Our Leaders
Dr. Adil M. Dhalla
Managing Director, START Centre and SG MEM (Singapore Membrane Consortium)
Dr Adil Dhalla is Managing Director, Separation Technologies Applied Research and Translation (START) Centre, funded by Singapore’s National Research Foundation, is a national facility for bridging the gap between research innovations and commercial outcomes. The START Centre’s mandate involves scaling up industrially relevant advanced separation technologies and processes from the various Institutions of Higher Learning and Research Institutes in Singapore, evaluating their efficacy at pilot scale, and commercializing them with industrial partners. Currently in its second phase, the START Centre has also been selected to lead an effort to find cutting-edge technologies with the potential to lower the system cost of seawater desalination, translate as needed to higher Technology Readiness Levels, and set up and operate a demonstration scale Integrated Validation Plant for testing the same at scale.
Dr Dhalla also leads SG MEM, Singapore’s Membrane Consortium. SG MEM functions as the umbrella organization coordinating innovation in the field of membranes across Institutions of Higher Learning, Research Institutes, and key Industry players, including polymer companies, membrane manufacturers, integrators, and systems level solution providers, as well as end users from pharma, food and beverage and refining.
He serves on the Water Technology Advisory Panel for PUB, Singapore’s national water agency.
Dr Dhalla is also Advisor, Nanyang Environmental and Water Research Institute (NEWRI) at Nanyang Technological University (NTU). Ranked among the world’s top water research organisations, NEWRI operates across the spectrum of Research, Innovation and Enterprise, providing a multi- and trans-disciplinary platform for some 250 researchers in the domains of Water, Waste, Wastewater, and the Energy-Water nexus.
With industrial experience spanning more than thirty years, including twenty eight years in management roles, his key areas of professional expertise include the leadership and operational management of large, multifunctional teams, strategic planning, R&D in product/process development and commercialization. He has co-authored more than 20 issued patents (US and EP), more than 30 GE internal reports and several publications in peer-reviewed international journals.
Ms. Goh Li May
Senior Engineering Manager, START Centre
Ms. Goh Li May is the Senior Engineering Manager of Separation Technologies Applied Research and Translation (START) Centre. In this role, she oversees the scale-up and translation of separation technologies with potential for commercialization. She has more than ten years of experience in membranes and separation technologies.
Prior to joining START, she was the Engineering Team Leader in the Water Technology Division of General Electric Inc, where she was responsible for research and technical improvement. In an earlier role, she was part of the turbine refurbishment team of the Power Systems Division of General Electric Inc.
Li May holds a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, in the United States of America, and a Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical) from the National University of Singapore.
Mr. Li Weikun Paul
Senior Engineering Manager, START Centre
Mr Li Weikun Paul is Senior Engineering Manager, Systems, at Separation Technologies Applied Research and Translation (START) Centre. He is currently leading a team of highly specialized professionals who are carrying out the validation of new technologies at D-IVP, overseen by the Technology Department, PUB, Singapore. In addition to D-IVP activities, Paul is also responsible for bridging between in-house lab development and scale-up functions to external testing, pilot trials, and eventually towards commercialization with industry partners, where applicable.
Paul has industrial experience spanning twenty years and has performed various functions in MNCs for mega-scale overseas water projects, which includes testing and commissioning, operation and maintenance. He also has experience in NEWater and seawater desalination, working on R&D, product development and testing.
Our Team
At the START Centre, our team is comprised of highly skilled professionals, most with extensive industrial experience in the field of separation and filtration technologies. Our diverse backgrounds and collective expertise enable us to bridge the gap between research innovations and commercial outcomes effectively. We pride ourselves on our strong industry connections and our ability to scale lab-scale inventions to market-ready solutions.
Together, our team’s strong industry background and dedication to innovation drive the START Centre’s mission to advance Singapore as a global membrane technology hub, developing solutions for global sustainability challenges.