Nur Amelina Binte Munawar, Executive (Rat Control Section) Central Regional Office, Environmental Public Health Operations Group

Despite having no knowledge or background in coding, Nur Amelina Binte Munawar stepped forward to explore automation processes to improve her team’s daily work, which involved a laborious, multi-step process required to extract metadata from photos and videos collected through camera surveillance to detect rat infestations.

She proposed implementing an automated process, which led the team to explore the use of Microsoft PowerShell scripts to enhance work efficiency. This innovative idea sparked the team's foray into coding, ultimately upskilling the entire group, said her supervisor while nominating her for the  Amalgamated Union of Public Employees (AUPE) Transformation Champion’s 2025 award. 

As part of a series celebrating Singapore public sector digital transformation champions, GovInsider, in partnership with AUPE, reached out to Nur Amelina to learn more about what motivates her and what advice she has for her fellow public sector employees about how they could transform themselves into champions like her.  

Which agency do you work for and in what capacity?

I work for the National Environment Agency as part of the Rat Control Section.

Can you describe what your job responsibilities are and what you do?

I manage camera surveillance operations for rat monitoring, which involves handling and analysing photo and video data from our surveillance systems.

What new skills have you picked up?

I've learned Microsoft PowerShell scripting, how to use AI chatbots like Pairchat and ChatGPT, and developed skills in automation processes despite having no prior coding experience.

You have been nominated as a champion because you were not afraid to embrace change. Can you describe your journey?

My journey began when I identified the time-consuming process of extracting metadata from surveillance footage. Despite having no coding background, I took the initiative to learn automation tools and collaborated with my team to develop solutions. It was challenging but rewarding.

How have the new skills that you picked up improved your productivity?

The PowerShell script we developed has saved our team 520 man-hours annually in metadata extraction alone. This automation has significantly streamlined our workflow.

Has this also helped your colleagues in their work as well?

Yes, definitely. The automation solutions we developed are used by the entire team, and through this process, everyone has been upskilled in using these new technologies.

How has your productivity improved since the time you joined work?

The most significant improvement has been in automating our metadata extraction process, which previously required multiple manual steps. This has freed up substantial time for more analytical work.

Since we are in the age of lifelong learning, can you share what new skills you wish to acquire in 2025?

I aim to deepen my skills in using AI chatbots such as Pairchat and ChatGPT in our daily work. Learning to write better prompts and understanding how to use these AI assistants for data analysis would help our team work more efficiently. I'm particularly interested in exploring how these tools can enhance our image analysis for surveillance operations.

How has the government/your organisation helped you to acquire new skill sets?

The organisation has supported my learning journey by providing access to tools like Pairchat, developed by OGP, and allowing me to collaborate with experienced colleagues like my supervisor, Mohamad Zahin.

What message would you want to give to your colleagues so that they can also upgrade themselves?

Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Even without a technical background, you can learn new skills if you're willing to put in the effort and stay persistent.

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Do you have a motivational quote that you believe strongly in?

My favourite quote is from Zig Ziglar an American author, salesman, and motivational speaker: You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.

How comfortable are you with integrating new technologies into your daily work?

Very comfortable. I actively seek out new technologies and ways to implement them to improve our work processes, as demonstrated by my work with AI tools and automation scripts.

What motivated you to learn skills outside of your comfort zone, and why would you recommend others to upskill and upgrade?

I was motivated by the desire to improve our team's efficiency and stay relevant in the age of AI implementation. I'd recommend others to improve their skills because it not only improves work productivity but also opens new opportunities for innovation.

How did you feel about being selected as an AUPE Transformation Champion?

I'm surprised and fulfilled by this recognition. It's especially meaningful because it will motivate my team to pursue more innovative solutions in our daily work.