New Chief Executive Officer for the National Parks Board

Singapore, 24 April 2026 – The Ministry of National Development (MND) and National Parks Board (NParks) announced today the following senior appointment changes at MND and NParks:

• Ms Hwang Yu-Ning (黄攸寜), 57, will relinquish her current appointment as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NParks on 1 Jun 2026, and be appointed as Chief (Urban Innovation & Excellence) at MND; and

• Dr Tan Puay Yok (陈培育), 56, currently Executive Director of the National Parks & Gardens Cluster of NParks, Group Director of the Singapore Botanic Gardens and Chief Science and Technology Officer of NParks, will be appointed CEO of NParks (Designate) from 1 May 2026 before assuming the position on 1 Jun 2026. 

2               Ms Hwang has built a distinguished career in the Singapore Civil Service, marked by strong leadership and a breadth of experience across policy and operational roles. Over the course of her service, she has held a series of senior appointments in ministries and statutory boards, from her role as Deputy CEO and Chief Planner at the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), to her current posting as CEO of NParks.

3               As CEO of NParks, Ms Hwang integrated urban planning with the expertise of her team and drove partnerships with various stakeholders. She engaged people from all walks of life, and fostered greater collaboration with NParks’ diverse stakeholder groups. Under her leadership, NParks forged ahead with adoption of science, research and technology throughout the organisation to support the City in Nature vision.

4               Dr Tan brings over three decades of leadership across public service and academia, underpinned by deep institutional knowledge of NParks and expertise in urban greening and ecology. As the Executive Director of the National Parks & Gardens Cluster and Group Director of the Singapore Botanic Gardens, he enhanced the Gardens’ international standing as a leading centre for tropical botany and conservation, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a cultural institution, and a beloved National Garden.

5               Concurrently, as Chief Science and Technology Officer, Dr Tan provides strategic leadership over NParks’ Science and Technology agenda, supporting Singapore’s Research, Innovation and Enterprise priorities and strengthening translational research. An internationally recognised scholar‑practitioner in urban ecology, Dr Tan is on secondment from the National University of Singapore where he is a Professor at the Department of Architecture.

6               Detailed write-ups of Ms Hwang and Dr Tan are in the Annex.

Annex

Ms Hwang Yu-Ning

Ms Hwang Yu-Ning has an architecture degree from the National University of Singapore and a Master in Public Policy (Urban Planning) from Harvard University.

2               As CEO of NParks from 1 June 2023, Yu-Ning led the creation of the Parks for Health Framework to enhance residents' access to greenery so that everyone can better enjoy its restorative qualities. Through active programming and partnerships with healthcare institutions and relevant agencies, more people can look forward to immersing themselves in therapeutic landscapes, gardening or activities that support physical and emotional well-being.

3               Building on her work as Chief Planner, URA, where she spearheaded the Master Plan Reviews, she led the successful execution of key projects in NParks, including Singapore's third national garden, Jurong Lake Gardens, as well as Bidadari Park. She also initiated efforts to rejuvenate parks in southwestern Singapore, as part of the ongoing transformation of our Southern Region, and established plans for the Khatib Nature Corridor as part of making Singapore's Northern Region greener and more connected.

4               On the marine side, she re-opened Sisters' Island Marine Park and helped designate a second marine park at Lazarus South and Kusu Reef. Building on past efforts to strengthen understanding of core sciences of marine climate change and develop solutions to help address the challenges faced by our coastal and marine environment, she guided the team to establish a new marine science research centre of excellence under the Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2030 Plan (RIE2030).

5               In the veterinary and animal sector, she steered the team towards preparing legislation for establishing a Veterinary Council to enhance veterinary professionalism. Under her charge, NParks' Centre for Wildlife Forensics was designated as the first World Organisation for Animal Health Collaborating Centre for Wildlife Trade and Wildlife Health, focusing on risk analysis and management of wildlife movement. She also supported youths in organising the inaugural Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Global Youth Summit, bringing together young conservation leaders from around the world in dialogue and capacity building for the future of wildlife conservation.

6               On the animal management front, she provided strategic guidance which led to the successful launch of the cat management framework and worked with the team on various wildlife population management measures. She also played a role in establishing a whole-of-government biosurveillance framework and research programme to advance the scientific understanding of zoonotic diseases and develop evidence-based upstream mitigation strategies.

7               In NParks, Yu-Ning continued to demonstrate strong ability to connect with people and foster collaboration with diverse stakeholder groups. She also championed the integration of science, research and technology towards supporting the City in Nature vision.

8               Prior to this appointment, Yu-Ning was Deputy CEO and Chief Planner at URA, where she led the 2021 Long-Term Plan Review (LTPR). The LTPR represented a shift from the approach taken since the Concept Plan was first adopted in 1971, to a more consultative, scenario-based approach with focus on sustainability, resilience, and co-creating solutions with the public. She also served in Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Strategy Group and MND Strategic Planning Division earlier in her career. In her many years of public service, she drove a range of key planning and policy workstreams, from the Long Term and Master Plan Reviews, planning for an ageing population, to developing a Master Plan for Singapore’s underground space.

Dr Tan Puay Yok

Dr Tan graduated with a First Class Honours in Horticulture from Massey University (New Zealand) and obtained his PhD in Floriculture and Ornamental Horticulture from Cornell University (USA).

2        Dr Tan was appointed as Executive Director of the National Parks and Gardens and Community Cluster of NParks on 1 August 2024, and has served concurrently as the Group Director of the Singapore Botanic Gardens and Chief Science and Technology Officer of NParks since 1 October 2019. Prior to these appointments, he led the landscape studies cluster of the Department of Architecture at the National University of Singapore, and oversaw the horticulture management of the Singapore Botanic Gardens and research functions of the Centre for Urban Greenery and Ecology.

3        Under his leadership, the Singapore Botanic Gardens has enhanced its international standing as a leading centre for tropical botany and conservation and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, while remaining a cherished National Garden and cultural institution for Singaporeans. He spearheaded the development of environmental sustainability and environmental education frameworks of the Gardens, and expanded partnerships to enrich its programmes and ensure inclusivity for all Singaporeans. 

4        He also strengthened the programming and management of the historically significant Fort Canning Park, improvement in the management of the Istana grounds, ensuring horticultural excellence befitting its national significance, and guided the development of nature parks to enhance the natural capital of Singapore.

5        As Chief Science and Technology Officer, he strengthened the translational and interdisciplinary focus of NParks’ Science and Technology agenda and oversaw the formulation of research programmes in urban nature, marine science and biosurveillance to support Singapore’s RIE 2025 and 2030 priorities. In straddling public service and academia, he enhanced the scientific rigour of NParks’ operations and policies and ensured that NParks’ research programmes continue to deliver translational impact.

6        Dr Tan is currently on secondment from the National University of Singapore, where he is a tenured Professor in the Department of Architecture. He is recognised internationally as a leading urban ecologist and a scholar-practitioner.