JEYATHURAI AYADURAI
Director
Jeya read his degree in International History and Politics at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom. After his graduation, Jeya became a lecturer in Military History and International Relations at the former Department of Strategic Studies at the Singapore Command & Staff College, spending six years there.
In 1994, Jeya left his secure career in academia to pursue his dream of setting up his own history consultancy firm. Today that dream has become a reality, and more. Singapore History Consultants is not only one of Singapore’s premier research and consultancy house, over the years he has also helped establish four other companies that play a significant role in heritage and tourism in Singapore.
The Changi Museum and Journeys Tours and Travel Services (an award-winning travel agency) were established in 2001. They were followed by The Heritage Box (2003), a publishing arm. In 2010, iVenture Card (S) Pte Ltd became the latest to join this stable as the newest attractions pass discount card scheme for Singapore.
Tapping on his expertise in local and regional history, Jeya has been instrumental in developing SHC’s stable of educational programmes. He also has vast experience in research and consultancy work, having led SHC research teams on many high-profile national projects including the Chinatown Enhancement Project and the groundbreaking Historical Study of Labrador Park.
Over the years, Jeya has been a nominee and recipient of several national awards, including the ‘Special Recognition Award’ by the Singapore Tourism Board, which was awarded for his contributions to museum management, heritage and tourism.
Jeya currently sits on the Board of Governors for the Army Museum of Singapore and is a member on the United Nations Education Science and Culture Organisation (UNESCO) sub-commission on heritage.
SAVITA KASHYAP
Executive Director, Research and Educational Programmes
Creative, artistic and possessing a flair for the dramatic, Savita is SHC’s resident expert on all things cultural. Her curriculum vitae includes actress, assistant to a renowned artist in Abu Dhabi, award-winning tour guide, and banker at an international bank. Yet, it was with SHC that Savita found what she wanted to do with her life – a chance to indulge in her combined passions for history, art, heritage and culture.
During her 23 years at SHC, Savita has racked up a long list of accomplishments. Apart from copywriting, designing tours, conducting training programmes, and leading research projects, Savita is also the co-creator of The Original Singapore Walks® – a series of walking tours that delivered a shot in the arm to the local tourism industry when it was launched. Ever eager to marry her love for history and histrionics, Savita personally hosted some of these walking tours after they became available to the public. For her outstanding achievements as a vivid and exciting storyteller, Savita was awarded ‘Tourism Host of the Year – Tour Guiding’ in 2003 by the Singapore Tourism Board.
Currently the Head of Research and Educational Programmes at SHC, Savita oversees the day-to-day operations at the firm, harnessing her considerable experience in the consultancy and tourism industries to lead the SHC team. She also holds the concurrent position of Executive Director at Journeys Pte Ltd, the company that runs The Original Singapore Walks®.
Savita received her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the National University of Singapore. She is married to a former national cricket player, with whom she has two children.
JEYALETCHUMI S.
Director, Administration and Finance
Director of Administration and Finance, Jeya (no relation to the other Jeya) is the rock and foundation upon which SHC relies. Jeya is responsible for managing the overall office operations and finances of the firm. Known as the ‘pioneer staff’ at SHC, Jeya has been with the firm since it was established in the legendary cupboard-sized office in 1995. A firm believer in SHC’s mission to enthral with history, she has strengthened her commitment to SHC by becoming a partner of the firm.
Jeya has also been involved with some of SHC’s most prolific research and consultancy projects. She was one of the key personnel in setting up the administrative system at Changi Museum when SHC took over its maintenance in 2001. She also led the team in setting up an administrative system for SHC’s associate company, Journeys Pte Ltd in 2002.
Jeya has a passion in history that is akin to all of the SHC team. One of the perks she gets from her work is that her knowledge of history has grown over the years.
An ACCA degree holder with more than 15 years of accounting and management experience, Jeya’s experience with management began when she was merely a school child helping out with her father’s import and export business during many school holidays. These days, she prefers to spend her holidays travelling and she hopes to become a bona fide globetrotter one day.
RAZEEN CHAN
Director, Research and Consultancy
As Director for Research and Consultancy, Razeen is responsible for coordinating SHC’s consultancy projects and educational programmes. He has been a key component of the SHC research team since he joined it in 2002 to work on the final phase of the Historical Study of Labrador Park. An unassuming public speaker with a cheeky sense of humour, Razeen is also our training instructor, actively involved in the recruitment and training of tour facilitators for SHC and tourist guides for Journeys Pte Ltd, an associate company of SHC’s.
Beyond his desk work at SHC, Razeen is a licensed tour guide who specialises in tours about war history – a rare breed in Singapore. Over the years, Razeen’s quirky personality has won him many fans including the Singapore Tourism Board, which awarded him ‘Tourism Host of the Year – Tour Guiding’ in 2006.
Razeen held a concurrent position as Assistant Curator at The Changi Museum, an associate company of the firm. In 2005, he coordinated the curatorial team that revamped and introduced new exhibits to the Museum.
Not surprisingly, Razeen’s quiet and enduring passion has been history ever since he learned to read. His other interests range from the unconventional to the downright strange, including collecting old copies of The Straits Times and committing the entire street directory of Singapore to memory. He also boasts a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Economics, which he read at the University of Wollongong in New South Wales, Australia.
Prior to joining SHC, Razeen was an infantry officer with the Singapore Armed Forces for six years. Away from the office, Razeen shares his time between wife, two daughters and an entire library of books.