CDE Alumni Awards 2026 celebrate excellence, innovation and impact

From advancing Singapore's defence capabilities and developing satellite technologies to shaping the built environment and preparing communities for climate change, CDE alumni are making an impact across a remarkable range of fields.

Their achievements were celebrated at the annual CDE Alumni Awards 2026(opens in new tab) held at Conrad Singapore Marina Bay on 13 November 2026, recognising alumni whose professional accomplishments, leadership and contributions to society reflect the breadth of talent nurtured by the College.

The awards honour CDE alumni at different stages of their careers, from established leaders who have made significant contributions to their professions to emerging talents who are already making their mark. They also recognise alumni whose commitment to mentoring, education and service continues to strengthen the CDE community.

Speaking at the awards ceremony Professor Teo Kie Leong, Dean of CDE, said: “A college is defined not only by the students who pass through its doors, but also by what its graduates go on to achieve and the contributions they make to society.

“Our students bring life and energy to the College, our alumni carry the CDE spirit into the wider world. Across their professions and pursuits, they build on what they have learned here and put their knowledge and skills to work in service of others.”

Celebrating distinguished careers

This year's recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award, the College's highest alumni honour, include three individuals whose careers have helped shape developments in defence technology, advanced communications and the built environment.

Mr Cheong Chee Hoo, Chief Executive Officer of DSO National Laboratories, has spent more than three decades advancing Singapore's defence research and technological capabilities. His contributions include pioneering work on radar systems and the development of Singapore's first fully indigenous airborne radar system.

Reflecting on the influence of his engineering education, Mr Cheong said: "NUS gave me a strong technical foundation, but above all, the confidence and curiosity to explore new ideas and venture into unfamiliar grounds."

For Dr Radhakrishnan L. Nagarajan, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Optical Engineering at Marvell Technology, an undergraduate research project helped set the direction for an internationally distinguished career in photonics.

Elected to the US National Academy of Engineering in 2025, Dr Nagarajan has made major contributions to the development of high-speed lasers and photonic technologies that underpin modern communications.

"As it turns out, my final year undergraduate thesis was on high-speed semiconductor lasers," he recalled. "I certainly did not realise at that time that it would pave the way for a career that would eventually take me to Silicon Valley. Seemingly small opportunities can have an outsized impact on our future."

The third Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, Ar Tan Shao Yen, President and Group CEO of CPG Corporation, has played a leading role in advancing architectural practice, sustainable design and the built environment in Singapore and internationally.

Looking ahead, he emphasised the opportunities for younger professionals to address the increasingly complex challenges facing society.

"The next generation of designers, architects, engineers, and built environment professionals has a unique opportunity to shape the future," he said. "I hope they will pursue technical excellence while bringing imagination and integrity to their work, and I will continue supporting and mentoring those I have the privilege of leading."