Jennifer Quek, Deputy Director, Aerial Systems, Robotics, Automation & Unmanned Systems Centre of Expertise, Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX), Singapore

1) How do you use your role to ensure that technology and policy are truly inclusive?

I lead the drone technology team in developing systems to meet frontline operational needs.

All systems we develop are designed to be human-centric, and we achieve this by engaging the Home Team Departments early to learn their needs.

2) What’s a moment in your career when you saw firsthand how technology or a new policy changed a citizen’s life for the better?

This moment came when I was reflecting on my own experiences.

Years ago, I experienced an incident that made me feel unsafe in my own surroundings, and I felt completely helpless.

There were no cameras, no quick way to report, and no way to hold anyone accountable.

That’s why the rollout of the PolCam resonated so strongly with me.

I’ve seen how the camera network has helped police identify suspects in harassment cases, track down repeat offenders, and give victims a sense of safety and closure.

The myResponder app strikes the same chord for me, but in a different way.

Although I wasn’t personally involved, I remember the story of a man who survived a cardiac arrest at a void deck because volunteers arrived within minutes after being alerted by the app – an outcome that simply wouldn’t have been possible years ago.

Seeing how far we’ve come from feeling powerless in moments of vulnerability to now having technologies that protect, empower, and even save lives reminds me how meaningful these advancements truly are.

3) What was the most impactful project you worked on this year, and how did you measure its success in building trust and serving the needs of the public?

By the end of FY25, we would have deployed several autonomous Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone‑in‑a‑box systems to do monitoring along the southern coast of Singapore.

As an autonomous BVLOS solution, the system enables operators to manage multiple drone deployments from a single command-and-control (C2) centre, rather than requiring separate teams to be deployed at each site.

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This optimises manpower, allowing officers to focus on other tasks like rapid incident response.

With significantly faster incident response, the public will thus have a greater sense of safety and assurance, and this would be my measure of success.

4) What was one unexpected lesson you learned this year about designing for real people? This can be about a specific project or a broader lesson about your work.

I’ve learned that different users have different needs.

What seems intuitive or easy to use to me may not be so for the end user, which is why listening to them and understanding their workflows and requirements is essential.

5) We hear a lot about AI. What's a practical example of how AI can be used to make government services more inclusive and trustworthy?

In incident response operations using drones, artificial intelligence (AI) enables rapid detection of hazards such as fire hotspots or traffic accidents, allowing operators to focus on decision-making.

At the same time, privacy-aware AI automatically anonymises bystanders in the footage, ensuring safety measures protect everyone while maintaining public trust.

6) How are you preparing for the next wave of change in the public sector? What new skill, approach, or technology are you most excited to explore in the coming year?

I’m preparing for the next wave of change by exploring emerging technologies, especially AI and autonomous systems for drone operations, to improve safety, decision-making, and regulatory compliance.

I’m also focused on human-centred design and data-driven policy, ensuring our solutions continue to meet real frontline needs and build public trust.

7) What advice do you have for public sector innovators who want to build a career focused on serving all citizens?

My advice is to engage users early to ensure solutions are practical and inclusive.

Use data to guide decisions, but always consider the human impact. And stay curious and adaptable, because emerging technologies will continue to change how we deliver public services.

8) Who inspires you to build a more inclusive and trustworthy public sector?

I’m inspired by Jacinda Ardern, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, who is widely praised for her data-driven, transparent, and empathetic approach to policymaking.

She reminds me that building an inclusive and trustworthy public sector isn’t just about technology but about leading with humanity and clarity.

9) If you had an unlimited budget, what would your dream project be?

My dream project would be to build an all-weather, fully autonomous drone fleet that can operate safely in any environment—rain, haze, night, indoors, and tight urban spaces.

With unlimited budget and manpower, we could rapidly push breakthroughs in sensing, endurance, and AI, solving the core limitations that today’s drones still struggle with.

10) Outside tech, what excites you the most?

Outside of work, I’m excited by two things.

With my team, I love their enthusiasm and passion—it’s inspiring to contribute together to Singapore’s homeland security.

At home, even though I may be older, I’m constantly learning from my kids, which keeps me grounded and motivated.