Stepping up to the fore in the Home Team

• Three Xponents from HTX’s Capability Planning, Development and Sustainment teams share what it’s like to step into roles that others highly depend on.
• They were among the 269 Xponents recently promoted at the HTX Promotion and Long Service Award Ceremony 2026.
• Regardless of role, they take pride in force multiplying the Home Team and making an impact on public safety.

A total of 269 Xponents were promoted this year in recognition for their exemplary performance and contributions to making Singapore a safer place.

These three individuals share what keeps them going at work and in life.

The do-gooder

In her previous job as a crime scene specialist with the Singapore Police Force, Xu Xiuhui never knew what each call would bring – it could’ve been a case of shop theft or an unnatural death.

No matter the situation, she approached each case with level-headedness. It was only when she encountered next-of-kin at crime scenes, or learned the stories behind those who had passed on, that she’d find herself getting emotional.

“It felt like families were counting on me for some closure. I had to do my part to bring it to them,” she shared.

One could argue that Xiuhui was born with this sense of duty. Since her adolescent years, she realised that that inequality is very real. As such, she resolved to lend a helping hand to others in need whenever she could.

In 2024, following a decade of working as a crime scene specialist, she made the pivot to an office environment, taking on the role of a senior manager within HTX’s Plans and Strategy division.

But sitting behind a desk doesn’t mean her current work matters any less. Without people like her, the launch of HTX facilities that impact the safety of the public would not be possible.

“People depend on me to manage inter-agency collaborations and coordinate major events. I also act as a middleman of sorts between teams across HTX, pushing for process improvements and helping to ease workflows,” she shared.

“The job scope now is very different. Instead of being on the ground working a crime scene, I now have an overarching view of how things come together in the organisation,” she added.

“A small delay on my part could cause bigger ripples, like impeding project timelines.”

True to her nature, Xiuhui still sets aside time to give back to the community despite her hectic schedule. For example, she consciously maintains an iron-rich diet so she can donate blood regularly. She also often brings her 6-year-old shih tzu, Yuki, to visit residents at a nursing home.

“It all circles back to my belief that if I can help, I will,” she said.

Always showing up

New dad Khairul Azry Bin Herman is all too familiar with having someone count on him. Over the past few months, he’s been learning the ropes of fatherhood and tending to his little one’s every need, from night feeds to diaper changes.

The situation is no different at work. As an engineer with HTX’s Protective Security and Safety Centre of Expertise (PSS CoE), Khairul advises Home Team Departments (HTDs) on solutions involving protective security technologies, such as vehicle screening and perimeter protection. He also evaluates emerging technologies to help strengthen their operations.

“If I overlook something, it could lead to ineffective solutions employed by the Home Team, which could pose a risk to public safety,” he explained.

He recalls one instance in which his team had been testing security technologies during the rehearsals of the 2022 National Day Parade amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Some colleagues happened to contract Covid-19, leaving us shorthanded. At times, those of us who were well had to go solo in pulling off tasks that usually require a team,” he recounted.

“But we just had to keep going, because the HTDs and members of the public attending the celebrations were depending on us.”

When asked about what keeps him going, Khairul said it was all down to his desire to make a difference.

“I love that this engineering role is a continuous learning process. Problems are rarely straightforward – they require logic, creativity and persistence,” he mused.

“And when you finally crack a puzzle, you’re making real-world impact.”

Another reason why the man gives his all, he added, is to serve as an example for his child.

“I want my baby to grow up knowing her dad works hard for a purpose – and that I’ll always be there for her.”

Keeping the lights on matters

When it comes to keeping systems running, Lim Jee Yen is the go-to guy. Together with his team of nearly 20, the deputy director from HTX’s Information and Communications Technology Infrastructure (ICT Infra) Sustainment Centre oversees more than 15 critical enterprise systems used across the Home Team.

“Home Team officers depend on these for their day-to-day work. One small but necessary update to a system, if done incorrectly, could cause massive downstream effects,” he explained.

“The system could fail, making services unavailable – not just to a select group, but to the entire Home Team.”

Though the job isn’t a walk in the park – he occasionally has to work unusual hours to deliver critical fixes- he noted that he’s committed to doing his part well.

“I have a philosophy,” he shared.

“If you set your mind to something, do it well, do it properly, do it right.”

Jee Yen applies the same mindset outside of work. Five years ago, he decided to pick up cooking with the aim of recreating budget-friendly Chinese dishes of restaurant standard. He has since expanded his repertoire and can now serve up other cuisines, including Japanese and Indian.

One lesson he’s learned from this culinary journey? Cooking is very much like life – mastering a craft something requires years of practice.

Having been a system integrator who has supported government projects for over two decades prior to joining HTX, one can say he has most certainly honed his career skills to near perfection.

“You know, I’d consider myself a pretty good ‘cook’ in my field of work,” he laughed.

“Am I perfect? No. I don’t believe anything can be perfect. This belief is why I constantly strive to better myself.”