Choi Shing Kwok

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.

Publications

1. “S-E Asia should welcome G-7’s infrastructure and investment drive” – The Straits Times, 2 August 2022
2. “How Southeast Asia Will Benefit from the G7’s Infrastructure and Investment Drive” – Fulcrum, 29 July 2022
3. “Singapore’s energy transition promises both opportunities and challenges ahead” – Business Times, 16 May 2022
4. “Powering towards net-zero emissions: a challenging but rewarding journey” – The Straits Times, 28 March 2022
5. “Southeast Asia’s mixed success with adapting to fast-evolving COVID-19 war” – CNA, 16 October 2021
6. “Slammed by The Delta “Force”: Turns In The Covid-19 Wars In Southeast Asia” – Fulcrum, 13 October 2021
7. “The Myanmar Challenge to ASEAN” – Fulcrum, 14 June 2021
8. “A Year into the Pandemic, ASEAN Copes – And Hopes” – Fulcrum, 22 February 2021
9. “America is Back – For Now At Least” – Fulcrum, 18 February 2021
10. “Covid-19 battle: How have South-east Asian nations fared?” –  The Straits Times, 9 May 2020
11. “Is the US being Eclipsed in Southeast Asia?” – ISEAS Perspective 2020/19, 24 March 2020
12. Southeast Asia’s Hopes and Fears about China – ISEAS Perspective 2020/12, 2 March 2020
13. “China and the US in South-east Asian eyes” – The Straits Times, 8 February 2020
14. “Can the ASEAN-EU Partnership Fly Higher with CATA?” – ASEAN Economic Integration Brief No. 4 / November 2018