Outstanding Young Alumni Award
Dr. Xue is currently an Associate Professor at Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) Business, Communication and Design cluster. She is heading the Design Factory, an innovation centre of SIT, facilitating collaborative innovation projects with industry partners, offering interdisciplinary learning opportunities for students. She was the first Industrial Designer in Singapore to be awarded the Doctoral of Philosophy (PhD) qualification from the National University of Singapore (NUS), and also received the NUS President’s Graduate Fellowship. She is an award-winner of the prestigious Red Dot Design Award in 2005 and James Dyson Award 2009. She is a Partner and Co-founder of local interior design consultancy, JIA Studios, known for its award-winning designs in hospitality, residential, restaurant, and retail spaces. Noteworthy projects include the 2021 iF Design Award and the 2020 Singapore Good Design SG Mark Award. Also, she has held the position of Curriculum Head at Singapore Stanford Biodesign, A*Star.
Dr. Xue has a strong commitment to public and community service, particularly in design research for healthcare innovation. An example is the Redesign of the ArmSkate for Stroke Arm Rehabilitation, which won the A’Design Award 2019 and was adopted by healthcare organisations for post-stroke patient recovery. She has served as a guest lecturer for DID design platforms, sharing her insights on design education and business models to help students better frame their projects practically. Her significant contributions span design, education, healthcare research, and community engagement.
Mr. Yeung is trained in architecture, pioneering a practice centered around participatory design when the concept was less common in the field. He is currently the Executive Director of Participate in Design (P!D). With determination, he expanded the role of built environment professionals beyond building design, focusing on participatory-based projects such as neighbourhood planning, public space design, and community art installations. His work involves collaboration with grassroots organisations, educational institutions, civic groups, and government agencies. He has received recognition such as the World Cities Summit Young Leader award in 2021, the BCA-CPG Industrial Scholarship, and the URA Urban Design prize in 2014. He is actively engaged in various roles, including being a Committee Member of The Circle for Human Sustainability, volunteering as a facilitator for the World Cities Summit Youth Forum, and providing guidance for community engagement projects through the CSC-MCCY Partnerships and Engagement Experts Panel since November 2022.
Mr. Yeung's firm, Participate in Design, demonstrated their commitment to participatory design by giving a $15,000 gift to nurture aspiring architects in the field. The gift acknowledges outstanding design studio and thesis projects related to participatory public interest design, as well as non-design module projects or community-focused initiatives. The firm is set to celebrate its achievements at SDE 3, showcasing its work and recognising the influence of architecture faculty on their design thinking and passion for participatory design.
Dr. Farahani, an entrepreneurial scientist, founded SepPure Technologies in 2018, a Singapore-based start-up specialising in innovative nano-filters to separate chemical mixtures at a molecular level with minimal energy use. His company collaborates with local and global clients, including prominent names like Fuji Oil, Nitto Denko, and Cargill, to create sustainable solutions for solvent recycling and emissions reduction in various industries. His contributions include securing SG$20 million investment, establishing a mass production facility, and securing substantial contracts. His leadership and innovation garnered recognition, such as the NUS Outstanding Young Alumni Award, MIT's "Innovator Under 35" honor, Honouree by Gen.T list and awards from various institutions in Singapore and globally.
Beyond his entrepreneurial success, Dr. Farahani actively engages in community service, mentoring, and knowledge sharing. He serves as a start-up judge and mentor for Slingshot competitions, and mentors early-stage startups. He's a Startup Mentor at NUS Entrepreneurship Society, where he imparts his insights to aspiring entrepreneurs, particularly those from Engineering. In academia, Dr. Farahani excelled with over 30 publications, 3 patents, books and an impressive h-index of 24. He served as a lab demonstrator during his PhD at NUS, receiving recognition for his teaching efforts. He has been a guest lecturer and speaker at various NUS events, contributing to the academic community.
Dr. Farahani’s journey is marked by his visionary entrepreneurship, commitment to sustainable solutions, active involvement in community initiatives and substantial contributions to education and mentorship.
Dr. Viveka is the Founder and CEO of The Edify Project, which fosters innovation and entrepreneurship through ventures, particularly empowering women in the Industry 5.0 space. She is a technopreneur and innovator, recognised as an MIT Technology Review's 35 Innovator under 35 and among the top 100 Women in Technology in Singapore. Beyond her entrepreneurial success, she engages in mentoring, community involvement, and advocating for diversity and inclusion. Her achievements include founding the innovative Let-Lab at Ultra Clean Holdings Inc., creating Singapore's Industry 4.0 ecosystem and piloting startups for semiconductor industry solutions. Her work has been published in prestigious journals like Nature Biomedical Engineering, where she introduced a wireless sensing (WiSe) platform technology for real-time monitoring of surgical complications, showcasing her strong IP creation and research excellence. Her accomplishments have led her to secure significant grants, including from Enterprise Singapore, and serve on various boards and organisations.
Dr. Viveka's commitment to education and empowerment extends to her roles as an Alumni Mentor and Women in Business Mentor at NUS, where she runs workshops to attract more girls into the Industry 4.0 and 5.0 spaces. She was one of the panellist of CoDE Women Event 2022. She actively participates in community service, supports startups, champions diversity and contributes to Singapore society through her expertise.
Mr. Diwakar is a Project Management Professional at the Land Transport Authority (LTA) with over 10 years of extensive experience, specializing in tunneling infrastructure projects. He started as a Junior Engineer after graduating from NUS and has risen to the role of Project Manager. His expertise includes Mechanized Tunneling, Micro-tunneling, Conventional Tunneling, and Deep Excavation works, with experience on projects like the Downtown Line, Thomson Line, and Circle Line extension. Currently, Mr. Diwakar is part of the pioneering Cross Island Punggol Extension line, marking the debut of a massive Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) in Singapore. He looks forward to the project's challenges and the positive impact it will have on public infrastructure.
Mr. Diwakar's profound passion for tunneling has earned him significant recognition in the field. His dedication to innovation initiatives led to prestigious accolades, including the Minister Innovation award from the Ministry of Transport (MOT) in 2020, acknowledging his research in tunneling works. On the professional development front, he continuously expanded his knowledge, notably completing a specialized Master's program in TBM and Tunneling in Italy through LTA's continuous education scheme (CES) in 2018, thereby gaining valuable international exposure. He is also an accomplished author with multiple publications at international conferences, including a paper that earned distinction by winning the Hulme Prize in the Technical Paper Competition organized by the Tunneling and Underground Construction Society of Singapore (TUCSS) for Young Engineers. Furthermore, his prominence is evident through his recognition as a finalist for "Young Tunneller of the Year" by the International Tunnelling Association (ITA) in 2019 and the New Civil Engineering Association (NCE) in 2022, gaining global recognition.
Mr. Diwakar actively engages in community outreach as a TUCSS young member representative. Alongside his team, he spearheads initiatives aimed at educating civil engineering students through informative sessions, technical workshops, and organizing insightful field trips to deepen their understanding of tunneling practices. Beyond his professional commitments, he also devotes his time to charitable endeavors, particularly with the MAKE-A-WISH foundation. Since 2020, he has been serving as a Lead Wish Granter, dedicated to fulfilling the wishes of children facing critical illnesses.
In summary, Mr. Diwakar's unwavering drive, technical expertise, mentorship, and community involvement have propelled his career to new heights, making a positive impact on the field of tunneling engineering and beyond.
Mr. Lee is the CEO and Co-founder of Nanolumi, an advanced material and technology startup founded in 2018. With over 15 years of experience in advanced functional materials, nanotechnology, displays, touch sensors, product authentication, bioimaging and solar technologies, he has played a pivotal role in Nanolumi's success. The company focuses on providing breakthrough luminescent and optical platforms for various applications, utilising proprietary nano and molecular technologies. Under his leadership, Nanolumi has grown and assembled a multidisciplinary team of 18 professionals with expertise in fields like Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Material Science, and Biology. The company's spirit of innovation is rooted in his experiences and entrepreneurial mindset, nurtured during his time at NUS. He has also been involved in numerous mentoring and community initiatives, promoting STEM education, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
Notably, Nanolumi acquired Luminicell Pte Ltd, a biotechnology company specialising in advanced biocompatible fluorescent probes. The acquisition consolidates expertise in fluorescence technologies and opens up opportunities for innovative applications in bioimaging and diagnostics. Mr Lee’s journey began with his involvement in NUS, for example the NOC Silicon Valley programme, where he developed an innovative mindset in material science business. He has been a mentor, industry expert, and advocate for startups, contributing to NUS initiatives and programs while actively sharing his expertise with students.
Mr. Sim is an industrial designer, showcases a remarkable commitment to innovation across various disciplines and contexts. He started his career as an Industrial Designer at NextOfKin (NOK) Creatives and quickly advanced to the role of Design Manager, leading his team in research, innovation, and industrial projects. His work at NOK has garnered awards, including iF design awards and the Singapore Good Design award for projects like the Kohler Struktura hygiene urinal and the Kohler Rivlet Lavatory station for Wudu Ritual. He extends his expertise to education and mentorship. He mentored a startup through Temasek Launchpad, conducted workshops at Temasek Polytechnic's Innovation Programme, and became an adjunct lecturer at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. He has also guest lectured at Nanyang Technological University and collaborated with NUS Division of Industrial Design.
Mr. Sim actively participates in community projects, contributing design perspectives to issues related to disabilities, social topics, and healthcare. He was part of the team behind the Senior Active Force SG project, which empowers seniors to contribute to society meaningfully. He established the SAFSG Framework to understand seniors' needs and hosted workshops to brainstorm ideas. His dedication to education continues as he serves as a teaching assistant and supports young designers by hiring interns from his alma mater, NUS Division of Industrial Design. Through his multidisciplinary approach, he demonstrates innovation, leadership, and a commitment to using design to create positive impact across various sectors and communities.
