Singapore Computer Society scores win at SBR Management Excellence Awards 2024

The association was honoured for the exemplary leadership of its President, Sam Liew Lien Ban, who has led the organisation to achieve significant results for the Singapore Community.

The Singapore Computer Society (SCS) earned the Executive of the Year - Non-profit or Government Organizations accolade at the SBR Management Excellence Awards 2024, in recognition of Sam Liew’s leadership and contribution to advance the association’s mission.

From 2022 to the present, Sam has served as President of SCS, which stands as the premier infocomm and digital media society for professionals, leaders, students, and tech enthusiasts since 1967. He also chairs the SCS Executive Council, which consists of 29 senior technology leaders from diverse sectors, including academia, government, product vendors, and startups.

Digital initiatives and community engagement

Under Sam’s leadership, SCS has actively participated in the Digital for Life (DfL) initiative, a nationwide effort supported by the Infocomm Media Development Authority. With SCS’s significant contributions, it was recognised as a key community partner at the DfL Partners’ Appreciation 2024 event, attended by President Tharman and Minister Josephine Teo.

Sam also spearheaded a programme in collaboration with New Hope Community Services, where SCS youth volunteers provided nine weeks of digital training for rough sleepers in a shelter. This initiative benefitted 17 individuals—achieving a 91% attendance rate—and has led to a second run of the programme due to its success.

Additionally, Sam initiated a series of Tech Sharing sessions in partnership with the National Library Board, where SCS experts discuss emerging technology trends. Now in its 13th session, this initiative has engaged over 1,000 community participants across Singapore.

Furthermore, Sam has driven digital adoption amongst non-tech trade associations and chambers (TACs) by establishing memoranda of understanding and partnerships with over seven TACs, including the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and the Singapore Manufacturing Federation. This initiative has significantly increased digital awareness and capabilities within these organisations.

Membership growth and education initiatives

Moreover, since Sam joined the SCS Executive Council, the membership has surged from 21,000 in 2008 to over 56,000 in 2024. 
SCS also launched a certification course on AI Ethics and Governance in April 2021 in collaboration with Nanyang Technological University. To date, 419 professionals have completed the certification, and 289 organisations have signed the AI Ethics Pledge. Under Sam's leadership, SCS introduced the AI Ethics & Governance Certification (Associate) Programme and an AI Literacy Programme, with over 2,400 students participating in the Associate Programme and more than 34,000 benefitting from the AI Literacy Programme on human-centricity.

Additionally, Sam has played a crucial role in developing the SCS AI Ethics & Governance Body of Knowledge. The first version was launched in 2020, featuring contributions from 25 authors and 30 reviewers. An interim update, version 1.1, was released in March 2024, which includes discussions on the ethical issues surrounding generative AI. The comprehensive version 2.0 was launched in August 2024, featuring 101 additional chapters and a new AI-enabled search engine.

With regards to cybersecurity, Sam collaborated with SkillsFuture Singapore and the Cyber Security Agency to develop a Skills Pathway for Cybersecurity. This initiative aims to guide individuals looking to enter or transition into the cybersecurity field. Developed with input from 13 founding employers, this employer-centric programme was officially launched at the SkillsFuture Forum 2024 by Minister for Education, Mr Chan Chun Sing.

The SBR Management Excellence Awards recognises the most exceptional business leaders, innovators, teams, and initiatives that drive growth and make a positive impact on both the business operations and its workforce in Singapore.

The awards programme, which is now in its 10th year, does not only acknowledges positive change but also honours those who have successfully propelled their companies to new heights of success whilst fostering a nurturing environment that positively influences their employees.

The SBR Management Excellence Awards is presented by Singapore Business Review Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2025 awards programme and be acclaimed for your company's employee engagements and management initiatives, please contact Julie Anne Nuñez at [email protected].