Mr S Iswaran (1962– ) – Minister, Prime Minister's Office, Second Minister for Home Affairs and Second Minister for Trade and Industry. He was formerly a Colombo Plan scholar and the CEO of Singapore Indian Development Association, the Indian community self-help group as well as managing director of Temasek Holdings.
He was born in Madras and is a naturalised Indian Tamil Hindu Singaporean.
S. Iswaran (born 14 June 1962) is a Singaporean politician. A member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), he has served in the Cabinet as a Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, as well as Second Minister for Home Affairs and Second Minister for Trade and Industry, since 2011. He has been a Member of Parliament (MP) since 1997.
Iswaran has worked in both the public and private sectors. He has served as Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Temasek Holdings, Director for International Trade at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and Chief Executive Officer of the Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA).
In 1987, Iswaran joined the Singapore Administrative Service and held appointments in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Education.
In 1991, he was seconded to the National Trades Union Congress. Subsequently, he was seconded to the Singapore Indian Development Association as its Chief Executive Officer.
In 1995, Iswaran assumed the post of Director for International Trade at the Ministry of Trade and Industry. He then moved on to the private sector, joining Singapore Technologies Pte Ltd as its Director for Strategic Development.
In 1998, Mr Iswaran was appointed Senior Vice President/Managing Director at Temasek Holdings Pte Ltd where he undertook investments in the pharmaceuticals, biotech, hi-tech manufacturing, transport and logistics sectors and several takeover, buy-out and merger transactions.
Iswaran was first elected to Parliament in January 1997. From September 2004 to June 2006, he served as a Deputy Speaker of Parliament.
On 1 July 2006, Iswaran was appointed a Minister of State at the Ministry of Trade and Industry. On 1 April 2008, he was promoted to Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry. On 1 April 2009, he was appointed Senior Minister of State at the Ministry of Education in addition to being Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry.
Following the 2011 general election, Iswaran was promoted to the Cabinet as a Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Second Minister for Home Affairs and Second Minister for Trade and Industry.
Iswaran is currently an MP for the West Coast Group Representation Constituency.
Iswaran is an alumnus of St. Andrew's School. He read economics at the University of Adelaide, where he graduated with first class honours. He also holds a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University.
Iswaran is married to Kay Mary Taylor. The couple have one daughter and two sons.
