SINGAPORE: The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore MPA will have a new Chief Executive next month with the appointment of Mr Teo Eng Dih, the Ministry of Transport MOT announced on Friday. Mr Teo, who is currently Deputy Secretary Policy of the Ministry of Defence MINDEF, will take over from current MPA chief executive Quah Ley Hoon from Sep 5.
He will be appointed the chief executive designate of MPA from Aug 8 to Sep 4, concurrent to his appointment in the Defence Ministry.
As deputy secretary of state policy, Mr Teo was responsible for MINDEF's defence policy and diplomacy, strategic and public communications and Total Defence. He helped coordinate the ministry's efforts to support the national fight against the disease during the COVID-19 epidemic.
He oversaw the expansion of defence cooperation with international partners, strengthening collaborations at the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting ADMM platform, as well as improving MINDEF's public engagement initiatives, including revamping the Singapore Discovery Centre.
Prior to MINDEF, Mr Teo was special assistant to then-Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean. He had also served in various government agencies in the areas of policy and planning, manpower, strategy, technology, climate change, enterprise services and international trade.
Ms Quah took over the position of MPA's chief executive on January 1, 2019.
She was instrumental in leading MPA to navigate the disruptions caused by COVID 19 while pressing on with the development and transformation of Singapore's international maritime centre and global hub port, MOT.
These include efforts such as the Sea-Air-Vaccination Exercise and the Sea Crew Vaccination Initiative to protect the health of local maritime workers and crew members onboard ships calling Singapore.
She also led MPA to complete the Phase 1 reclamation of Tuas Port last year, which was a significant milestone in the development of Singapore's next-generation port.