DISTINGUISHED ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES ALUMNI AWARD 2025
AWARD RECIPIENTSMs Violet Oon Swee Gek (Political Science and Sociology ‘71)
Ms Violet Oon graduated with a Bachelor of Social Sciences from the University of Singapore in 1971. She began her professional journey as an arts and music critic with New Nation, before pioneering a food column that would launch her decades-long career as Singapore’s leading food writer. In 1987, she started her own publication, a monthly magazine called The Food Paper that she produced for several years.
In 1988, Ms Oon was appointed Singapore’s food ambassador by the Singapore Tourism Board, representing the nation in international culinary showcases. Notably, she led the Singapore chef team at the Worlds of Flavor Conference and Festival organised by the Culinary Institute of America in 2004, 2007, and 2009.
Ms Oon later transitioned from food journalism to restaurant entrepreneurship, opening her first Peranakan restaurant at Bukit Pasoh in 1993, followed by several cafes and take-out stores. In 2012, she relaunched her F&B ventures under the “Violet Oon” brand with her children. Her restaurant group, now synonymous with Singaporean heritage cuisine, includes iconic outlets such as National Kitchen by Violet Oon and Violet Oon Singapore at ION Orchard and the now shuttered Violet Oon Satay Bar and Grill and at Jewel Changi Airport. In 2025, she expanded her culinary footprint with the opening of her newest flagship restaurant at Dempsey Hill.
Ms Oon is also a prolific cookbook author, with titles such as “Peranakan Cooking”, “Violet Oon Cooks”, and “A Singapore Family Cookbook” further solidifying her reputation as a custodian of local cuisine.
Her many accolades include induction into the Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame (2016), Lifetime Achievement Awards from the World Gourmet Summit and The Straits Times Asian Masters (2018), and the Singapore Tourism Board’s Lifetime Achievement Award (2019).
Mr Sam Tan Chin Siong (Chinese Studies and Political Science ‘83)
Mr Sam Tan graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the National University of Singapore in 1983. His academic journey at NUS deepened his lifelong appreciation for Chinese history and philosophy. Outside of his interest in international and regional geopolitics, Mr Tan is a keen practitioner of Chinese calligraphy, and enjoys reading, music and photography – pursuits that reflect his love for culture and the arts.
Over the decades, Mr Tan has built a distinguished career in public service, diplomacy, and civic leadership, marked by a deep commitment to Singapore's social development and global engagement.
He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Tanjong Pagar GRC (Radin Mas division) from 2006 to 2011 and subsequently as MP for Radin Mas SMC until 2020. Mr Tan held key appointment such as Senior Parliamentary Secretary and Minister of State in several ministries including the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Manpower, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and Ministry of Social and Family Development from 2009 to 2020. He also served as Mayor of Central Singapore between 2011 and 2014.
During his tenure in the government, Mr Tan was actively involved in the promotion of Chinese language and Chinese language learning and previously served as advisor to the Singapore Chinese Teachers' Union.
Beyond domestic governance, Mr Tan made significant contributions to Singapore’s international relations. He was appointed Singapore’s Special Envoy for Arctic Affairs, advancing Singapore’s interests in the Arctic Council. In 2023, he was appointed Singapore’s Non-Resident High Commissioner to Canada.
Mr Tan’s earlier career included notable leadership in community and cultural organisations. He was Executive Director of the Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC) in 1997 and served as Chief Executive Officer of Business China from 2007 to 2009, strengthening cross-cultural ties between Singapore and China.
In recognition of his longstanding service, Mr Tan was conferred the Public Service Medal in 2002.
Mr Ishak Ismail (Economics and Sociology ’86)
Mr Ishak Ismail graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1986 followed by a Master of Business Administration in 1998 from the National University of Singapore.
He served in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) for more than 29 years, culminating in the rank of Brigadier-General. He held various senior appointments such as Commander of the 6th Division and Combined Arms Training Centre, and later as Head of Training for the Army. He was instrumental in transforming SAF’s training systems and nurturing the next generation of military leaders. Under his leadership, the SAF adopted innovative approaches to combat readiness, leadership development, and operational excellence.
After retiring from the military in 2011, Mr Ishak continued to shape leadership and strategy in the private sector. He held senior executive positions at ST Electronics (e-Services) Pte Ltd as Senior Vice-President, CWT Limited as CEO of Defence Services, and BAE Systems Hägglunds as Regional Director (Asia), where he played key roles in business development, defence solutions, and regional expansion.
Mr Ishak has also made significant national contributions in diplomacy, family development, and maritime safety. He serves as Singapore’s High Commissioner (Non-Resident) to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and is Chairman of both the Families for Life Council and the National Maritime Safety at Sea Council. He also contributes to healthcare governance as a Board Member of the National University Health System (NUHS).
Currently, he is Principal Consultant at i-Grow Partners Pte Ltd, where he is a certified coach under the International Coaching Federation (ICF), appointed under a selected list of Executive Coaches for the SAF to facilitate team leadership and development since 2016. He is also the lead designer and facilitator of the SAF’s year-long Leadership and Organisational Development Programme since 2019.
Mr Ishak was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2023 and the Public Administration Medal (Military) in 2008.
Dr Sudha Nair (Social Work ‘86)
Dr Sudha Nair graduated with a Bachelor of Social Sciences from the National University of Singapore in 1986. This was followed by a Masters in 1990 at the George Warren Brown School of Social Work in the United States and her PhD in Social Work back at NUS in 2006.
She moved to Singapore in 1983 to pursue her tertiary studies where she had originally considered English Literature, however fuelled by her lifelong passion in social justice, she decided instead on Social Work.
Dr Nair began her professional journey in 1987 as the sole social worker at Ang Mo Kio Family Service Centre (FSC). By the time she left 17 years later, she had turned it into one of the most cutting-edge social service agencies in Singapore and a model for other FSCs.
In 1999, inspired by a tragic domestic violence case, she launched the Centre for Promoting Alternatives to Violence (PAVE) as a pilot within Ang Mo Kio FSC with two other social workers. PAVE became Singapore’s first one-stop specialist centre for family violence, offering counselling, legal aid, public education and protective orders. It was established as an independent NGO in 2002, and Dr Nair has served as its Executive Director since returning in 2012. PAVE now manages approximately 2,000 cases annually.
Beyond direct service work, Dr Nair has made significant contributions to academia and public policy. She served as an Assistant Professor at the NUS Department of Social Work, mentoring students and shaping future social workers through research and teaching. Her work has also extended to service to the nation; she was a member of the Public Service Commission, NUS Board of Trustees and an Alternate Member of the Council of Presidential Advisers. She has also served on the boards of the Housing Development Board (HDB), SINDA, and the Singapore Youth Award panel.
In recognition of her exceptional contributions to social service and the community, Dr Nair has received numerous accolades, the Outstanding Social Worker award (1998), Her World Woman of the Year (2016), the Public Service Medal (PBM) and the Public Service Star (BBM). In 2022, she was inducted into the Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame for her trailblazing role in community and social work.
Professor Low Ee Ling (English Language ‘93)
Professor Low Ee Ling graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) under the Direct Honours programme from the National University of Singapore in 1993. She went on to complete her MPhil and PhD in Linguistics from the University of Cambridge, sponsored by the NTU-NIE Overseas Graduate Scholarship in 1998. In 2008, she won the Fulbright Advanced Research Scholarship, which she spent at the Lynch School of Education at Boston College.
She currently holds the President’s Chair Professor in Education (Applied Linguistics and Teacher Education) and serves as Dean, Academic and Faculty Affairs at the National Institute of Education (NIE), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. In 2024, she was elected to the NTU Senate and appointed Adjunct Professor at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at NUS.
She is a Governing Board member of the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) and serves on the Executive Board of the International Association of Applied Linguistics (AILA) and is a member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Education 2030 Scientific Committee.
Professor Low is widely recognised for her leadership in teacher education, applied linguistics, and educational policy. She played a key role in shaping NIE’s strategic directions through initiatives such as “NIE Moving Forward: Towards 2017”, the NIE Strategic Roadmap 2022 and “A Teacher Education Model for the 21st Century (TE21). Her research on World Englishes and teacher education has received more than S$2 million in grant funding.
Internationally, Professor Low is a prominent figure in educational innovation. In 2021, she was recognised by the Academy for Leadership in Teacher Education (ALiTE) at the University of Hong Kong, and in 2022, she was elected as a Fellow of the International Academy of Education (IAE), and in September 2024, has been elected as the President-Elect of the academy.
Her contributions have earned her several accolades, including the Public Administration Medal (Bronze) in 2012, the Singapore Association for Applied Linguistics Mentoring Medal in 2024, and the Koh Boon Hwee Scholars Honoured Faculty Award from NTU.
