President Tharman Shanmugaratnam Highlights Global Governance Challenges in Inaugural JY Pillay Lecture Series by SUSS
- The Lecture Series is an enduring tribute to one of Singapore’s most distinguished public servants, Mr. JY Pillay.
Singapore, 27 November 2024 - The Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) launched the JY Pillay Lecture Series on Governance today, paying tribute to one of Singapore’s most distinguished public servants, Mr. JY Pillay.
President Tharman Shanmugaratnam delivered the inaugural lecture of the JY Pillay Lecture Series organised by SUSS on 27 November 2024.
Mr. Tharman Shanmugaratnam, President of the Republic of Singapore and Patron of SUSS, delivered the inaugural lecture. Mr. Pillay also attended the event.
A Tribute to Mr. Pillay
The lecture series celebrates the remarkable contributions of Mr. Pillay, whose visionary leadership and commitment to public service shaped Singapore’s governance and economic progress. In recognition of his achievements, Mr. Pillay was conferred the Order of Temasek (With Distinction) in 2019, Singapore’s highest civilian honour.
From left: Professor Robbie Goh, Provost, SUSS; Mr Hsieh Fu Hua; Ms Jane Ittogi; President Tharman Shanmugaratnam; Mrs Mildred Tan, Chairman, SUSS; Mr JY Pillay; Professor Tan Tai Yong, President, SUSS; Associate Professor Ding Ding, Dean, SUSS School of Business.
Made possible by a $600,000 endowed donation, led by philanthropist Mr. Hsieh Fu Hua and friends of Mr. Pillay, the series underscores the profound respect and admiration for Mr. Pillay’s contributions to society. The annual lecture series will continue to feature eminent local and foreign thought and practice leaders to facilitate knowledge innovation, creation, and sharing.
Professor Tan Tai Yong, President of SUSS, said, “This lecture series honours Mr. JY Pillay’s extraordinary legacy of public service and leadership. It is our hope that through this platform, we can inspire the next generation of leaders to adopt forward-thinking, compassionate, and inclusive approaches to governance. We are deeply honoured to have President Tharman Shanmugaratnam as the inaugural speaker for this event, lending his insights and stature to this significant occasion. We remain committed to fostering ideas and actions that contribute to societal well-being and resilience.”
Advancing Governance Excellence in the Social Sector
As Singapore’s only university dedicated to the social sciences, SUSS is uniquely positioned to champion governance excellence. The JY Pillay Lecture Series on Governance aligns with SUSS’ mission to strengthen the capacity of non-profit organisations by promoting principles such as accountability, stewardship, and sustainability.