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) said on Friday (Aug 5).
Mr Teo, who is presently 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 as chief executive (designate) of MPA from Aug 8 to Sep 4, concurrent to his appointment in the Defence Ministry.
As deputy secretary (policy), Mr Teo was responsible for MINDEF’s defence policy and diplomacy, strategic and public communications, and Total Defence. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he helped to coordinate the ministry’s efforts to support the national fight against the disease.
He also oversaw the expansion of defence cooperation with international partners and strengthening of collaborations at the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) platform, as well as enhanced MINDEF’s public engagement initiatives, which included 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 assumed the position of MPA’s chief executive on Jan 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”, said MOT.
These include efforts such as the sea-air-vaccination exercise and the sea crew vaccination initiative to safeguard the health of local maritime workers and crew members onboard ships calling at Singapore.
She also led MPA to complete the Tuas Port Phase 1 reclamation last year, which was a “significant milestone” in the development of Singapore’s next-generation port.