Mr Teo Kah Chin

Business Development Manager,

Sobono Energy Pte Ltd

Class of Bachelor of Environmental Engineering, 2015

 

What made you choose the course in NUS over other courses?

I have always wanted to be in the sustainability industry as I have a keen interest in the natural sciences and hope that we can live in a greener environment in coming years.

Being an engineer allows me to bring ideas that matter into fruition.

What do you like most about this course in NUS?

I like how the course is broad while rigorous at the same time. This allows me to develop different perspectives and make connection through astute thinking. The small cohort helped to bring everyone closer

What other activities/programmes were you involved in?

Student Exchange Programme (SEP)

Going through the SEP was one of the highlights of my learning journey with NUS. I did my SEP at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), United States in summer of 2014. Throughout the programme, I attended courses on Biofuels, Biological Principals and Atmospheric Chemistry. I also took up an interest in Philosophy and picked up the Spanish Language. During the exchange, I interacted with a diverse group of students and faculty members from many different nationalities. The perspective gained from working with a group of highly diverse course mates had greatly shaped my worldview and influenced me to see always see beyond Singapore and our Asian upbringing.

Additionally, the Spanish Language came to good use when I did a 1-month back-packing trip to South America. I visited places like Mexico City, Merida, Plaza de Carmel and Cozumel in Mexico; Quito and Galapagos in Ecuador; Lima, Cuzco and Machu Picchu in Peru; Belo Horizonte, Ouro Preto, Rio de Janeiro and Iguacu Falls in Brazil before returning to Singapore. My time in the America was indeed immensely fruitful.

What is/are key role(s) you play in your job?

Being the key person, I organise the construction, handle foreign Original-Equipment-Manufacturer (OEM) specialists, manage client expectations as well as aid in the commissioning of critical equipment: Gas Engines and power system including digester tanks and equipment.

In support of the project, I also travel between Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, and Bangkok for supplier, consultant meetings, and factory-acceptance-tests to name a few.

To facilitate the success of projects as integrator of equipment and materials from an international supply chain, I also coordinate with my network of suppliers and logistics companies from China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Austria, Denmark, Germany, Italy, and Netherlands.

How the course has contributed to your career development?

I feel NUS has equipped me very well with a versatile set of tools for use on my job. These allowed me to think quickly on my feet, organize information, and communicate key ideas and execution action plans.

The broad-based training allowed me to ask the right questions, learn quickly, and be able to deal with multiple stakeholders effectively in a dynamic high-paced setting of the Project Management role.

What skills are employers looking for from a fresh graduate?

As project manager, we look for young graduates who are willing to take the un-conventional path, lean into discomfort, and have the ability to learn quickly.

The ability to communicate effectively and to work well in diverse teams are must.

Any tips for incoming and current students?

The uniqueness of the Environmental Engineering training lies in how it makes one excellent in integrative thinking- a skill highly sought after today. Embrace that molding and enjoy the breadth of disparate modules offered. Your value lies in how you integrate all of that into a cohesive narrative.