2010 ECOFRIEND AWARDS CEREMONY AND SEMINAR
Eight individuals were selected from over 290 nominations to receive this year's EcoFriend Awards. Now into its fourth year, the EcoFriend Awards recognize outstanding individuals who have contributed significantly to environmental sustainability.
The eight winners are:
Private Sector Category
Mr Ikuo Miyamoto, Managing Director, Panasonic Asia Pacific Pte Ltd
Public Sector Category
Mr Noel Chin, Senior Assistant Director, Ministry of Manpower
Non-Government Organisations and Grassroots Volunteers Category
Mr Wong Chong Wai Kenneth, Volunteer, National Youth Achievement Awards, Gold Awards Holders' Alumni
Mr John Leow, Assistant Treasurer, Serangoon CCC
Educational Institutions Category
Mrs Dhillon Awtar Singh, Principal, Anchor Green Primary School
Mrs Koh – Leong Swee Leng, Senior Teacher, Dunman High School
Youth and Students Category
Mr Zhang Yi Tao, alumnus, Raffles Institution (Junior College) and Singapore Police Force Overseas Scholar
Mr Ng Zhi Kai, Student, Dunman High School
They received their awards from Minister for the Environment & Water Resources, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim at the Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, 28 July 2010 at Orchard Hotel. For the first time since the awards were presented in 2007, a Seminar was organised in conjunction with the Awards Ceremony, to leverage on the positive examples of environmental ownership by EcoFriend Award recipients and our 3P partners. The theme for the Seminar was "Towards partnership and ownership for higher standards in public cleanliness" .
The Dunman High School Chinese Orchestra Dizi Ensemble, with the NTU Chinese Dance Club dancers, opening the event with an environment and nature themed piece entitled "Beautiful Jiangnan".
The 2010 EcoFriend Award winners with Minister, SPS and DGPH.
NGO and Grassroots Volunteers Category winner, Mr Kenneth Wong, shared his EcoFriend Journey at the event
NEA invited Mr Scott Lyall, Executive Officer of Keep Australia Beautiful National Association, which manages a highly successful national community movement focusing on keeping public places clean in Australia, as the Keynote Speaker for the Seminar. Mr Lyall presented his organisation's work and challenges in mobilising and motivating individuals in the community, government and businesses. He also shared insights on working in partnership with the government and businesses in the private sector, to develop practical environmental solutions.
Other speakers at the Seminar were:
* Professor Paulin Tay Straughan - Nominated Member of Parliament, Vice Dean of NUS Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences, who shared the findings of the year-long behavioural study commissioned by NEA to understand the littering patterns and behaviour in Singapore
* Mr Ong Chee Siang - Chairman of the Ci Yuan Youth Executive Committee and a 2008 EcoFriend winner, who shared his experiences on engaging and motivating youth to promote environmental ownership;
* Mr Eugene Heng - Chairman, Waterways Watch Society, who described his organisation's anti-littering efforts across many areas of Singapore, and their work in educating the public about littering;
* Mr Ng Meng Hiong - Deputy Director, 3P Partnership Department, NEA, who spoke on NEA's current national Anti-Littering Campaign.
From left to right, Seminar Speakers Mr Eugene Heng, Prof Paulin Straughan, Keynote Speaker Mr Scott Lyall, D3PN, Mr Ong Chee Siang and DD3PPD
Audience members from Ci Yuan YEC (left) and Panasonic Asia Pacific Pte Ltd (right) interacting with speakers during Q&A
The event was lively and well-attended, with an audience of over 200 invited guests. NEA will continue to leverage on such opportunities to showcase our 3P partners' efforts in caring for the environment and to learn from local and international experts.
The portfolio of the 2010 EcoFriend Award winners is accessible via:http://app2.nea.gov.sg/data/cmsresource/20100728208518890204.pdf