For Nur Syahidah Sahrom, the impact of her work shows up in the places where everyday life unfolds. Whenever the 39-year-old walks past a senior care centre, she feels a quiet sense of reassurance and pride. Watching the seniors chat, exercise and socialise brings a smile to her face.
During her time at the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) Ageing Planning Office from 2015 to 2019, the Public Service Commission (PSC) scholarship holder was part of the team that worked on policies and plans to strengthen community-based services that help the elderly age in place.
Today, Singapore has over 200 Active Ageing Centres across Singapore, and eight in 10 seniors have access to a centre near their home. These services will one day support her parents as they age, and in time, her generation – followed by her two young children.
That long-term perspective, however, was not immediately apparent when Syahidah first applied for the PSC Scholarship, a prestigious pathway into Singapore’s public service.
As a triple science student at junior college, medicine appeared to be the logical next step. However, when the scholarship opened the door to a different pathway, she was inspired to pursue it instead.
“Getting offered the scholarship felt like a clear sign,” she recalls. “It was an opportunity that might not come again. My excitement about the possibilities outweighed my uncertainties.”
Looking back, Syahidah is grateful she trusted her instincts to change course. Beyond opening the door to the public service, the scholarship placed her in environments that challenged her thinking and built her confidence.
“By working in the public service, we do not just respond to change; we help shape the future we want to grow into.”
– Nur Syahidah Sahrom, recipient of the PSC Scholarship
She completed her undergraduate degree in biochemistry at Imperial College London in 2008 on the PSC scholarship. Her studies exposed her to diverse perspectives in a global setting, while living alone overseas taught her to embrace discomfort as part of growth. The scholarship also funded her master’s in public policy at the National University of Singapore in 2010.
Her subsequent rotations across the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore (MFA), MOH and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) further broadened her understanding of public sector work and how impact is often built quietly across systems, rather than within a single posting.
“I used to think development was about moving up the career ladder,” she says. “Over time, the work has shown me it is also about contributing to something bigger than myself.”
At MFA, she learnt to situate Singapore’s domestic priorities within a complex international landscape. An introvert by nature, she grew in confidence over time, learning to engage with foreign counterparts and represent Singapore internationally.
Her time at MOH showed her that policies only work when the wider support system is in place to help seniors age at home. At MHA, working on population issues gave her a clearer picture of policymaking, where competing needs must be weighed carefully, trade-offs made and risks managed.
Reflecting on the various roles she has taken on, Syahidah says, “I have had chances to work across different agencies, tackle completely different policy areas and contribute to projects I never would have dreamt of. By working in the public service, we do not just respond to change; we help shape the future we want to grow into.”
Having tackled the needs of an ageing population during her MOH posting, she has shifted her attention to the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on employment and the futures of the younger generation. In her current posting at the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI), she oversees policies guiding Singapore’s transition into an AI era.
As director (ecosystem development) at the Digital Economy Office as well as the National AI Group at MDDI, her work includes finding ways to mitigate the risks that come with adopting AI, and encouraging individuals and organisations to take responsibility for how AI is developed and used. “No one can fully predict how AI will evolve, but that does not mean we cannot prepare,” she says.
Part of that work also involves developing Singapore’s AI talent. Under the National AI Strategy 2.0, Singapore aims to triple its pool of AI practitioners to 15,000 in five years.
“Working in the AI space has been both exciting and demanding,” she says. “What really excites me is having a front-row seat at the intersection of AI and policy – being part of conversations that will influence how we integrate AI into our society responsibly.”
Balancing motherhood while navigating work is challenging at times but also deeply fulfilling, she adds. Seeing new technologies evolve at such a rapid pace has reinforced her sense of duty as a policymaker – and as a parent thinking about the world that her children will grow up in.
“There are some things that AI cannot replace – what makes us human, our moral compass, our judgment and instincts, and our ability to connect with one another. Those are important skills we need to imbue in our younger generation,” she says.
| About the Public Service Commission Scholarship The Public Service Commission (PSC) Scholarship is Singapore’s premier government scholarship, awarded to outstanding individuals with a passion to serve in the public service. It offers scholars the opportunity to pursue their studies at top universities worldwide, entry into the Public Service Leadership Programme (the central leadership development programme in the Singapore Public Service) and exposure to diverse experiences through structured rotations across government ministries and agencies. |
This article is brought to you by the Public Service Commission.
