March is when we celebrate International Women’s Day – and in line with this, our very own Director (Engineering Services) and Chief Civil & Structural Engineer, Teh Poh Suan, was featured in the Public Sector Science & Technology Policy and Plans Office’s (S&TPPO) campaign focusing on the achievements and experience of women in the traditionally male-dominated Science, Technology, and Engineering (STE) field. Read on to learn more about her interview!

When Poh Suan first enrolled in the Civil Engineering course in the National University of Singapore (NUS) back in 1986, she was one out of only five females in a cohort of 72 students. But that didn’t unnerve nor dishearten the then 20-year-old, simply because Poh Suan always knew that she wanted to study something that would contribute meaningfully to society.

“When I was a student in secondary school, I was inspired by how engineers built homes for people to stay in safely and comfortably. They also built roads and bridges, to connect people and communities, built infrastructure to manage waste and to protect the environment. I wanted to play a role in this, so I enrolled myself into Civil Engineering at NUS. My work since graduation has reinforced my belief that civil engineers play a vital role in enhancing the quality of life for the people.”

In the realm of engineering, where men have traditionally dominated, exceptional women like Poh Suan are breaking barriers, shattering stereotypes, and paving the way for and inspiring a whole new generation of empowered female engineers. 

As the Chief Civil & Structural Engineer at HDB, Poh Suan’s three-decade long engineering career with the organisation is the epitome of resilience, determination, and a steadfast commitment to innovation, serving as a powerful testament to the transformative potential of women in STE.

“Engineering is tough. Back in university, our lessons were from 9am to 5pm, five days a week. But because of the passion that I have for engineering, I enjoyed the lectures and content.”

And she remembers exactly how her NUS lecturers and professors treated the male students versus the female students.

“They treated us all the same! For example, during the first year, we were required to attend workshop classes – we had to learn how to weld, mill, and pick up physical skills. It was tough but we all made it through!”

For Poh Suan, the impact of engineering on people’s lives cannot be overstated, and it’s her deep-seated passion for problem-solving that has shaped her trajectory in a field where innovation meets pragmatism. 

Civil Engineering, she explained, is about maintaining and adapting the infrastructure that we depend on every day – whether its buildings, roads, and bridges, or energy and water supply. Civil engineers not only have to keep this infrastructure running effectively; they must also find ways to deliver the infrastructure needed when there's little money in the pot to pay for it. Simply put, civil engineers come up with solutions to complex problems and implement them, shaping the world we live in.

“I wanted to practise what I studied and had a passion for, which is why I joined HDB. If you look at HDB, it’s the biggest developer in Singapore. The mission of HDB is to provide affordable and quality public housing and that encompasses a lot of varied tasks, especially from the engineering perspective. From land preparation before we construct the building, to taking care of its maintenance after it has been built. When it’s due for redevelopment, we need to tear it down and rebuild again. We handle everything – from the very beginning to the end to the beginning again. It is an important part of building a nation and that really attracted me to the organisation. It’s never the same work you do, whether it’s year one or year 30.”

Things have changed and improved over the years, but in an industry that is still largely male-dominated and where gender stereotypes often cast shadows on women’s contributions, Poh Suan remains optimistic in her conviction that diversity fuels innovation and progress.

“There is a role for everyone at HDB. I believe that the contribution from women is that we bring diversity of thought into engineering. In a male-dominated field, there are unique strengths women bring to the table, especially empathy and creativity. I think this diversity of views is good, because varied perspectives can synergise to create better products.”

And she would know. Throughout her career at HDB, Poh Suan has spearheaded numerous groundbreaking projects, leveraging her expertise in the green building industry and sustainability.

Her singular contributions over the years include being a member of several inter-agency committees such as the Solar Capability Task Force, Ministry of National Development (MND) Green Building Committee and Sustainable Urban Living Committee, Energy Efficiency Programme Office (E2PO), and the Technical Review Panel for Economic Development Board (EDB) Clean Energy Research Programme. She also received the prestigious Building and Construction Authority (BCA) Singapore Green Building Council (SGBC) Green Building Individual Award in 2013 for her commitment and contribution in propelling a sustainable built environment in Singapore.

As a notable female engineer behind a multitude of green initiatives, she has left a significant impact not only at HDB but the rest of the construction industry. She is also the co-author of two books: “Blueprint of Successes for Public Housing” and “The Green Housing Book”. The latter is a collation of HDB’s green efforts, experience, and knowledge in designing environmentally sustainable development.

She is appreciative and proud of her many initiatives but her contribution to the Solar Capability Building Programme stands out as one of her most rewarding accomplishments. Under the programme, Poh Suan managed large scale solar photovoltaic (PV) test bedding in both new and existing HDB towns and identified the most optimal and cost-effective solar PV solutions for the environment. Expanding this use of renewable energy was a big part of HDB’s efforts to promote sustainable development.

“Back in 2008, I was leading the charge to introduce solar panels in HDB. The price of solar panels then was very expensive and there was no return on investment. However, we looked at it as a potential growth area and wanted to build its capabilities. Some people told us not to waste our time – they felt that the implementation of solar panels would never happen during their lifetime. But we continued to push through and in the span of 10 years, we did it. Now, we have ongoing solar capabilities programmes rolled out nationwide.”

According to an article from The Straits Times dated April 2023, solar panels are set to be installed at up to 1,075 HDB blocks by the third quarter of 2026, as part of Singapore’s drive to harness more clean energy. This will bring the number of blocks slated to have solar panels to about 9,500. HDB stated in the same article that it aims to install solar panels at more than 10,000 blocks island wide over the next two years.

Aside from her trailblazing efforts in the solar capabilities programme, Poh Suan is also especially proud of her work on HDB Greenprint – a comprehensive framework to guide greener HDB town development and create sustainable homes. As Poh Suan explains, with increasing global warming and rising sea levels, it is vital that Singapore can remain a great place for current and future generations to live in.

“When we innovate, we introduce new projects. But what about existing projects? HDB has been building public housing since the 1960s, which means that we need to revisit and enhance sustainability efforts. We had to ideate on how we could rejuvenate existing towns and bring in sustainable development initiatives. This introduction has expanded and flourished into the Green Towns Programme which is now implemented nationwide.”

With such watershed achievements under her belt, what would Poh Suan tell her younger self, a wide-eyed female engineer just starting out? And what advice would she give specifically to the young women of today, who may be slightly hesitant about embarking on an STE career?

“I would tell my younger self to be bold and innovative. Come join us! An STE career is one that is both rewarding and meaningful. It’s also an opportunity to reimagine big environments and make tangible difference to the lives of people.”

Even after more than three decades in the industry, Poh Suan is excited for the next chapter.

“As the Chief Civil and Structural Engineer at HDB, it is my responsibility to look after the professional development of our engineers. I would want to encourage this group of people to develop professionally and continue contributing to the engineering community as well as our national public housing efforts. Keep innovating and keep pushing. Look what happened with the solar panels!”