Guest of Honour - Mr K Shanmugam

Mr K Shanmugam

Senior Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs

Biography

Mr K Shanmugam was appointed Senior Minister in July 2026. He is concurrently the Coordinating Minister for National Security (since May 2025) and Minister for Home Affairs (since 2015). He was previously Minister for Law (2008–2025) and Minister for Foreign Affairs (2011–2015).

As Coordinating Minister for National Security, Mr Shanmugam oversees strategic planning and coordination across Government to address internal and external threats to Singapore’s national security, including emerging and cyber threats. 

As Minister for Home Affairs, Mr Shanmugam transformed Singapore’s counter-terrorism capabilities and introduced rapid response forces. He oversaw the introduction of significant legislation, including measures to counter racial and religious extremism and to guard Singapore against foreign interference in domestic politics and hostile information campaigns. 

As Minister for Law, he oversaw major reforms to Singapore’s legal system and legal sector. These included strengthening Singapore’s position as an international dispute resolution and arbitration hub, significant reforms to the criminal and family justice systems, and measures to deal with online falsehoods and protect individuals from harassment and stalking. 

Mr Shanmugam was educated at Raffles Institution from 1972 to 1977. He read law at the National University of Singapore, where he graduated at the top of his class with First Class Honours in 1984. He was admitted to the Singapore Bar in 1985.

Before entering Cabinet in May 2008, Mr Shanmugam was a Senior Partner and the Head of Litigation & Dispute Resolution at Allen & Gledhill LLP, which was the largest law firm in Singapore. 

Mr Shanmugam was in practice for over 20 years and was appointed Senior Counsel in 1998. More than 100 of the cases he handled were reported in the Law Reports. He was consistently recognised in international publications as one of the top litigation, arbitration and insolvency counsel in Asia and Singapore. While in practice, he regularly handled trial work in major corporate, commercial and insolvency disputes, malpractice suits and inquiries, and acted for senior government leaders in Singapore, including Singapore’s former Prime Ministers and the then Chief Justice.