The Lien Ying Chow Legacy Fellowship, established in year 2007, is targeted at outstanding senior government officials and distinguished professionals, as well as academics from Singapore and China. The Fellowship provides a platform for both countries to gain useful insights from each other’s expertise in public administration, corporate governance and management. The cross-border exposure will foster a deep appreciation of distinctive elements in the two cultures. One of the key goals of the Lien Ying Chow Legacy Fellowship is to broaden horizons and establish long-lasting and meaningful bilateral relationships through networking opportunities with peers from the academic, as well as the public and private sectors. Fellows will benefit from the academic environment in the leading universities in both countries, and other participating institutions where they undergo their research programmes. The Fellowship aims to inspire fellows, who in partnership with others, to spearhead a process of positive change for both countries.
The Lien Ying Chow Legacy Fellowship aims to strengthen ties and promote understanding between Singapore and China through a people-to-people exchange programme that fosters intellectual and cultural sharing in the interests of social development and economy prosperity. The two countries complement each other. China can gain useful insights from Singapore’s expertise in public administration, corporate governance and management. Meanwhile, China’s dynamism and entrepreneurial spirit is a lesson for Singapore on how to thrive in an environment of rapid change and evolving opportunities. The flow of talent both ways will create greater mutual understanding and trust. The cross-border exposure will foster a deeper appreciation of distinctive elements in the two cultures. Lien Fellows will also benefit from the academic environment in the leading universities and other participating institutions where they carry out their research programmes.
MEMBERS INTRODUCTION
This scholarship program establishes a council consisting of representatives from Singapore's political, business, Lian's Foundation, and academic institutions. The council participates in the recruitment of candidates and the selection of awardees, provides strategic guidance in the development of the scholarship program, and provides opportunities for scholarship recipients to expand their network.
CHAIRMAN
Mr Lim Chee Onn has had a distinguished career as a former Cabinet Minister of Singapore. He started his career in the Civil Service and was elected Member of Parliament, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, and Secretary-General of National Trade Union Congress. Currently, Mr Lim chairs the Singapore-Suzhou Township Development Pte Ltd. He was appointed to the Council of Presidential Advisers as an Alternate Member in January 2008, and as a Member since April 2017. He is the Chancellor at the Singapore Management University and serves as Senior Adviser to the University of Glasgow in Singapore. Mr Lim is a Director of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (Asia) Ltd. In the corporate sector, he has held prominent roles as Executive Chairman of Keppel Corporation Limited, Board Member of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, and Senior International Adviser to the Ascendas-Singbridge Group. He was conferred the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Engineering by Glasgow University and received several prestigious awards, including the Distinguished Service Order by HE The President, Republic of Singapore and Commander, Order of the Crown, by HM King Albert II, Kingdom of Belgium, and The Order of Nila Utama (With High Distinction) at the National Day Awards 2019. Additionally, Mr Lim has been honoured as an Honorary Citizen of Suzhou, People’s Republic of China, and Seoul, Republic of Korea.
MEMBER
Mr Peter Tan is Singapore’s Ambassador to the People's Republic of China. Prior to this appointment, he was Singapore’s Ambassador to Japan from 2019 to 2023 and previously served as Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, concurrently accredited to Mongolia, from 2011 to 2015. Since joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1992, Mr Tan has amassed extensive experience across a range of issues pertaining to Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific, as well as in the United Nations and Technical Cooperation. In his earlier roles, he served as Deputy Secretary for Southeast Asia & ASEAN, and held significant positions in various diplomatic missions, including the Singapore Embassy in Tokyo and the Singapore High Commission in Kuala Lumpur.
MEMBER
Mr Zainul Abidin Rasheed is a member of the Board of Trustees of Nanyang Technological University and serves as Singapore’s Non-Resident Ambassador to Kuwait. With a fulfilling career spanning over 45 years, Mr Zainul has made significant contributions to government, international diplomacy, and journalism. He has also been involved in the corporate sector and various voluntary and charitable organizations. Notably, he served as the Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and was a Member of Parliament from 1997 to 2011.
MEMBER
Prof Lam Khin Yong is the Vice President (Industry) at Nanyang Technological University. Prior to his current role, he served as the Senior Vice President (Research) and the Associate Provost for Graduate Education and Special Projects. He has held many key academic, research, and administrative appointments and has served on various international advisory committees. In recognition of his contributions to research, Prof Lam was awarded the prestigious President's Science and Technology Medal, the French National Order of the Legion of Honour (Chevalier), an Honorary Professorship Diploma from Lomonosov Moscow State University, an Honorary Professorship from Shandong University, and an Honorary Doctorate from the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
MEMBER
Dr Vincent Lien is a director at Wah Hin & Company, bringing over 20 years of extensive banking experience in Asia. He has held senior appointments with ABN AMRO Bank (Singapore), Bankers Trust & Company (Hong Kong and Beijing), and Swiss Bank Corporation (Hong Kong and Shanghai).
MEMBER
Mr Laurence Lien is the CEO and Co-Founder of the Asia Philanthropy Circle. He also serves as the Chairman of the Lien Foundation and the Community Foundation of Singapore. Additionally, Mr Laurence Lien is a board member of the Lien Centre for Social Innovation at the Singapore Management University.
MEMBER
Mrs Rosa Daniel is the Dean of the Culture Academy at the Ministry of Culture, Community, and Youth (MCCY). With extensive leadership experience in public administration, Mrs Rosa Daniel has held various key positions, including Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Deputy Secretary (Culture) of the MCCY, Chief Executive of the National Heritage Board, and Chief Executive of the National Arts Council. She is also a 2011 Lien Fellow.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Prof Liu Hong is the Executive Director of the Lien Ying Chow Legacy Fellowship Programme and the Associate Vice President, International at Nanyang Technological University (NTU). He holds the Tan Lark Sye Chair Professorship in Public Policy and Global Affairs at NTU and serves as the Director of Research & Executive Education at the Nanyang Centre for Public Administration. Prof Liu's main research areas include Asian governance from a transnational perspective, global talent mobility, and the Belt and Road Initiative. He has published 15 books and over 100 articles in multiple languages, including English, Chinese, Japanese, French, and Indonesian.