Mr Er is currently an Executive Director of EASB Institute of Management. He is also an Independent Director for several public listed companies including China Essence Group Ltd, China Oilfield Technology Services Group Ltd, China Sky Chemical Fiber Co Ltd, COSCO Corporation (S) Ltd, Firstlink Investment Corporation Ltd, GKE International Ltd, Sun East Group Ltd, Thai Prime Fund Ltd, Unidux Electronics Ltd and Vita Holdings Ltd. A former Permanent Secretary in the Singapore Civil Service, he had served in various ministries before his retirement. He is currently the Chairman of the Toa Payoh Central Citizens Consultative Committee and a member of the Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council. A Colombo Plan and Bank of Tokyo Scholar, he obtained a first class honours degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Toronto, Canada, in 1970 and an MBA from the Manchester Business School, University of Manchester in 1978.