HTX Pioneers: The ever-eager learner

Vanessia Choo has never been one to back down in the face of a challenge. When presented with an opportunity to try something new, her line of thought is simple – “Why not?” 

In fact, the 28-year-old has been an unabashed philomath since her early years. She recounted how learning new things has always brought her profound joy, and how she jumped at the chance to read anything because it quenched her thirst for knowledge. 

Besides reading literary classics, Vanessia also indulged her inquisitiveness by taking part in a host of co-curricular activities like the Girl Guides, the Scrabble club, a community service club, as well as faculty clubs in university during her schooling years. More recently, she has been studying French at Alliance Francaise, and doing indoor climbing and Pilates. 

But of all her varied interests, there was one she found herself revisiting time and again. 

“I have always been fascinated by things that fly. It’s amazing how an airplane can be that big and heavy yet be able to lift off into the sky. I wanted to find out exactly how that worked,” she quipped. 

The idea of objects in flight has always piqued Vanessia’s curiosity. (Photo: HTX)

With curiosity guiding the way, she landed on the big decision to pursue aerospace engineering as her course of study in university. 

“I also love physics and mathematics, so it was only natural that I got on the engineering route. When it came to choosing an engineering degree, aerospace engineering seemed the coolest,” she explained. 

Engineering an impact

Following her graduation from Nanyang Technological University, Vanessia knew that she needed to take the path that would allow her to deepen her engineering skills while still fulfilling her desire to contribute meaningfully to the community. 

This was why she decided to go against the grain – unlike her university course mates, who gravitated towards the aviation industry, Vanessia sought out a career in the public service. And this was when she discovered HTX, or rather, the idea of it, as HTX had yet to be formed at that point in time. 

“I attended a career talk hosted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the presenters shared that a science and technology agency was going to be formed. I thought the idea sounded incredibly enticing because starting my career in such a place would not only give me the chance to work on innovative tech but also allow me to contribute to homeland security,” she explained. 

“What really struck a chord was how the tech which HTX was to develop would be used by the Home Team. That meant that projects I would work on could be used to keep Singapore safe and secure. It all sounded very rewarding.” 

Vanessia added that her decision to join the public service was reinforced by the fact that both her parents had at some point in their lives served as public officers. 

“I was brought up with the understanding that work in the public service is deeply meaningful and that whatever you do helps the country, which in turn helps you and your loved ones,” she said. 

A thoroughly eventful undertaking 

Upon joining HTX’s RAUS CoE, Vanessia was involved in the early development stages of the insect-hybrid robot as well as her most prominent project to date, MHA’s first Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone for homeland security. 

Watching the BVLOS drones augment the Singapore Police Force’s (SPF’s) ground patrols during Covid-19 was “an absolute triumph”. 

“The pandemic was a horrible time for the world. But it was also a time when I saw teamwork and innovation shine the brightest across HTX, the Home Team and the Whole of Government (WOG). Late nights and weekends may have been burnt, but how the team came together to make an impact on public safety and security made it all worthwhile,” she chimed. 

Vanessia posing with a BVLOS drone at the launch of HTX’s first long-distance BVLOS flights. (Photo: HTX)

Given her sprightly and outgoing nature, Vanessia has forged many close friendships during her five years at HTX. A number of these friendships, she pointed out, were made during the 10-day Home Team Foundation Course she attended at the Home Team Academy. 

During this course, participants are presented with the rare opportunity to visit the various Home Team departments and try their hands at tasks Home Team officers undertake. 

“We got to try on the different uniforms and gear and simulate real-life operational scenarios. For example, at the Home Team Tactical Centre, I had the opportunity to don the SCDF bunker gear. It was insane. I was sweating in parts of my body I didn’t know could sweat!” she laughed. 

This experience, she pointed out, gave her a greater appreciation for what Home Team officers undergo in their daily work. 

“I’m just amazed at how steadfast their dedication to keeping citizens safe and secure is despite how tough the work can be at times,” she said. 

“I met officers who are eager to save lives and change the world. Their stories were simply inspiring. Knowing these Home Team officers personally has given me even more reason to develop tech that keeps them safe and helps them in their work.” 

Vanessia attempts tasks which Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) officers typically perform in their life-saving operations. (Photos: Vanessia Choo) 

A bird’s-eye view 

About two years into her role at RAUS, Vanessia was appointed HTX’s inaugural Special Assistant (SA) to the Chief Executive (CE). This offer, she recalled, was something she simply could not refuse, partly because of her intrepid disposition, and partly because she saw it a golden opportunity to see HTX from another perspective. 

For the following year and a half, Vanessia supported HTX CE Chan Tsan in an array of matters, including staffing, that she never dipped her toes in before. But though the learning curve was steep, Vanessia relished the challenges that came her way. 

“Up till then, I had only seen HTX’s work from an engineer’s point of view. As an SA, I gained a whole other perspective. I had this amazing opportunity to understand what each unit does and how they all come together as a whole. Everyone’s scope of work is so complex and instrumental; no one unit is more important than the other,” she regaled. 

“In RAUS CoE, the issues I faced as an engineer were specific to a task or project. In the SA role, I came to understand that the issues HTX faces as an organisation are so much more complex. But be it on a micro or macro level, I learnt that the key to resolving any problem is to stay calm, maintain clarity of thought, apply logical thinking and not be afraid to seek guidance,” she continued. 

Vanessia has since returned to RAUS CoE to further her work on drones. She is currently involved in the development of a Multi Drone Operating System that allows officers to control drone of different systems simultaneously.

No regrets, just joy 

Reflecting on her journey thus far, Vanessia said that it was heartwarming to see how far the agency has come in just five years. 

“We’ve grown so much. Not just in terms of size, but also in terms of the homeland safety and security solutions we offer. For example, our M.A.T.A.R. ground patrol robot has not only assisted with Home Team operations, but also in WOG deployments,” she mused. 

“I feel like we’ve grown from an agency that was meant to unite technology development across the Home Team to one that is now leading in that field.”

Vanessia with HTX’s Multi-purpose All-Terrain Autonomous Robot (M.A.T.A.R.). (Photo: HTX) 

What makes this feat more impressive, she added, is that HTX’s exuberant culture has managed to shine despite how quickly things have progressed. 

“Be it when I was working with a team of 15 at the beginning, or now that I’m working with 50 people, our culture has stayed strong. I’m surrounded by colleagues who are not just fun, kind and supportive, but also very capable at what they do,” she opined.

Vanessia (taking the photo) with her RAUS CoE family. (Photo: Vanessia Choo) 

It doesn’t take much to see how enamoured Vanessia is with her job. When asked about her best memories in HTX to date, the young engineer couldn’t help but become effusive as she recalled the antics her team has pulled off while at work. 

“Once, our team dressed up a manikin and tricked our boss into thinking it was a team member at their workstation. Then there was the time a colleague involved in the insect-hybrid robot project dropped a mock cockroach during a major presentation and caused quite a commotion,” she quipped. 

But the memory that tugs the hardest at her heartstrings is the one in which her teammates rallied around her when she was struck by a sudden medical condition that left her hospitalised. As if battling pain and the inability to consume food wasn’t enough, Vanessia also had to contend with Covid-19 hospitalisation restrictions that left her pining for company. 

Company did arrive, however, in the form of encouraging video calls from her colleagues and superiors from RAUS CoE and the CE office. 

“All I can say is that HTX has truly become my second home. To me, Xponents have always felt like family,” she said.