Khoo Fang Xuan

1. Interesting Start to My Career

My career as an Information Officer began with an attachment to Mediacorp’s Chinese newsroom, where I learned to think like a reporter and built relationships with journalists. This experience helped me support media storytelling later on, including facilitating a Straits Times feature on centenarians during my time at the Pioneer Generation Office.

2. Behind the Scenes for International Events

I have had the privilege to be involved in major events at subsequent postings — the Trump–Kim Summit (2018), Elections, and the Papal Visit (2024). While the spotlight is elsewhere, we are in the background making sure the media have the right information and support to capture and report each moment smoothly. It’s a behind-the-scenes role that plays a key part in shaping the stories the public reads and remembers.

3. Living to Learn

At the Ministry of Manpower, my role involved coordinating communications and engagement efforts across the Ministry, while developing our officers’ capabilities through training. As Information Officers, we strive to embody a culture of continuous growth and curiosity, so as to stay relevant in these ever-changing times!

4. Opportunities to Stretch and Grow

We also get exposed to learning opportunities that have broadened my horizons, such as the Thailand–Singapore Leadership Development Programme and the Advanced Communications and Engagement Programme in Beijing and Shanghai, where we met government officials and tech leaders from ByteDance and Xiaohongshu. Most recently, I participated in the Suzhou Industrial Park Attachment Programme.

Eugene Ang

5. Exciting Opportunities at Every Turn

I started my journey as an Information Officer at MDDI, where I was introduced to the dynamic nature of government communications. From conceptualising marketing campaigns to engaging journalists and drafting speeches for our political office holders, the work of Information Officers is highly varied and fast-paced.

6. At the Heart of National Events

Being in the Information Service allowed me to participate in many national events. Whilst at the Prime Minister’s Office, I supported then-PM Lee Hsien Loong for his 2019 National Day Rally speech. Working behind the scenes on a live television production was exciting and gave me a deeper appreciation of the Rally as a platform for the PM to communicate directly with Singaporeans.

7. Going Beyond Communications

Although communications is our bread and butter, Information Officers can also explore a variety of roles across the public service. At the Ministry of Transport, I worked in the air hub policy team, where I oversaw the exciting development of Changi Airport Terminal 5 and contributed to developing new regulations for the aviation sector.

8. Always Ready for the Future

As Information Officers, we must be adaptable and nimble to stay ahead of trends. This has served me well at the Infocomm Media Development Authority, where I lead the compliance team that regulates social media platforms for online safety and monitors online developments closely to ensure these platforms address emerging risks and keep their Singapore users safe.