MFA Press Statement : Appointment of Singapore's High Commissioner to Australia

The Government has appointed Mr Eddie Teo as Singapore's next High Commissioner to Australia.

Mr Teo was a President's Scholar. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics in 1970 from Oxford University. He obtained a Master of Science in International Relations in 1974 from the London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London.

Mr Teo began his civil service career in the Security and Intelligence Division (SID) of the Ministry of Defence in 1970. He was appointed Director, SID in 1979 and was concurrently Director, Internal Security Department from 1982 to 1986. He was Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence from 1994 to 2000 and Permanent Secretary, Prime Minister's Office from 1998 to 2005 (holding both appointments concurrently from 1998 to 2000). He retired from the Administrative Service in November 2005.

Mr Teo was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Gold) in 1983 and the Meritorious Service Medal in 1997. He will assume his post in Canberra on 1 February 2006.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
28 DECEMBER 2005

BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY

Mr Eddie Teo, 58, was Permanent Secretary (Defence) from 1994-2000 and Permanent Secretary (Prime Minister's Office) from 1998 to 2005. (He was concurrently Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence and the Prime Minister's Office from 1998 to 2000).

When he was Permanent Secretary (Defence), Mr Teo was Director, Deputy Chairman and subsequently Chairman of Singapore Technologies Holdings Pte Ltd, Director of SAF Resort and Country Club, Director of the Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellowship, Dy Chairman and subsequently Chairman of Health Corporation of Singapore Pte Ltd. Mr Teo was also a Director of Chartered Industries of Singapore Pte Ltd and Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd and Chairman of ST Kinetics Ltd. As Permanent Secretary (Prime Minister's Office), he was Chairman, Civil Service College Board of Directors and member of the Board of Governors of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.

Mr Teo was born in Singapore on 27 May 1947. He was a President's Scholar and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics in 1970 from Oxford University. He obtained a Master of Science in International Relations in 1974 from the London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London.

Mr Teo began his civil service career in the Security and Intelligence Division (SID) of the Ministry of Defence in 1970. He rose to the rank of Director SID in 1979. From 1982 to 1986, he held the concurrent position of Director, Internal Security Department, Ministry of Home Affairs. He was absorbed into the Singapore Administrative Service in 1994 and retired on 30 Nov 05.

He was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Gold) in 1983 and the Meritorious Service Medal in 1997.

Mr Teo is married to Antonia Chia Mei Nah. They have two sons.

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