It is uncommon for external parties to hear about the inner workings of government leadership from a member of its topmost ranks. This is one such rare occasion.
A former Head of Civil Service and Permanent Secretary in several of Singapore’s key ministries, Mr Lim Siong Guan is known as one of Singapore’s most trusted public servants. He joined the civil service in 1969 after graduating with first class honours in mechanical engineering from the University of Adelaide, which he attended on a President’s Scholarship. He served two Old Guard Ministers, former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and former Deputy Prime Minister Goh Keng Swee during his 37-year career with the civil service, and has described both leaders as his “master teachers”. Prior to Mr Lim’s retirement from the civil service in 2006, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong singled him out as a “great developer of people”, citing his knack for drawing out talent in young civil service officers, and adding that he had inspired an entire generation of younger officers to serve and excel. Quite aptly, Mr Lim has compiled key lessons from his life experiences and his insights on effective leadership into a book titled, “The Leader, The Teacher And You: Leadership Through A Third Generation”.
Mr Lim has kindly accepted an invitation to speak to IPS Corporate Associates about his book and to share his views on the topic of “Leadership through the Third Generation”.
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