SSS Alumni Awards - Past Winners

SSS Distinguished Alumni Award 2022 Winner

Johnathan Lee Kui Bao (Graduated in Sociology in 2010)

Johnathan is a second-generation entrepreneur, currently leading his family’s funeral business. Previously, he served as a prosecutor with the Ministry of Manpower, where he gained over seven years of experience in workplace safety and employment law. Johnathan earned a Juris Doctor in Law to further his expertise, graduating in the top 25% of his cohort. He continues to practice law while managing the family business.

SSS Distinguished Alumni Award 2022 Runner-Up

Amanda Tan (Graduated in Psychology in 2016)

Amanda earned her PhD in Psychology in 2016, focusing on the stone-tool use of long-tailed macaques. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Anthropology at Dartmouth College from 2017-2018. Currently, Amanda is an Assistant Professor in Primatology at Durham University, UK. During her PhD, she received grants from the Leakey Foundation and Animal Behavior Society to support her research in Thailand. Her work has resulted in several publications, including an award-winning paper. Amanda continues her research in Thailand and is involved in projects in Singapore and Gibraltar while supervising a student..

SSS Distinguished Alumni Award 2022 Runner-Up

Chua Jia Rong (Graduated in Psychology in 2009)

Jia Rong graduated from Psychology (Honours) at NTU in 2009. She has been working in MINDEF for over 10 years since graduation from NTU. She also got a Master's degree in Behavioural and Economic Science with Distinction from University of Warwick in 2016.

SSS Distinguished Alumni Award 2022 Runner-Up

Jessica Teng (Graduated in Economics in 2011)

Jessica earned her BA (Hons) in Economics from NTU in 2011 as a sponsored student from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). After graduation, she served in various command and staff roles, notably becoming the Officer Commanding of a rifle company in the 1st Singapore Infantry Regiment at just 26, a rare achievement for female combat officers. In 2017, she transitioned to the private sector, first working at Accenture and then as Head of Operations at Ninja Van, demonstrating the transferability of skills between public service and the private sector. After completing her MBA at the University of Cambridge in 2020, Jessica was headhunted by Grab, where she currently serves as Regional Lead for Strategy and Product Operations in the enterprise division.

SSS Distinguished Alumni Award 2022 Runner-Up

Chua Jian Xin, Jonathan (Graduated in Sociology in 2015)

Jon Chua JX, a member of The Sam Willows, was named to Forbes' 30 Under 30 Asia in 2019. He has served as a brand ambassador for TAGHEUER and Adidas, collaborating with Fendi, Gucci, and Audi. In 2015, he founded Zendyll Music, an independent agency that handles music and sound design for brands like Lego and Changi Airport. Zendyll also manages artists through its label, Zendyll Records, which includes imprints like HVT Entertainment and 465 Music. Currently signed to 465 Music under a partnership with Universal Music Singapore, Jon has multiple Gold and Platinum tracks and has performed at major festivals, establishing himself as both an artist and a music executive.

SSS Distinguished Alumni Award 2022 Runner-Up

Mohamed Feroz Taherbhai  (Graduated in Sociology in 2010)

Feroz is currently the Regional Head (Asia-Pacific) of Global Trade for HP Inc. He leads a team of 6 experts and is responsible for Trade Compliance & Advocacy in China, India, ASEAN and other key markets. Previously, Feroz served with the Ministry of Trade and Industry and Singapore Customs. In both positions, Feroz represented Singapore’s economic interests at various international trade platforms and participated in major Free Trade Agreement negotiations.

SSS Distinguished Alumni Award 2022 Runner-Up

Marcus Low Wei Jie  (Graduated in Economics in 2011)

Marcus has advanced from commercial manager to commercial director at Beam Global Asia, the largest privately-owned alcohol beverage company, overseeing brands like Jim Beam and Yamazaki. As a member of the Southeast Asia Leadership Team, he focuses on distributor management, strategic planning, and category growth. He has consistently exceeded budget targets for five years, even during the pandemic, pivoting strategies to drive growth in new channels like retail and e-commerce. Previously, as Head of Marketing at William Grant & Sons, Marcus led a team that doubled business annually across Southeast Asia. He developed award-winning marketing strategies, including the globally recognized Glenfiddich Experience, and has received multiple prestigious awards for his contributions to event marketing and brand development.

SSS Outstanding Alumni Award 2022 Winner

Dion Lo Zhen Yu (Graduated in Psychology in 2014)

Dion is a registered clinical psychologist with experience in private, hospital, and forensic settings. Currently a PhD candidate in Psychology at NTU, he was awarded the academic medal for his master’s in Clinical Psychology and recognized by the Golden Key International Honour Society for being in the top 15% of his university. Dion is committed to giving back, having conducted talks at Hwa Chong Institution, NUH, and NTU. Since 2018, he has served as Vice President (Psychology) for the NTU School of Social Sciences Alumni Association Executive Committee.

SSS Outstanding Alumni Award 2022 Runner-Up

Chia Wai Mun  (Graduated in Economics in 2016)

Associate Professor Chia Wai Mun is an Associate Professor of Economics at Nanyang Technological University. Her research focuses on International Macroeconomics and Cost-Benefit Analysis, and she serves as associate editor of the Singapore Economic Review. She is also the Treasurer of the Economic Society of Singapore and the Singapore Economic Review. Holding a PhD from NTU, she has published over 30 papers in leading economics journals. Additionally, she has consulted for the ASEAN Secretariat and advised several Singapore government agencies on Cost-Benefit Analysis, including NEA, CNB, MCCY, and LTA.

SSS Outstanding Alumni Award 2022 Runner-Up

Soh Zhi Hui, Jonathan (Graduated in ECPP  in 2020)

Jonathan Soh, a fresh graduate, is currently a Manager at the National Population and Talent Division (NPTD) in the Prime Minister’s Office. He contributes to policies supporting sustainable population objectives. Jonathan excelled academically, receiving the Nanyang Scholarship and making the Dean’s List for multiple years at NTU. His final year project, supervised by Asst Prof Kim Soojin, focused on evaluating socially-conscious hawker centres in Singapore using a mixed-methods approach. He also worked as a Research Assistant and participated in internships at the Strategy Group and CPF Board. Jonathan is praised for his leadership, discipline, and commitment to public policy research.

SSS Alumni Service Award 2022 Winner

Dion Lo Zhen Yu (Graduated in Psychology in 2014)

Dion is a registered clinical psychologist with experience in private, hospital, and forensic settings. Currently a PhD candidate in Psychology at NTU, he was awarded the academic medal for his master’s in Clinical Psychology and recognized by the Golden Key International Honour Society for being in the top 15% of his university. Dion is committed to giving back, having conducted talks at Hwa Chong Institution, NUH, and NTU. Since 2018, he has served as Vice President (Psychology) for the NTU School of Social Sciences Alumni Association Executive Committee.

SSS Alumni Service Award 2022 Runner-Up

Chia Wai Mun  (Graduated in Economics in 2016)

Associate Professor Chia Wai Mun is an Associate Professor of Economics at Nanyang Technological University. Her research focuses on International Macroeconomics and Cost-Benefit Analysis, and she serves as associate editor of the Singapore Economic Review. She is also the Treasurer of the Economic Society of Singapore and the Singapore Economic Review. Holding a PhD from NTU, she has published over 30 papers in leading economics journals. Additionally, she has consulted for the ASEAN Secretariat and advised several Singapore government agencies on Cost-Benefit Analysis, including NEA, CNB, MCCY, and LTA.