校长好！

校长好！

6 years into my current company and I finally made it to Principal Engineer (Grade 4, was promoted to Grade 3 in 2017). I thought last year was my most productive and that I worked the hardest too, so this promo may have come in timely as just recognition!

Tbh 4 years from grade 3 to 4 is considered quite fast (as compared to peers), so I thought I'd just reflect on my achievements and contribution that could have made the positive difference!

- Double hatting (EM and BMEP) since Jan 2020. So I was supposed to commence my new role at BMEP but my EM replacement tendered within 3 months (in Mar 2020), then Covid hit and headcount froze, so I was required to fulfill two roles at the same time (!). Thus inadvertently bringing me to the next point:

- Led the investigation of FM200 false discharge incident. It's a once in a blue moon (industry ppl might say once in 10 years) incident. Kena incident most ppl will say SUAY LA! I took it positively - While some might think post-management of an incident is additional workload and leaves a huge scratch on one's CV, but (as cliche as this sounds) "危机" means therein lies opportunity in a predicament. Being the officer in charge of the M&E systems at CTower, I led the post-investigation which included engaging a independent forensic investigator (a first for EM Section!), conducting numerous site visits with SCDF, AAR and many other specialists and contractors, assisting AAR in investigation etc... In between there were several updates to Management plus a memorable one to CAG's Safety Board chaired by then Chairman Mr Liew Mun Leong (go ahead to google why this name is now infamous). At the end of the episode, we replaced the system expeditiously, presented the findings and closed the chapter. Many people came to me for answers/clarifications and I was the go-to for anything relating to gas suppression system. To answer the many questions I had to read up and in the process learnt alot more about M&E systems at the same time, too. Nothing beats OJT and experiential learning, just like being thrown into the deep blue sea.

- Achieving major milestones for the SATCC Upgrading project. In my first year I've had to heavily engage and work with consultants, multiple agencies and stakeholders and also the general public! I found the experiences to be particularly interesting and insightful. Being in this project team allowed exposure too - I delivered my first presentation to the Authority (which I was commended for by my Dir) and on another occasion, a MP of East Coast GRC, and a few to Chairman (which was commended for by 3DDG).

In a nutshell, I think my work last year had been "more visible" to the management. I didn't mention as a factor above but I believe part of it was that the organisation was more generous this year, due to the covid affecting staff morale and retention policy. Well, on one hand I am  very happy of my achievements last year and humbled by the recognition; but the promotion came at a less than ideal time tbh, on monetary terms. The increment is miserable and next year I would be getting a meagre bonus package (the default grade after promotion effect).