Page 102 - NYAA GAHA 30th Anniversary "Service Beyond Gold"

Tan Kai En, Calvin

Assistant Director (Strategy Innovation)

National Trades Union Congress (NTUC)
NYAA Council Member
NYAA Gold Award Holder (2012 Cohort)

Tan Kai En, Calvin is an accomplished ecosystem Earlier in his career at the National Environment
builder and sustainability leader whose career spans Agency (NEA), Kai En was instrumental in pioneering
innovation strategy, environmental advocacy, and engagement strategies that brought diverse
grassroots service. With a gift for connecting people, stakeholders together, even those with opposing
ideas, and opportunities, he exemplifies the GAHA views. He refreshed the iconic Captain Green mascot,
ethos of ‘Service Beyond Gold.’ He believes that good enhanced partnerships with grassroots and NGOs,
design and honest dialogue can turn competing and helped to start NEA’s youth networks. His design-
interests into workable solutions that serve people led experiments—such as a month-long tray return
and the planet. pilot in Tampines that engaged over 20,000 residents
and recycling pilots in Choa Chu Kang helped spark
Currently serving as Assistant Director (Strategy long-term behavioural change.
Innovation) at NTUC, Kai En works on cultivating an
innovation culture through the Innovation Lab by A passionate advocate for youth and community
scanning and adapting global best ideas to NTUC’s leadership, Kai En has played key roles as Chairperson
context. He also partners with unions, employers and of Pasir Ris Central Sustainability Action Group, District
ecosystem stakeholders to ideate, prototype and test Councillor at Southwest CDC, and Chairperson of
solutions. ForwardSG and Our Beach Town conversations.
His dedication has earned him accolades such as
Previously, as Sustainability Practice Lead at the NParks Community Stewardship Award (2025),
ThinkPlace, he spearheaded projects on sustainability People’s Association Long Service Award (2024), and
and digital transformation, growing the firm’s most the NEA EcoFriend Award (2011).
significant accounts and forging partnerships with
government agencies such as NParks, SFA, and Kai En’s academic achievements include a Master
MSF. His practice centres on bringing evidence, of Science (Environmental Management, NUS) and
lived experience and strategy into the same room - specialist diploma training in AI, data analytics and
facilitating rigorous dialogue, surfacing trade-offs, data mining. His research in Sustainable AI for SMEs
and co-designing prototypes that can be tested reflects his commitment to bridging technology and
and iterated. He helped bring together public environmental goals.
conversations on sustainability, local produce
demand, the future of families and co-design of parks. Through his professional expertise, community
As an active participant on IMDA’s Open Innovation leadership, and youth mentorship, Tan Kai En
Platform, he helped shape challenge statements that continues to inspire innovation and sustainability for
make use of innovative digital technologies to solve a more resilient future.
the correct problems.

100 30 Years of Service and Leadership