Future Conversation Series

Upcoming Session

THE FUTURE OF CARE: INSPIRING CHANGE AND GROWTH

Amid heightened consciousness surrounding health and mental well-being, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for new skillsets and enhanced proficiencies in the Health and Wellness sector has surged since 2019.

Concurrently, the Community Care and Social Services sectors have also gained paramount significance throughout 2022 as it seeks skilled manpower and expertise to meet the needs of a rapidly ageing Singapore. Apart from providing quality care to older adults, the recent launch of Healthier SG has also increased the demand for skills in meal planning, health coaching and volunteer management. These developments have in turn created new employment avenues and career choices.

Uncover new opportunities and network with industry experts from the care industry at our Future Conversation Series! Hear from Temask Polytechnic’s very own domain expert and upskillers who will share their experiences as an educator and lifelong learner.

Date: Wednesday, 25 October 2023
Time: 4pm – 6pm
Venue: The POD @ National Library
National Library Board, Level 16
100 Victoria Street,
Singapore 188064

Our Human Books

Mr Lawrence Teo

Head of Day Care
NTUC Health

Lawrence Teo, currently the Head of Day Care Services at NTUC Health, a major player in Singapore's healthcare and elder care services, boasts a rich career background. Before his tenure at NTUC Health, Lawrence amassed two decades of experience, including both regional and global roles at IKEA, with stints in Sweden and Finland. He also worked with the Dairy Farm Group. Motivated by a desire for a more fulfilling career, Lawrence transitioned to the community care sector. Today, he is at the forefront of expanding NTUC Health's day care services, driven by a commitment to enhancing senior care within the community.

Ms Lee Hee Hoon

Director, Allied Health & Community Operatons
Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, NUHS

Lee Hee Hoon's remarkable journey in healthcare began as a young dietitian at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, where she encountered a profoundly impactful experience. The loss of a 10-year-old patient with a life-threatening condition, who passed away alone in the hospital, illuminated the profound lessons of life's meaning, the significance of relationships, and the power of resilience. Over the span of 28 years in the healthcare field, Hee Hoon has evolved into a trailblazer, extending her work far beyond hospital walls. She has pioneered a groundbreaking approach to healthcare, crafting a population health framework that integrates health and care within the community. Her efforts at Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (NUHS) have been recognized and even featured in the book 'Life in Colours,' published in August 2023.

Ms Emily Wong

Course Chair, Diploma in Social Sciences in Gerontology
Temasek Polytechnic, School of Humanities & Social Sciences

Emily Wong, Course Chair of the Diploma in Social Sciences in Gerontology at Temasek Polytechnic, possesses a Master of Public Health from the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health and an Honours Degree in Social Work from the National University of Singapore. She's dedicated to empowering older adults for confident and fulfilling aging through lifelong learning programs. Emily also focuses on shaping the eldercare workforce of the future, emphasizing quality and dignified care. Her mission revolves around ensuring that seniors receive the support and education needed for a high quality of life as they age gracefully.

Dr Kalpana Bhaskaran

Deputy Director, Industry Parnerships & Head, Glycemic Index Research Unit
Temasek Polytechnic, School of Applied Science

Dr. Kalpana Bhaskaran, currently Deputy Director of Industry Partnerships and Head of the Glycemic Index Research Unit at Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore, is a leading figure in nutrition research. She established Singapore's first accredited Glycemic Index Research Unit (GIRU) and serves as the Principal Investigator for numerous nutrition intervention trials. Her expertise extends to advising the Ministry of Health on sugar reduction and launching the Nutri-Grade label. Dr. Kalpana actively participates in committees for novel foods and alternative proteins and leads the Singapore Nutrition & Dietetics Association and Diabetes Singapore as President. Her focus on diabetes prevention and care, coupled with her National Day commendation award in 2014, underscores her significant contributions to diabetes management and education.

Mr Chew Peet Meng Calvin Dominic

Centre Head
Christian Outreach to the Handicapped
Graduate of Specialist Diploma in Gerontology (Optimal Ageing Practice)

Calvin spent the initial eight years of his career as a mainstream school teacher before transitioning to the field of special needs education for the subsequent 13 years. Following this, he ventured into the senior and elder care sector, where he managed a seniors' activity centre for approximately one year. Concurrently, he pursued a part-time specialist diploma in gerontology at Temasek Polytechnic to enhance his expertise in caring for the elderly. Presently, Calvin is dedicated to running a day activity centre tailored for adults and older individuals with disabilities. His commitment to serving the elderly community remains unwavering as he continues to make a positive impact in this field.

Ms Chang Xue Qi

Centre Supervisor
All Saints Home
Graduate of Specialist Diploma in Gerontology (Optimal Ageing Practice)

Xue Qi's journey in the eldercare sector began as a Silver Generation Ambassador in February 2018, and by July of the same year, she transitioned into a full-time role at the Silver Generation Office. In this capacity, she engaged with seniors, providing them with valuable insights into government schemes and policies. Presently, Xue Qi serves as a dedicated Centre Supervisor at All Saints Home, where she oversees the daily care of around 100 elderly clients and manages a team of 15 care staff.

With five years of experience in eldercare, Xue Qi is deeply passionate about making a positive impact on the lives of the seniors she interacts with. She also finds fulfilment in sharing her professional experiences, believing that young working adults can excel in the eldercare sector through unwavering commitment.

What is the Future Conversation Series about?

The job market is ever-changing, with new opportunities surfacing as the economy evolves. This requires one to be agile and aware of the latest happenings and trends.

Hear from industry experts, skill experts and upskillers at the Future Conversation Series as they share their thoughts and experiences on these topics:

Upcoming industry trends

In-demand skills from emerging fields

Balancing work with upskilling

Being future ready and enhancing employability

Based on the Human Library concept, you’ll get to engage and network with a variety of professionals who will give you a glimpse of the road ahead.

Start learning how you can future-proof your career at the Future Conversation Series!

What is the Human Library Concept?

The Human Library Concept focuses on enabling open conversations in small groups between the human book and the participants. Through this, you will:

More talk time with the speakers

Expect to be highly engaged in small-group candid discussions with the human books and participants

Gain diverse insights

Meet professionals from different backgrounds, allowing you to glean a diverse range of insights

Build networks

Connect with the human books and fellow participants during the session and further your conversations off-line

Past Sessions

Be Future Ready for Digital Transformation

Digital technologies like cybersecurity, data and artificial intelligence (AI) and software development play an integral role in most organisations’ strategic growth and success today, and this trend is expected to continue into the future. This can be attributed towards the acceleration of digitalisation, especially in today’s rapidly changing economy. With the right digital transformation and innovation strategies, organisations can maximise efficiency, enhance productivity, and reduce cost.

In a study done by Amazon Web Services in 2021*, Singapore requires 1.2 million more digital workers by 2025 to remain competitive which translates to a 55% gap in the workforce. To address the shortfall in digital skills, SkillsFuture Singapore has named the Digital Economy as one of the key pillars of focus, which is set to carry on into 2023.

Join our upcoming Future Conversation Series to learn more about industry trends for the digital economy, and the in-demand skills, which organisations are looking for. Uncover new opportunities and network with our industry and skill experts, and Temask Polytechnic’s upskillers about their own upskilling experience and how it has benefited them.

* Source: The Business Times - Singapore needs 1.2m more digital workers by 2025 to remain competitive: report

Date: 22 March 2023, Wednesday

Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm

Location: The POD @ National Library
National Library Board, Level 16
100 Victoria Street,
Singarepore 188064

Innovating Sustainability - Transforming the Future

In this year’s Skills Demand for the Future Economy Report by SkillsFuture Singapore, the green economy was highlighted as one of the emerging and high-growth areas. According to SkillsFuture Singapore, green skills are required across more than 450 job roles across 17 sectors, presenting the green economy as an area with plenty of exciting opportunities.

Date: 20 October 2022 (Thursday)

Time: 7:00PM – 9:00PM

Location: Lifelong Learning Institute

Event Hall 1 (Level 1)
11 Eunos Road 8
Singapore 408601

Navigating Travel and Tourism in the New Normal

Travel restrictions have eased in recent weeks, with Singapore progressively rolling out Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs) to popular destinations like South Korea and Germany. Travellers have jumped on board these VTLs, overwhelming travel companies as they deal with snaking queues and website crashes

Businesses in Singapore are also feeling upbeat about the VTLs, given that some of the VTL countries played a large part in Singapore's tourism market pre-COVID. While COVID-19 has decimated the travel and tourism industries, the VTLs serve as an important milestone for Singapore in the recovery of these industries.

Join us at the upcoming Future Conversations session on Navigating Travel and Tourism in the New Normal to learn more about what to expect from the resumption of travel and the opportunities available in this re-thriving industry. Based on the Human Library concept, look forward to authentic insights into the industry and getting to network with professionals.

Date: 24 November 2021

Time: 8:00PM – 9:30PM

Mode of Delivery: Online (Zoom)

Singapore intends to grow the manufacturing sector by 50% over the next 10 years, through initiatives such as Manufacturing 2030 and the Smart Industry Readiness Index (SIRI). Additionally, SkillsFuture Singapore has also identified Advanced Manufacturing as one of the top skills to pick up today in preparation for the future economy. With this strong emphasis on Advanced Manufacturing, there are a myriad of opportunities available for professionals who are looking to explore or expand their foray in the booming Advanced Manufacturing sector.

Check out the recap!

Human Books