From Military Man to Corporate Guardian

Looking back at his first few weeks on the job, the former Senior Warrant Officer with the Singapore Armed Forces recalls how "strange" it felt. "I was a military guy in the corporate world. But I just tried to chit-chat with everyone so I would be approachable when things went wrong."

Amar joined Temasek as it was restructuring its Business Continuity Management teams. Workplace safety and security were consolidated into a dedicated unit that would shield Temasek's teams and operations from disruptions.

Beyond daily tasks and supporting internal and external events, the team of three ensured contingency plans, like those created in the wake of the 2003 SARS epidemic and the 2009 H1N1 pandemic remained up to date. When transboundary haze choked the region in 2013 and again in 2015, they had N95 masks stockpiled and ready.

"Business continuity is like oxygen. You can't see it, taste it, smell it or feel it, but it's vital for survival," he says.

The team also handled travel risks and logistics, and ensured that Temasek offices around the world maintained the same safety and security standards as its Singapore HQ. "Different countries have different protocols, cultures and regulations. We had to calibrate our plans to fit each environment so they could be deployed whenever the button was pushed," explains Amar.

When COVID-19 hit, that button got quite a workout, and every protocol was put to the test, he recalls.

"We had checklists and recovery plans that Temasek had created with consultants that kicked into action."

When everyone eventually returned to the office, Amar's sturdy presence remained a familiar fixture, as he strode through corridors and meeting rooms with practised efficiency, his trained eye seeking out potential concerns or hazards, and ensuring spaces remained secure.

Sometimes, Amar found himself handling things that weren't quite his day job, including redirecting unexpected visitors who showed up at Temasek's front door with their PR applications.

"It's really all about finding solutions," he says. "Whatever happens, you figured it out. How can you make big things small, and small things disappear? The key is never to let small problems turn into big fires."

Where people come first

As he settles into "real retirement", Amar says Temasek's response to COVID-19 - a crisis that tested every country, company, and individual - is what will always remain with him. He goes back time and again to the "Staff Care Packs" he was charged with packing, and how they evolved as the pandemic lingered.

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