Opening Address at SUSS-UOB-SMF Global Leadership Symposium

Minister of State for Manpower, Mr Dinesh Vasu Dash, One Farrer Hotel

Opening Address By Mr. Dinesh Vasu Dash, Minister Of State, Ministry Of Manpower At SUSS-UOB-SMF Global Leadership Symposium At One Farrer Hotel On 18 September 2026, 0910 Hours.

Professor Robbie Goh, Provost, Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS)

Mr Bryan Lim, Managing Director and Head of Group Talent & Development, United Overseas Bank (UOB)

Mr Lennon Tan, President, Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF)

Mr Ng Tian Chong, CEO, Singtel (Keynote Speaker)

Distinguished guests and friends.

Introduction

Good morning. It is my pleasure to join you at the fourth edition of the Global Leadership Symposium. I would like to thank the Singapore University of Social Sciences, Singapore Manufacturing Federation and United Overseas Bank for organising and bringing together the industry, academia and students to consider a topic that will shape the future of work and opportunity in Singapore.

Human Capital as Singapore's Competitive Advantage

This year's theme, "Human Capital and Leadership Resilience in a Borderless, AI-Driven Economy", is very relevant. Two things will remain critical to Singapore's competitiveness both now and in the future.

Even as technology continues to shape the future of work, Singapore's greatest competitive advantage remains our people. Workers will need to remain adaptable and grow alongside new technologies. Leaders, in turn, must be at the forefront of change, helping their enterprises and people to navigate uncertainty and seize new opportunities.

Leadership Resilience and Enterprise Agility in the Age of Borderless, AI-driven economy

Leadership resilience, therefore, is not simply about responding to disruption. It is about having the confidence to embrace change and the foresight to see AI as a means of freeing people to focus on higher-value, uniquely human work. Leaders must equip their people with the skills and confidence to work alongside AI, bringing their people along on this transformation journey.

Organisations should therefore invest in developing leaders at all levels, enabling them to communicate change, support their teams and build confidence during periods of transformation. Forums such as this Symposium are valuable because they enable government, industry and academia to exchange ideas and to learn from one another.

Today, various schemes support employers in redesigning jobs and strengthening organisational capabilities. But these schemes will only make a difference if leaders actively champion change, rather than leave transformation to chance.

The Government has set aside over $400 million under the Enterprise Workforce Transformation Package to provide greater support for companies embarking on workforce transformation. Enterprises can receive funding support for job redesign, including consultancy services to assess AI readiness and in-house training to build change management capabilities among line managers and HR teams.

The Singapore Opportunity Index (SOI) measures how well organisations create career opportunities for their workers across outcomes such as pay, progression and retention. By providing objective benchmarks and insights, the SOI helps leaders identify areas where workforce outcomes can be strengthened.

A more borderless economy also means that Singapore businesses and workers increasingly compete and collaborate globally. Our leaders must be able to navigate different markets, cultures and perspectives, while ensuring that their organisations and people remain relevant and competitive.

Institutions of Higher Learning such as SUSS therefore have an important role in equipping current and future leaders with the skills and mindset to keep learning throughout their careers.

Our agency-supported overseas work programmes, such as the Overseas Markets Immersion Programme, also provide valuable exposure and developmental opportunities, helping to nurture future leaders who can navigate complexity and lead confidently across borders.

Future-ready Workforce that is Agile and Adaptable

Workforce transformation must go hand in hand with enterprise transformation. Businesses cannot transform successfully without their people. At the same time, workers benefit most when transformation creates better jobs, with clear pathways for advancement. The Government will support Singaporeans at each stage of this journey.

First, we will strengthen the transition from education to work. We work with the Institutes of Higher Learning and industry to help students and fresh graduates gain meaningful experience through work-based learning. These include IMDA's TechSkills Accelerator and AI Apprenticeship Programme in the information and communications technology sector, and MAS' Polytechnic Talent for Finance Scheme in the financial services sector.

Second, we will provide clearer pathways from skills to jobs. CareersFinder maps training pathways to jobs, helping workers bridge skills gaps and strengthen their job applications. Targeted advice is also available through Polaris by Volunteer Career Advisors, which connects workers with experienced industry professionals who can offer sector-specific insights and help them develop personalised career plans.

Third, we will help workers navigate transitions. Career Conversion Programmes support individuals moving into new job roles with good long-term prospects through structured on-the-job training across around 30 sectors. To build AI fluency, those who take up selected SkillsFuture AI courses will also receive a six-month free subscription to premium versions of best-in-class AI tools. This will allow workers to experiment and translate classroom learning into hands-on practice.

Partnership for Singapore's Future

Building Singapore's human capital and leadership capabilities requires close partnership among the Government, employers, unions, educational institutions and many other stakeholders. The Tripartite Workgroup on Human Capital Capability Development is one such effort. It brings stakeholders together to identify practical measures to strengthen human capital capabilities across our economy, and will announce its recommendations later this month.

Our goal is to create a virtuous cycle where competitive businesses creating better jobs, and workers equipped with the skills and confidence to take on higher-value roles. The Government will continue to work closely with stakeholders to build a resilient, adaptable and future-ready workforce. By investing in our people and embracing the opportunities ahead, I am confident that Singapore can continue to thrive, not despite the changes ahead, but by making the most of the opportunities they bring.

Conclusion

With that, I wish everyone a fruitful and productive discussion ahead. Thank you.