Non-Executive Chairman and Independent Director. Chairman of Nominating Committee; and member of the Audit and Remuneration Committees

Mr. Yao joined the Group in 2008 and brought with him more than 40 years of experience in the construction industry. He had worked in the Housing and Development Board (“HDB”) of Singapore for more than 35 years before his retirement in 1998 as its Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of the Building and Development Division. Between 1995 and 1998, he was also the Chairman of CESMA International Pte Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of HDB providing consultancy services in planning, design and project management both in Singapore and overseas. From 1999 and 2003, he was engaged by Hua Kok International Ltd (now known as Abterra Ltd), a Main Board listed construction company, as its Group Managing Director and was later promoted to the position of Group Executive Deputy Chairman.

Mr. Yao had obtained his Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Sydney in Australia.

Managing Director and CEO

Mr. Tan joined the Group in 2008 and brings with him more than 15 years experiences from various industries. Before joining the Company, Mr. Tan had been with the Haw Par Corporation Limited as its Group Financial Controller and Company Secretary since 2006. Before joining Haw Par Group, he had worked in the same capacity for ASL Marine Holdings Ltd for 3 years between 2003 and 2006. Before 2006, he was with Hua Kok International Limited (now known as Abterra Ltd) for 7 years, as its Group Financial Controller and Company Secretary, as well as an Executive Director. Prior to joining Hua Kok, he had worked as an auditor with various reputable medium and large sized international public accounting firms.

Mr. Tan has a Master of Business Administration in International Business and a Bachelor of Accountancy (Merit) from the Nanyang Technological University of Singapore. He is also a non-practising Certified Public Accountant (Singapore) and a member of the Singapore Institute of Directors.

Executive Director

Keng Lim joined the predecessor to Koon in 1976, when the sole proprietorship was preparing for its conversion into a private partnership in 1977. Before this Keng Lim was involved in several trading ventures. Over the last 27 years, Keng Lim has been involved in the project accounting, administration and risk controls of the Company. He has since devolved many of his day-to-day duties and now primarily serves in a supervisory and oversight capacity. He is the main contact person for, and oversees the Company’s interest in Entire Engineering and Gems Marine. Keng Lim remains very familiar with all aspects of the Company’s businesses, particularly with the Company’s many suppliers.

Executive Director

Koon Sun and the late Mr. Aw Joo Kim (his father) co-founded the predecessor to the Company in 1975. The predecessor was a sole proprietorship involved in the business of transporting stone and rocks. Koon Sun was in charge of that sole proprietorship, namely as a subcontractor for Obayashi on the East Coast V reclamation. Prior to founding the sole proprietorship, Koon Sun was involved in the family’s trading business. His extensive hands-on experience in trading and deep familiarity of local businesses, benefits Koon, as his principal task at the Company is the negotiation of quantity, quality and price of stone, rock, equipments, tugs & barges, with selected subcontractors and for the sourcing of consumables.

Non-Executive and Independent Director. Chairman of the Audit and Remuneration Committees and a Member of the Nominating Committee

Christopher is a partner of ACH Investments Pte Ltd., a specialist corporate advisory firm in Singapore. Prior to co-founding ACH Investments Pte Ltd, Christopher was a multi-award winning analyst and the Managing Director of HSBC James Capel Securities (Singapore) Pte Ltd (now known as HSBC Securities (Singapore) Pte Ltd), a member of the HongkongBank Group of companies.

Christopher has significant experience in corporate governance and corporate affairs.  Christopher is also a Director of 8 other public companies and funds listed on the Australian, Singapore and Luxembourg Stock Exchanges. Christopher is also a Director and/or adviser to public and private companies, to several significant Asian families and to a regulatory branch of the Singapore Government.

Christopher has a Bachelor of Science (Econs), a Master of Business Administration, is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland, a Fellow of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants, a Fellow of the Singapore Institute of Directors, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Master Stockbroker of the Securities & Derivatives Industry Association of Australia.

Non-Executive and Independent Director. Member of the Audit, Remuneration and Nominating Committees

Glenda is the Managing Director of Matrix Management Group Pty Ltd, a Project Management and Quantity Surveying firm with operations in Victoria and Tasmania. Prior to co-founding Matrix Management Group, Glenda worked as a Director, with Rawlinson (Aust) Pty. Ltd.

Glenda started her professional life with Farrow Laing and Partners in South Africa. Glenda has considerable experience in major industrial and civil projects including: infrastructure work for Australia Post; Sasol’s oil from coal project; steel-processing plants; and on coal, diamond & gold mines. Glenda also lectured at the University of the Witwatersrand in the Faculty of Architecture during the 1990’s prior to her immigration to Australia.

Glenda has a Bachelor of Science (Quantity Surveying) from the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa and is a Tasmanian Division Councillor of the Property Council of Australia. She is also a member of the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors.

Group Financial Controller

Beng Beng joined the Group in 2008. Prior to joining the Group, he had worked at the Sinar Mas Group conglomerate and in listed entities such as Hua Kok International Ltd; ASL Marine Holdings Ltd and Haw Par Corporation Limited, as well as other privately-owned companies.  He has more than 10 years of working experience in the Construction and related industries, with experiences in corporate governance; listing requirement compliance; corporate secretarial matters; taxation and legal matters etc. He also has experience in handling Merger and Acquisition projects; Initial Public Offerings and fund raising exercises.

Beng Beng has a Bachelor of Accountancy from the Nanyang Technological University of Singapore.

Group HR & Admin. Manager

Juslene joined the Group in 1990 as a Project Administrative Officer handling administrative works, including staff and workers welfare, and providing support to the Project Manager.  After several years of site experience, Juslene was transferred to the head office where she was tasked to handle corporate administration works which includes IT infrastructure and human resources for the construction division.  In 2008, Juslene was promoted to the position of Group HR and Admin Manager handling all corporate administration works for the Group. 

Juslene has a Diploma in Human Resource Management from the Singapore Human Resources Institute and a Diploma in Business Administration from the Productivity and Standards Board. 

General Manager (Construction Division)

Tiak Poh joined the Group in 2008 as General Manager (Projects & Business Development). He has more than 20 years of experience in the construction industry and had worked with various organizations including the government agency, developers and contractors. He oversees a team of Senior Managers for the various projects undertaken by the Group’s construction division and is also in-charge of developing and promoting business opportunities with existing and potential clients, suppliers and subcontractors in the industry.

Tiak Poh has a Bachelor of Engineering in Civil and Structural Engineering from the National University of Singapore and a Master of Science in International Construction Management from the Nanyang Technological University.

Senior Technical Manager (Construction Division)

Chin Ket joined the Group in 1996. He was previously a Senior Resident Engineer with the Port of Singapore Authority Corporation (“PSA”). Chin Ket joined PSA in 1979 and was with PSA for some 17 years during which he was involved in and oversaw the impressive growth of the port of Singapore into one of the world’s busiest ports. As the Head of the Group’s technical team in the construction division, his principal duties are to resolve technical and design issues arising from the projects handled by the Group as well as to lead and manage the technical professionals within the Group.  Chin Ket reports to the General Manager.

Chin Ket has a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Civil Engineering from the Strathclyde University, Scotland; is a registered Professional Engineer in both Singapore and Malaysia and is a member of the Institution of Engineers, Singapore (MIES) and the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (MIEM).

Tenders and Contracts Manager (Construction Division)

Siew Sing joined the Group in 1990. As Head of the Tenders and Contracts department, he manages and oversees the Group’s tendering system, which includes identification of potential tenders; identification of potential risks; preparing tender submission; attending tender interviews and furnishing of required replies. Siew Sing also manages the procurement of major supplies and subcontracts for awarded projects. He also provides advice on contractual matters to project teams.

Siew Sing has a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Building from the National University of Singapore.

Marketing & Operations Manager (Gems Marine)

Latvain joined the Group in 2009. He began his maritime career through a Bachelor's Degree Sponsorship in 1999.  Through years of jobs' challenges, he gained experiences in vessel's operations, commercial, line and trade management. He first joined P&O Nedlloyd, London, in 1999. Upon his graduation in 2001, he was posted to P&O Nedlloyd, Hong Kong and Singapore. In mid 2003, he joined Singapore Airlines as a Cadet Pilot. However, he decided to return to the maritime industry to pursue his passion in Maritime, and joined Simatech Shipping from 2004 to 2007. During his employment with Simatech Shipping, he was promoted to Trade Manager in 2005 and handles 4 trade services (CEX, CHS, IJS and NTX), 12 vessels and 7 branch offices (MYPKL, IDJKT, THBKK, INNSA, INCCU, INTUT and LKCMB) within Asia. In late 2007, he was head-hunted to joined Gearbulk as part of APAC Integrated Line Management.

Latvain has a Bachelor of Business Management (Hons) in Economics from the University of London, King's College, United Kingdom.

 

Manager (Land Based Operations)

Ah Seng joined the Group in 1983 as a site supervisor and was subsequently promoted to be the Manager of Entire Engineering in 1990, where he was tasked to manage the Group’s land-based machineries and equipments. His duties include liaising with project managers, external clients and suppliers to ensure that machineries and equipments were being supplied on time and in good working condition. Ah Seng is responsible for the day-to-day operations of Entire Engineering.

He has a Certificate in Construction Supervision from the Construction Industry Development Board, Singapore.