Chan Tsan and Lim Kian Boon Recognized for AI Leadership in Singapore

Introduction

The recognition of Chan Tsan, Chief Executive of Singapore’s Home Team Science & Technology Agency (HTX), and Lim Kian Boon, Deputy Chief AI Officer at HTX, at the Asia Digital Leaders Awards in September 2025 marks a significant milestone in the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) in Singapore and the broader Asia Pacific region. Both leaders have been at the forefront of AI-driven digital transformation within HTX—a statutory board under the Ministry of Home Affairs—spearheading initiatives that have shaped Singapore’s public safety landscape and positioned the nation as a regional trailblazer in AI innovation and governance.

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the professional backgrounds, leadership philosophies, achievements, and transformative roles of Chan Tsan and Lim Kian Boon. It also examines the structure and ambition of the HTxAI movement within HTX, highlights pivotal partnerships, and delivers an in-depth exploration of the Asia Digital Leaders Awards—shedding light on the criteria, process, and prestige associated with these honors. Through a synthesis of authoritative governmental releases, news features, and technical documentation, this report presents a nuanced portrait of how leadership in AI is advancing public sector missions and national strategies in Singapore.

Section I: Chan Tsan - Chief Executive, HTX

Professional Background

Chan Tsan serves as the inaugural Chief Executive (CE) of the Home Team Science & Technology Agency (HTX) and concurrently as Deputy Secretary (Development) at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Singapore¹. A French-trained engineer with nearly two decades of experience, Chan brings a blend of technical expertise and operational leadership to HTX. Before taking the helm at HTX, Chan held progressive roles in technology and ops-technology positions that enabled him to drive complex projects across public safety domains and gain stakeholder trust at the highest levels².

His tenure as CE began with the launch of HTX as a statutory board on 1 December 2019, with the mandate to consolidate science and technology resources from disparate Home Team Departments. This consolidation allowed for the pooling of talent and projects, providing Singapore’s Home Team (which includes the police, civil defence, and immigration authorities) with enhanced efficiency and greater strategic coherence³.

Chan’s influence extends beyond technocratic management; he oversaw the agency’s formative transition during the COVID-19 pandemic, guiding approximately 1,300 staff through new missions while ensuring operational continuity and the adoption of new innovations without lapses in service delivery⁴.

Leadership Philosophy and Management Style

Chan Tsan is renowned for his “chief enabler” ethos. He posits that the role of a leader is fundamentally to enable his people, focusing on removing obstacles and fostering an environment where teams are empowered to try, learn, and surpass expectations. For Chan, leadership is not about personal glorification but about the collective rally around a shared cause, inspiring staff to dare and innovate in pursuit of improved public outcomes¹.

His philosophy centers on the following principles:

• Empowerment over micromanagement: Chan encourages autonomy, encouraging his staff to be bold, learn from experimentation, and take ownership of their innovations.
• Growth mindset: He stresses the importance of learning and continuous professional development, equipping HTX’s workforce—including future AI specialists—to address emerging challenges.
• Mission focus: For Chan, the agency’s success is measured by its ability to “force multiply” the Home Team, magnifying impact through technology-driven transformations rather than individual heroics⁴.

These leadership tenets have been instrumental in overcoming initial resistance to organizational change during HTX’s formation and in motivating teams during high-stress periods, such as the early COVID-19 response.

Vision and Strategic Direction

Chan’s vision for HTX draws on the Home Team Transformation initiative that began in 2015. This long-range project, started by then Permanent Secretary Leo Yip, sought to reimagine the future of public safety work in 2025 and beyond. Science and technology emerged as foundational pillars for operational transformation, a strategy that Chan has pushed aggressively since taking up his post⁴.

A defining feature of Chan’s strategy is the pursuit of an “AI-first” organizational mindset. Under his leadership, HTX is striving to infuse AI into every layer of public safety—from routine operations to strategic planning. This transformation is not limited to back-end system modernization; it directly influences how frontline officers respond, how intelligence is synthesized, and how citizen services are delivered⁵.

To support this ambition, a landmark commitment of S$400 million has been allocated for digital transformation projects over three years, with a significant portion dedicated specifically to AI research and operationalization³. Moreover, Chan has championed the scaling of HTX’s AI workforce, aiming to grow the agency’s talent pool of AI experts to 500 by 2027—about a quarter of HTX’s total manpower—thereby ensuring the institutional capacity to lead in AI adoption and innovation³.

HTX AI Initiatives Under Chan Tsan

The HTxAI Movement

A cornerstone of Chan’s AI vision is the HTxAI movement, unveiled on 1 June 2024. “HTxAI” (Home Team multiplied by AI) embodies HTX’s organizational pivot toward an AI-centric operational model. The movement seeks to:

• Drive AI deployment across all Home Team departments
• Ensure all projects and services increasingly adopt AI-driven approaches
• Align with Singapore’s National AI Strategy, aiming to make the nation a global leader in AI by 2030

Under his watch, the movement has led to several major developments:

• NGINE: The launch of NGINE, HTX’s first enterprise-grade AI infrastructure, designed to underpin the agency’s scaling of AI solutions.
• Phoenix LLMs: The development of Phoenix, a suite of large language models (LLMs) trained on Home Team data for optimizing diverse functions—from data analysis to frontline intelligence processing⁶.
• Partner Ecosystem: Strategic collaborations with top technology companies such as Google, Microsoft, and Mistral AI, among others, to build AI platforms, secure cloud infrastructure, and develop AI governance frameworks—for internal and global public safety deployment⁷.

Public Sector AI Impact

Chan’s initiatives have yielded substantial operational impacts:

• Efficiency Gains: HTX has mapped over 300 AI use cases, with the first wave of deployments expected by the end of 2025. These applications aim to deliver productivity gains of up to 30% in many scenarios, while enhancing the user experience and operational effectiveness of Home Team officers⁸.
• AI for Public Good: Chan remains cognizant of AI’s dual-use challenge—its potential for criminal exploitation versus its power for public benefit. As such, he has pioneered the integration of robust AI governance, emphasizing the importance of ethical deployment and validation through platforms like the WhiteBox system, which ensures safe testing before live implementation⁸.

Public Statements, Awards, and Recognition

Chan Tsan’s role as an industry thought leader is affirmed by his regular engagement with the media and at major public forums. In his speech following his Digital CEO of the Year award at the Asia Digital Leaders Awards, Chan reflected: “I am heartened that HTX’s efforts to leverage the latest digital technologies to force multiply the Home Team have been recognised by the greater community. But now is not the time to rest on our laurels—we must constantly push the boundaries in science, tech and the digital space so that we can effectively empower our Home Team officers to tackle the increasingly complex challenges in the public safety arena”⁹.

His accolades include:

• Digital CEO of the Year (Asia Digital Leaders Awards, 2025): For visionary digital leadership and championing AI-led transformation.
• HR Excellence Award (2025): For outstanding workforce development and talent management at HTX.
• Keynote speaker and international collaborator: Chan has represented HTX at regional and global platforms, including driving Singapore’s participation in international summits such as Milipol Asia Pacific-TechX Summit and the upcoming 2026 Milipol TechX Summit (MTX)².

These recognitions underscore his standing as a central figure in Asia’s public sector AI revolution.

Section II: Lim Kian Boon - Deputy Chief AI Officer, Chief Data Officer, and Director, AI Central, HTX

Professional Background

Lim Kian Boon serves as Deputy Chief AI Officer, Chief Data Officer, and Director of AI Central at HTX, positioning him at the nerve center of the agency’s AI and data strategy. He also leads the xData division, which oversees enterprise data engineering and cognitive computing functions for the Home Team. Lim’s multifaceted portfolio spans AI masterplanning, data governance, AI engineering, product design, and ecosystem collaboration—all roles crucial to the execution of HTX’s AI transformation¹⁰.

Lim’s career within HTX reflects rapid progression and an aptitude for managing complex cross-functional teams. As of September 2025, he is directly responsible for overseeing AI portfolio management, internal capability building, and key partnership and outreach activities that connect HTX with academic and industry leaders in AI⁵.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

Lim’s position as Deputy Chief AI Officer and Director of AI Central places him at the epicenter of AI policy, development, and deployment across the agency. His main responsibilities include:

• AI Masterplanning and Governance: Ensuring that HTX’s AI initiatives align with Singapore’s national AI strategy, adhere to ethical standards, and comply with legal and regulatory frameworks.
• AI Solutions & Design: Facilitating end-to-end design and integration of AI products into Home Team workflows, engaging with stakeholders across multiple departments to ensure usability and impact.
• AI Training & Competency: Leading competency-building efforts, including structured AI training programs and skills development frameworks aimed at creating an AI-ready workforce.
• AI Assurance: Overseeing verification and validation (V&V) regimes for AI systems, including the development of frameworks for trusted AI product delivery.
• Ecosystem Partnerships: Building and sustaining relationships with global AI leaders in industry and academia to accelerate HTX’s R&D and in-house expertise⁵.

Achievements and Signature Projects

Data & AI Excellence Leader of the Year

At the 2025 Asia Digital Leaders Awards, Lim Kian Boon was honored as the Data & AI Excellence Leader of the Year. This award recognizes leaders who have harnessed data and AI for tangible innovation and delivered significant business impact. It highlights Lim’s role in building scalable, ethical, and sustainable AI systems within the unique constraints of public sector safety and security operations⁹.

AI Central and the xData Division

• AI Central: Under Lim’s direction, AI Central has become the agency’s command hub for AI project tracking, regulatory compliance, outreach, and cross-sector collaboration. The division’s work includes the development and standardization of AI governance protocols and the outreach that drives adoption across varied Home Team domains¹¹.
• xData Division: Lim leads a multidisciplinary team that manages enterprise data engineering, cognitive computing platforms, and decision science functions. His focus on integrating robust data infrastructure with AI capabilities has enabled effective data-driven surveillance, forensics, and public safety analytics.

Innovations in AI Solutions

Lim has been instrumental in the deployment and scaling of AI-powered solutions tailored to HTX’s public safety imperatives. These include the operationalization of Phoenix LLMs for natural language processing, the launch of NGINE for high-grade AI infrastructure, and piloting new AI-powered tools for border clearance, emergency response, and forensic analysis⁶.

Talent Development and Core AI Workforce

Recognizing the centrality of human capital in AI transformation, Lim’s stewardship extends to talent cultivation. As Director of AI Central, he is shaping competency frameworks and continuous learning platforms to upskill HTX officers, preparing a pipeline of 500 AI practitioners as targeted in Chan Tsan’s transformation strategy⁸.

External Representation and Strategic Influence

Lim represents HTX in high-profile partnerships and is frequently cited as the architect of the agency’s AI scaling efforts. He has been a driving force in connecting HTX with global AI leaders through MoUs and co-development agreements, particularly in the fields of AI security, explainable AI, and generative AI deployment with partners like Google Cloud and Microsoft.

His rigorous focus on AI governance and operational excellence positions Lim Kian Boon not just as an internal leader, but as a visible advocate for responsible, mission-driven AI deployment in the public interest.

Section III: The HTxAI Movement - Structure and Objectives

Overview and Alignment

Launched in June 2024, the HTxAI movement is the strategic driver behind HTX’s ambition to become an AI-first agency. This movement embodies a holistic approach to AI adoption, underpinned by a nationwide vision to align with Singapore’s National AI Strategy 2.0, which aims for Singapore to emerge as a global AI leader by 2030⁵.

Organisational Structure

The movement integrates several key units and enablers within HTX, each tasked with driving AI’s permeation throughout the agency and the wider Home Team. The structure is illustrated below:

The AI Central division, directed by Lim Kian Boon, is the strategic nucleus for HTX’s AI portfolio, encompassing governance, performance tracking, and cross-ecosystem collaboration¹¹. The vertical integration of solution design and engineering with assurance and training ensures robust end-to-end AI capability, critical for public safety agencies facing adversarial threats and strict regulatory scrutiny.

Partnership and Ecosystem Approach

The HTxAI movement rapidly scaled by leveraging partnership agreements with leading technology firms such as Google Cloud, Microsoft, Mistral AI, and Thales¹². These collaborations are enabling HTX to:

• Tap into state-of-the-art LLMs and generative AI models
• Build sovereign, secure cloud infrastructure (e.g., Google Distributed Cloud Air-Gapped)
• Create and test new AI governance frameworks and guardrails for high-risk public safety use cases
• Expand its R&D capability through global innovation networks, including Dimension X open innovation cohorts that nurture start-ups in public safety AI¹³.

International engagement is a hallmark of the HTxAI movement. HTX’s partnerships with both public sector and industry giants underscore its role as a global AI influencer, helping to set standards and develop solutions that other public safety agencies worldwide may emulate¹⁴.

Major Projects and Innovations

• NGINE - Enterprise-Grade AI Infrastructure: Provides a scalable, secure backbone for AI solution deployment across Home Team operations, increasing system resilience and facilitating regulatory compliance.
• Phoenix LLMs: Proprietary large language models tailored for Singapore’s Home Team needs, streamlining data analysis, case management, and intelligence processing⁶.
• AI for Robotics and Border Security: Projects include robotic dogs (Rover-X) for hazardous environments, sensor-enabled insect devices for search and rescue, and the New Clearance Concept (NCC) for contactless border processing using biometrics².

The transformation to an AI-powered public safety agency under the HTxAI movement constitutes one of Asia’s most ambitious and comprehensive government AI programs to date.

Section IV: HTX’s AI Partnerships and International Collaborations

Global Tech Partnerships

HTX’s international partnerships are a critical enabler for its mission to supercharge AI capabilities within Singapore’s public safety apparatus.

Google Cloud

A flagship collaboration with Google Cloud is accelerating:

• AI security and cybersecurity research
• Development and deployment of both foundational and fine-tuned AI models
• Implementation of air-gapped, sovereign cloud infrastructure to satisfy stringent security and regulatory requirements
• Co-development of explainable, robust, and safe AI governance protocols
• Joint innovation of generative AI accelerators and tools that could have global applications in public safety¹².

Microsoft and Mistral AI

HTX’s collaboration with Microsoft involves cloud infrastructure for secure AI solutions and training, as well as supporting the scaling of the Phoenix LLMs for new operational scenarios. The partnership with Mistral AI centers on generative AI and energy-efficient model deployment, aided by advanced infrastructure research like liquid cooling for high-performance GPU clusters¹².

Industry and Academic Engagement

HTX is also a convener and participant in major tech and security summits, notably co-organizing the Milipol Asia Pacific-TechX Summit with the French Ministry of Interior—establishing itself at the nexus of regional and international AI innovation exchange².

Dimension X: Accelerating Public Safety Innovation

Dimension X, run by HTX’s innovation center Hatch, curates global cohorts of start-ups developing next-generation AI and robotics solutions for public safety. This program has demonstrated how government agencies can directly nurture cutting-edge ideas and provide real-world testbeds for disruptive technologies¹³.

Section V: The Asia Digital Leaders Awards 2025 - Significance and Selection

Overview and Significance

The Asia Digital Leaders Awards (ADLA), organized by Spark, recognizes the pre-eminent leaders and innovators who are driving digital strategy, transformation, and operational excellence across Asia. The biennial awards ceremony has quickly become a signature event for acknowledging the contributions of those reshaping Asia’s digital and AI landscape.

Six awards categories were featured in 2025:

• Digital CEO of the Year
• Inspiring Board Leader of the Year
• Innovative Business Leader of the Year
• Transformational CIO of the Year
• Future Ready CISO of the Year
• Data & AI Excellence Leader of the Year

The robust nomination and evaluation process ensures that only individuals with demonstrated vision, execution, and industry impact emerge as laureates.

Criteria and Selection Process

The award for Digital CEO of the Year is described as recognizing “CEOs who exemplify visionary digital leadership, championing digital transformation as a fundamental driver of long-term business growth.” Key criteria include:

• Setting a bold, clear digital vision aligned with core business objectives
• Leading enterprise-wide transformation initiatives across operational effectiveness, customer engagement, and workforce enablement
• Driving a culture of agility, innovation, and accountability
• Balancing immediate delivery pressures with long-term technology investment and capability building
• Demonstrating thought leadership and shaping digital strategy at national or industry scales¹⁵.

For the Data & AI Excellence Leader of the Year category, the focus is on “leaders who have effectively harnessed the power of data and artificial intelligence to drive innovation and business impact”⁹.

The 2025 edition received more than 500 nominations, with 88 shortlisted candidates. The expert evaluation process is noted for its rigor and its weighting of both quantitative (measurable organizational impact) and qualitative criteria (leadership character and industry influence).

HTX’s Recognition

Chan Tsan’s winning of the Digital CEO of the Year and Lim Kian Boon’s recognition as the Data & AI Excellence Leader of the Year were attributed to:

• The successful launch and scaling of the HTxAI movement, driving Singapore’s public safety AI transformation
• Tangible operational gains delivered by advanced AI, as evidenced in Home Team operations
• Proactive stance in global AI ecosystem building and thought leadership

Their wins reflect not only personal achievement but institutional leadership in guiding an entire government agency—and by extension, the national public safety architecture—through digital and AI transformation.

Section VI: The Impact of HTX AI Initiatives on Singapore Public Safety

National AI Strategy Alignment

HTX’s AI strategy is fully integrated with Singapore’s National AI Strategy, which was refreshed in 2024 to emphasize “AI for the Public Good.” This includes:

• Prioritizing ethical and robust AI deployment to serve national security and public safety
• Targeting international leadership in embodied AI, generative models, and robotics (with the upcoming Home Team Humanoid Robotics Centre, H2RC, receiving S$100 million in investment)
• Fostering a regulatory environment conducive to innovation while ensuring safety, trust, and explainability⁸.

Operational Impact

• Detection and Response: AI technologies developed and tested by HTX are now used in diverse tasks—such as identifying crimes on video, managing emergency dispatch, and biometric-supported border clearance—delivering both efficiency and improved outcomes for public safety.
• Scalability and Future-proofing: HTX’s investments in personnel and next-generation platforms secure Singapore’s ability to respond to increasingly complex and fast-evolving threats, such as cybercrime, deepfake proliferation, and automated criminal tactics.
• Ecosystem Leadership: Through partnerships and innovation programs, HTX is influencing the adoption of responsible, safe AI not only at home but also as a model for peer agencies regionally and internationally⁷.

Governance and Ethics

HTX places a strong emphasis on AI governance—reflecting Singapore’s commitment to ethical public sector innovation. The agency’s AI Governance Playbook and platforms like WhiteBox attest to the systematic testing and validation that precede any AI system’s deployment in live environments⁸.

Section VII: Recent Appearances, Interviews, and Public Statements

Chan Tsan

• French Chamber of Commerce in Singapore Dialogue (Feb 2025): Chan Tsan discussed HTX’s foundational years, talent pipeline priorities, and the global scaling of AI partnerships, highlighting key projects and wins (including the Milipol collaboration)².
• Straits Times Interview (July 2024): Chan framed AI as a “must-do” in public sector transformation and detailed the 500-strong AI workforce strategy, budgetary commitments, and efficiency achievements already realized in Home Team operations³.
• HTX Conventions and Internal Events: He has spoken regularly about the “mission, foresight, and exuberance” needed to navigate an unpredictable future, keeping the agency grounded in its core mission¹⁶.

Lim Kian Boon

• HTX News Features and Townhalls: Lim is often cited as the driving force behind AI Central and referenced in coverage of HTX’s partnership deals, AI program launches, and workforce training initiatives⁵.
• Industry Engagements: While less high-profile in the public eye than Chan, Lim is frequently acknowledged at major partnership signing events and cited in government directories as the key executive responsible for HTX AI governance, competency, and innovation¹⁰.

Conclusion

The elevation of Chan Tsan and Lim Kian Boon at the Asia Digital Leaders Awards signifies more than personal and organizational milestones; it is emblematic of the strategic ascendancy of AI in the mission and identity of Singapore’s public sector. These leaders exemplify the balance of visionary ambition and grounded operational delivery, harnessing AI to force-multiply national security, drive public sector digitalization, and shape the international narrative on responsible government AI leadership.

HTX, under their collective stewardship, is not just transforming the Home Team’s capacity to keep Singapore safe—it is establishing new benchmarks for public service innovation in Asia and setting a template for what principled, results-focused AI leadership looks like on a global stage. The journey launched by Chan’s “AI-first” directive, and delivered with rigor and creativity by Lim’s technical and organizational acumen, will continue to define Singapore’s approach to public sector AI for years to come.