Terence has been the Deputy Executive Director of the Institute for Adult Learning (IAL) since January 2025. He leads efforts to advance the Training & Adult Education industry and plays a key role in shaping the Institute’s strategic direction. He also focuses on building partnerships and addressing workforce learning needs to drive industry growth and adapt to the evolving adult education landscape.
Prior to his appointment at IAL, Terence was Associate Professor in Practice at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP), National University of Singapore and he remains an adjunct faculty member of LKYSPP.
In his public sector career from 2002 to 2020, Terence served in research, policy and leadership roles at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Education, South East Community Development Council, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Manpower. He was previously a Board Member of the statutory boards Workforce Singapore and the Building and Construction Authority.
Terence is the author of several books on public policy and governance: Refreshing the Singapore System: Recalibrating Socio-Economic Policy for the 21st Century (World Scientific, 2021), Governing Well: Reflections on Singapore and Beyond (World Scientific, 2023), Future-Ready Governance: Perspectives on Singapore and the World (World Scientific, 2024), and How Singapore Beat the Odds: Insider Insights on Governance in the City-State (World Scientific, 2025), a Straits Times bestseller. He has also contributed over a hundred opinion pieces to leading news media organisations in Singapore.
In recognition of his contribution to public service, Terence was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Silver) by the President of Singapore in 2023.