Lim Siong Guan
Encyclopedia
Lim Siong Guan is the current Group President of the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation
(GIC).
, Singapore
. He was awarded the President’s Scholarship to study at the University of Adelaide
, Australia
, where he graduated with First Class Honours in Mechanical Engineering
in 1969. He attained a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration from the National University of Singapore
in 1975.
Lim was the Head of the Singapore Civil Service
from September 1999 to March 2005. He was the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence from July 1981 to May 1994, Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office from June 1994 to July 1998, (concurrently) Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education from April 1997 to June 1999, and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance (June 1999 to September 2006). He was the first Principal Private Secretary to former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew from May 1978 to June 1981.
Lim was the Chairman of the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority
(ACRA) and the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore
from 2004 to 2006. Previously he had been the Chairman of the Central Provident Fund
Board from 1986 to 1994 and Deputy Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of Currency (now absorbed into the Monetary Authority of Singapore
)from 1999 to 2002. He was a Board Member of the Monetary Authority of Singapore from 1999 to 2006.
In 2005, Lim Siong Guan, as the chairman of the ACRA, was one of the 3 member Presidential Elections Committee who reviewed the qualifications of Sellapan Ramanathan, who was subsequently elected President of Singapore
, in the 2005 Singapore President Elections.
Lim is an adjunct Professor of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy
and has been a Member of the Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellowship from 2005 to 2006. He has been a Director of Temasek Holdings
Pte. Ltd., a Director of DBS Bank
Ltd, a Director of Neptune Orient Lines Limited, and variously Chairman or Director of a number of companies which are now part of the Singapore Technologies Engineering
group of companies. He is also a member of the International Advisory Panel of the Asian Competitiveness Institute.
He was Chairman of the Economic Development Board
from October 2006 to June 2009. He was first appointed Group Managing Director of Government of Singapore Investment Corporation on 22 September 2007.
Lim was appointed the Group President of the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation
(GIC), a newly created role that oversees all three GIC investment units: GIC Real Estate, GIC Asset Management and GIC Special Investments on July 1, 2009.
Lim was awarded the Order of Nila Utama
(First Class) in 2006, the Meritorious Service Medal
in 1991 and the Public Administration Medal
(Gold) in 1982.
Government of Singapore Investment Corporation
The Government of Singapore Investment Corporation Private Limited is a sovereign wealth fund established by the Government of Singapore in 1981 to manage Singapore's foreign reserves...
(GIC).
Biography
Lim was educated at the Anglo-Chinese SchoolAnglo-Chinese School
The Anglo-Chinese School ; is a family of Methodist schools in Singapore, and Indonesia.The name is usually abbreviated as "ACS", with the junior college as "ACJC", and its students and alumni referred to as "ACSians" , or "ACS boys" .ACS was the first school...
, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. He was awarded the President’s Scholarship to study at the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, where he graduated with First Class Honours in Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
in 1969. He attained a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration from the National University of Singapore
National University of Singapore
The National University of Singapore is Singapore's oldest university. It is the largest university in the country in terms of student enrollment and curriculum offered....
in 1975.
Lim was the Head of the Singapore Civil Service
Singapore Civil Service
The Singapore Civil Service is the set of civil servants working for the Government of Singapore. Many of its principles were inherited from the administrative system left by the British Civil Service, as Singapore was once a British colony....
from September 1999 to March 2005. He was the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence from July 1981 to May 1994, Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office from June 1994 to July 1998, (concurrently) Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education from April 1997 to June 1999, and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance (June 1999 to September 2006). He was the first Principal Private Secretary to former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew from May 1978 to June 1981.
Lim was the Chairman of the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority
Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority
The Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority is a statutory board under the Ministry of Finance of the Singapore Government. ACRA is the national regulator of business entities and public accountants in Singapore...
(ACRA) and the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore
Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore
The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore is a statutory board under the Ministry of Finance of the Singapore Government in charge of tax collection.-History:...
from 2004 to 2006. Previously he had been the Chairman of the Central Provident Fund
Central Provident Fund
In Singapore, the Central Provident Fund is a compulsory comprehensive savings plan for working Singaporeans and permanent residents primarily to fund their retirement, healthcare and housing needs. It is administered by the Central Provident Fund Board, a statutory board under the Ministry of...
Board from 1986 to 1994 and Deputy Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of Currency (now absorbed into the Monetary Authority of Singapore
Monetary Authority of Singapore
The Monetary Authority of Singapore is Singapore's central bank and financial regulatory authority...
)from 1999 to 2002. He was a Board Member of the Monetary Authority of Singapore from 1999 to 2006.
In 2005, Lim Siong Guan, as the chairman of the ACRA, was one of the 3 member Presidential Elections Committee who reviewed the qualifications of Sellapan Ramanathan, who was subsequently elected President of Singapore
President of Singapore
The President of the Republic of Singapore is Singapore's head of state. In a Westminster parliamentary system, as which Singapore governs itself, the prime minister is the head of the government while the position of president is largely ceremonial. Before 1993, the President of Singapore was...
, in the 2005 Singapore President Elections.
Lim is an adjunct Professor of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy
Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy
The Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy is a school of the National University of Singapore . It was established in 1992 as the Master of Public Policy Programme under the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences of National University of Singapore in collaboration with the Kennedy School of Government...
and has been a Member of the Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellowship from 2005 to 2006. He has been a Director of Temasek Holdings
Temasek Holdings
Temasek Holdings is an investment company owned by the government of Singapore. With an international staff of 380 people, it manages a portfolio of about S$193 billion at end of March 2011, focused primarily in Asia...
Pte. Ltd., a Director of DBS Bank
DBS Bank
DBS Bank Ltd is a bank incorporated in Singapore. It was previously known as The Development Bank of Singapore Limited, before the present name was adopted in July 2003 to reflect its changing role as a regional bank....
Ltd, a Director of Neptune Orient Lines Limited, and variously Chairman or Director of a number of companies which are now part of the Singapore Technologies Engineering
Singapore Technologies Engineering
ST Engineering Ltd is an integrated engineering group providing solutions and services in the aerospace, electronics, land systems and marine sectors. Headquartered in Singapore, the group reported revenues of $5.05b in FY2007. With a market capitalisation of about $10b, it ranks among the...
group of companies. He is also a member of the International Advisory Panel of the Asian Competitiveness Institute.
He was Chairman of the Economic Development Board
Economic Development Board
-Overview:The Economic Development Board is a statutory board of the Government of Singapore that plans and executes strategies to sustain Singapore as a leading global hub for business and investment....
from October 2006 to June 2009. He was first appointed Group Managing Director of Government of Singapore Investment Corporation on 22 September 2007.
Lim was appointed the Group President of the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation
Government of Singapore Investment Corporation
The Government of Singapore Investment Corporation Private Limited is a sovereign wealth fund established by the Government of Singapore in 1981 to manage Singapore's foreign reserves...
(GIC), a newly created role that oversees all three GIC investment units: GIC Real Estate, GIC Asset Management and GIC Special Investments on July 1, 2009.
Lim was awarded the Order of Nila Utama
Darjah Utama Nila Utama
The Darjah Utama Nila Utama is Singapore's third most important national honour and was instituted in 1975.There are 3 grades of the Order of Nila Utama:*the First Class, consisting of the Badge and the Star of the Order...
(First Class) in 2006, the Meritorious Service Medal
Pingat Jasa Gemilang
The Pingat Jasa Gemilang , instituted in Singapore in 1962. The Medal may be awarded to any person who has performed service of conspicuous merit characterised by resource and devotion to duty, including long service marked by exceptional ability, merit and exemplary conduct within Singapore...
in 1991 and the Public Administration Medal
Pingat Pentadbiran Awam
The Pingat Pentadbiran Awam was instituted in Singapore in 1963 and has three grades:* Emas * Perak * Gangsa...
(Gold) in 1982.