Introduction
Desmond Lee Ti-Seng (Chinese: 李智陞; pinyin: Lǐ Zhīshēng; born 15 July 1976) is a politician and lawyer from Singapore. A member of the country's governing People's Action Party (PAP), he is currently the Minister for Social and Family Development and Second Minister in the Ministry of National Development.
He has been a Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Jurong Group Representation Constituency since 2011, until he moved to West Coast Group Representation Constituency in 2020.
Career
After graduating from the National University of Singapore in 2001, Lee, served as a law clerk to a Justice of the Supreme Court of Singapore, before being appointed a Deputy Public Prosecutor in the Criminal Justice Division of the Attorney-General's Chambers.
From 2005 to 2009, Lee served as Deputy Director of the Legal Branch at Singapore's Ministry of Health. He transferred to the Ministry of Law, where he served as Deputy Director of the Legal Policy Division until 2011.
In March 2011, Lee joined Temasek Holdings as an Associate Director in the Legal and Regulations Department.
Political career
At the 2011 general election, Lee stood as a PAP candidate in the Jurong Group Representation Constituency (GRC). The PAP's team of five candidates in the GRC was elected, defeating the team from the National Solidarity Party by 76,595 votes (66.96%) to 37,786 (33.07%).
Following his election to Parliament, Lee served as a member of the Government Parliamentary Committees for Culture, Community and Youth, Home Affairs and Law, and Social and Family Development.
On 1 September 2013, Lee was appointed Minister of State for National Development.
At the 2015 general election, Lee was re-elected as an MP for Jurong GRC. The PAP team in the GRC won 79.3% of the votes cast. Following the election, Lee was appointed Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs and National Development. He was also appointed the Deputy Leader of the House in the Singapore Parliament.
On 11 September 2017, Lee relinquished his role as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister in the Ministry of Home Affairs. He was appointed Minister for Social and Family Development.
Education
Lee had his early education at Anglo-Chinese Junior School, Raffles Institution and Raffles Junior College, before going on to complete a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree at the National University of Singapore in 2001. In 2005, he completed a Masters degree (Bachelor of Civil Law) at University of Oxford.
Personal life and family
Lee is the son of Lee Yock Suan, who was a Member of Parliament from 1980 to 2006 and served in the Cabinet from 1987 to 2004.
Lee is married with three children.