Christopher Tan is the Programme Lead for the Graduate Certificates in Fire Dynamics and Fire Modelling and Fire Engineering Practice at the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), where he also serves as a Principal Professional Officer. With over 40 years of experience spanning both the public and private sectors, Christopher brings a deep well of knowledge and leadership to the academic group, championing professional standards and competency development in fire safety for the built environment.

Prior to joining SIT, Christopher dedicated 35 years to the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), where he held multiple senior leadership positions, including Director of the Fire Safety & Shelter Department, Director of the Civil Defence Academy (CDA), and Commander of the 4th Civil Defence Division. His tenure at SCDF saw him spearhead national-level policies, regulations, and standards in fire safety, most notably as the Chair of the first interactive web-based Fire Code 2018 and the Singapore Fire Engineering Guidelines committees. He played a key role in introducing the performance-based fire engineering framework in 2001, which marked a pivotal evolution in Singapore's fire safety regulatory landscape.

As Director of FSSD, Christopher oversaw critical regulatory functions—ranging from policy formulation to professional practice enforcement—while also serving as the Singapore Government’s Senior Consultant to the State of Qatar. His leadership at CDA further shaped his strengths in education and training, experiences he now leverages in guiding SIT’s academic and industry-engagement strategies.

Christopher also brings significant industry insights from his time at Surbana Jurong, where he headed the fire consultancy unit. There, he contributed to numerous high-profile, complex projects both locally and abroad, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams across various sectors and regions.

He holds a Master in Fire Safety Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Building. A Fellow of the Institution of Fire Engineers (UK), Christopher is an active figure in the professional community. He currently serves in leadership and advisory roles in the Institution of Fire Engineers Singapore, Real Estate Developers of Singapore, and various national committees with the Ministry of Home Affairs and Singapore Environment Council. 

He was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 2015 for his distinguished public service, amongst other MHA and SCDF awards.  With a proven blend of operational experience, academic leadership, and professional expertise, Christopher continues to drive excellence and innovation in fire safety engineering education and practice.