Lawrence Wong

On 27 January 2020, it was announced that Wong, along with Minister for Health, Gan Kim Yong, will co-chair COVID-19 Multi-Ministerial Task Force (MTF) to combat the COVID-19 situation.

On 26 March 2020, while paying tribute to frontline workers in Singapore helping in the country's fight against the COVID-19 virus, he turned emotional and teared while delivering his address. He thanked healthcare workers, as well as those working in cleaning, transport and security sectors for providing much-needed services to keep Singapore going during this difficult time.

As the Minister of MCCY, Wong was involved in the transformation of Singapore’s Civic District – the birthplace of modern Singapore, containing many institutions that have witnessed important turning points in Singapore’s history. In August 2015, the National Arts Council attracted criticisms over the high consultation fees paid for a bin centre, as flagged by the Auditor-General's Office. Lawrence Wong addressed the issue in parliament saying that the project was at acceptable cost due to the need for extensive study of the location and technicality involved with the building of the refuse centre in the Civic District.

During the National Day Rally on 21 August 2016, it was announced that Wong will also be appointed Second Minister for Finance. On 29 Aug 2016, Wong stepped down from the board of Monetary Authority of Singapore, replaced by Ong Ye Kung.

In August 2015, it was reported that Wong would be contesting in the Marsiling-Yew Tee Group Representation Constituency for the Singaporean General Election, 2015. His GRC team won against the Singapore Democratic Party with 68.7% of the votes.

Wong was also the Chairman of the Steering Committee for the 2015 Southeast Asian Games. Singapore’s performance of 259 medals was its best ever showing in Southeast Asian Games history. Wong had also announced several key initiatives to get more Singaporeans involved in sports. This includes a national movement called ActiveSG, which gives all Singaporeans and Permanent Residents ActiveSG$100 to sign up for sports programmes, and enter into swimming pools and gyms at the various Sports Centres island-wide.

Wong also chairs the Singapore High Performance Sports Steering Committee, which provides strategic guidance on identifying and nurturing high performing sporting talents. Wong said that the accomplishments of Singapore athletes at the 2015 Southeast Asian Games indicate that Singapore’s investment in sports is paying off.

On 28 September 2015, it was announced that Wong will be the Minister of National Development from 1 October 2015. He also chairs the steering committee for the development of Jurong Lake Gardens.

On 1 May 2014, he was appointed Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) & Second Minister for Communications and Information. He is also a member of the PAP's Central Executive Committee. Wong was also appointed as the Head of the SG50 Programme Office that coordinates the work of five Committees for the nation’s Golden Jubilee Year celebrations. Wong is also the Co-Chair for the SG50 Culture and Community Committee.

Wong led a team to bid for the Singapore Botanic Gardens to be recognised as Singapore’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Wong also spearheaded the free museum entry policy for all Singaporeans and permanent residents, to all national museums and heritage institutions from 18 May 2013. In 2013, Wong also announced the setting up of a new $100 million National Youth Fund for youth to champion community and social causes.

Wong was educated at Haig Boys' Primary School, Tanjong Katong Secondary School and Victoria Junior College, before going on to the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the United States where he completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics in 1993. He subsequently obtained a Master of Arts degree in Economics at the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor, and a Master of Public Administration degree from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

On 1 November 2012, he was appointed Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information.

Wong was elected to Parliament at the 2011 general election representing West Coast Group Representation Constituency. On 21 May 2011, he was appointed a Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Education. Wong was also appointed to the Board of Directors of the Monetary Authority of Singapore on 10 June 2011. On 1 August 2012, he was appointed a Senior Minister of State for Ministry of Information, Communications & the Arts and Senior Minister of State for Education.

In 2008, Wong became the Chief Executive of Singapore's Energy Market Authority.

From 2005 to 2008, Wong served as the Principal Private Secretary to Singapore's Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong.

Wong began his career as a civil servant at the Ministry of Trade and Industry. He served as the Ministry's Assistant Director (Research and Planning) from 1997 to 1999, as a secretary to Ong Teng Cheong (who was Singapore's first elected President). He then moved to the Ministry of Finance, where he served as Assistant Director (Fiscal Policy) from 1999 to 2001, before becoming the Deputy Director (Budget) and Head of Economic Programmes. In 2004, he moved to the Ministry of Health as the Director of Healthcare Finance.

Lawrence Wong Shyun Tsai MP (born 18 December 1972) is a Singaporean politician serving as Minister for National Development and Second Minister of Finance since 2015 and 2016 respectively. A member of the governing People's Action Party, he has previously held appointments in Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Communications and Information and the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth. He has been a Member of Parliament (MP) since 2011 representing West Coast GRC from 2011 to 2015 and Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC since 2015. Wong is a member of the fourth-generation leadership of the PAP.