Ho Ching Honoured at IES 58th Annual Dinner as Engineering Leaders Chart New Chapter

Last night at the 58th Annual Dinner of the Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES), Ho Ching, Chairman of Temasek Trust and Trailblazer Foundation, was awarded the prestigious IES Lifetime Engineering Achievement Award 2024. The accolade celebrates her remarkable contributions to the engineering industry and her profound impact on the community, inspiring future generations.

The highlight of the evening, however, was the launch of the new Chartered Engineering Board, a major development aimed at strengthening Singapore’s engineering landscape. Unveiled by Minister for National Development and Minister-in-Charge of Social Services Integration, Desmond Lee, this board merges the Chartered Engineers Board and the Chartered Engineering Technologists and Technicians Board. The integration is designed to accelerate the professional accreditation process for engineers, technologists, and technicians across various sectors, making it easier and faster for professionals to achieve certifications.

This initiative is part of IES’ broader efforts to support the upskilling and career progression of engineers, aligning with the national SkillsFuture movement. As a Skills Development Partner appointed by SkillsFuture Singapore, IES aims to advance the skills development agenda for engineering professionals through both academic and non-academic pathways.

Er. Chan Ewe Jin, President of IES, emphasised the significance of this merger, stating, “By consolidating our accreditation boards into one single entity – the Chartered Engineering Board – we will streamline the registration process for engineering professionals, enabling faster and more efficient certifications. This will grant applicants quicker access to the training and certification required to not just survive, but thrive in their respective sectors. It will also build a robust engineering ecosystem with complementary skillsets to drive Singapore’s growth.”

The creation of the Chartered Engineering Board signals a new chapter for the engineering profession in Singapore, ensuring that the workforce is well-prepared to meet the nation’s evolving needs while fostering sustainable innovation.

The evening also paid tribute to other prominent figures in engineering, including Senior Minister of State Tan Kiat How, who was conferred the title of IES Honorary Fellow, and Professor Yeoh Lean Weng, who received the IES/IEEE Joint Medal of Excellence Award for his contributions to sustainable development.

Minister Lee also launched IES’ commemorative book, Building the Nation and Beyond, chronicling the institution’s history and its pivotal role in Singapore’s growth over the past 58 years. The dinner concluded with the presentation of the IES Prestigious Engineering Achievement Awards and the IES Sustainability Awards, which recognised innovative projects that contribute to engineering advancements and sustainability efforts in Singapore.