I’ve always been fascinated by the natural world.
Fortunately, I had the opportunity to translate my curiosity into training and fellowships in life sciences research, culminating in a faculty position in one of the top universities in Asia. I then moved into management and leadership in the international university environment where my sphere of influence expanded across higher education, academic research, government and the corporate sector.
Now I’m using my unique skills, competencies and knowledge set in a portfolio phase of my career. I apply a Futures Thinking and Strategic Foresight framework to envision future possibilities and guide today’s actions for positive impact tomorrow.
My path
Formally trained in biomedical sciences, I completed my PhD at the University of Melbourne in 2000. I took up a postdoctoral research position at Vanderbilt University and then Nanyang Technological University, focusing on synthetic peptides as HIV vaccine and anti-viral candidates. In 2005 I was appointed Assistant Professor (at NTU) and combined research and teaching with the Assistant Chair (Academic) position.
I made the transition from faculty member to university leadership in 2011, being appointed Deputy Director then Director of Student Life in the President’s Office. I was part of the team which devised and implemented strategy and policy impacting 34,000 students annually.
In 2016 I moved to a new portfolio as Research Director (Strategy and Biosciences) in the President’s Office, NTU, until 2018. This role involved coordinating and implementing the University’s research strategy through interactions with the component colleges, schools and institutes as well as national and international corporate, academic and governmental organisations.
I held a co-appointment as Coordinating Director of the NTU Global Dialogue Institute which aspired to be an Asian interdisciplinary hub for sharing knowledge, generating and growing ideas, and initiating action. I also worked directly with the NTU President on a range of projects requiring discretion, diligence and sensitivity.
I took a 12-month sabbatical from mid-2018 to mid-2019 to further my learning, relocate, and launch the next phase of my career. During this period I consolidated my interests and knowledge in areas such as emerging and converging tech, the exponential mindset, futures thinking and strategic foresight, and alignment of intent with impact. In 2019 I established my independent advising service as part of my portfolio career.
Appointments
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
- Research Director, Strategy and Biosciences, President’s Office (2016 – 2018)
- Coordinating Director, Global Dialogue Institute, President’s Office (2015 – 2018)
- Deputy Director then Director, Student Life, President’s Office (2011 – 2015)
- Assistant Chair, School of Biological Sciences (2007 – 2011)
- Assistant Professor, School of Biological Sciences (2005 – 2011)
Fellowships
Research Fellow, School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (2003 – 2004)
Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Vanderbilt University, Tennessee, USA (2000 – 2003)
Qualifications
Doctor of Philosophy, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (1996 – 2000)
Bachelor of Science, First Class Honours, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (1992 – 1995)
Courses and Certifications
I continually build my knowledge through courses and certifications. The updated list is on my LinkedIn page.