About the IAPP

Mr. Lew Chuen Hong was appointed Commissioner of the Personal Data Protection (PDPC) in June 2020. He represents Singapore on data protection and data innovation on the global stage, and leads the development of Singapore’s personal data regulatory regime. The aim is to foster an environment of trust among businesses and consumers, contributing to a vibrant Singapore economy.

Beyond regulating data protection and promoting data innovation, he also undertakes educational and outreach activities to encourage organisations to adopt good data protection practices, as well as help individuals understand how they may protect their personal data from misuse.

Mr. Lew joins IMDA following a distinguished 25-year career with the Republic of Singapore Navy where he was the Chief of Navy from 2017 to 2020. Notable highlights include overseeing Singapore’s maritime security operations during the Trump-Kim and ASEAN summits. He was conferred the SAF Overseas Service Medal for his role supporting the re-construction of Iraq.

In 2008, Mr. Lew was seconded to the Ministry of Trade & Industry where he championed pro-enterprise policies to help local enterprises scale. He also drove the strategic review of the Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2015 plan, which sets out Singapore’s strategy and investments to grow our knowledge-driven economy.

Mr. Lew graduated with a Bachelor’s (Honours and Distinction) and Master’s in Biology from Stanford University, U.S. He also holds a Master’s in Management, as a Sloan Fellow of the Stanford Graduate School of Business, U.S. Mr. Lew had previously served on the Boards of Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore and ST Engineering. He was also Chairman of the School of Applied Science Advisory Committee Board, Republic Polytechnic.