Introduction of Profile:
When Lim Zhao Xiong began his career as a research assistant, he never imagined that one day he would be advising one of Singapore’s leading medical faculties. Today, as an Assistant Manager at Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS), Zhao Xiong helps to safeguard the faculty’s people, reputations and operations, while nurturing a culture of awareness and preparedness across departments.
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A Leap of Faith into a New Field
With a background in Science, Zhao Xiong initially revolved only around research when he was during his university education. But over time, he realised that his curiosity lay elsewhere –– understanding current affairs and how organisations respond to uncertainty.
“I didn’t want to be confined in the lab the whole day. I was making sense of the world and was always fascinated by current affairs and international relations, and I wanted to apply that understanding in a practical way.”
That motivation led Zhao Xiong to pursue a Master’s in International Relations at S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), a turning point that paved his entry into Risk Management.
It was also during this period that he discovered his passion for helping people and managing risk on a global scale.
Protecting People, Not Just Assets
After completing his Master’s degree, Zhao Xiong joined the International SOS as a Security Specialist, where he spent over three years managing travel risk and crisis response.
His work involved monitoring real-time geopolitical and environmental developments, providing risk briefings, and coordinating on-the-ground support during emergencies.
“I still remember handling my first major crisis — the floods in central Malaysia and later Typhoon Odette in Cebu,” he said. “It was stressful, but our role was clear: to provide accurate, timely information so that our clients could protect their employees.”
From validating security providers to arranging executive protection for business travellers, Zhao’s role demanded quick thinking, precision, and empathy. “Every situation is different. We had to understand the context, what the client truly needed, and deliver under pressure. That’s where I learnt that risk management isn’t just about policies — it’s about people.”
Building Risk Awareness in Higher Education
Today, Zhao Xiong applies the same principles at NUS Medicine, where he is one half of a lean but impactful two-person risk management team. His job scope includes enterprise risk management, business continuity planning and crisis preparedness, with a strong emphasis on awareness and stakeholder engagement.
“What I do in my role daily is to help staff and key business units identify the risks that the faculty might face. We advise them on policies, develop response plans and conduct exercises to sharpen crisis response. Ultimately, it’s about building a culture where risk awareness becomes second nature.”
He compares his work to consulting internally, advising departments on their own frameworks while ensuring alignment with NUS’s broader risk and crisis management policies.
Challenges and Lessons Learned
“I’m not a social butterfly, but I’ve learnt that relationships are everything in this role. Understanding how people prefer to be engaged helps me communicate risk in ways that resonate with them.”
Zhao Xiong mentioned that he faces two challenges, one is interpersonal relations, and secondly expectations from stakeholders.
However, he also acknowledges the importance of balance, between striving for excellence and accepting that perfection is impossible in a world defined by uncertainty.
“Sometimes, stakeholders may not expect much from you, but you hold yourself to higher standards. I’ve learnt to take feedback, improve where I can, and remind myself that doing my best is enough.”
Looking ahead, Zhao Xiong hopes to advance into a supervisory role where he can mentor younger professionals and share his real-world insights.
“I want to continue helping people and protecting what matters, whether it’s an organisation’s reputation, its people or its mission.”
Advice for Aspiring Risk Managers
Zhao Xiong’s advice to those young professionals in risk management is to stay curious.
“Be curious about the things happening around you. Curiosity keeps you learning.”
He also emphasised the importance of resilience and learning from mistakes.
“In risk management, unforeseen situations will happen. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes, and that is how you will learn. Each incident teaches you how to handle the next one better.”
