Bachelor (Honours) in Engineering Science and Economics, University of Oxford; Masters in Public Administration, Harvard University; attended Advanced Management Programme, Harvard Business School.

BG(NS) Tay is the Chief Executive Officer of Keppel Integrated Engineering Ltd, appointed with effect from 1 January 2011. He is also Head, Sustainable Development, of Keppel Group.

Prior to joining Keppel Group, BG(NS) Tay served in the Singapore Administrative Service as Deputy Secretary (Development) in the Ministry of National Development (MND). Before that, he was the Chief Executive of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), where he was also a Board Member of the Singapore Maritime Foundation, Centre of Maritime Studies (NUS), Tropical Marine Science Institute (NUS), a Member of Class NK Singapore Committee and a Vice President of the International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH).

BG(NS) Tay held various key appointments in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), including Director of Joint Intelligence Directorate, 6th Division Commander and Assistant Chief of General Staff (Operations). He was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Gold) (Military).

His directorships include Keppel Seghers Engineering Singapore Pte Ltd, Keppel Seghers Belgium NV, Keppel Infrastructure Fund Management Pte Ltd, Keppel DHCS Pte Ltd, Keppel FMO Pte Ltd, Keppel Sea Scan Pte Ltd, Keppel Prince Engineering Pty Ltd, GE Keppel Energy Services Pte Ltd, EM Services Pte Ltd, Singapore Tianjin Eco-City Investment Holdings Pte Ltd and Keppel Land China Limited. He is a Council Member of the Singapore Water Association.