[ALUMNI-INFO TEXT="With 29 years of devout service in the public sector, Tonette (Maria Anthonette Velasco Allones, Master in Public Management, Class of 2006) has been serving as the Executive Director of Career Executive Service Board (CESB) since 2007. CESB manages the recruitment, selection and career development of senior career government officials in the Philippines. She is directly involved in enhancing the leadership and management capacities of the senior career officials. The outcomes achieved, as she explains, although are difficult to quantify, translate into realising Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP)’s vision to inspire leaders and transform communities."][/ALUMNI-INFO]
“My passion to remain engaged in our public sector is fuelled by the never-ending challenge, which also changes from time to time, for government to remain competent, relevant and integrity-laden so we can make a difference in the lives of those whom we serve.”
[ALUMNI-QUOTES TEXT="Beyond the frameworks and theories, Thonette believes that the distinction of being a Lee Kuan Yew Fellow is a professional responsibility which she has since taken to heart. “I consider it an ambassadorial duty to lead by example, and with integrity at all times. I consciously share the discipline of methodical thinking I harnessed at LKYSPP with the prudent exercise of values. Excellence becomes meaningless when the process is done, and the outcomes are achieved sans the leadership values which were also deeply ingrained in our LKYSPP education.”
During her career, Thonette has worked across the various executive agencies, starting with the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Health; and the legislature, particularly with the Philippine Senate. Her appointment as a senior official was in 1999 as Assistant Secretary for Personnel at the Department of National Defence and then as Assistant Secretary at the Department of Labour and Employment from 2001-2006."][/ALUMNI-QUOTES]
Tonette was one of the recipients of the Philippine “The Outstanding Young Men” Award in 2009 for Government Service-Public Administration/Human Resource Development. She hopes to be able to make concrete contributions in helping develop a modern civil service system for the Philippines by instilling a culture of innovation, risk-taking and creative problem solving.