Vivian Balakrishnan was born in 1961. He was educated at the Anglo-Chinese School (1968-1977) and the National Junior College (1978-1979). In 1980, he was awarded the President’s Scholarship to study Medicine at the National University of Singapore.  He was elected President of the National University of Singapore Student’s Union (NUSSU) from 1981 to 1983, and Chairman of NUSSU in 1984/1985. Subsequently, he pursued post-graduate specialist training in Ophthalmology and was admitted as a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 1991.

Between 1993 and 1995, he worked at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. Upon his return, he was appointed Consultant Ophthalmologist at the Singapore National Eye Centre where he sub-specialised in Paediatric Ophthalmology. In January 1999, he assumed the post of Medical Director of the Singapore National Eye Centre. Subsequently, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Singapore General Hospital from June 2000 till December 2001.

From 1999 to 2001, he chaired the Specialist Training Committee, which was responsible for the accreditation and training programme for all ophthalmology trainees in Singapore. He was the principal investigator for several clinical research trials to control the progression of myopia in children.

He was a Council Member of the Singapore Medical Association (1998 to 2001), member of the National Library Board (1997 to 2001), member of the Singapore Broadcasting Authority Programmes Advisory Committee (1998 to 2000) and the National Volunteer Centre Committee (1999 to 2001).  He had significant exposure on national television, having been an active debater since the 70s, a host of the televised Singapore 21 series and presenter of health education programmes in the 90s. 

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan was the Commanding Officer of the 2nd Combat Support Hospital of the Singapore Armed Forces from November 1999 to January 2002.

In the 2001 General Election, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan was elected MP for Holland-Bukit Panjang GRC.  He was appointed Minister of State, (National Development) in January 2002 and Minister of State (Trade and Industry) in August 2003. He was also appointed Chairman of the “Remaking Singapore” committee in February 2002, and Chairman of the National Youth Council in July 2003. In August 2004, he was promoted to Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports and Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry. He became Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports as well as Second Minister for Trade and Industry in April 2005. He was also the Minister responsible for entrepreneurship.  In May 2006 General Election, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan was elected MP for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC. He was re-appointed Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports. In addition, he was also appointed Second Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts until March 2008.