WHEN YOU REVEL IN THE amusement park at Downtown East, enjoy the cool air-conditioning at Changi Airport or zip into Johor Bahru via Woodlands Checkpoint, you may want to thank Shaikh Ali. He helped transform NTUC Pasir Ris Resort into Downtown East, build the air-conditioning system at Changi Airport Terminal Two and manage the government facility at Woodlands Checkpoint.

Shaikh is among several NTI pioneers who built infrastructure. The former engineering manager at NTUC Pair Ris Resort said, “I was involved in upgrading the resorts and building two new theme parks.” Later, he joined Public Works Department (PWD) where he was involved in the design and construction of the air-conditioning system at Terminal Two. “I learned a lot about lifts and air-conditioning,” he said. After getting his Professional Engineer certification, he helped to design the new Parliament House and Tuas Checkpoint.

PWD was a key government department which built and maintained public infrastructure such as expressways, roads and government buildings. Mega-projects include Changi Airport, Woodlands Checkpoint and Pan Island Expressway. It was later corporatised and renamed CPG Corporation. It won accolades for designing and conserving landmarks such as the National Museum, Asian Civilisations Museum and Central Fire Station.

Currently, Shaikh is the Deputy General Manager with CPG Facilities Management. His accounts include Fusionpolis, NTU@One-North and Ministry of Education headquarters.

Desmonde Chong Wai Swee is another industry veteran. He is the Programme Director with PM Link, the project management arm of CPG Corporation. “I manage large projects in and out of Singapore,” he said. After 25 years on the job, he distilled the recipe for success in this line. “You need a dedicated and capable person or team to manage cost, time, quality, stakeholder expectations and safety,” he said.

Besides PWD, another key government body that shapes Singapore's skyline is the Housing Development Board (HDB). It provides housing for most Singaporeans. More than four in five Singaporeans live in HDB flats. HDB employs NTI pioneers such as Larry Lim Tien Kiong. He started with building maintenance and went on to do research and development in the area. Larry sits on the Community Improvement Projects committee that provides funding to build recreational facilities and communal amenities in HDB estates.