Mrs Josephine TEO

Mrs Josephine Teo leads the Singapore Government’s efforts in digital development, public communications and engagement, Smart Nation strategy and cybersecurity.

She is concurrently a member of the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce. She is also currently the Chairperson of the Ong Teng Cheong Labour Leadership Institute (OTCi) Board of Governors and the Chairperson of the Council of Advisors of the ST Engineering Staff Union.

Mrs Teo was the Minister for Manpower from May 2018 till May 2021. She previously served in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and the Finance, Transport, Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs ministries. During the pandemic years, Mrs Teo was also a member of the National Jobs Council, which oversaw efforts to support and rebuild jobs for Singaporeans in the wake of COVID-19.

Mrs Teo was the first female political office holder in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). During her eight years in MHA, Mrs Teo played a key leadership in strengthening public security in Singapore – including spearheading the digital transformation of Home Team agencies and advocating for Singapore’s holistic approach to drug prevention.

As Manpower Minister, Mrs Teo actively promoted good employment outcomes, sustainable wage growth and productive longevity for Singaporeans. During her term, tripartite consensus was achieved on a 10-year roadmap to raise the retirement and reemployment ages. The Silver Support and Workfare Income Supplement Schemes were significantly enhanced, along with a major expansion of the Progressive Wage Model.

In PMO, Mrs Teo coordinated whole-of-government efforts to better support marriage and parenthood. This led to significant enhancements in pre-school subsidies, parental leave provisions, medical care of young children and support for assistive reproductive technologies.

As Minister of State for Finance, Mrs Teo coordinated the Government’s successful implementation of the Pioneer Generation Package. As Senior Minister of State for Transport, she chaired the Changi 2036 Steering Committee to enhance Singapore’s position as a leading global air hub. As Chairperson of the Public Transport Tripartite Committee, Mrs Teo ensured the effective transition to the Bus Contracting Model and the establishment of the Singapore Bus Academy.

A member of Parliament since 2006, Mrs Teo was formerly Chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Education and Assistant Secretary – General of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC). Mrs Teo was concurrently Chief Executive Officer of the not-for-profit organisation Business China, a platform launched by then Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and then China Premier Wen Jiabao to strengthen Singapore’s bicultural foundation.

An alumna of Dunman High School and Raffles Junior College, Mrs Teo graduated from the National University of Singapore, winning several honours including the Rachel Meyer Book Prize for being the Best Woman Student. She obtained a Master of Science in Economics from the London School of Economics on scholarship from the Economic Development Board.

She is married and has three grown-up children. She enjoys creating memorable experiences with family and friends.