Before each eXpresso!, the Internal Communications and Engagement team (pictured in the background) from the Strategic Communications division comes together to brainstorm ideas for the event’s theme and programme. The theme of HTX’s eXpresso! on 15 August 2025 was – you guessed it – Singapore’s National Day.
Preparation efforts include putting up decorations according to the theme of the event and setting up the event venue by collapsing three meeting rooms into one.
Moving seats from all over the agency to the event venue is arguably the most backbreaking aspect of the preparation process. Why go through all this trouble instead of simply booking a ready-made venue? Well, what fun would that be?
The most notable decorative pieces at every eXpresso! are the large blackboards, which reflect each session’s theme.
Each design is painstakingly brought to life using chalk by creative Xponents.
What’s a celebration without sights and sounds? About 15 eXpresso! team members come together in the days leading up to each session to set up and test audio-visual (AV) equipment.
Why the need for AV equipment? Because every eXpresso! is broadcast on the intranet in real time for the benefit of Xponents who cannot attend the event in person.
Among those involved in the latest eXpresso! prep work was Mohd Jumari Abd Hamid from HTX’s Platform Systems. He’s seen here setting up the sound equipment for the band that will be rocking National Day songs.
Practice makes perfect. At least three rehearsals are held for each town hall. Xponents taking on the emcee roles also use this time to rehearse their script and comedic timing. This latest eXpresso! saw the hilarious duo, comprising Jonathan Goh from HTX’s Audit division and Arka Ray from the Q Team Centre of Expertise, make a return.
Meanwhile, HTX’s Chief AI Officer and Assistant Chief Executive (Digital and Enterprise) Ang Chee Wee (centre) has a discussion with members of HTX’s Music Community of Interest (COI) about the songs they will be performing during eXpresso!.
On event day itself, Xponents are always treated to pre-eXpresso! goodies. This is a bunch of them getting a free scrumptious lunch.
Chicken rice always tastes better when it’s on the house. These two Xponents certainly agree.
For the 15 August eXpresso!, Xponents were also treated to free swag like this strap, which they could customise using a range of decorative items.
Spoilt for choice.
Happy Xponents with their free swag, which was originally made available during AI TechXplore & Careers@HTX in May. The strap simply had to make a return due to overwhelming demand.
We didn’t forget about Xponents who are forward deployed and hence cannot attend the townhall which is held at HTX HQ. Here are some Xponents stationed at Singapore Civil Defence Force’s (SCDF) HQ posing with the snacks they were treated to.
Xponents forward deployed to Brani Naval Base also received their share of sweet treats.
It’s showtime! The National Day-themed eXpresso! kicked off with a live medley of National Day songs performed by HTX’s very own Music COI – one of many COIs available in HTX for Xponents to connect with one another over an activity they share a love for.
“It always makes me happy to bring smiles to fellow Xponents through music,” said Music COI member Noorazura Anuar from HTX’s Policing PMC. Azura is no stranger to eXpresso!, having performed at several sessions.
A hidden talent? ACE Chee Wee surprised the audience when he belted a National Day hit.
In a moment of solidarity, Xponents rose to sing the national anthem and take the national pledge together.
Not quite the “NDP crying man”, but this Xponent, Harrison Kho from HTX’s Plans and Strategy division, certainly showed his enthusiasm and sang his throat dry.
And this Xponent, Kenneth Lee from HTX’s Platform Systems, cheered his heart out.
For this eXpresso!, the limelight was on Xponents who have sacrificed precious time with their loved ones and risked their lives to lend a helping hand to the SCDF’s Operation Lionheart over the past two decades. Their recent deployments were to Myanmar earlier this year, and to Türkiye in 2023. Pictured with emcee Jonathan are: (from left) Suhaimi Daed, Nurhadi Eeban and Roslan Yahya.
Xponents who worked quietly behind the scenes to help deliver a safe and smooth National Day Parade for Singaporeans, and recipients of the National Day Awards, Minister for Home Affairs National Day Awards(pictured), Public Sector Transformation Awards, and Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) Commissioner’s Commendation Gold Award were also honoured at eXpresso!.
We also celebrated the achievement of engineers from xCybersecurity who recently debuted their in-house DumpSieve solution at renowned cybersecurity conference Black Hat USA 2025. Another group from the same division clinched first place in a Capture the Flag (CTF) competition at ethical hacking and cybersecurity conference, DEF CON 33. Lawrence Wong, who mentored the team, is seen smiling here after receiving rapturous applause from his colleagues at eXpresso!.
Xponents who were recently promoted also got time in the spotlight. Here is Pauline Ng sharing her thoughts on her new role as director of HTX’s CDPMC. She was previously a deputy director at the Policing PMC.
For the games segment, Xponents had to combine their brains and resources to complete team challenges.
One of the games involved finding someone with at least six strands of white hair. HTX Deputy Chief Executive (Development) Ng Yeow Boon was quick to volunteer his mane.
Director of Partnerships Eric Chua getting vocal during the games.
HTX Chief Executive (CE) Chan Tsan clearly enjoying the antics of his colleagues taking part in the games.
At every eXpresso!, HTX’s senior management addresses questions from Xponents about a wide range of topics. This latest Ask Management Anything panel was moderated by Director Human Resource Lim Puay Sze (left) and featured CE Chan Tsan (third from left), ACE Chee Wee (second from left) and ACE (Programmes) Colin Tan.
To top things off on a sweet note, Xponents were treated to an array of local delights for tea break, which included ice kachang and local cakes.
Not a bad way to round up the week!