Jane Lim - Deputy Secretary (Trade and International Economic Relations), MTI

Hi, I’m Jane, currently DS(Trade) at MTI, overseeing trade negotiations and international economic relations. I’ve been in the social and economic sectors (MOF, MOM, MinLaw), as well as statutory boards twice at EMA and IMDA. During COVID-19, I was involved in cross-border travel, managing land border supply chains and bus lanes (a good example of how to manage a project with no prior experience and working with people who do).

I like the challenge of a new learning curve when stepping into a different area with no prior background (though it gets harder each time!) and am happy to share on how to survive each transition. To the question of ‘which is your favourite job so far’, my motto is that ‘it’s the current one’ :) Still very much a work in progress when it comes to being a good leader, and have lots to learn on designing or adjusting systems to help organisations evolve. Happy to chat with anyone who wants to bounce ideas off, policy folks looking to do a stint at statutory boards, or just life in the public sector in general.

Have two girls in primary school. In my spare time I like wine, travel, reading science fiction or fantasy, C or K-dramas, organising dinners with friends.

Past Experience

• MTI (trade and international economic relations)

• MinLaw (intellectual property policy)

• MOM (manpower planning and policy including SPUR package during global financial crisis in 2008)

• MOF (social programmes including design and delivery of social transfer schemes)

• EMA (pilot projects in electric vehicles, nuclear pre-feasibility study, Pulau Ubin clean energy micro-grid)

• IMDA (sector digitalisation)