The Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) is pleased to announce that Mdm Halimah Yacob has been appointed Chancellor, effective 1 October 2023. Mdm Halimah takes over from Mr Stephen Lee, who has served as SUSS Chancellor since 2018.
Mdm Halimah Yacob
Mdm Halimah Yacob has had an illustrious career, starting in 1978 as a legal officer with the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), before rising through the ranks to become the Executive Secretary of the United Workers of Electronics, Director of the Women’s Development Secretariat and eventually, NTUC Deputy Secretary-General. In 1999, she became the first Singaporean elected into the Geneva-based International Labour Organisation (ILO), where she served for four terms, representing workers across many ILO committees.
Mdm Halimah was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Jurong Group Representation Constituency (GRC) in 2001 and served her final and fourth term as an MP in the Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC.
In 2011, she was appointed Minister of State for Community Development and Sports. She introduced various programmes for seniors and enhanced services for people with disabilities, including laying the foundation for the Social Services Offices.
A leader of many firsts, Mdm Halimah was elected as the ninth Speaker of Parliament in 2013, the first woman to hold the position. She was the first female to become President of the Republic of Singapore, when she was sworn in on 14 September 2017 for a 6-year term.
Fuelled by her passion for social causes, Mdm Halimah is patron to over 40 charitable and community organisations, including SUSS. She has graced several university events, including the renaming ceremony for SUSS’ School of Human Development & Social Services to the S R Nathan School of Human Development.
Mdm Halimah Yacob (Photo: Ministry of Communications and Information)Mr Stephen Lee
Mr Lee has a distinguished career in the private and public sectors. He chairs NTUC Income Insurance Cooperative and Shanghai Commercial Bank (Hong Kong) and serves as a Council of Presidential Advisers member. He also holds directorships with Temasek Holdings (Private) Ltd, CapitaLand Limited and the Singapore Labour Foundation.
Mr Lee was appointed Chancellor of SUSS in 2018. As Chancellor, Mr Lee brought dignity and weight to SUSS’ convocation ceremonies, marking a significant milestone for thousands of SUSS graduates.
New SUSS Chancellor Mdm Halimah said: “I am honoured to be appointed as the new Chancellor of SUSS. This university has a unique place in Singapore, with its mission to inspire learning for life. It is something I firmly believe in, as it is a mindset that empowers individuals to embrace change in an ever-evolving world and to continue growing throughout their lives. I look forward to working collaboratively with all stakeholders to ensure SUSS’ continued success in impacting society through applied social sciences.”
SUSS President Professor Tan Tai Yong said: “We are privileged to welcome Mdm Halimah Yacob as our new Chancellor. She has long been a champion of important social issues and an advocate for impacting lives. Her presence will make our
university an even stronger force for doing good in society, encouraging learning for life, and positively influencing people's lives. We would also like to express our deepest appreciation to Mr Stephen Lee for his strong support for SUSS over his 5- year term as Chancellor. Mr Lee has always been supportive of SUSS’ endeavours, and we have benefitted much from his wisdom and guidance during our early years as an autonomous university.”