Good evening, Ms Low Khah Gek, CEO, ITE,
Mr James Tan, member of ITE Board of Governors,
Distinguished guests, ITE alumni, students,
1. It is my pleasure to join all of you today for the inaugural ITE Alumni Entrepreneur Homecoming, as we celebrate the remarkable achievements of our ITE entrepreneurs.
Entrepreneurship as a National Imperative
2. Against the backdrop of escalating geopolitical tensions, rising trade barriers, and technological disruptions that are reshaping global supply chains, we will encounter both extraordinary opportunities that we can grasp, as well as face unprecedented challenges in the years ahead. This makes it imperative for us to cultivate a vibrant startup ecosystem that will nurture homegrown entrepreneurs, create meaningful employment for Singaporeans and enable Singapore's brand to grow in this region and beyond.
3. Our ambition is to make Singapore a place where ideas can take root and entrepreneurs can become regional and global leaders.
The Role of ITE in Entrepreneurial Education
4. With your strong industry partnerships, hands-on curriculum, and emphasis on real-world technical competencies alongside essential soft skills, ITE's Higher Nitec and Diploma programmes prepare our students to be agile, innovative, and entrepreneurial in our fast-changing world.
Celebrating ITE Alumni Entrepreneurs
5. When I look around the room tonight, I see proof that Singapore's entrepreneurial future is in good hands. I see ITE graduates with ideas and visions, who persevered in their entrepreneurial journey, and turned their vision into reality. Your achievements span many sectors — from technology and manufacturing to food services and healthcare.
- I just met Herron Ho, who co-founded Swimwerks at the age of 19 after graduating from ITE with a Higher Nitec in Sport Management. He provided lifeguard services, aquatic training and event management, and later ventured into the event space management and the F&B industry. His recognition as a Spirit of Enterprise Award winner in 2024 reflects his dauntless entrepreneurial mindset.
- Another person who is with us today is Sheila Manokaran, who runs River Valley Irregulars, a social enterprise focused on enriching youths' lives and matching ITE students with internship opportunities. I first met Sheila in 2014. At that time, I was chairing the first Youth Corps Singapore Advisory Committee and she was in the very first batch of Youth Corps Singapore Aspirant Leaders. She really stood out and contributed to the advisory committee even as a student. I believe she also went to serve in the Singapore Armed Forces as a volunteer. Today, she runs a social enterprise that enriches young people's personal and professional lives. She reminds us that entrepreneurship can drive both business success as well as social impact.
- The third person I would like to give special mention to is Kenneth Neo. Kenneth is our ITE Alumni Management Committee President, who runs a company called Advance Tech Automation Pte Ltd. He firmly believes that "you must give before you can take". Like Kenneth, I encourage you to inspire and mentor the next generation of ITE graduates on their entrepreneurial journeys. This applies to all the successful alumni who have become business and social entrepreneurs – please come back, contribute, and show the rest of the ITE community that it is possible, it is within grasp, and that your education journey gives you a foundation to take the plunge.
6. People like Kenneth, Herron, and Sheila inspire the book that we are launching today, entitled Inspiring Tomorrow's Entrepreneurs. Their stories offer valuable insights, advice and courage to all our ITE students and alumni on your entrepreneurship journey.
Conclusion
7. If we work hard and we work together, we can build our small island city-state here in Singapore, where entrepreneurial dreams can become reality, where innovation can thrive, and where everyone has the opportunity to create their own success and make an impact.
Appreciation for CEO/ITE Ms Low Khah Gek
8. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank a very special person to all of us, and that is Ms Low Khah Gek, ITE's CEO. I would like to thank Khah Gek for her remarkable leadership over the past 9 years. Fuelled by a deep care for her students, Khah Gek has driven ambitious transformation at ITE, and her impact has been felt in ways big and small by all our ITE graduates and students. For example, she significantly expanded progression pathways for our ITE graduates, by launching the ITE Work-Study Diploma programme, and grew Technical Diploma offerings. Khah Gek also championed greater special educational support and financial support for students.
9. Khah Gek has also been a forward-looking leader, inspiring her colleagues to embrace change. For example, by responding to new technologies like AI, embedding sustainability into the DNA of ITE as tackling climate change has emerged as an ever more important imperative, and developing a robust industry partnership ecosystem that has benefited many of our students.
10. Like many of our entrepreneurs here today, Khah Gek combined dreams with action, opportunities with enablers, and above all, stayed true to her purpose. As she retires and prepares to hand over the leadership baton next month, let me express my deep appreciation for Khah Gek's many contributions, on behalf of all of us in the MOE family.
11. Thank you.