Goh Siew Hong, Senior Systems Engineer, Systems & Technology Division, GovTech, Singapore
By Medha Basu
Women in GovTech Special Report 2017.
Being part of the Systems and Technology Division team that planned the research and development of the Robotics Middleware Framework for healthcare. When this project is successfully completed, it would make available a unified framework for robots and IoT devices in public hospitals.
What technology particularly interests you for 2018?
AI-powered IoT devices.
If you were to share one piece of advice that you learned in 2017, what would it be?
Be open-minded to all suggestions, but make your own decisions.
What was the greatest challenge that you overcame in 2017?
Seeing issues beyond technology considerations. As engineers, we tend to be very technology-focused, instead of being problem-focused. But working in GovTech has opened my eyes and mind to the fact that without a compelling problem to solve, we will not be able to maximise the effective use of technology.
What book did you read in 2017 that most interested or inspired you?
The One-Straw Revolution by Masanobu Fukuoka (1913-2008), a scientist and farmer who used unconventional methods to grow his crops, such as cultivating rice in dry fields and farming in weeds.
It is an inspiring book to me in that it not only provides insights into the author’s thinking and his successful farming practices, but also highlights his decades-long dedication towards perfecting sustainable practices.
Who inspired you in 2017, and why?
My supervisor, James Tan. I observed from working with him his steadfastness in the face of challenges and obstacles at work. He has a good heart, a positive mindset and a never-say-die attitude in discharging his work as a public servant.