Dr Karenne Tun is the Group Director of the National Biodiversity Centre and the Director of the Coastal and Marine Branch, National Parks Board (NParks). She joined NParks in 2013, after an 18-year ...
IUCN COMMISSION GROUP
IUCN SSC Singapore Species Specialist Group
Overview and description
The Singapore Species Specialist Group (SgSSG) is a newly established National Species Specialist Group under the IUCN SSC that is co-chaired by the National Parks Board (NParks) and the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM). It is envisaged as a platform to coordinate expertise across various taxonomic groups to facilitate periodic reviews of the Singapore Red Lists in support of biodiversity conservation in Singapore.
Group leadership
Dr Darren YEO
Dr Karenne TUN
Commission Member
Dr Karenne Tun is the Group Director of the National Biodiversity Centre and the Director of the Coastal and Marine Branch, National Parks Board (NParks). She joined NParks in 2013, after an 18-year circuit within academia, non-profit organisation and private environmental consultancy, during which time she obtained her PhD from the National University of Singapore where she focussed on developing tools for coral reef monitoring and management.
Karenne’s interest in the marine environment was ignited as an undergraduate, where, over the years, her fascination turned to concern at their rapid decline,
particularly within the region. Karenne subsequent work at NUS focussed on studying the impacts of anthropogenic activities on coral reefs, before moving onto
coordinating coral reef monitoring efforts in the Southeast Asian region, which she continues to do today.
Karenne’s current work at NParks covers issues related to the management and conservation of Singapore’s natural areas across the terrestrial and coastal and
marine environments, and the biodiversity they support. Her team spearheads a whole-of-government pilot to centralize Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) for development projects and is also responsible for managing Singapore’s first Marine Park - the Sisters’ Islands Marine Park. Together, they work closely with the wider stakeholder community to encourage responsible stewardship and sustainable use of our habitats and the biodiversity they support through various conservation, outreach, education and research programmes.
Karenne currently represents Singapore as one of 25 members of Group of Experts for the United Nations Regular Process for the 3 rd Cycle tasked to prepare the 3rd World Ocean Assessment (WOA3), which will be published by end 2025.