ByAshutosh Ravikrishnan |People - January 16, 2013
A man of diverse interests, Gopinath Pillai is currently the chairman of IT company Savant Infocomm but he has also been a journalist and an academic. He is also the chairman of the Institute of South Asian Studies.
Early Life
Growing up, Ambassador Pillai was deeply influenced by his family back in Kerala, India, who had participated in the struggle for independence from the British. With a desire to become a war journalist, Pillai joined the then-Universtiy of Malaya’s University Socialist Club, helping to produce a political monthly newsletter. He graduated from the university with a Bachelor of Arts in 1961.
Career
Pillai joined Reuters as a journalist. He then worked with Bangkok Bank and it was in Thailand that Pillai co-edited his first English language book, History of Banking in Thailand.
He went on to work in project finance, manufacturing, services, retail, education and logistics in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and India.
Pillai undertook several business endeavors but he is probably best known for his diplomatic work. He served at the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Foreign Affairs in the 1980s and was eventually picked to be Singapore’s first Non-Resident Ambassador to Iran in 1990. He held this position for 18 years till 2008.
Pillai was also subsequently appointed Ambassador-at-Large by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and further served as Singapore’s High Commissioner to Pakistan.
Pillai is also founding Chairman of NTUC Fairprice Co-Operative Ltd from 1983 to 1993 and acted as the deputy chairman of Ang Mo Kio-Thye Hua Kwan hospital.
Awards
Pillai has received many awards in his lifetime. Notable mentions include the 2012 Padma Shri Award from the Government of India for his outstanding contribution to trade and industry, the Distinguished Alumni Service Award from the National University of Singapore and the National Day Award in 2009. In 2001, he was awarded the Friend of IT award from the Singapore Computer Society;
Pillai also received the 1999 Public Service Star Award, BBM and the 1998. Friend of MCD award from Singapore’s Ministry of Community Development and Sports.
Pillai has also won several awards for his work in the labour industry, including the Friend of Labour award and the Meritorious award, both from the NTUC.
Personal Life
Gopinath Pillai is married with four children.
References and Image:NUS &ISAS
This biography will be updated regularly.
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