Ms Yena Lim joined A*STAR in Jun 2006. She assumed the position of Managing Director A*STAR in Jan 2007. A*STAR has 160 staff in corporate HQ, 2000 scientists and researchers, 900 technical and support staff at the Research Institutes, and 70 staff focusing on R&D commercialization. The organization strives to foster world-class scientific research and talent for a vibrant knowledge-based economy; by strengthening the stock of human, intellectual and industrial capital. Its total operating budget is S$500 mil per annum.

Before A*STAR, Ms Lim was with the Ministry of Trade and Industry, as the Director of its Resource Division. She oversaw economic policies pertaining to competitiveness and capability development for the economy. This included industrial land use planning and policies, energy security and reforms in the electricity and gas markets, support of manpower development and research and development strategies to support economic growth. Her team came up with the Science and Technology Plan 2010; in close collaboration with A*STAR and other agencies. They also provided staff support to the Ministerial Committee on Research and Development that resulted in the creation of the Research, Innovation and Enterprise Council chaired by PM, and the National Research Foundation.

As an officer of the Administrative Service, Ms Lim has also worked in the Ministry of Transport overseeing the land transport portfolio; the Public Service Division, Prime Minister’s Office looking after HR policies for the Civil Service; the Ministry of Education overseeing the school physical infrastructure planning and development portfolio, and higher education policy; and the Ministry of Finance covering the Government’s fiscal policy, including revenue and taxation policies.

She currently serves on the Nanyang Polytechnic Board of Governors.