Lee Jun Yi, Edmund is an Assistant Director in the Smart Nation Group in the Ministry of Digital Development and Information, and a recipient of the LTA Overseas Full-Term Undergraduate Scholarship. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with additional majors in Civil Engineering and Engineering & Public Policy, and a Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in the United States.
Imagine a career that allows you to directly improve the lives of fellow Singaporeans every single day. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is grooming future leaders who will shape an innovative and future-ready land transport industry through the LTA Scholarship.
Lee Jun Yi, Edmund, is one such scholar who has embraced this calling. His journey with LTA began with a keen interest in Singapore’s rail industry and a desire to pursue engineering studies. “What drew me in was the opportunity to embark on a meaningful career in delivering public good,” he shared.
“While I would go to wherever I am called to serve, applying for the LTA Scholarship was a natural fit. First, I wanted to pursue engineering for my studies. LTA was certainly one of my top choices in terms of the scope and variety of engineering work available.”
Edmund was drawn to LTA’s multifaceted role in designing, building, and maintaining Singapore’s land transport infrastructure across various modalities, from rail and bus to active mobility solutions like personal mobility devices. He recognised the diverse engineering disciplines required to deliver an integrated set of complex systems that ensure a safe, reliable, and comfortable commute for all.
Improving Lives, One Commute at a Time
Moreover, Edmund saw land transport as a sector where he could directly improve lives in a tangible way. “Land transport services are used by everyone almost daily,” he explained. “A more efficient, convenient, accessible, and reliable land transport system leads to a better overall commuting experience, and truly improves the quality of life of all of us who call Singapore home.”
The LTA Scholarship not only aligned with Edmund’s aspirations but also provided valuable support throughout his educational journey. At Carnegie Mellon University where he pursued both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, he gained significant insights into interdisciplinary thinking and hands-on, project-based learning. “Generally, US universities tend to be more flexible with coursework, which allows students to pursue various engineering fields and explore areas beyond traditional siloed technical domains,” he reflected.
Lee Jun Yi, Edmund
A Significant Milestone
Looking back on his career journey thus far, Edmund points to working on the resumption of the Johor Bahru – Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link project in 2020 as a significant milestone. “It was the culmination of many months of hard work on both sides throughout a difficult COVID-19 period, to resume a project that will help to ease Causeway congestion, improve connectivity, foster people-to-people ties and generate shared economic and social benefits,” he recounted.
For those aspiring to join LTA, Edmund offers two pieces of advice: “First, those who join LTA must be inspired by our enduring mission of connecting people and places and enhancing the travel experience for all. This is the core outcome that every LTA officer ceaselessly strives towards. It should therefore be something that excites you, every day.”
“Second, be convicted and maybe even a bit obsessed about serving our customers well – fellow citizens like you and me, and every user of our land transport system. Because behind the scenes, our work is tremendously complex and requires difficult trade-offs to be made – all of which requires a lot of tenacity, rigour and persistence to do a good job.”
Shaping Singapore’s Digital Future
As exposure for LTA scholars to broader Whole-of-Government work, Edmund is currently seconded as an Assistant Director to the Smart Nation Group at the Ministry of Digital Development and Information. In his current role in the Strategy team, he leads the development of digital government strategy for the application of digital technologies and capabilities, including the digitalisation of government services, in support of Singapore’s national digital agenda.
Edmund finds the most rewarding aspect of his work to be the tangible impact on people’s lives. ”This can seem surprising because Strategy work is often perceived as being somewhat theoretical.While there is indeed a lot of thinking work, good strategy is not merely ‘beautiful theory’ on what we hope to happen, but what actually happens,” he highlighted. Reflecting on his work, “The digital space is evolving constantly and quickly, and demands a culture of continuous learning. A product mindset is one that I have learnt and taken to heart – establishing a clear problem statement, having a clear end customer segment, defining the right metrics, learning and iterating quickly. In my conversations with both fellow public servants and everyday citizens, it is clear that these are cardinal to executing a strategy well too.”
Edmund’s journey with the LTA Scholarship exemplifies the incredible opportunities it provides to shape Singapore’s land transport landscape and improve the lives of fellow citizens. If you, too, are driven by a passion for public service and a desire to make a tangible difference, the LTA Scholarship could be the perfect launchpad for your future endeavours.
