Scholarship

Opportunities the scholarship provided you with

Through the scholarship, I had the opportunity to rotate across the Gardens’ three horticulture departments – Conservatory Operations, Gardens Operations, and Research & Horticulture – even before joining the Gardens full-time. These rotations provided early, hands-on exposure to the depth and breadth of work that sustains the Gardens’ daily operations, allowing me to pick up various nuanced skills from each department. Collectively, these experiences offered valuable insight into how both long- and short-term goals are actualised on the ground, allowing me to contribute more effectively when I later subsequently joined the Gardens as a full-time staff member.

The scholarship also gave me opportunities to engage with partners beyond the Gardens, including exposure to inter-agency interactions within the MND family, offering insight into how national-level schemes are implemented across agencies. Alongside this, guidance from mentors and colleagues across departments was instrumental in developing key technical and interpersonal skills – from niche horticultural know-how to systems-level problem-solving, and even the honing of my creative eye.

How was your experience in school?

My studies at the National University of Singapore (NUS) equipped me with a strong interdisciplinary foundation in both science and the arts. The botanical knowledge I gained from my major in Life Sciences and minor in Botany underpins my daily work, enabling me to make informed horticultural decisions through an understanding of plant physiology, taxonomy, and ecological interactions. Complementing this scientific training, my minor in Southeast Asian Studies provides a broader societal and historical lens, shaping the way I view plants not only as biological entities, but also as cultural, economic, and historical elements within landscapes.

My overseas exchange programme at Cornell University further broadened my horizons, both physically and intellectually. The experience exposed me to different approaches to plant science, conservation, and garden management in a temperate context. In my free time, I relished the opportunity to visit world-renowned botanic gardens such as the New York Botanic Gardens, The Huntington, and the Conservatory of Flowers, as well as several acclaimed National Parks. These visits allowed me to study seasonal plants rarely encountered in our local tropical context.

Beyond formal coursework, I was heavily involved in the student life community, taking on a range of leadership roles. Drawing on my passion for gardening, I revived and led GreenRangers, a student club dedicated to fostering an appreciation for greenery among fellow students through workshops and community-building activities. Within the NUS Students’ Science Club, I held several roles, the most memorable of which was serving as Vice-President (Freshmen Orientation Projects). In this position, I led 6 different orientation projects and spearheaded the inaugural SCI-FI! Camp, designed for international students in the Faculty of Science.

What does your current role at GB involve?

As an Assistant Manager in the Conservatory Operations team, I’m involved in the planning and maintenance of our ever-changing floral displays in Flower Dome. I contribute to the conceptualisation, design, materials sourcing, and logistics of each display, working closely with colleagues across multiple departments, as well as various external partners, to translate creative ideas into displays that are both operationally feasible and visually impactful. This requires managing multiple moving parts simultaneously, balancing horticultural needs, aesthetics, and operational realities.

A key part of the role is understanding the needs and applications of diverse plant species across different climates, as we need to know how to style and care for the assortment of flowers featured in each display. We also constantly push ourselves to think outside the box – whether by introducing new cultivars, experimenting with new plant palettes, or coming up with ever more innovative and immersive display approaches to offer visitors fresh perspectives

With up to nine displays staged each year, planning begins more than a year in advance, requiring long-term foresight, coordination, and adaptability. Display changeovers are incredibly dynamic periods involving intensive day-to-night operations, but the process is highly rewarding as the final display takes shape.

Beyond working on our floral displays, I also support key meetings in a secretarial capacity, which has given me valuable exposure to higher-level planning, cross-departmental coordination, and stakeholder management.

What do you like about your work?

As someone deeply passionate about plants, I find it highly fulfilling to work with such a wide variety of plants every day, and even more meaningful to be able to create wonderful landscapes for millions to enjoy. Floral displays are also highly dynamic environments where no two days are ever the same, and I find great satisfaction in overcoming challenges encountered on-site by combining technical knowledge with adaptability.

Ultimately, it is deeply rewarding to know that my work contributes to visitors’ learning and appreciation of plants. It is also a great privilege to play a part in positioning Singapore on the international stage as a leading horticultural destination among other world-acclaimed gardens.