From Pelotons to the Public Service, it’s the human factor that counts

Meet Lead Human Factors Engineer, Nicolette Chhua, an avid cyclist who competed in the 1,200km Paris-Brest-Paris self-supported race, and clocked another 1,241km in the HTX Annual Cycle. She shares how the lessons on the bike translate to lessons in life.

PBP Event 2023_Frens from Team Japan_cropped

Nicolette (first from right) with friends from Japan at the PBP race.
(Photo: Nicolette Chhua)

There is probably no greater test of a cyclist's endurance than the Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP) race. As the name suggests, cyclists have to cycle from Paris to Brest and back, covering a distance of 1,200 km and 12,000 metres in altitude. And they only have a maximum of 90 hours to do it.

Nicolette Chhua, Lead Engineer, Human Performance (Interaction & Teaming), Human Factors and Simulation Centre of Expertise (HFS CoE), was around 700km into the race when fatigue threatened to take over.

By then, she had been cycling for over 48 hours, surviving on 15-minute naps and a cocktail of coffee, energy gels, and soup.

“It was a major challenge to keep myself sane because my brain just wanted to shut down,” she recalls. But she pushed through and prevailed.

PBP Event 2023
Deep in the French countryside. (Photo: Nicolette Chhua)

Barely weeks after crossing the finish line, she found herself on the bike again, this time for the 2023 HTX Annual Cycle. She woke up by 5am each day to ride — even on weekends — and clocked in 1,241km.

If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.

What’s her secret to going the distance? The people. “There’s a famous African proverb that says: ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together,’” she answers.

When the PBP terrain seemed most treacherous, it was the group energy from riding in a peloton (the French word for ball or platoon) that helped her keep pace and concentrate despite mental and physical exhaustion. And during the HTX Annual Cycle, getting up early on weekends was a “fun exercise” because she did it with friends.

She notes that a similar sense of camaraderie has carried her through her most recent career fork — her transition to HTX.

Going the distance, together

Nicolette, a certified Chartered Ergonomist and Human Factors Specialist who holds a Master’s in Science (M.Sc.) in Digital Media Technology and another M.Sc. in Human Factors Engineering, both from Nanyang Technological University, joined HFS CoE in January 2023.

“I was drawn by the various engineering and scientific disciplines under one roof, as well as the opportunity to work on projects that have a direct impact on the lives of Singaporeans,” she explains.

Having spent over a decade in the private sector, she quickly realised that the biggest difference at HTX is the diversity of projects. Instead of working with a single product or brand, she now supports a variety of Home Team Departments (HTDs), each with a “unique set of human factors considerations”.

At the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, for example, she is evaluating the automated border control system to ensure it is accessible to wheelchair users and checking whether there are potential safety risks.

In another project, she is researching how to improve teamwork between humans and robots, so robots can better understand human intentions without constantly needing to be controlled by a user.

It can be challenging to navigate the new terrain, but just as her fellow cyclists help her stay on track when on the road, so do her new colleagues in the office. “I have very good co-workers both within the team and from other HTDs,” she affirms.

Focus on the process

Another lesson Nicolette has taken from her cycling escapades to work is to not be too fixated on an end goal. Instead, it is important to “immerse in the process, learn from it, and enjoy it,” she advises.

During the PBP, this meant savouring the sights of the natural landscape in France, admiring how the sunrise broke through the foggy morning at Brittany, and relishing in the festive atmosphere at each village she passed through.

“The locals offered us coffee and water. Children also stayed up late and sat on the side of the road waiting for cyclists. As soon as they saw us, they jumped up from their chairs to clap and cheer us on,” she recalls, adding that these gestures worked wonders at keeping her spirits up.

In the same vein, when at work, she appreciates how each new HTX project offers a refreshing change of scenery. She looks forward to the eye-opening experience of watching officers execute missions; and is inspired by the dedication and commitment of the people she interacts with each day.

For her, these moments are what make her ride at HTX a memorable one. “We have a great team and talented co-workers. My advice would be to learn as much as you can from them as you work together towards a common goal,” she concludes.

Start the career ride of your life at HTX. Find out about the opportunities available, and the people you’ll be working with: https://www.htx.gov.sg/join-us/careers

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