and the solutions that protect our environment. Let me share with you how two inspiring NUS alumni have shaped Singapore’s built environment.

Er Jee Yi Yng, fondly known as YY by her peers, earned her Master of Science in Civil Engineering in 2008.

With over 22 years of experience under her belt, she is a leading regional expert in tunnelling and underground construction.

Today, she leads nearly 800 professionals as Managing Director of AECOM Singapore and Senior Vice President for AECOM Southeast Asia, overseeing projects such as the Thomson-East Coast Line.

Er Aaron Foong, who completed both his Bachelor of Engineering and Master of Science in Civil Engineering in NUS, now serves as Senior Executive Director for Civil Structural and Construction Engineering at Surbana Jurong, leading a team of 1700 engineering professionals globally.

I understand that Aaron is not here with us today as he is in Toronto, Canada, receiving the prestigious 2025 Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat Award of Excellence – Structure Award as the Qualified Person (Structure) for the One Pearl Bank project. My heartiest congratulations to him!

His other iconic projects like the Punggol Digital District (PDD), 8 Shenton Way and the Surbana Jurong Campus demonstrate how thoughtful engineering creates spaces where communities thrive and businesses flourish.

As the Programme Board member for the Engineering Consultancy team of the Changi Airport Terminal 5, he's helping to build the infrastructure that will define Singapore's next chapter on the global stage.

YY and Aaron are just two examples of engineers improving lives, strengthening communities, and putting our little red dot on the world map through exceptional design.

Opportunities in the BE Sector

As we embark on the next phase of Singapore’s development, there are opportunities to work on projects that will define our next chapter. These include the Long Island development, Greater Southern Waterfront, Changi Terminal 5, the Cross Island Line and more.

To ensure that the BE sector has a strong talent pipeline to deliver on our development plans, we formed the Taskforce for Architectural and Engineering Consultants last year, which I co-chaired with Mr Chaly Mah, Chairman of Surbana Jurong Group.

We engaged more than 400 stakeholders – students, professionals, and industry leaders – to understand how we can make BE careers more attractive and rewarding, culminating in the set of recommendations launched last month.

Let me share some of the efforts to uplift the sector.

Uplifting the BE Sector

First, we're transforming how students experience the BE industry through an enhanced internship programme called 'INSPIRE'.

This programme features longer placement periods, real-world projects and dedicated mentors to guide them as they build their careers.

The Taskforce also highlighted the importance of having competitive salaries.

Progressive firms in the industry such as Arup, Beca and Surbana Jurong have committed to host INSPIRE interns and offer higher starting salaries when they start full-time after graduation.

I encourage students to participate in the INSPIRE programme when it commences next year, and for more firms to host interns under this programme. This will benefit everyone – students will gain invaluable real-world experience, while firms may identify and secure talent early.

Second, we strive to make working in the BE sector rewarding and meaningful. We have heard feedback that young engineers hope to have better career development support. The industry is responding by strengthening their HR practices and career development support capabilities. Firms are now leveraging tools like the Human Capital Diagnostic Tool (HCDT) to identify areas to improve their talent management and development practices.

One example is Mott MacDonald, which has been recognised by the Straits Times as one of Singapore’s Best Employers in 2025.

They offer various mentorship programmes for junior engineers, including having an “Inclusive Network for Women” which pairs young women engineers with mentors to guide them on their career journeys.

Engineering work is undoubtedly challenging with many stakeholders to juggle, complex projects and tight deadlines.

While these are part of what makes the work dynamic and impactful, with a little more care, we can foster an even more supportive and collaborative workplace culture for talent to thrive.

This is why the industry came together to develop the BE Charter for Appreciation, Respect and Empathy, or BE CARE, in short.

The charter focuses on three essential elements: fostering openness and respect, ensuring effective meetings and communications, and protecting rest periods. 34 firms, including GuocoLand, CapitaLand Development, JTC and PUB, have committed some of their projects to implement BE CARE. We are encouraged by the industry’s commitment to improve the workplace culture and staff well-being.

Third, the industry is embracing cutting-edge innovations and technologies to make engineering work more innovative and impactful.

These include emerging technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence, which is revolutionising our work.

For example, two CEE graduates co-founded ConcreteAI whose smart sensor system monitors concrete curing in real-time, providing live data that helps optimise construction schedules, reduce waste, and improve quality control.

To prepare our future engineers, our Institutes of Higher Learning are keeping pace with these changes and ensuring that our graduates are armed with the right skills and tools to seize these opportunities.

For example, NUS has integrated AI across its curriculum for students, exposing them to AI concepts and applications.

NUS also supports student entrepreneurs to launch their startups through programmes such as the Graduate Research Innovation Programme.

Conclusion

As we celebrate 70 years of excellence from NUS CEE Department, we honour our past and invest in our future. The next 70 years will bring fresh challenges, from climate adaptation to harnessing our underground spaces. We will rely on engineers, like yourselves, to help us overcome them.

The Government is committed to support your journey, provide you with the relevant tools and opportunities, and celebrate your contributions to Singapore and the world.

The future is yours to seize!

Thank you, and I wish you a productive and inspiring symposium.