At their AGM on 30^th March, the Singapore Psychological Society (SPS) celebrated 40 years of dedicated service through “science and professionalism for our society.” The event also marked the transition of the outgoing 2017-2019 Council to the incoming 2019-2021 Council of members who are elected to serve for a two-year term of office. Amongst incoming Council members is Dr Denise Dillon, Associate Dean of Research and Research Education at James Cook University (JCU) in Singapore. Dr Dillon is the newly elected SPS Research Chair, a role for which she feels uniquely equipped to serve.

Incoming SPS Council 2019-2021 members at the 2019 AGM dinner.
Dr Cherie Chan, SPS Chair front row centre, Dr Denise Dillon, 3^rd from right, back row.

“James Cook University in Singapore has earned a strong reputation for professional training in clinical psychology. Over the past 15 years and more we have consolidated our place in Singapore’s professional psychology community through walking the talk of our University’s strategic intent, ‘to create a brighter future for life in the tropics world-wide through graduates and discoveries that make a difference.’ Dozens of SPS members and/or Registered Psychologists in Singapore are JCU graduates who are daily helping people improve their lives through the provision of psychological services. With sights now firmly set on strengthening our tropical research agenda, we aim to better understand local and regional needs by consulting and partnering with practitioners and institutions in order to make positive differences through research discoveries. Hearing regularly about community needs directly from SPS members will ensure we keep our focus where most needed,” said Dr Dillon.

Incoming SPS Chair, Dr Cherie Chan , shared her views on the potential for strategizing research amongst the professional psychology networks in Singapore: “Practice shapes research and research shapes therapy and practice. As SPS seeks to build credibility and professionalism of Psychologists in Singapore, research in a local context would be pertinent to push forward and strengthen the scientist-practitioner model. The SPS Research Chair Dr Dillon's expertise is very much welcomed this term to aid and push this mandate forward.”

For further information on areas of research strength in Psychology and future collaborative opportunities at James Cook University in Singapore, view our booklet here.

¹ https://singaporepsychologicalsociety.org/governance-structure

Contacts

Research: Professor Dean Jerry [email protected]
Media: Pinky Sibal [email protected]