Lim Soo Hoon Retires from Administrative Service

Ms Lim Soo Hoon, 58, Permanent Secretary (Finance) (Performance), Ministry of Finance, will retire from the Administrative Service on 30 April 2017, after 36 years of distinguished service in the public sector. After her retirement, Ms Lim will continue to contribute to the public sector as a Senior Fellow of the Civil Service College. She will also continue as Chairman of the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) Board. 

Mrs Tan Ching Yee will be the only Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance from 1 May 2017.

Ms Lim Soo Hoon

Ms Lim Soo Hoon served in various capacities in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Communications and Information and the former Ministry of Labour, and as Registrar of Vehicles from 1993 to 1995. In 1995, she became Dean, Civil Service College and Head of the Scenario Planning Office in the Public Service Division (PSD). She was Deputy Secretary (Development), PSD from 1996 to 1998, Deputy Secretary (Policy), PSD from 1997 to 1999 and concurrently Secretary, Public Service Commission/Secretary, Legal Service Commission from 1998 to 1999. 

In 1999, Ms Lim became the first female officer to be Permanent Secretary in the Singapore Public Service, when she was appointed Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Community Development. As Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, she charted new strategic directions for the Ministry and strengthened social policies. She spearheaded innovative programmes such as the Singapore Sports School, and the development of policies to promote pro-family practices such as work-life balance.

Ms Lim was appointed Permanent Secretary (Public Service Division), Prime Minister’s Office in 2005. She was instrumental in setting key human resource policies for the public sector. These included the establishment of milestone development programmes for senior leaders, re-employment policies for older workers in response to an ageing population, and job redesign for junior staff to provide them with more employable skills. 

Ms Lim was appointed Permanent Secretary (Finance) (Performance) in the Ministry of Finance in 2012, where she oversaw the Ministry’s central role in creating a high performance government through efficient and effective use of resources and integrating key programmes, processes and systems across government agencies. She helped to promote more digital services in the Public Service, and promoted more data sharing within the government as well as with the public. She introduced a range of initiatives to raise the professionalism and capabilities of the procurement and finance specialist communities. She also played a significant role overseeing the successful establishment of the Pioneer Generation Office which has benefitted many of our nation’s pioneers. 

Ms Lim was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 1998 and the Public Administration Medal (Gold) in 2004 for her significant contributions to the Public Service.