Vivian Balakrishnan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vivian Balakrishnan
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| விவியன் பாலகிருஷ்ணன் | |
Balakrishnan in 2023
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| Minister for Foreign Affairs | |
| Assumed office 1 October 2015 |
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| Prime Minister | Lee Hsien Loong Lawrence Wong |
| Second Minister | Josephine Teo (2017) Maliki Osman (2020–2025) |
| Preceded by | K. Shanmugam |
| Acting Minister for Transport | |
| In office 25 February 2019 – 5 April 2019 |
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| Prime Minister | Lee Hsien Loong |
| Preceded by | Khaw Boon Wan |
| Succeeded by | Khaw Boon Wan |
| Minister-in-charge of the Smart Nation Initiative | |
| In office 2014–2021 |
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| Prime Minister | Lee Hsien Loong |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Josephine Teo |
| Minister for the Environment and Water Resources | |
| In office 21 May 2011 – 30 September 2015 |
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| Prime Minister | Lee Hsien Loong |
| Second Minister | Grace Fu (2012–2015) |
| Preceded by | Yaacob Ibrahim |
| Succeeded by | Masagos Zulkifli |
| Second Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts | |
| In office 30 May 2006 – 31 March 2008 |
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| Prime Minister | Lee Hsien Loong |
| Minister | Lee Boon Yang (2003–2009) |
| Second Minister for Trade and Industry | |
| In office 1 April 2005 – 29 May 2006 |
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| Prime Minister | Lee Hsien Loong |
| Minister | Lim Hng Kiang (2004–2018) |
| Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports | |
| In office 12 August 2004 – 20 May 2011 Acting: 12 August 2004 – 31 March 2005 |
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| Prime Minister | Lee Hsien Loong |
| Preceded by | Yaacob Ibrahim |
| Succeeded by | Chan Chun Sing |
| Member of Parliament for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC |
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| Assumed office 27 April 2006 |
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| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Majority |
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| Member of Parliament for Holland-Bukit Panjang GRC |
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| In office 4 November 2001 – 27 April 2006 |
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| Preceded by | Constituency created |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Majority | N/A (walkover) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 25 January 1961 State of Singapore |
| Political party | People's Action Party |
| Spouse | Joy Balakrishnan |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | National University of Singapore (MBBS) |
| Occupation |
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Vivian Balakrishnan (Tamil: விவியன் பாலகிருஷ்ணன்) was born on 25 January 1961. He is a Singaporean politician and diplomat. He has been the Minister for Foreign Affairs since 2015. He is a member of the People's Action Party (PAP). He has also been a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Cashew division of Holland–Bukit Timah GRC since 2006. Before that, he was an MP for the Ulu Pandan division of Holland–Bukit Panjang GRC from 2001 to 2006.
Before becoming a full-time politician, Dr. Balakrishnan was an eye doctor, also known as an ophthalmologist. He held important roles in the medical field. He also served in various other government ministries before his current role.
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Early Life and Education
Vivian Balakrishnan was born in Singapore in 1961. His father was of Indian Tamil background, and his mother was Chinese.
He went to Anglo-Chinese School and National Junior College. In 1980, he received the President's Scholarship. This allowed him to study medicine at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore. While at university, he was the president of the NUS Student Union for two terms. He also chaired the union council.
Dr. Balakrishnan chose to specialize in ophthalmology, which is the study and treatment of eye diseases. He became a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 1991.
Medical Career Journey
From 1993 to 1995, Dr. Balakrishnan worked at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. There, he focused on treating eye conditions in children.
When he returned to Singapore, he became an eye consultant at the Singapore National Eye Centre and National University Hospital. In 1998, he became an associate professor of ophthalmology at the National University of Singapore.
In 1999, he became the medical director of the Singapore National Eye Centre. He then became the chief executive officer of the Singapore General Hospital in 2000. He also served as the commanding officer of the 2nd Combat Support Hospital of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) from 1999 to 2002.
In the 1990s, he hosted a TV show in Singapore called Health Matters.
Political Career Highlights
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Dr. Balakrishnan started his political career in the 2001 Singapore general election. He was part of a five-member team from the PAP in Holland–Bukit Panjang GRC. His team won without facing any opponents. After the election, he was appointed Minister of State for National Development in 2002. He also became the Chairman of the Remaking Singapore Committee. In 2004, he was appointed Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry.
In 2004, Dr. Balakrishnan became the acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports. He became a full member of the Cabinet in 2005.
During the 2006 Singapore general election, Dr. Balakrishnan was part of another PAP team. This team also won without facing any opponents in Holland–Bukit Timah GRC.
In the 2011 Singapore general election, Dr. Balakrishnan led a four-member PAP team in Holland–Bukit Timah GRC. His team won with 60.1% of the votes. This was the first time this GRC was contested since it was formed in 2001.
On 21 May 2011, Dr. Balakrishnan was appointed Minister for the Environment and Water Resources. After the 2015 Singaporean general election, he became the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
In January 2021, there was a discussion in Parliament about the use of data from the TraceTogether app. This app was used for contact tracing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Balakrishnan explained that he took full responsibility for any misunderstanding about how the data would be used.
Personal Life
Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan is married to Joy Balakrishnan. They have four children: one daughter and three sons.
Images for kids
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Balakrishnan in 2023
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Balakrishnan with Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop in 2017
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Balakrishnan speaking at the 2018 East Asia Summit
