Director & Chief Executive Officer

Mr Choi Shing Kwok was appointed Director and CEO of ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute on 15 January 2018 and also took on the role of Head of ASEAN Studies Centre at the institute in March 2020. He concurrently holds a number of board and advisory appointments on companies, charities and research establishments in Singapore.

Prior to this appointment, Mr Choi was the Permanent Secretary in the then Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (now renamed the Ministry of Sustainability and Environment) from 2012 to 2017. He started his career in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) in 1978 and held various appointments in the SAF and Ministry of Defence till 2005. After leaving the Ministry of Defence, Mr Choi held the post of Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport from 2005 to 2012.

Mr Choi studied at the University of Cambridge, graduating with Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Engineering in 1981 and 1985 respectively. He also obtained a Master’s in Public Administration degree from Harvard University in 1994.

Mr Choi was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Silver) (Military) in 1993 and the Meritorious Service Medal in 2000 for his contributions to Singapore.