Terence C S Tan Email Address

Vice President, Human Resources and Faculty Administration

SMU generates leading edge research with global impact as well as produce broad-based, creative and entrepreneurial leaders for the knowledge-based economy.

An accomplished, senior HR leader with extensive HR experience, complemented by strong regional/local Financial Controllership experience – all honed in reputable organizations – Terence possesses in-depth understanding of business operations/challenges organizations face in Asia Pacific. Terence currently plies his HR trade in the Education Services industry. Prior to his Vice President, HR role at SMU, Terence was professionally based in Shanghai as Director, Corporate HR (Asia/China) for Rio Tinto, one of the world’s largest mining companies. As a member of its Asia Senior Management Team, he led the entire Asia corporate/business HR network for the Aluminum business. This senior corporate HR leadership role was preceded by his Vice President, HR (Asia Pacific) role for Alcan Packaging, now part of Amcor, a world leader in rigid and flexible packaging, where Terence was a key member of the Asia Pacific Senior Management Team, with full responsibility over HR strategy and operations for Asia Pacific. Earlier in his career, Terence held mid/senior management Finance roles at DuPont and Veolia, global MNCs in the chemicals and utilities industries respectively. Terence is a multi-skilled HR leader with very strong business orientation. His competencies span the full human capital spectrum – HR Strategy, M&A/Integration, Recruitment/Selection, Industrial Relations, Learning/OD, Leadership Development, Talent/Performance Management, Career/Transition Management, C&B, International Mobility, etc. Armed with excellent analytical, interpersonal, leadership, and organizational change management skills and experience, Terence possesses non-negotiable integrity and ethical standards. Equally adept at managing HR at the highest strategic level as is rolling up his sleeves managing HR projects/issues at operational levels, Terence has successfully demonstrated senior HR leaders’ important role as strategic partners to CEOs in driving/improving business growth/performance.