Resume

Contact Information

Name : Maria Leong

Contact : 9006-1903

Nationality : Singaporean

Overview

Well versed in bridging business requirements with IT aspects, I work closely with clients and guide them with their technology needs.

More than 20 years in the IT industry. Experienced in Project Management and Consulting, Business Development, Client Servicing, Website Development, Applications Development, Data Migration, Network Infrastructure, IT Security, Vendor Management, Equipment and Software Sourcing / Purchasing, Auditing, Legal Matters.

Currently with a Charity to manage the IT infrastructure, applications and support for it's satellite locations and parent body locations.

The largest mini-banking system I have project managed is valued at S$2.4 million, with excess of $400K recurring costs annually. The greatest challenge in this implementation was my ability to extract and decipher legacy data direct from servers, without vendor support and data schema, armed with screwdrivers and a hard disk data extractor. My performance is consistently of high quality as demonstrated by the bonuses awarded by management. I received a special bonus and referral after completion of the project.

At DP Credit Bureau, I was involved in setting up the Credit Bureau and running the client servicing team. My involvement included maintaining close relations with the banks, design of the reports, setting up of processes for both internal and external operations, loading of data, storefront set-up and compliance audit. The Credit Bureau was successfully launched with Gold Case Trust certification. My excellent performance and commitment was recognized with a special bonus after 2 months of employment and an early confirmation.

Prior to that, I was with Prudential working on product development. I am well-versed with both the front and back-end IT operations. In particular, the critical 24x7 quotation system which is used by more than 3000 advisers island-wide. My unit was awarded the CEO award for excellence.

Flexibility, Detail and Dedication are my strengths. I enjoy working with people from diverse backgrounds, and enjoy working in a challenging environment.

Scope of Duties with Current Employer (Mar 2019 - Now):

Digital Transformation masterplan owner
Information Technology expenditure budgeting, tracking
Vendor management, contractual requirements
Network infrastructure, hardware management such as cabling, access points, servers, firewall, UPS, switch, VPN
Audit and compliance
Application systems sourcing, RFP, implementation
Handholding users to build their Analytics dashboard
Deployment of resources, and End-user helpdesk

Achievements at Current Employment:

Rectifications to infrastructure:
- Stabilised domain due to missing cname definition
- Rectified laptops/desktops with inaccessible admin accounts
- Broadband subscribed for years and not used
- Proper rack mount, cabling
- Wifi blindspots rectified with proper location of access points
- Cloud wifi with seamless transition for users on the move
- Consolidation and migration of domains/emails to Office 365

Enhancements to infrastructure
- Digital transformation masterplan
- Implemented 2-factor authentication
- Implemented VPN infrastructure for healthcare system
- Set-up infrastructure for Firewall integrated with End-Point protection (Checkpoint), cloud access points (Juniper Mist)
  - Any end-user machine using the network and flagged by firewall will be addressed by in-house support
- Laptops are remote managed (Action1) with monitoring tools which push down security patches
- Anti-phishing implementation, phishing campaigns (Barracuda)

Applications
- Facilitated implementations for Healthcare, HR, Finance, Donors, Volunteers, (Capex 1.1m, Opex 400K+ Funded first 3 years)
- Replaced old healthcare system - Saved 80K annually
- AAC system is in progress. Support and data migration (Talend)
- Handholding users to build their dashboards (Qlik). Support data extraction/cleansing (Talend)

Compliance/Audit framework

Set-up of processes, compliance and audit framework
DPTM (Data Protection Trust Mark)
IT legal matters

Regulatory Agencies Engagement
- NCSS DAI (Digital Acceleration Index) - 2021 Score of 21, improved to 2023 Score of 59 (Digital Performer). SG Social Service - Average score is 23 (Digital Starter)
- Featured in NCSS IDPSS (Industry Digital Plan for Social Services) 2025-2027, Chapter 2 - Building a digital ready work-force

Operations
- Support for daily operations
- Staff coaching and development
- Business Continuity Planning
- Text to speech Videos for user education and compliance training with Speechify and powerpoint.
- Costs review and management, budgeting
- Management of vendors

Scope of Duties with SNCF (Apr 2011-Mar 2019):

To implement and provide support for the mini-banking system with co-operatives for their Thrift and Loan business.
To support SNCF internal operations, mainly IT, and to support co-operatives with their IT needs.
Work with Co-operatives, auditors, legal, vendors and various stakeholders for all aspects of IT projects / enhancements.
Handhold co-operatives through procurement, vendor management, system implementation inclusive of data extraction, interpretation, migration, testing.
Management and smooth resolution of feedback, requests, operations, systems, legal and billing issues.

Achievements at SNCF:

Implementation and support of the mini-banking system with co-operatives for their Thrift & Loan System.

Migrating legacy systems and providing guidance to vendors for dbase and foxpro systems to new platforms.

Data Extraction and mapping of schema for legacy systems without vendor support.

Providing consultancy, support and resolution of technical and legal issues for both SNCF and co-operatives.

Management was very appreciative of contribution and awarded a special bonus and referral at end of project.

Scope of Duties with DP Information Network Pte Ltd (Nov 2007-Apr 2011):

Business Development.
Client relationship management.
Client retention and growth.
Management and smooth resolution of feedback, requests, operations, systems and billing issues.
Call center management.
Customer Training.
Set-up and maintenance of Credit Bureau.
Storefront, website and internal workflow setup.
Data migration.
Gold CaseTrust and external compliance audit.
Project Management.
Organisation of major events like Chinese New Year Laixi Basket, Secretary Week, Customer Day event, Mooncake Festival, etc.

Achievements at DP Information Group

Successful launch of DP Credit Bureau operations within 5 months

- Design, build, UAT, implement the IT systems and website

- Import of Bank’s data and set-up channels for data error resolution

- Design of Credit Bureau reports

- Set-up storefront

- Conduct training, and provide support for enquiries and feedback.

Gold Case Trust certification for DP Credit Bureau Storefront and Webfront.

External audit report on operations submitted and approved by MAS prior to implementation.

Successful bids for tenders and providing guidance to implementation team

- Source and negotiation with partners

- Preparation of proposal and presentation

- Guidance and inputs to the implementation team.

Management of 7 staff to support

- Customer channels - Hotline, email, fax, correspondence

- Customer retention, training, usage monitoring, renewals, cross-sell and up-sell and new sales

- Resolution for feedback, requests, operations, system and billing issues.

Product development of Credit Products and constant enhancements to website.

Organised the proposal and gifting for Chinese New Year Laixi Basket, Secretary Week, Mooncake Festival.

Organised and hosted the annual Customer Appreciation event.

Scope of Duties as an Internet Marketeer (Sep 2006-Oct 2007):

1) Evaluation of product profitability and marketing.

2) Running Advermania.com marketing website.

Advermania Safelist
Zen shopping cart
Internet marketing newsletter

3) Running of SubmitAutopilot website.

Search Engine Optimisation
Search Engine submission services
FFA submission services

4) Running MyEZSlim.com slimming website.

Weight loss newsletter
Blog

Achievements in Internet Marketing

Set-up of Advermania Safelist which currently has close to 500 members. Customisations to script and moving payment options to Zen shopping cart for all purchases. Population of Zen cart with products.

Running of Search Engine Optimisation website and providing submission services.

Advertising of Advermania website, safelists, traffic exchange, banner exchange, ad boards, FFA, Adwords, SEO engine submissions, ppc, etc.

Running 2 newsletters, Internet marketing and Weight loss.

Scope of Duties with Prudential (Dec 2001-Sep2006):

1) Product feasibility, development and launch

Working closely with users on product design, backroom operations

and process changes, MIS reporting requirements, launch schedule

and resources, quality assurance, development, customer issues.

2) Working with vendors for outsourced projects

Budget, cost benefit analysis, request for Information, request for

proposal, negotiations, vendor recommendation, contract award,

project kick-off and resources, development (SDLC), quality

assurance, schedule and milestone management, payment.

3) Supporting Users (24x7)

Business Process Re-engineering, new processes, software/

technical issues (internal users and 3000+ external users

islandwide 24 x 7).

4) System Enhancements / Integration to other systems

Enhancements to current IT infrastructure to better support

users, system integration, data cleansing and migration.

5) Management of Staff

Manage the welfare of reporting staff. Recruitment, motivation, benefits, appraisal, compensation, training.

6) Company Events Organisation

Organised company events – Amazing Race 2003,

PruChallenge – Teams, The Winning Formula 2005

Achievements at Prudential

An average of 12 product launches per year, involving full SDLC cycles. Areas of development expertise include both the front-end quotation system, integration and data transfer to back-end AS/400 system. As I was well-versed with both front-end, and back-end systems and business knowledge, I was able to represent IT and work well with the product development team.

System enhancements, business process re-engineering, new processes to cater for new business requirements / enhancements.

For outsourced projects, budgeting, RFI, RFP, negotiations, vendor recommendation, contract award, project kick-off and resources, development (SDLC cycles), quality assurance, schedule and milestone management, payment.

Working with both local and cross border teams, and vendors.

Team size management for both local and cross border teams average 10-20 members.

24x7 Support to advisers and users for both business and IT related issues.

Successful re-development and support of the quotation system which is highly critical to the 3000+ advisers who use it 24x7 islandwide. This system requires accuracy on premiums quoted to clients as these are valid for the lifetime of the policies.

The Prudential CEO award for team excellence – Accuraccy Improvements and productivity savings.

Designation of Fellow, Life Management Institute (FLMI) awarded by LOMA Financial Services Education.

Organised 2 major company events. One event, being an outdoor race along Orchard, ending with dinner at the Four Seasons Hotel.

Scope of Duties with Delteq (Jun 2000-Dec 2001):

1) Leading the Workflow & Imaging Team

Research, building up technical expertise of team, management of

relations with business partners.

2) Pre-Sales Activities

Solutioning, government tenders, customer relations,

proposals, pricing, schedule planning, demos, presentations.

3) Project Management/Service Delivery

Management of software implementations and servicing of customers.

4) System Operations and Support

Management of equipment set-up, maintenance contract servicing.

5) Staff Management.

Achievements at Delteq

Built good relations with business partners and obtained special discounts.

Participated in numerous pre-sales activities and tenders with sales team.

Established procedures and templates for pre-sales activities, thereby greatly reducing time required for preparations. Reviewed procedures used for maintenance contract and provided clients with more detailed information regarding health of servers.

Motivated team to improve technical abilities and started FileNET certification programme. Engaged FileNET education to conduct courses for staff.

Panagon 2000 (IDMDS) Sales Certified (FILENET workflow/imaging).

Scope of Duties with IDA (Sep 1997-Jun 2000):

1) Heading Lotus Notes Applications Development

- Plan, develop and initiate enterprise wide Lotus Notes implementation

-Cost justify, budget, call for quotations, recommend solutions and manage outsourced projects

-Keep track of industry developments and write technical articles to upgrade user knowledge.

2) Project management of Ministry of Law HQ computerization needs

-Plan, develop, initiate enterprise wide computerisation

-Cost justify, budget, call for quotations, recommend solutions and manage outsourced projects

-Provide consultancy on all computer related areas to users.

3) IT Security

-Co-ordinator representing the corporation in compliance to IDA’s security standards.

-Define the organisational baseline security standards

-Formulate procedures and policies.

-Seek approval from senior management for deviations from IDA’s security standards

-Respond to auditor queries and audit reports

-Conduct security review/audit for operating system, applications and process

-Enhance user knowledge in security by writing articles.

Achievements at IDA

Set out the IT security infrastructure for the organization.

Implemented several office automation / lotus notes applications and conducted mass training. One of which was for Parliamentary Q&A. This software was subsequently presented to various ministries and I assisted the co-ordinators to install the software at these sites for usage.

Scope of Duties with Port of Singapore Authority (Jul 1992-Aug 1997):

1) IT enhancements in the Financial Business area as Project Leader

-Planning and software development

-Streamlining of processes

-User support and MIS reporting

-Downsizing, data conversion, testing, vendor management, progress tracking.

Achievements at PSA

Familiarity with the financial business area

Employment History

Mar 2019 - Now Sasco Senior Citizens’ Home Head, IT

Apr 2011-Mar 2019 Singapore National Co-operative Federation (SNCF) Manager (Shared Services)

Nov 2007-Apr 2011 DP Information Network Pte Ltd Manager

Sep 2006-Oct 2007 Self-Employed Internet Marketeer

Dec 2001-Sep2006 Prudential Assurance Company Singapore (Pte) Ltd Project Manager

Jun 2000-Dec 2001 Delteq Systems Pte Ltd Applications Consultant

Sep 1997-Jun 2000 InfoComm Development Authority IT Consultant

Jul 1992-Aug 1997 Port of Singapore Authority Programmer/Analyst

Educational Qualifications

Google Google IT Support Professional Certificate

Introduction to Data Visualization in Qlik Sense

1992-1995 Bachelor of Business Information Technology, University of Southern Queensland

1990-1992 Diploma in Programming/ Analysis, Japan-Singapore Institute of Software Technology

1988-1989 GCE ‘A’ Levels, Catholic Junior College

1984-1987 GCE ‘O’ Levels, Willow Avenue Secondary

1978-1983 PSLE, Whampoa Primary School

Summary of Technology knowledge

Administrator - Office 365, Corp Pass, infoCARE Healthcare system, Sophos Firewall, Endpoint, Ruckus Wifi, RMM (N-Able)

For platforms, I have used Windows, Unix, Mainframe MVS, AS/400 Smart, Notes Domino.

For databases, I have used Oracle, SQL, Lotus Notes, VSAM, Ingress, Adabas, Flat files, AS/400 Smart Files, DB2e

For development, I have used HTML, Javascript, SQL, PL/SQL, Lotus Notes application development and Scripting, Powerbuilder, Visual Basic, HTML, Dbase IV, Clipper, Pascal, Basic, Fortran, Cobol, CICS, Natural, Easytrieve Plus, JCL, RPG, C, Java, XML, Oracle Developer 2000, Natural, Easytrieve, Easytrieve Plus, Elixir Reports

Office automation tools used include Microsoft Office Internet Explorer/Netscape Navigator, MS Visio, MS Project, Paint, Lotus Notes, Biometrics Fingerprint Facial recognition technology

Dashboard tools Qlik, Talend

Network tools Checkpoint Firewall, Endpoint, Juniper Mist, Barracuda, Action1

I am also experienced with Safelistprox script, FTP, Cpanel, Fantastico, Joomla, Wordpress, Oscommerce, Zen Shopping Cart, Oracle Financial Systems, Oracle OLAP, Oracle Reports, Impromptu; Panagon FileNET suite of products on workflow, imaging, document Management and COLD; Ascent Capture; Teleform and Pericom 2000.

I am Panagon 2000 (IDMDS) Sales Certified; trained in FileNET Imaging Service and Content Service Installation and System Administration; and Visual Workflow Installation. I have passed the exams for eProcess, Report Manager, Visual Workflow sales certification, and Image Service System Administration certification. Courses completed at Udemy include Project Management.