True to our nature of playing just as hard as we work, we held a “dash” in the morning and a big bash in the evening
(From left to right) Permanent Secretary (Home Affairs) Pang Kin Keong, inaugural and past HTX Chairman Chew Hock Yong, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam, HTX Chairman Aubeck Kam, and HTX Chief Executive Chan Tsan cut HTX’s birthday cake during the anniversary ceremony cum staff dinner and dance event on the evening of 29 Nov. (Photo: HTX)
HTX turned five on 1 Dec and the agency held not one but two celebratory activities to commemorate this milestone on 29 Nov.
The first event was a “dash” in the morning that saw Xponents travel via bicycle or on foot from eight satellite offices across Singapore to HTX HQ. This segment was deeply symbolic as it reflected how HTX was first formed in 2019 by bringing together tech talent from the various Home Team Departments and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
HTX CE Chan Tsan leading Xponents through the Botanic Gardens. (Photo: HTX)
Despite the downpour, hundreds of Xponents made their way to HTX HQ armed with ponchos and umbrellas, a sight that left HTX Chief Executive (CE) Chan Tsan moved.
“Rain or shine, I knew all of you would be here. So even though the weather is cold, my heart is warm thanks to your company,” said Tsan, during his address to the crowd at the conclusion of the “dash”.
Undaunted by the rain! (Photo: HTX)
Heavy rain? No problem! Check out what happened during the “dash” event in the morning. (Video: HTX)
Later that day, over 1,500 Xponents gathered for the 5th anniversary ceremony cum staff dinner and dance held at the Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre. Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam, Permanent Secretary (Home Affairs) Pang Kin Keong, Permanent Secretary (Home Affairs Development) and HTX Chairman Aubeck Kam, retired Permanent Secretary (Home Affairs Development) and past HTX Chairman Chew Hock Yong, and the HTX Board of Directors joined us for the festivities.
Minister K Shanmugam, who officially launched the 5th anniversary ceremony, recalled he had stood on that very same stage just seven months earlier to launch the Milipol Asia-Pacific TechX Summit. (Photo: HTX)
To highlight the key milestones in HTX’s history, a gallery was set up outside the ballroom. Among the highlights was HTX’s very own robotic dog Rover-X, which can be used to undertake risky missions like detecting hazardous gas leaks, as well as display panels detailing how the agency tackled the challenges posed by Covid-19, which made its way through the world shortly after HTX was formed.
“Walking through the special gallery that encapsulated moments from our impactful five-year journey together, I felt an immense sense of pride in what we have achieved,” shared Tsan.
(Front row, from left to right) HTX Chairman Aubeck Kam, HTX CE Chan Tsan, Minister K Shanmugam, and HTX Director of Strategic Communications Evelyn Ho view the 5th anniversary gallery. (Photo: HTX)
Members of HTX’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives (CBRNE) Centre of Expertise (CoE) pose for a photo during the dinner and dance event. (Photo: HTX)
Several Xponents got to work up an appetite while sprinting around the ballroom during the Red Light, Green Light game segment. (Photo: HTX)
As usual, the dinner and dance featured a Best Dressed Award segment, and Xponents from the various divisions within clearly pulled out all the stops to impress with their own HTX-themed outfits.
Xponents from HTX’s Disruptive Technologies Office (DTO) pose with their outfit that was meant to resemble a HTX staff pass. (Photo: HTX)
Xponents from HTX’s Robotics, Automation & Unmanned Systems (RAUS) Centre of Expertise (CoE) came dressed as, well, robots! (Photo: HTX)
HTX CE Chan Tsan and members of the agency’s Staff Welfare Committee, which helped organise the dinner and dance, struck a pose while onstage. (Photo: HTX)
Xponents from HTX’s Strategic Communications division also had a hand in the organisation of the 5th anniversary celebrations. (Photo: HTX)
During his speech at the dinner, Tsan praised Xponents’ resilience, commitment to excellence, and boldness to challenge the status quo, citing these traits as pivotal to the rapid growth of the agency over the past five years.
“As we look forward to the next chapter, we are excited to continue our mission of exponentially impacting Singapore's safety and security. Together, we will forge ahead with even greater resolve and boldness,” he added.
HTX’s official 5th anniversary video made its debut during the ceremony – view it here! (Video: HTX)