Educational Qualifications

2017
Ph.D. (Psychology), Nanyang Technological University

2012
B.A. Hons (Psychology), Nanyang Technological University


Academic and Professional Experience

2026 – Present
Head, Public Safety & Security, Singapore University of Social Sciences

2024 – 2025
Deputy Head, Public Safety & Security, Singapore University of Social Sciences

2024 - Present
Senior Lecturer, Singapore University of Social Sciences

2021 - 2023
Lecturer, Singapore University of Social Sciences

2021
Associate, Singapore University of Social Sciences

2019 - 2021
Manager, Product Innovation & Insights, Institute for Human Resource Professionals

2016 - 2019
Psychologist, Operations & Leadership Psychology Branch, Ministry of Home Affairs

Selected Publications

Peer-reviewed Journals

Chua, H.S., Kang, S-H., Sim, N., Shan, W.V., Fang, Z., & May, S. (2024). Slowing workforce growth: Predicting labour trends and investigating perspectives of mature workers and women with caregiving responsibilities. Singapore Labour Journal, 3(1), 6-30. https://doi.org/10.1142/S2811031524000020

Chua, H.S., Khader, M., Tan, E. (2019). Leading in a fat tail world: Modern crises & recommendations for leaders. Home Team Journal, Issue 9.

Bedford, O., & Chua, H.S. (2017). Everything also I want: An exploratory study of Singaporean Kiasuism (fear of losing out). Culture & Psychology, 24(4), 491-511. doi: 10.1177/1354067X17693831

Chua, H.S., & Bedford, O. (2016). A qualitative exploration of fear of failure and entrepreneurial intent in Singapore. Journal of Career Development, 43(4), 319-334. doi: 10.1177/0894845315599255

Book

Khader, M., Tan, E., Toh, B., Diong, S.M., Chua, H.S. (2023). Crisis Leadership: A Guide for Leaders. Singapore: World Scientific. https://doi.org/10.1142/13028

Book Chapters

Chua, H.S. (2023). Defining Crises. In Crisis Leadership: A Guide for Leaders (pp. 3-19). Singapore: World Scientific. https://doi.org/10.1142/9789811262456_0001

Ang, D., Chua, H.S., Khader, M. (2020). Gearing up for crises: Developing a crisis readiness questionnaire. In Prepared for Evolving Threats (pp. 171-220). Singapore: World Scientific.

Chua, H.S., Khader, M., Tan, E. (2018). The Looming, the Creeping, and the Black Swan: Modern crises and recommendations for building resilience. In Learning from violent extremist attacks (pp. 475-498). Singapore: World Scientific. https://doi.org/10.1142/9789813275447_0025

Reports

Kang S.H., Tan, R., Chua, S., Chen, Z., & Ng, L. (2025). Singapore Opportunity Index methodology. Methodology Paper

Sigelman, M., Fuller, J., Tan Levy, E., Saleh, Y., Chen, L., Guilford, G., Kang, S.-H., Tan, R., & Chua, S. (2025, October 13). The Singapore Opportunity Index: Edition V3. Report

Conferences, Invited Talks & Plenaries

Begum, R., & Chua, H.S. Defining Academic Success: Insights from Public Safety and Security Programme. Presented at Re:Define Success Conference, Singapore. September 2025.

Begum, R., & Chua, H.S. Evaluating Marriage Mentoring/Befriending Programmes to Strengthen Families in Singapore. Presented at the Asian Family Conference, Singapore. Nov 2024.

Chua, H.S. From Crisis Management to Crisis Leadership: The Role of an Effective Leader during a Crisis. Presented at the 2022 Australian & New Zealand Disaster & Emergency Management Conference, Australia. July 2022.

Chua, H.S. Development & Validation of the Perceived Crisis Readiness Scale. Presented at the 5th Asian Conference of Criminal & Operations Psychology, Singapore. July 2022.

Chua, H.S., Khader, M., Tan, E., Choo, B., & Chua, P.T. A systematic review of crisis leadership & critical incident management. Presented at the 4th Asian Conference of Criminal & Operations Psychology, Singapore. July 2019. Awarded with the ‘Most Inspiring Oral Presentation’.

Chua, H.S., Khader, M. Leading in a fat tail world: Modern crises & implications for leaders. Presented at the 32nd British Academy of Management, Bristol, UK. September 2018.

Chua, H.S., Ho, M-H.R., Uy, M.A. Development and validation of entrepreneurial fear of failure. Presented at the 36th Babson College Entrepreneurship Research, Bodø, Norway. June 2016.

Chua, H.S. Kiasuism in Singapore: Fear of losing out. Presented at the 11th Biennial AASP and 52nd PAP convention, Philippines, Cebu. August 2015.

Bedford, O., Chua, H.S. Fear of failure in entrepreneurship in a Chinese society. Presented at the 123rd American Psychological Association Annual Convention, Toronto, Canada. August 2015.

Others

Guest Speaker and Panellist, “Safeguarding our Youth: Building Resilience through Awareness and Connection” at ACG Youth Forum 2025, 29 November 2025.

Guest Speaker and Panellist, “A Qualitative Study on Job Demands, Resources, and Well-Being of Platform Workers in Singapore” at Ministry of Home Affairs-International Labour Organization Expert Group Meeting, 29 September 2025.

Guest Speaker, “Effective Learning Strategies”, at Singapore Police Force, Training Community of Practice, 8 March 2024.

Guest Speaker, “Leadership, Adaptability, & Resilience in Crisis Management”, at Civil Service College, Tianjin Eco-City (TEC) Programme, 13 June 2023.

Guest Speaker, “Effective Crisis Leadership”, at Civil Service College, MTI-SPO Programme 2022, 19 September 2022.

Panellist, “Crisis Communications and Leadership”, at SGSecure@Workplaces, 28 February 2022 & 13 September 2022.

Commentaries & Media Queries

The Straits Times, ‘Stalled careers, limited earnings: How some young workers are getting stuck in delivery and ride-hailing jobs’, 12 Dec 2025.

The Straits Times, ‘How is your employer helping your career? An index could answer that’, 13 Nov 2025.

Wealth Wise – Crisis Management: Do you know what to do when things go wrong? [Podcast episode]. Channel NewsAsia, 24 July 2025.

Channel NewsAsia, ‘When Crisis calls—Are we ready?’, 17 Oct 2024.

Today Online, ‘CNY bazaar: Police warn lockdowns may be needed to limit visitor numbers; experts say Chinatown presents unique crowd control challenges’, 12 January 2023.

Today Online, ‘Marina Bay new year countdown: Some S'poreans eager to join celebrations after 2-year absence, not fazed by expected large crowds’, 28 December 2022.

Channel NewsAsia, ‘Commentary: Are bystanders who film rather than intervene actually helpful?’, 18 March 2022.

Today Online, 'Why I have both fear of going out and fear of missing out in a pandemic', 23 Dec 2021.

8world, 奥密克戎毒株敲响警钟 为何本地逛街人潮依然汹涌?, 11 Dec 2021.

Today Online, Explainer: As Singapore learns to treat Covid-19 as endemic, how do we deal with our fear of the virus?, 7 Oct 2021.

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