SMU Leaders

Celebrate a proud SMU milestone as President Professor Lily Kong receives the 2026 CASE Asia-Pacific Leadership Award. This recognition honours her visionary leadership in advancing academic excellence, global relevance, alumni engagement, and philanthropy – further strengthening SMU’s standing as a world-class university making meaningful impact across Asia and beyond.

SMU Patron’s Day 2026 brought Campus Green alive with performances, Makers showcases, competitions, and student-led activities, graced by Patron and Guest of Honour President Tharman Shanmugaratnam. His presence highlighted SMU’s strong community spirit, creativity, and shared sense of purpose among students, staff, alumni, and partners.

SMU alumna and member of the SMU Board of Trustees Lim Kexin shares how purposeful pacing, agility and community leadership shaped her transformative career journey from pioneering Accountancy graduate to trusted business advisor.

In her President’s State of the University Address 2025, Professor Lily Kong outlined the new SMU2030 strategic plan and its impact agenda to transform lives through education, research and partnerships. “Together, we can grow stronger, faster, and more resilient, and ensure that SMU continues to make meaningful impact for Singapore, Asia, and the world,” she said.

At the launch of Universities Reinvented, SMU President Professor Lily Kong urged educators and policymakers to reimagine higher education for a future of lifelong learning, innovation, and societal impact.

Professor Lily Kong, President of SMU, has been elected as a Fellow of the British Academy, a prestigious recognition in the humanities and social sciences that honours global scholars for transformative research and thought leadership.

SMU welcomes Professor Zhang Liandong as Dean of the School of Accountancy, bringing leadership, academic rigour and vision to chart the School’s next chapter.

SMU President Professor Lily Kong participated in the Worldwide Universities Network Presidents’ Forum 2025, joining global university leaders to pursue shared goals of academic collaboration, innovation, and sustainable development. Her presence underscored SMU’s commitment to regional integration and global partnerships in addressing shared challenges through higher education.

A generous gift from the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple will expand student aid and empower future changemakers through SMU’s education and community outreach initiatives.

SMU’s Patron’s Day Dinner 2025 celebrated 25 years of excellence, bringing together distinguished guests to honour the University’s achievements and set bold ambitions for the future.