[Virtual Classroom] The Art of Specification Writing

Rick Chong

Rick Chong has over 17 years of experience in procurement and supply chain where he successfully led procurement operations, cost savings intiative, reorganisation projects, negotiations, system integrations, training and consultancy. When he was with the Ministry of Finance, Rick rewrote the procurement policy and implemented the Procurement Competency and Training Framework for all the procurement executives in the Singapore government. Rick has conducted procurement training (Negotiation, Contract Management, Essential Procurement Skills, Specification Writing, etc) for the past 7 years.

Koh Gim Liong

Koh Gim Liong has worked in both civil service and private sector for more than 10 years before he made a career switch to training. His private and public sector experience is diversified and covers training, financial advisory, project management, ERP implementation, business process re-engineering, auditing, financial and operations management. He began his career as an auditor in an international accounting firm before joining the public sector as an accountant in the Accountant-General’s Department, Ministry of Finance. During his secondment to the Singapore Police Force, he was responsible for the finance operations and implementation of key financial initiatives. At the Ministry of Education, he was managing the operating budget section and evaluating budget proposals. Gim Liong also worked in a listed financial institution where he led the team responsible for accounting (covering operations, acquisitions and investment products). In the area of training, Gim Liong has conducted many workshops with learners from more than 10 countries. Over the past 12 years, he has been sharing his knowledge and experience in areas like financial advisory, accounting, investing, budgeting, procurement, outsourcing as well as the governance framework in the Singapore public sector. Gim Liong graduated from Nanyang Technological University. He is a Chartered Accountant of Singapore (CA Singapore) as well as a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) holder. He also holds several finance-related certificates in insurance and investments (awarded by the Singapore College of Insurance) as well as the Advanced Certificate in Training and Assessment (Facilitated Learning) (awarded under the Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications System). He is an Associate Adult Educator, a recognition given by the Institute of Adult Learning to established educators who have demonstrated significant experience in training delivery and assessment. He is also a certified Enneagram and NLP Executive Coach.

Emily Wong Kwee Keow

Over five years and currently an associate trainer with Civil Service College and Excellence Procurement Consultancy, Emily trains public officers in government procurement and policies, effective tender specifications writing and evaluation methodologies. She conducts training for various private organizations in leadership skills, negotiations, corporate governance and managing projects. Emily is ACTA certified and appointed in 2017 as Adult Educator Professional by IAL Adult Education Professionalization Secretariat. Emily has about thirty years' broad exposure in various types of contracting vehicles and management. Skilled and experienced, she is adept in procurement strategic planning, budgeting and bidding negotiations. A strong negotiator, she led teams in various complex contract negotiations savings millions of monies for the agencies. From various engagements with foreign government agencies and suppliers' senior management in countries over the world eg. USA, UK, Switzerland, Sweden, Australia and Israel, Emily collaborated on resolution strategies for procurement and contractual challenges. Such valuable experiences provided insights on cross cultural engagements and are shared widely in her course facilitations. Emily’s last appointment was Head Procurement in strategic contracting for products, services, and research & development requirements in Defence Science & Technology Agency for the defence ministry. Practical real-life cases and strategic critical thinking skills provide valuable learning opportunities for the trainees in the procurement arena.

Chen Shian Jan

Shian Jan started his career with the Accountant-General's Department (AGD) and was later posted to the Ministry of Finance (MOF) headquarters. He was extensively involved in various aspects of Public Financial Management during his service in the Singapore Public Service. This included the administration of the Government's central accounting system, preparation of the annual Government financial statements, budgetary allocation for several ministries, and formulation of public service-wide policies such as financial management and government procurement in the Instruction Manuals, protection of Singapore's reserves, Budgeting for Results and Managing for Excellence (MFE).Shian Jan graduated from the National University of Singapore and is currently a non-practising Chartered Accountant. He also holds an Advanced Certificate in Training and Assessment (Facilitated Learning) by the Singapore Workforce Skills Qualification (WSQ) system, as well as the WSQ Diploma in Adult and Continuing Education (DACE). Shian Jan was also awarded the Commendation Medal (Pingat Kepu-jian), 1999 National Day Award. As an associate trainer, he had received the Trainer Excellence Award 2013 from the Civil Service College.