The Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES) announced the inauguration of Mr. Mervyn Sirisena as its 31st President during the 60th IES Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on 23 May 2026. Succeeding Er. Chan Ewe Jin, Mr. Sirisena will lead the institution for the next two years.
As Singapore’s engineering sector faces rapid technological disruption driven by artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, and automation, Mr. Sirisena outlined plans to strengthen IES’s role in preparing engineers for the future while deepening engagement with younger generations entering the profession.
A former President and Chief Operating Officer of SIA Engineering Company and former Senior Vice President of Engineering at Singapore Airlines, Mr. Sirisena brings more than four decades of engineering and aviation leadership experience to the role.
Over the past decade, Mervyn has been actively involved in IES leadership and development initiatives, particularly through the IES Academy. He spearheaded the introduction of leadership programmes developed in partnership with NTUC to support young, mid-career, and senior practising engineers. These initiatives were aimed at strengthening leadership capabilities and preparing engineers to navigate a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
He has also been a strong advocate for professional development and engineering chartership, believing that continuous learning and competency-building are critical for engineers to remain future-ready. Through the IES Academy and the Chartered Engineer framework, he has championed efforts to raise professional standards and deepen technical and leadership capabilities across the profession.
Under his leadership, IES will focus on four key priorities: strengthening engagement with young engineers, helping members navigate emerging technologies, enhancing membership engagement, and expanding resources and partnerships.
Strengthening engagement with young engineers
A major focus under Mr. Sirisena’s leadership will be the refreshed “The Young IES” movement aimed at better engaging students, fresh graduates, and younger engineers. Plans include deeper outreach to recent graduates, a Young Engineering Leadership Forum for engineers under 35, expanded student engagement programmes, and the formation of a dedicated Youth Wing led by younger Council Members.
Working closely with its Young Engineers Committee, IES also aims to shape programmes, mentorships, and interest groups that better resonate with younger engineers, while leveraging social media platforms such as TikTok to strengthen outreach and community engagement.
Another key priority will be equipping members to understand the opportunities and risks brought about by emerging technologies such as AI, cybersecurity, and space technology. IES plans to organise dialogues and knowledge-sharing sessions with external subject matter experts to help engineers stay current and future-ready.
Enhancing membership engagement
IES plans to strengthen alignment between members’ professional interests and the institution’s activities by categorising members according to industry sectors in addition to engineering disciplines. The institution will also review its committees to streamline efforts, reduce overlaps, and better align with evolving industry needs.
Expanding resources and partnerships
To enhance resources available to members, IES plans to progressively develop a reference library and research repository database, deepen partnerships with organisations including NTUC PME, the Academy of Engineering Singapore, and the Singapore Army, and enhance its events management and sponsorship processes.
Celebrating IES60 and engineering’s contributions to nation-building
In conjunction with IES60, IES will roll out a series of commemorative initiatives celebrating the engineering profession’s contributions to nation-building. These include a Family Day, a tree-planting initiative symbolising sustainability and legacy-building, and the annual IES Gala Dinner, bringing together industry leaders, members, and partners.
Mr. Sirisena said, “I am deeply humbled and honoured to be elected President of IES as we celebrate IES60, marking six decades of engineering contributions to Singapore’s progress. As the world enters a new era of rapid technological transformation, engineers will play an even more important role in shaping the future. My hope is for IES to continue inspiring engineers across generations, strengthening our professional community, and creating new opportunities for innovation, leadership, and impact.”
IES also expressed its appreciation to Immediate Past President Er. Chan Ewe Jin for his contributions over the past two years. During his term, Er. Chan strengthened IES’ four core pillars of Engineering Excellence, Professional Development, Professional Registration and Internationalisation, while advancing initiatives in accreditation, membership growth and outreach.
