As Singapore transforms into a City in Nature, its urban ecosystems are brimming with life. Yet, this abundance also brings challenges, like the smuggling of illicit animals- a threat that could introduce exotic diseases and disrupt the delicate balance of Singapore’s biodiversity. The National Parks Board (NParks) plays a vital role in addressing these threats.

For NParks scholar Dr. Sean Sum, this mission resonates deeply. His dual roles within NParks, both as an Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) Veterinarian under the Quarantine & Biosecurity Services branch, and as a Manager in NParks’ Science and Technology (S&T) Planning branch, reflect his diverse skillset and dedication.

A Passion-Driven Path

Driven by his lifelong love for animals, Sean embarked on a fulfilling career with NParks. “From a young age, I have always had a strong interest in working with animals,” he explained. “The challenges and complexities of interacting with living creatures that are unable to speak fascinate me.” As he pursued his dream of becoming a veterinarian, Sean was exposed to the diverse roles that veterinarians play in public health. He subsequently applied for the then Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA)* Overseas Undergraduate Scholarship, setting the stage for a promising career journey.

“I found that the efforts that NParks undertakes to transform Singapore into a City in Nature resonated strongly with my individual passion to become a veterinarian and address challenges that arise from restoring nature back into an increasingly urbanised city, such as mitigating the public health risks of zoonoses,” he added.

During Sean’s pursuit of a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (Honours) degree from the University of London, he found that the curriculum placed a strong emphasis on population medicine and veterinary public health, which turned out to be crucial for his current role in safeguarding Singapore’s biosecurity.

“Topics that were covered included large animal medicine involving herd health management, disease outbreak investigation and basic epidemiology, as well as population management and control in relation to community animals,” he shared. “These macro concepts provided me with a strong foundation, which proved to be necessary for my role as a veterinarian at the Animal Quarantine Centre (AQC) under the Quarantine and Biosecurity Services branch.”

Safeguarding Animal Welfare and Strengthening Capabilities

Sean’s days at NParks are filled with purpose. At AVS’ AQC, where quarantine facilities and services for imported dogs and cats are provided, Sean ensures the health and welfare of every animal under his care. From conducting daily health checks to providing veterinary interventions, Sean’s role is crucial in safeguarding public health by keeping notable zoonoses such as rabies at bay.

Describing a typical day at work, he explained, “At the AQC, my team and I will conduct daily health checks on the animals twice to ensure that they are healthy and well cared for.” These checks are based on close visual observation to minimise stress associated with full physical examinations, with Sean providing veterinary assessments and facilitating interventions when necessary.

Beyond animal care, Sean is deeply involved in managing the centre, from procuring essential supplies to streamlining operational processes. Moreover, he and his team are actively exploring integrating operational technology to bolster Singapore’s bio-surveillance capabilities, enhancing monitoring and prevention against emerging zoonotic diseases.

As a Manager in the Science and Technology (S&T) Planning branch, Sean’s work revolves around evidence-based policy formulation. He also provides vital oversight and coordination for all science and technology-related efforts within NParks. It’s a responsibility he carries with utmost dedication and foresight.

“My role inherently supports NParks’ larger focus on building up capabilities and broadening skillsets with science-based knowledge across areas such as nature conservation, arboriculture, horticulture, and animal management,” he explained. “This ensures that efforts to undertake research and development, integrate digitalisation into existing work processes, and enhance operations through technology can be streamlined to achieve better outcomes while minimising resources required.”

Since joining NParks, Sean has taken on diverse roles and responsibilities, enabling him to contribute meaningfully to NParks’ vision of a City in Nature while also developing his skillsets. “I’ve had the opportunity to gain many diverse experiences from which I was able to glean many transferable skillsets, such as event coordination, stakeholder communication and engagement, as well as policy planning,” he enthused.

“This has not only allowed me to learn from my day-to-day operational role but also grow my knowledge to expand my horizons, and further contribute to NParks and our City in Nature vision.”

A Journey of Impact and Inspiration

One of Sean’s proudest professional achievements was representing Singapore at the 26th South-East Asia and China Foot and Mouth Disease campaign (SEACFMD) National Coordinators Meeting. At the event, he showcased Singapore’s biosecurity measures against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and networked with regional animal health representatives. Additionally, he played a pivotal role in organising the Urban Solutions and Sustainability (USS) R&D Congress, contributing to efforts to make Singapore a highly liveable, sustainable, and resilient city for the future.

For those eager to embark on a similar career path, Sean’s advice is to keep an open mind. “There are plenty of different career progression paths that a veterinarian in public service can pursue,” he noted. However, it is first and foremost critical to be exposed to as many of these aspects as possible in order to gain as much knowledge as you can while exploring which speciality or field you are most interested in. You will often be pleasantly surprised by what you do not know!”

* In April 2019, animal health & welfare and animal management functions were transferred from the former Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) to the Animal & Veterinary Service, a new cluster of NParks.