The inaugural NUS Geography Career Day was held on 20 February 2025. During this key student outreach event in NUS Geography’s calendar, eight alumni returned to the department to share their experiences of navigating the job market as recent graduates.

The invited guests were: Mr Roy Yuen (Arts & Social Sciences '15), Head of Capacity Building, Singapore Land Authority; Mr Navin Wadhwani (Arts & Social Sciences '16), Executive Planner, Urban Redevelopment Authority; Ms Rachel Koh (Arts & Social Sciences '19), Impact Portfolio Manager, Climate Impact X; Mr Ken Tan (Arts & Social Sciences '21), Transport Planner, Land Transport Authority; Mr Ng Yan Shen (Arts & Social Sciences '21), Manager – Retail Planning, Singtel; Ms Pearlyn Lee (Arts & Social Sciences' 22), Energy Sourcing Specialist, Equinix; Ms Shermaine Sim (Arts & Social Sciences '22), Placemaking Executive, Singapore River One; and Ms Jordyn Ng (Arts & Scoial Sciences '23), Regional Operations Associate, Shopee.

There were two panel discussions, followed by a human library style interaction session. Drawing on experiences spanning the public, non-profit and private sectors, the alumni shared the value of being open to career changes, stereotypes around each of the sectors, the importance of developing soft skills, and how a degree in geography has enabled them to synthesise different types of knowledge.

Students who attended the events raised questions on how geography has helped alumni to respond to the increased emphasis on sustainability in a variety of sectors, and how to navigate challenging workplace relations. The event was attended by 87 undergraduates and 97 junior college students from 11 schools.

Each year since the late 1990s, NUS Geography has invited outstanding alumni to share their experiences with current students. According to Ms Shermaine Sim, “It was great to be back in NUS. I enjoyed interacting with the students, hearing about their concerns and what they like about Geography. I hope they find assurance in knowing that a Geography degree can take them anywhere”.

The inaugural NUS Geography Career Day was particularly notable as Ms Melody Ng, a third-year geography major commented, “The Career Day was a great opportunity to learn more about our alumni's industries and job scopes, while gaining valuable insights into potential career paths after graduation. The networking session was very impactful for me because I learnt how to ace interviews, even without prior experience in a field. Jordyn, an alumnus I chatted with, shared lots of helpful tips with me using her past experiences”.

We thank our alumni for being so generous with their time and for supporting this event. Many thanks to the Majors Welfare Committee of the NUS Geographical Society for their crucial role in organising the highly successful event.

The NUS Alumni Melbourne Chapter celebrated the Lunar New Year in grand style on 7 February 2025 at Secret Kitchen Melbourne. This highly anticipated annual event brought together 68 alumni and friends, fostering a strong sense of camaraderie while ringing in the Year of the Snake with joy, prosperity, and good fortune.

The evening began with a warm welcome from Dr Edna Yeo (Science ‘93), who handed over the reins to Dr Cecilia Xiao (Science ’10) as new Chairperson of the NUS Alumni Melbourne Chapter. Dr Cecilia Xiao thanked the departing committee members, Dr Edna Yeo, Ms Audrey Sim (Arts & Social Sciences ’96) and Dr Woo Sin Ang (Dentistry ’68) for their contributions. Dr Raymond Wong (Architecture, Building and Estate Management ’81) gave well-wishes in fluent Mandarin as attendees were treated to an exquisite Lunar New Year banquet featuring a delectable spread of Cantonese delicacies.

A highlight of the dinner was the traditional "Lo Hei" prosperity toss, exchanging well wishes led by Mr Li Yang (Architecture ’97) for success and abundance in the year ahead. Signature dishes such as lobster noodles, steamed fresh barramundi, and crispy skin chicken added to the festive atmosphere, making the dining experience both meaningful and indulgent.

During the dinner, Dr Choo Soo Teo (Dentistry ’73) shared words of encouragement, inspiring attendees to continue fostering a strong NUS presence in Melbourne. Mr Luke Siah, Senior Assistant Director at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine delivered a heartfelt address, emphasising the importance of staying connected and engaged with the alumni community. Dr Cecilia Xiao thanked all the guests for coming together from Melbourne, interstate and Singapore.

A celebratory toast was raised, symbolising unity, happiness, and good fortune for the year ahead. Guests were treated to an exhilarating lion dance performance, a symbolic tradition believed to bring good luck. The rhythmic beating of drums and the dynamic movements of the lion dancers captivated the audience, creating a vibrant and festive atmosphere to kick off the celebrations. Adding to the excitement of the evening, a lucky draw was held, with generous prizes won by eight lucky winners. These activities further strengthened connections among guests, making the event not only a celebration of tradition but also a platform for building meaningful relationships.

The Lunar New Year Dinner 2025 was a resounding success, bringing the NUS alumni community together for a night of celebration, delicious food, and engaging conversations. Beyond the festivities, the event reinforced the importance of maintaining strong connections despite being miles away from Singapore. As we usher in the Year of the Snake, we look forward to more opportunities to gather, support one another, and continue building a thriving alumni network in Melbourne. A heartfelt thank you goes out to all attendees, sponsors, and organisers who contributed to making this event a memorable and joyous occasion. Wishing everyone a prosperous and fulfilling year ahead!