In the face of an ever-changing workforce pattern and demographics, the Central Provident Fund (CPF) Board is committed to being the bedrock of Singapore’s social security system and helping our people meet their retirement, healthcare and housing needs. As of September 2018, the CPF Board proudly serves over 3.88 million members, whether it is helping young Singaporeans afford their first home, or securing and growing a retirement nest egg for older members.

It is the meaningful nature of the CPF Board’s work, and its profound and concrete impact on individuals and families, that motivated both Liu Lung Kwan, 32, and Daniel Teo, 30, to carve out careers with the organisation and make a positive difference in their various capacities. The two recipients of the CPF Board Mid-Term Local Undergraduate Scholarship share more about how their scholarship experiences have benefitted them and how their roles in the organisation have brought them exciting opportunities.

Daniel Teo 
CPF Board Mid-Term Local Undergraduate Scholarship
Assistant Director (Home Protection Scheme)
Bachelor of Business Administration (1st Class Honours)
– Nanyang Technological University

Close To Home And Heart

Daniel is an Assistant Director managing a team of junior officers in claims operations under the Home Protection Scheme. The opportunity to relieve his parents of financial burden, coupled with his desire to serve Singaporeans, led him to apply for the CPF Board Scholarship. “I came to realise this was what I wanted to do only at the end of my first year in university. Hence, CPF Board’s Mid-Term Local Undergraduate Scholarship was the most appropriate,” says Daniel. “It helped that the topic of work is one that is close to my heart.”

Currently a Principal Manager at Ministry of Manpower’s Income Security Policy Division for his secondment, Lung Kwan’s journey with the organisation kickstarted when he attended an introduction talk on the CPF system and was drawn to the nature of work pertaining to long term planning for retirement. “I majored in Finance and Business Administration, so a scholarship with the CPF Board would allow me to apply my knowledge. CPF was also something close to my heart, since every Singaporean knows about CPF and uses it at some point of their life,” he shares.

More Than Just A Job

Work at the CPF Board is intricately intertwined with the lives of Singaporeans. This challenge also makes work rewarding for the two scholars. “There is a certain tension between policy and public appreciation that keeps us on our toes. We are constantly challenged with safeguarding the delicate balance between longer- and shorter-term needs across the entire spectrum of social security,” says Daniel. “The deep and tangible impact that our policies have on people’s lives, including our own, amplifies this challenge, but keeps my job interesting and fulfilling.”

Liu Lung Kwan 
CPF Board Mid-Term Local Undergraduate Scholarship
Principal Manager (Income Security Policy Division)
– Currently on secondment at Ministry of Manpower (MOM)
Bachelor of Business Administration (1st Class Honours)
– National University of Singapore

This impact is also emphasised by Lung Kwan’s stint in the CPF Board’s enforcement group, where he and his team helped to educate and inform employees who were not paid their CPF contributions of their rights. “In the CPF Board, we serve millions of Singaporeans every day. One of the things I am proudest of about our work is our focus on customers,” shares Lung Kwan. “From core management’s ready support and recognition for service excellence, to the handling of day-to-day cases by our officers, I can see that we care for our members and want to make a difference.”

Stewards Of A Common Goal

Through the scholarship, both Lung Kwan and Daniel have benefitted from the CPF Board’s focus on personal development. The opportunities for overseas immersion programmes have also widened their horizons and thinking. Lung Kwan feels that more can explore coming on board and help steer others towards the common goal of a secure retirement.

“You don’t need a finance specialisation to work in the Board. In fact, we have people from all walks of life and different areas of specialisation working here. If you like to help people navigate and understand what our schemes have to offer, or to help them solve their difficulties or problems, this is probably the right place for you,” he says.

That said, Daniel has a word of advice for those seeking this important path. “Only apply if you are serious about making a difference in the lives of Singaporeans, and have the mental fortitude to withstand the challenges that await,” he says. “The job is no walk in the park, but you can be assured that you will be surrounded by like-minded folks who support and care for one another, endeavouring towards the common goal of enabling Singaporeans to have a secure retirement.”