# Senior Appointment Changes at the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA)

- **Source:** Ministry of National Development
- **Published:** 2017-09-08T03:00:00.000Z
- **Author:** Ministry of National Development
- **Original:** https://www.mnd.gov.sg/newsroom/press-releases/view/senior-appointment-changes-at-the-agri-food-and-veterinary-authority-(ava)
- **Topics:** HDB & Public Housing, Commercial & Industrial, Government & Policy

## Featured rationale

The leadership change may shape the continuation of urban-farming innovation and food-security initiatives involving land, facilities and private-sector agricultural projects.

## AI summary

Mr Lim Kok Thai replaced Ms Tan Poh Hong as AVA Chief Executive Officer on 1 October 2017 after her eight-year tenure.

## Original article

The Ministry of National Development (MND) and Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) announced today the following senior appointment changes at AVA:

Ms Tan Poh Hong, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AVA will relinquish her current appointment on 1 October 2017.

Mr Lim Kok Thai, currently Deputy Commissioner of Police (Policy), Singapore Police Force, will be appointed as CEO, AVA on 1 October 2017.

Under Ms Tan’s leadership as CEO over the past 8 years, AVA has expanded beyond its regulatory role to strengthen Singapore’s food security by building strong partnerships with the industry and other stakeholders. Through the Agriculture Productivity Fund and other initiatives, AVA transformed Singapore’s local farming landscape, pushed agriculture innovation and supported private sector projects in urban food solutions. Through these efforts, Singapore’s ranking in the Global Food Security Index climbed from 16th position in 2013 to 3rd position in 2016. Beyond food safety and security, Ms Tan also led AVA in reviewing and strengthening legislation to raise animal welfare standards in Singapore.

Prior to her appointment as CEO of AVA, Ms Tan had served in HDB for close to 28 years, culminating in her appointment as Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Estates & Corporate). Ms Tan played a key role in formulating key housing policies such as the Additional Housing Grant to help lower income families and the Lease Buyback Scheme as an additional monetisation option for elderly flat owners. She also played an instrumental role to reach out to the community and key stakeholders for major HDB programmes such as the Main Upgrading Programme and Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme. Ms Tan also worked closely with the union in the restructuring of HDB in 2003.

Mr Lim first joined the Police Force in 1996 as an Assistant Superintendent of Police and has held various key appointments in the Singapore Police Force. These include Commander, Bedok Police Division and Director of Operations of the Singapore Police Force. He also served as Assistant Director in MND’s Housing Division from 1999 to 2001 and Senior Director, National Security Coordination Centre, National Security Coordination Secretariat, Prime Minister’s Office in 2014. Through his various postings, Mr Lim has gleaned a wealth of operational and policy experience. A more detailed write-up of Mr Lim is in the Annex.

MND would like to thank Ms Tan Poh Hong for her many years of dedicated service in the Singapore public service. At the same time, MND welcomes Mr Lim Kok Thai to AVA and the MND Family.

## Chinese translation

> Translation model: grok_cli

### 农粮兽医局（AVA）高层人事变动

国家发展部（MND）与农粮兽医局（AVA）今日宣布AVA以下高层人事变动：

农粮兽医局首席执行官陈宝凤女士将于2017年10月1日卸任现职。

现任新加坡警察部队副警监（政策）林国泰先生将于2017年10月1日获委任为农粮兽医局首席执行官。

在陈女士过去8年担任首席执行官期间，农粮兽医局已超越监管职能，通过与业界及其他利益相关方建立稳固伙伴关系，加强新加坡的粮食安全。借助农业生产力基金及其他举措，农粮兽医局改造了本地农业面貌，推动农业创新，并支持私营部门的城市粮食解决方案项目。通过这些努力，新加坡在全球粮食安全指数中的排名由2013年的第16位升至2016年的第3位。除食品安全与粮食安全外，陈女士亦领导农粮兽医局检讨并加强法例，以提高新加坡的动物福利标准。

在出任农粮兽医局首席执行官之前，陈女士曾在建屋发展局（HDB）服务近28年，最高职务为副首席执行官（产业与企业）。她在制定重要住房政策方面发挥了关键作用，例如协助低收入家庭的额外住房津贴，以及作为年长组屋业主额外套现选项的租约回购计划。她亦在外展社区及主要利益相关方、推动建屋发展局重大计划（如主要翻新计划及选择性整体重建计划）方面发挥了重要作用。陈女士还在2003年建屋发展局重组期间与工会紧密合作。

林先生于1996年以助理警司身份加入警察部队，并在新加坡警察部队担任多项要职，包括勿洛警区指挥官及新加坡警察部队行动总监。他亦于1999年至2001年在国家发展部住房司担任助理司长，并于2014年在总理公署国家安全协调秘书处国家安全协调中心担任高级司长。通过各项任职，林先生积累了丰富的行动与政策经验。有关林先生的更详细介绍载于附件。

国家发展部谨此感谢陈宝凤女士多年来在新加坡公共服务的奉献服务。同时，国家发展部欢迎林国泰先生加入农粮兽医局及国家发展部大家庭。