DISTINGUISHED ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES ALUMNI AWARD 2026
AWARD RECIPIENTSMs Ang Bee Lian (Social Work ‘77)
Ms Ang graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from the University of Singapore in 1977 and holds a Masters in Social Policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science. She is regarded as one of Singapore’s most influential leaders in the social service sector, recognised for shaping systems, strengthening professional practice, and advancing social impact at both policy and community levels. Throughout her decades-long career in public service and social sector, she has been instrumental in developing Singapore’s social service infrastructure into a more coordinated, forward-looking ecosystem.
Her walk-the-talk leadership and exemplified-in-thought leadership was notably demonstrated during her tenure as Director-General of Social Welfare and CEO of the National Council of Social Service. In these roles, she championed integrated service delivery, workforce capability development, and evidence-informed policy design. She played a pivotal role in advancing professional standards, strengthening supervision frameworks, and developing practice guidelines that continue to influence frontline interventions. Her work emphasises balancing care with accountability to ensure services remain humane while achieving measurable outcomes.
Ms Ang is currently the Commissioner for the Maintenance of Parents (Singapore) and Senior Adviser, Ministry of Social and Family Development. She has received several National Day Awards, including the Public Administration Medal (Gold) in 2018, as well as the Outstanding Social Worker Award in 1999.
Mr Ashok Mirpuri (Political Science ‘84)
Mr Mirpuri graduated with a Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in Political Science from the National University of Singapore in 1984 and holds a Master of Arts from the School of Oriental & African Studies, University of London. He has also attended executive programmes at IMD in Switzerland and Harvard Business School.
He has four decades of experience at the intersection of diplomacy, geopolitics, and strategic affairs. Currently Head of International Policy & Governance at Temasek International, he advises senior leaders on geopolitical and geoeconomic trends and their implications for one of the world’s leading investment institutions.
Mr Mirpuri’s career as a diplomat took him to some of the world’s most consequential postings. As Ambassador to the United States for eleven years — engaging three successive administrations — he navigated the evolving dynamics of one of Singapore’s most strategically significant bilateral relationships. Earlier ambassadorial postings to Indonesia, Malaysia, and Australia gave him deep, first-hand insight into Southeast Asian politics and society, and a finely attuned sense of how regional relationships are built and sustained.
A recognised authority on Southeast Asian affairs, Mr Mirpuri has served as the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director for Southeast Asia. He was also seconded to Shell International in the UK as Corporate Advisor — an experience that sharpened his ability to translate geopolitical insight into strategic advice for business. He was awarded the Public Administration Gold Medal in 2010 in recognition of his distinguished contribution to Singapore’s diplomacy.
Mr Mirpuri is a sought-after speaker on geopolitics and the evolving world order, known for delivering clear, grounded perspectives on complex issues. He is Co-Chair of the Japan-Singapore Symposium, a Senior Fellow at the MFA Diplomatic Academy, and a Trustee of SINDA, where he supports the Indian community in Singapore.
Ms Lim Hai Yen (English Language, Chinese Studies ’92)
Ms Lim graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Chinese Studies and English Language from the National University of Singapore in 1992 and received her Master of Arts in Directing from Goldsmiths College, University of London in 2002.
In 1990, she represented NUS in Chinese Inter-Varsity Debate and was awarded the Best Speaker. As the chairman of the 1992 Chinese Studies graduation magazine, she organised the first-ever graduation dinner for the Department of Chinese Studies. This tradition continues until today.
Ms Lim is the Artistic Director of The ETCeteras, a theatre company in Singapore that commits to staging original dramatic works which reflects the inspirations, aspirations, frustrations and desperations of people living on this island. Her devise-play TKK won “Best Ensemble Acting” at the 6th Life! Theatre Awards in 2006, while Game Play won the top prize in the inaugural 1998 Singapore Dramatist Award and was commissioned for Esplanade Huayi Festival 2007.
In a theatre career spanning close to four decades, Ms Lim has created more than 40 original theatrical works, including commissioned works like Curtain Call (2021) (presented by National Arts Council) during pandemic times and Singapore Heritage Festival commissioned Out of the Red Box in 2025, written and directed by her.
With a light-hearted and unfettered style, her sharp observations and in-depth contemplation are manifested in her satirical approach, which often results in multilingual comedies with a combination of wits, humor and a concern for social issues.
She is also a drama educator; she teaches playwriting and acting and helps schools and communities create performances.
As an author, Ms Lim has written books on theatre, parenting, marriage, travel and lifestyle. She is also a columnist and gives talks frequently to share her family values and promote positive vibes. Published in 2023, For Better, For Worse, a collection of essays Ms Lim had written from 2006 to 2022, won the second prize in the Readers’ Choice Award. She is honored to have received the NUS Distinguished Alumni Service Award in 2017.
