Sun Xueling - A Voice Of Change

Minister of State Sun Xueling is making the message of gender equality loud and clear.

- Adora Wong

Sun Xueling’s rise in the political sphere has been rapid: After leaving the finance industry, she made her political debut in the 2015 general election as part of a six-member PAP team contesting in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC. She then became a Member of Parliament representing the Punggol West ward and, in 2018, the Senior Parliament Secretary at the Ministries of Home Affairs and National Development. In 2020, she was promoted to Minister of State, and is currently Minister of State for both Social and Family Development, and Education.

But how did the 42-year-old become familiar with what the everyday person needs after years in the private sector? What made her want to go into politics? And as someone who actively advocates for levelling the playing field for women and protecting them from harm and violence, what does she think is the reason women here still aren’t getting the support we need?

Politics “was not part of the plan”

At her grandmother’s encouragement, Ms Sun started volunteering at Meet-the-People Sessions and grassroots events while attending university. She holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences in Economics from the National University of Singapore, and a Master of Science in International Political Economy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.