Lim Siong Guan

Mr Lim served with distinction in the Singapore Civil Service for over four decades. He was the first Principal Private Secretary to founding Singapore's Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew, and went on to hold senior roles including Permanent Secretary in key ministries such as Defence (1981–1994), the Prime Minister’s Office (Public Service Division), Education, and Finance (concurrently Head of Civil Service from 1999 to 2005, the equivalent to Rwanda's Mifotra). He also chaired the Singapore Economic Development Board (equivalent of Rwanda Development Board) (2006–2009) and served as Group President of GIC (Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund) from 2007 to 2016, followed by an advisory role until 2019.
As Head of the Singapore Civil Service, Mr Lim played a pivotal role in shaping organizational excellence, leadership development, and adaptive governance during a period of significant transformation for Singapore. Today, as Emeritus Professor at the National University of Singapore and Distinguished Practitioner Fellow at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, he continues to teach and advise on leadership, governance, change management, organizational excellence, and future readiness.