Boy-Made-Good Throwback
Teck Chuan could only enter the Singapore Technical Institute (later known as MacPherson ITE) in 1987 and obtained a certificate in mechanical and electrical drafting and design.
After completing his national service, the youngest of five children joined Ngee Ann Polytechnic where he made a clean sweep of the academic honours - winning more than 10 book prizes, a scholarship, Squire Mech silver medal and the first Tay Eng Soon gold medal for outstanding work as a diploma student in building services.
Then, because the local universities would not recognize his polytechnic achievements, Teck Chuan took a loan from his family to pursue his undergraduate studies in UK’s Cardiff University. He returned after two years with a first-class honours degree, the best-student award, Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE, UK) award and a best-team award for his project.
A glowing coverage in the Straits Times led to his being snapped up by the Defence Science Organisation to work as an engineer in 1996. Teck Chuan went on to work at DSTA for 15 years, before joining the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2015.
An Inspiring Mentor
Teck Chuan, who is now HTX’s Director of Platform Systems, intentionally channels his experience into mentoring his team. He has five deputy directors assisting him in the running of a 138-men operation working at seven workshops across Singapore. One of his deputy directors, Ahalid Hasmuni, who started his career as a technical officer, was recently promoted to superscale officer.
Teck Chuan was the boss who put Ahalid up for the well-deserved promotion to Deputy Director of Maintenance, Marine Systems, Platform Systems Sustainment Centre.
Ahalid said he was most inspired by how Teck Chuan would go down to the ground and visit staff all over Singapore.
“He listens, provides guidance, explains policies, and answers our questions and concerns. Nothing is too small or insignificant,” said Ahalid.
“He also started a programme to monitor and support the Platform Systems staff who are on long term medical leave, or who recently had a new family member join them. I even emulated this idea and applied it in my own small area!”
Teck Chuan (at the far end) with his team of officers who were promoted in 2021 (Photo: HTX)
For Teck Chuan, the chance to inspire others started in 2005 when he was given a team to manage at DSTA.
Apart from technical knowledge and the what’s and how’s to do a job, he likes to provide career advice and share his life experience.
Mentoring can take place anywhere, even in a car when they are sitting next to me. We have friendly conversations and this is a good time for me to share with them what it would take for them to move to the next level.
He said, “Mentoring can take place anywhere, even in a car when they are sitting next to me. We have friendly conversations and this is a good time for me to share with them what it would take for them to move to the next level.”
In his remarkable life journey, he himself had benefitted from a mentor, and recounts that he was at his “most motivated” when he was in the polytechnic.
One of his lecturers as well as one of the directors kept encouraging him to go further, even helping him to apply to overseas universities. They had also connected him with Straits Times journalists to feature him.
Giving Back
Today, “giving back” dominates Teck Chuan’s life.
While mentorship is a large part of that, he loves doing balloon sculpting at events including for HTX pre-Covid, and he is a passionate grassroots volunteer.
Starting his grassroots journey in 2009 when he witnessed streams of people in need queueing to see Member of Parliament Denise Phua and feeling like he had to “do something”, he is today the vice-chairman of the Citizens’ Consultative Committee at the Kampong Glam constituency.
Teck Chuan, who has received National Day awards including the Public Service Medal (PBM) in 2016 and the Public Service Star (BBM) in 2020, looks after low income and needy families in the area.
Said the father of two teenaged boys, “As a volunteer I don’t ask for anything in return. But knowing that I helped a family to get out of poverty, or improved their well-being, and knowing that I made a difference, is all that matters.”
Balloon sculptures created by Teck Chuan for HTX’s CNY eXpresso! town hall event (Photo: HTX)