Senior Appointment Changes at the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA)
The leadership change may shape the continuation of urban-farming innovation and food-security initiatives involving land, facilities and private-sector agricultural projects.
Mr Lim Kok Thai replaced Ms Tan Poh Hong as AVA Chief Executive Officer on 1 October 2017 after her eight-year tenure.
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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.