SINGAPORE ALUMNI CHAPTER PATRONS - MEDIA RELEASE

							SINGAPORE ALUMNI CHAPTER PATRONS

Dr Khaw Boon Wan

As a Colombo Plan Scholar, Dr Khaw Boon Wan completed a Bachelor of Engineering degree in
Industrial Engineering with Honours Class I as well as a Bachelor of Commerce. He was also
awarded the University Medal for academic excellence. In 2002, the University presented a
Doctor of Engineering honoris causa to Dr Khaw. He currently holds the position of Minister for
Health in Singapore and charged with responsibility for the promotion of good health and
reduction of illness, ensuring that Singaporeans have access to good and affordable health care
that is appropriate to their needs. Dr Khaw is also recognised as a Patron of the University of
Newcastle's Alumni Chapter in Singapore.


Dr Chew Heng Ching

Dr Chew, a Colombo Plan Scholar, graduated from the University of Newcastle in 1974 with a
Bachelor of Engineering degree with Honours Class I and University Medal as well as a Bachelor
of Arts degree in Economics. Dr Chew was also awarded a Doctor of Engineering honoris causa
by the University in 2003 and is a Patron of the University of Newcastle's Alumni Chapter
Singapore. He currently holds the positions of Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Chairman of
the East Coast Town Council, and is actively involved in the management and boards of several
public companies.


Dr Tan Chin Nam

Dr Tan received a Colombo Plan Scholarship to study at the University of Newcastle and
completed a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Industrial Engineering with Honours Class I as
well as a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Economics. In 1998, Dr Tan was awarded a Doctor
of Engineering honoris causa. He has had a long and distinguished career in Singapore's public
service and current holds the position of Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information,
Communication and the Arts. Dr Tan is also recognised as a Patron of the University of
Newcastle's Alumni Chapter in Singapore.
Professor Chen Swee Eng

Professor Chen completed a Bachelor of Architecture at the University of Newcastle as a
Colombo Plan Scholar in 1980, finishing with first class honours and a University Medal. He has
subsequently completed a Master of Business Administration, a Master of Architecture and a
Doctor of Philosophy at Newcastle. Until 2005, Professor Chen held the position of Professor in
the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Newcastle. In recognition of Professor Chen's 20
years of service to the University of Newcastle, he has been appointed as Patron of the
University of Newcastle's Alumni Chapter Singapore.


Mr Bill Chua

Bill T. H. CHUA, Executive Vice-President, United Overseas Bank Limited (UOB)

Bill is currently Executive Vice President and Global Head for Delivery Channels and Operations
at United Overseas Banking Group (UOB). He has over 27 years of extensive financial services
experiences, with line management responsibilities in both Wholesale and Consumer Banking at
Citibank before joining Overseas Union Bank Limited (OUB) in August 2000 as Senior Vice
President and Head of Operations. He assumed the position of Executive Vice President,
Operations of UOB at the beginning of 2002 after the legal merger of OUB into UOB. Prior to
Citibank, Bill was with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.


Bill chairs the Banking Operations and Transactional Banking Standing Committee of the
Association of Banks in Singapore, and the Operations Subcommittee at the Singapore Foreign
Exchange Market Committee. He is also a member of the Singapore Management University
Business School Advisory Board.


He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Economics); and a Bachelor of Engineering (Industrial) from the
University of Newcastle, Australia. Bill is very active in community service and was awarded the
Public Service Medal in 2004. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Singapore West.


If there are any changes to be made to the above information, please contact the Alumni
Relations office alumni@newcastle.edu.au