Professor Tan Thiam Soon is the President of Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT). He obtained his B. Eng in Civil Engineering from University of Canterbury and subsequently obtained his MS and PhD from California Institute of Technology. Prior to joining SIT, he was with National University of Singapore for more than 26 years and was a Professor of Civil Engineering.
Professor Tan’s main research interests are in land reclamation, deep excavation and soil improvement. Professor Tan received the ASTM’s C.A. Hogentogler Award in 2007 and the Best Research Paper Award 2008 from the Japanese Geotechnical Society. He was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 2008, Minister of Transport’s Distinguished Innovation Award in 2008, Ministry of National Development’s 2015 Minister’s Award (Team) and the Public Administration Medal (Gold) in 2017.
Professor Tan is a registered Specialist Professional Engineer (Geotechnical). He is a member of the Future Economy Council and board member of SkillsFuture Singapore as well as the Land Transport Authority.
Education
1979 - Colombo Plan Scholarship
1979 - Bachelor of Engineering (First Class) Civil Engineering, University of Canterbury, New Zealand
1982 - Master's of Science (Civil Engineering), California Institute of Technology, United States
1985 - PhD (Civil Engineering), California Institute of Technology, United States
1990 - Institution of Engineers, Singapore, Inaugural Innovation Award (Merit) for land reclamation techniques
2007 - ASTM's 2007 Hogentogler Award
2008 - Best Research Paper Award 2008, Japanese Geotechnical Society
2008 - Minister's Innovation Award 2008, Distinguished Award, Ministry of Transport
2008 - Public Administration Medal (Silver), National Day Awards 2008
2015 - Ministry of National Development’s 2015 Minister’s Award (Team)
2017 - Public Administration Medal (Gold), National Day Awards 2017
Professional Membership
Areas of Expertise
Geotechnical engineering, higher education
What have been the main lessons you have learned in your career and how do you implement them in your management?
One door closes, another door opens – many live an unhappy life because they believe the door that closes offers a better life than the door that opens. But actually no one knows what lies behind each door, it is for you to make it works. Make full use of every opportunity that opens up to you and not to regret over things that already are closed to you.
