Singapore, 3 September, 2015 (Thursday) - The Singapore Management University is pleased to announce that Mr J. Y Pillay has been appointed Chancellor of the University with effect from 1 September 2015. His appointment is made by the Minister for Education for a term of five years. Mr Pillay takes over from Mr Yong Pung How, former Chief Justice of Singapore.

The Chancellor is the key university official who presides over all major formal ceremonies involving the university. He is regarded the top ceremonial officer at Convocation (inauguration ceremony for freshmen) and Commencement (graduation ceremony).

Formerly the Pro-Chancellor of SMU, Mr J Y Pillay is one of three Members of the University; the other two being SMU Board of Trustees Chairman Mr Ho Kwon Ping and Lee Foundation’s Dr Lee Seng Tee. The Members of SMU are key stakeholders of the University and play an important role in the University’s overall governance structure. They are mandated by the University Board of Trustees to give approval required to any changes to SMU's Constitution. The appointment of SMU Members requires the approval of the Minister for Education.

Mr Pillay is one of Singapore’s pioneers who helped build the economy after the separation from Malaysia. He served in the administrative service of the Government of Singapore and was permanent secretary of the ministries of finance, defence and national development. He was chairman of the Singapore Exchange from 1999 to 2010. He served as managing director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore and the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation. Under his leadership Singapore Airlines became a global player.

Mr Pillay is also the Chairman of the Presidential Council of Advisers (CPA) after being reappointed in January this year for a period of four years by Singapore President Tony Tan Keng Yam.

Mr Yong Pung How was Singapore's Chief Justice from 1990 to 2006, during which time he was also the President of the Legal Service Commission, the Chairman of the Presidential Council for Minority Rights, and President of the Singapore Academy of Law. Since 1991, Mr Yong has been appointed thrice by the Cabinet as acting President of the Republic of Singapore. Mr Yong was conferred the Distinguished Service Order in 1989 and Singapore's highest Award the Order of Temasek (First Class) in 1999. The citation on the Order of Temasek in 1999 stated that “as Chief Justice since 28 September 1990, Justice Yong Pung How has made the Singapore Judiciary world class”.

The former Chairman of the SMU School of Law Advisory Board, Mr Yong has made significant contributions to the School of Law and to SMU. In 2007, Mr Yong was conferred the Doctor of Laws honoris causa – SMU’s honorary degree for special individuals whose insight and achievements contribute significantly to the study and practice of law. That same year, the Yong Pung How Professorship of Law was established and was made possible by a generous S$3 million endowed contribution by the Yong Shook Lin Trust. The late Mr Yong Shook Lin, a prominent lawyer, was the father of Mr Yong Pung How. This is the largest donation to the SMU School of Law to date.

“SMU is privileged and honoured to have one of Singapore’s former top civil servants and an entrepreneur who helped shape Singapore, Mr J Y Pillay as our new Chancellor. He brings with him deep perspectives and a wealth of knowledge that will help in our efforts to develop SMU as a leading global university centred in Asia. We also want to register our deep gratitude to Mr Yong, a close friend of SMU, for his immense dedication and support to the School of Law and the University and, for providing wisdom and guidance in his leadership of the advisory board of the School of Law,” said Professor Arnoud De Meyer, President, Singapore Management University.

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