Big Questions

How can an integrated approach across water systems build a more climate-resilient Singapore?

Meet Chow Shu Yi. Shu Yi takes a cross disciplinary approach to protecting Singapore’s coastlines and communities from growing climate pressures.
Water
Chow Shu Yi
Senior Engineer, Environmental
Aerial view of Sungei Buloh mangrove nature reserve in Singapore

Protecting a low‑lying, highly urbanized island nation like Singapore requires more than traditional engineering  — it requires an integrated, system-wide approach that understands how coastal defenses, drainage networks, stormwater systems and water supply intersect. 

That’s where Jacobs’ Senior Environmental Engineer Chow Shu Yi plays a pivotal role.

With more than 14 years of experience across coastal resilience, stormwater management, drainage improvement and major water infrastructure projects, Shu Yi brings a unique cross‑disciplinary perspective to some of Singapore’s most urgent climate challenges. She bridges coastal science, water engineering and urban resilience to shape climate‑ready solutions that protect communities and adapt to tomorrow’s uncertainty.

She has taken on key roles in national‑level coastal protection and flood mitigation projects, contributing to feasibility assessments, long‑term adaptation planning and detailed hydraulic and hydrological modeling. Her work spans coastal barrier systems, coastal reservoir studies and large-scale drainage upgrades.

She played a key role in delivering Singapore's Active Beautiful and Clean (ABC) Waters enhancement projects that blend engineering with ecology to create greener, more resilient waterways. Along with coastal resilience and stormwater management, Shu Yi has been instrumental in designing several of Singapore’s mega wastewater infrastructure projects, including PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency’s New Kranji Water Reclamation Plant Tuas Water Reclamation Plant and Changi Water Reclamation Plants, specializing in early stages of wastewater treatment. 

Today, as Singapore advances major coastal protection initiatives, Shu Yi’s integrated approach continues to shape the next generation of water and climate‑resilient infrastructure.