UWCSEA is one of Singapore’s best-known international schools, and part of the global United World Colleges network. With a mission to unite people, nations, and cultures for peace and a sustainable future, the College is both purpose-led and ambitious. At the centre of that is Kevin Chua, Chief Human Resources Officer, who spoke with Employer Branding News about workforce planning, leadership, and why values aren’t just words on a wall.
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Starting the Year with Clear Priorities
The College has a 10-year strategy, broken down into three-year priorities and one-year plans. For the current school year, Kevin points to four big themes shaping the people agenda:
- Activating the Employer Value Proposition
- Staff engagement and wellbeing
- Building organisational capabilities
- Strengthening leadership bench strength
“It’s a critical moment,” Kevin explains. “We’ve just entered a new school and financial year, so these plans will shape how we support our people and our students.”
Placing a Big Bet on the Future of Talent
For Kevin, the future of talent lies in strategic workforce planning.
“This means asking: what should our school look like seven to ten years from now? What does that mean for the profile of our workforce? We’re looking at everything from student demographics to the impact of technology and changing employee expectations. The roles of tomorrow will be less about routine administration and far more centred on human, people-facing skills.”
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Guiding Principles for Leadership and Culture
Having worked across industries and regions, Kevin is struck by how consistent human aspirations are, regardless of context.
“When I think of leadership, it’s about enabling an organisation where people are engaged and productive — where they go above and beyond. That’s when an organisation has the greatest impact for its stakeholders.”
Living the Mission and Values
If UWCSEA is known for anything, it’s its mission. For Kevin, that mission isn’t some abstract box ticking exercise, it’s daily practice.
“We breathe our mission and our values. Our leaders model them. They’re embedded in our curriculum, in our appraisal processes, and in our leadership development. It’s not just something our staff feel — it’s part of life across the campus.”
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Advice for Future People Leaders
Kevin is clear on what it takes to succeed in a purpose-led environment, such as UWCSEA.
“First, ask yourself if you truly align with the mission. This is not the right organisation for everyone, and we’d rather people self-select out than come here without that connection. For those who join, the key is to continually reflect on how you can model leadership behaviours, and adapt policies and processes to serve stakeholders while staying true to our purpose.”
Closing Thoughts
What comes through when speaking and working with Kevin is how much he sees HR as both anchor and compass. More than just putting frameworks in place; Kevin's thinking in decades, not quarters. That long view matches the UWCSEA mission, but it’s also personal. Having worked across industries and regions, he has developed a calm conviction about what really matters in people leadership: clarity of purpose, consistency in behaviour, and the ability to adapt without losing sight of core values.
Having personally worked with the UWCSEA, I can attest that those values are lived daily, and Kevin is a bastion in this regard, making sure the people side of the College grows in step with its ambitions. Whether it’s preparing the workforce for a changing student body, or helping colleagues at every level stay grounded in the mission, his focus is steady. It’s not a flashy kind of leadership - more the quiet, deliberate work that builds resilience into an organisation. And that might be the strongest signal of all that UWCSEA is ready for the future.
Takeaways
Strategic Workforce Planning is Critical
UWCSEA is looking 7–10 years ahead to anticipate student demographics, workforce needs, and the skills shift from administration to people-centric roles.
Leadership and Engagement Go Hand in Hand
For Kevin, great leadership enables a workforce where people are engaged, productive, and delivering maximum impact.
Values Must Be Lived, Not Posted
At UWCSEA, mission and values aren’t slogans. They’re modelled by leaders, built into curricula, and embedded in appraisal and development systems.
Fit to Purpose Matters
Kevin advises candidates to reflect deeply on whether they align with UWCSEA’s mission. Purpose-driven organisations demand true alignment, not lip service.
EBN
