Sarah Tong, Manager, Digital Infrastructure, Policy, Regulation & Competition Development Group, Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore

1) What does public service mean to you? Can you share more about your role in the public sector?

To me, public service means making sure we take care of Singaporeans and our future generations, and we do this by building systems and shaping infrastructure that create long-term value.

Within the Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore's (IMDA) Digital Infrastructure division, my work spans digital infrastructure masterplanning, policy development, and international engagement.

It is an incredibly dynamic role where I get to work with a wide variety of stakeholders.

On any given day, I could be collaborating with government agencies on strategic projects, working with industry to advance green data centre policies such as the Green Data Centre Roadmap, or strategising on how Singapore can drive thought leadership in sustainable digital infrastructure development through the ASEAN Guide for Sustainable Data Centre Development.

2) Tell us about a project you championed. What impact did it have on the community?

One strategic project I’ve worked on is the infrastructure masterplanning for Singapore’s largest data centre park on Jurong Island, collaborating with government agencies and industry partners to anchor high-quality digital investments here.

While an industrial park on Jurong Island might seem far removed from everyday life, it is a critical foundation that drives sustainability and catalyses new possibilities for our digital economy.

By building this robust infrastructure, we directly support our national artificial intelligence (AI) ambitions and secure the seamless connectivity needed to power daily services Singaporeans rely on - from online banking and digital healthcare to education and communication.

At the end of the day, it’s not only about growing the economy but also about advancing sustainability, community resilience, and supporting our future-readiness, keeping modern life in Singapore running safely and smoothly.

3) As a young professional, how has your unique background or perspective allowed you to identify a solution that others in your organisation might have overlooked?

My background in Southeast Asian Studies and social anthropology has shaped how I approach policy challenges.

I tend to analyse issues through multiple stakeholder and political-economic lenses, while paying close attention to how policies affect industry players on the ground.

This perspective has been especially useful in policymaking and especially in sustainability and the digital space, where challenges are often complex and constantly evolving.

My interdisciplinary training and experience in the private sector have also helped me bridge perspectives across government agencies, private sector players, and international partners, so that we can jointly move toward more practical and collaborative solutions.

4) What is your personal strategy for staying motivated when managing heavy workloads and tight deadlines?

What truly motivates me is the people I interact with!

Whether it’s the energy and camaraderie of my immediate team or the passion of the industry stakeholders we partner with, those connections are a constant reminder of the real-world impact behind our policies.

Breaking large projects into manageable milestones and celebrating small wins also help me maintain momentum during tougher timelines.

Beyond work, I try to make time for family, friends, and volunteering locally and overseas, which keeps me grounded and helps me return to work refreshed and inspired.

5) If you had just one area to invest in to accelerate transformation in the public sector (regulation, technology, talent, etc.), which one would you choose and why?

In my opinion, the only right answer is talent – policies, tech products, and regulations can only be as strong as the people behind them.

Given that today’s challenges are becoming more complex and rapidly evolving (e.g. from sustainability to AI governance), I would invest in growing a generation of curious, adaptable, and globally minded public servants who can keep pace with a rapidly changing world.

By focusing on people first, we can equip them to develop the precise policies, build the resilient infrastructure, and drive the initiatives Singapore needs to stay ahead of the curve and remain globally competitive.

6) What is your greatest ambition as you grow in your public service career?

My greatest ambition is to strengthen the collaboration between government and industry – bridging everyone from MNCs and local SMEs to our international partners.

Together, I want to build the systems and policies that keep Singapore economically vibrant, deeply resilient, and built to serve future generations.

7) What is a “universal value” that connects everyone in your department – from interns to directors – and how do you use that to drive collaboration?

The shared commitment to the long-term impact of our work. When it comes to policymaking in a sector like digital infrastructure, many of the projects we work on may take years before they come to fruition.

Since everyone understands that Singapore’s digital future depends entirely on getting these foundations right, this long-term view is reflected in our daily collaboration.

All of us work closely together with other stakeholders to resolve challenges, even in uncertain environments.

That shared sense of purpose and drive to deliver the best outcomes is what genuinely inspires me every day.

8) What is the best piece of advice you’ve got for the next generation of public servants?

As the Chinese proverb goes, "A minute on stage represents a decade of work behind the scenes."

This applies to policy development as well. Singapore has always been held in high regard for its well-considered policies, but little is known about the debates and negotiations between stakeholders that happen behind closed doors.

For instance, I once apologised to a colleague because I felt that my team’s differing perspective had stalled progress on a project.

They stopped me and reminded me that this tension was exactly what good policymaking looks like - rigorous, contested, and deeply analysed.

My advice for the next generation of public servants (and a reminder to myself as well) would be to keep debating, keep asking hard questions, and not be disheartened when deadlocks happen, since these are the junctures where policies are truly tested and refined.

9) What is a myth you wish to debunk about young public servants?

The myth that young public servants need to "clock enough experience" before they can contribute meaningfully.

In reality, many young officers today tackle complex issues early in their careers (some navigating a global pandemic at the onset, like me) and engage regularly with senior stakeholders across government and industry.

They also bring fresh perspectives and digital fluency that open new ways of thinking and working.

While experience and institutional knowledge remain invaluable, stronger collaboration across generations of public servants will allow the sector to innovate, adapt, and better respond to a changing world.

10) Write a letter to your future self in 2035. Please keep it within 200 words.

Dear 2035 Sarah,

I hope you are well and have not lost your sense of curiosity and purpose.

Wherever you are, I hope you are still working with various stakeholders to build systems that create long-term value for Singapore, and that you continue to approach every challenge with humility, empathy, and intellectual openness, even as responsibilities have grown.

By 2035, I hope Singapore has made meaningful progress towards sustainable and inclusive development and has remained resilient over the past decade. I hope you played some part in that journey, however small.

I also hope you never forgot the importance of people and relationships; they are, after all, the foundations on which every system is built.

Keep learning, keep listening, and keep making time for the things that ground you outside of work.

Most importantly, I hope that you are still excited about building the future, not just because it is your job, but because you genuinely believe it matters.

With pride and hope,

Your 2026 Self