The Tunnelling and Underground Construction Society (Singapore) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday, 13 March 2025, at the Stephen Riady Auditorium, NTUC Centre. The AGM was preceded by our Monthly Seminar No. 259, titled “Lessons and Reflections from Two Challenging Projects”, delivered by Mr Leslie Pakianathan, Advisor for Changi East and a dedicated TUCSS Committee Member since 2004.

Following the seminar, the AGM was convened and chaired by TUCSS Honorary Secretary, Mr Massimo Marotta.

President Mr Chang Kin Boon led members through the 2024 Activity Report, highlighting a vibrant year filled with events that fostered professional development, technical exchange, and community engagement.

Among the notable milestones in 2024 were:

• Nine technical seminars featuring both local and international speakers.
• The Annual Lecture by Dr Oskar Sigl on rock mechanics practices.
• SICAT 2024, which attracted over 300 attendees and 20 international speakers.
• The Hulme Prize recognising young talents in tunnelling.
• The TUCSS Golf Friendly and Annual Dinner, which continued to build camaraderie across the industry.
• Scholarship and bursary awards supporting students at NUS, NTU, and SIT.

TUCSS also launched its bid to host the World Tunnel Congress 2028, a landmark initiative aimed at bringing the global tunnelling community to Singapore.

Honorary Treasurer Dr Wen Dazhi presented the financial report for the year, assuring members of TUCSS’s sound fiscal standing and transparency.

Mr Marotta also introduced proposed amendments to the TUCSS Constitution, aimed at strengthening the governance and professionalism within the Society. Key proposals include:

• The introduction of a new membership category – “Certified Member”, which recognises members committed to continuing professional development (CPD) and allows the use of the postnominal MTUCSS (Cert).
• Changes to the composition of the Committee, including the formalisation of roles such as Advisor and Assistant Secretary, and increasing the number of Co-opted Members to provide broader representation.

These proposed changes, approved by the AGM, aim to ensure the Society remains adaptive, inclusive, and aligned with the evolving needs of the tunnelling and underground construction community.

The AGM concluded with a networking session over refreshments, marking a successful evening of reflection, learning, and forward-looking dialogue.

We thank all members for their continued support and active participation. Stay tuned for more updates and activities in what promises to be another impactful year ahead.