Vivian Balakrishnan

Vivian Balakrishnan (born 25 January 1961) is a politician from Singapore. A member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), he is currently the country's Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports.

Biography

Early life

Dr Balakrishnan was born in 1961 to a Telugu father and Fuqing mother. He was educated at Anglo-Chinese School and National Junior College. In 1980, he was awarded the President's Scholarship to study Medicine at the National University of Singapore. He was elected President of the National University of Singapore Student's Union (NUSSU) from 1981 to 1983, and Chairman of NUSSU in 1984/1985. He then pursued postgraduate specialist training in Ophthalmology and was admitted as a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 1991.

Medical career

Between 1993 and 1995, Balakrishnan worked at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London as a Senior Registrar. Upon his return, he was appointed Consultant Ophthalmologist at the Singapore National Eye Centre, and became its Medical Director in January 1999. He was later appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Singapore General Hospital from June 2000 to December 2001.

Balakrishnan was the Commanding Officer of the 2nd Combat Support Hospital of the Singapore Armed Forces from November 1999 to January 2002. He was a Council Member of the Singapore Medical Association (1998 to 2001), member of the National Library Board (1997 to 2001), member of the National Volunteer Centre Committee (1999 to 2001).

Political career

In the 2001 General Election, Balakrishnan was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Holland-Bukit Panjang GRC. In January 2002 he was appointed a Minister of State at the Ministry of National Development. In August 2003, he was appointed a Minister of State at the Ministry of Trade and Industry. In August 2004, he was made the Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports and Senior Minister of State at the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

Dr Balakrishnan became the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports in April 2005. He also served as Second Minister for Trade and Industry from 2005–06, and Second Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts from 2007-08. In the Cabinet reshuffle of March 2008, Balakrishnan retained his post at the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports but relinquished his Second Minister's portfolio. This was done so that he would be able to devote more time to overseeing preparations for the 2010 Youth Olympics and other major sporting events due to take place in Singapore.

Personal life

Balakrishnan is married with four children. He is married to Joy Balakrishnan, a Chinese Singaporean teacher, who is also the President of Girl Guides Singapore.

External links

• Singapore Cabinet profile
• Singapore Parliament MP profile
• Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (Singapore)
• Facebook Page

Preceded by Unknown	Minister of State, Ministry of National Development 2002—2004	Succeeded by Heng Chee How
Preceded by Yaacob Ibrahim	Minister for Community Development Youth and Sports 2004 — April 2005 (acting) April 2005–present	Incumbent
Preceded by Unknown	Chairman, Young PAP 2004–present	Incumbent