Orient Issue 65

Orient

Building Networks Connecting Business Creating Opportunities WWW.BRITCHAM.ORG.SG

MCI(P) 068/10/2017

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE - SINGAPORE

SPECIAL FEATURE

ISSUE 65

ISSN 0219-1245

9 770219 124002

65

15

JARDINES RAISES S$394,000 FOR MENTAL HEALTH CHARITY, MINDSET

19

IN FOCUS: VICTORIA HOGG, GENERAL MANAGER, APAC, SCOTT DUNN

ISSUE 65 / MAR 18

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Building Networks Connecting Business Creating Opportunities

6

Contents

09

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

10

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE SPECIAL FEATURES

15

Jardines Raises S$394,000 for Mental Health Charity, MINDSET

19

In Focus: Victoria Hogg, General Manager, APAC, Scott Dunn

FEATURES 25

InfraCo Asia: A Sustainable Model for Infrastructure Development

28

Optimism and Turbulence in 2018

32

Achieving Commercial Success While Fulfilling Your Organisational Purpose

36

So, What Do You Do, Exactly?

43

The Art and Science Of Making Memories

46

10 Tips for Your Personal Branding in the Year of the Dog

49

2nd Annual Celebrating Diversity Photo Competition

AT THE CHAMBER 58

Britain in Southeast Asia News

60

Business Group News

62

Business Services News

64

BritCham New Members

66

Sterling News

69

Corporate News

72

Members’ Offers

74

Events

W W W. B R I T C H A M . O R G . S G

British Chamber of Commerce, Singapore, Sponsors GOLD AND DIVERSITY SPONSOR

GOLD SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSORS

SUPPORTING PARTNER

BRITCHAM BOARD: PRESIDENT: Bicky Bhangu: Rolls-Royce Singapore VICE-PRESIDENTS: Damian Adams: Simmons & Simmons Sian Brown: Barclays Bank PLC SECRETARY: Cecilia Handel: Tanglin Trust School Ltd TREASURER: Veronica McCann: Manulife US Real Estate Mgmt Pte Ltd BOARD MEMBERS: James Nesbitt: Standard Chartered Bank Richard Warburton: Arcadis Annabel Moore: Diageo Singapore Pte Ltd Haslam Preeston: Jardine Cycle & Carriage Limited David Pugh: The Fry Group Mark Chowdhry: Baxters International Andrew Vine: The Insight Bureau Andrew Pickup: Microsoft Asia Chris Reed: Black Marketing — Enabling LinkedIn For You Robert Williams: British Airways Damian Hills: The British Club COMMITTEES: Business Group: Richard Warburton Events: Sian Brown External Affairs: Bicky Bhangu Membership: Damian Adams

Editor: Lucy Haydon lucy@britcham.org.sg

Orient is a quarterly magazine published by the British Chamber of Commerce, Singapore.

Co-Editor: Nicole Alison Lim alison@britcham.org.sg

© All rights reserved.

39 Robinson Road #11-03 Robinson Point Singapore 068911 Tel: +65 6222-3552 Fax: +65 6222-3556 Email: info@britcham.org.sg www.britcham.org.sg

The views and opinions expressed or implied in Orient are those of the authors or contributors and do not reflect those of the British Chamber of Commerce, its officers or editorial staff. No reproduction of articles without the prior permission of the Chamber. Unsolicited transparencies and articles are sent at owner’s risk

BUSINESS GROUP CHAIRPERSONS: Built Environment: Marius Toime (Chairperson), Rick Hancock (Co-Chair) Diversity & Inclusion: Stephen Trevis (Chairperson), Nella Goodarzi (Chairperson) Energy & Utilities: Tim Rockell (Chairperson), Bree Miechel (Co-Chair) Entrepreneur & Small Business: Jonathan O'Byrne (Chairperson), Miles Gooseman (Chairperson), Mark Florance (Co-Chair) Financial & FinTech: Ashley Jones (Chairperson), Nick Barlow (Co-Chair) InfoComm Technology: Andrew Pickup (Chairperson), Magda Chelly (Co-Chair), Hitan Mehta (Co-Chair) Leadership, Talent & Professional Development: Chris J Reed (Chairperson), Mark Chowdhry (Co-Chair), Joe Tofield (Co-Chair) Marketing & Creative: Beatrice Seilern (Chairperson), Chris J Reed (Co-Chair) Sustainability & Responsibility: Rosie Danyluk (Chairperson), Sarah Cragg (Co-Chair) Transport, Logistics & Supply Chain: Simon Petch Women in Business: Angel Cheung Young Professionals: Joe Tofield MANAGEMENT TEAM Executive Director: Olivia Widen Deputy Executive Director: Lucy Haydon Membership Manager: Nicole Wharfe Membership Administrator: Sharmila Maniam Marketing & Communications Executive: Nicole Alison Lim Senior Events Manager: Zoe Fazan Events Manager: Sophie Gowing Finance Manager: Pauline Yeo Business Services Manager: Carole McCarthy Senior Business Services Advisor: Nico Putri Safari Business Services Advisor: Jessie Or Office Administration Executive: Anna C Garciso

and the Chamber accepts no liability for loss or damage. Copy is not for sale and images belong to their respective owners. They are for illustrative purposes only, and no copyright infringement is intended.

Designed by:

www.johnbrownnovus.com

Contact: Simon Cholmeley, Simon.Cholmeley@johnbrownnovus.com Design: Erika Wong, Erika.Wong@johnbrownnovus.com Khairunnisa, Khai.Anis@johnbrownnovus.com Creative Services: Kwan Gek Lian, GekLian.Kwan@johnbrownnovus.com Pearlyn Kwan, Pearlyn.Kwan@johnbrownnovus.com

DID YOU KNOW that Eden Hall, the British High Commissioner’s Residence in Singapore, is available for hire by organisations promoting UK business, UK organisations or UK interests?

The British Chamber of Commerce Singapore can help you organise a range of events from smaller dinners to large receptions.

The flexible space can also be configured for seminars, presentations and to showcase products.

For more information, please contact Carole McCarthy at carole@britcham.org.sg

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President’s Message

W W W. B R I T C H A M . O R G . S G

Dear Members, I hope you were able to enjoy a break over the holiday period and see some of the festive sights and sounds across Singapore at this time of year. The year of the Earth Dog is meant to be one that’s full of energy and action — a positive theme to head into the New Year and certainly a different tone to 2017.

This time last year the world was looking like a mixed bag of possibility and uncertainty; Donald Trump had withdrawn from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which many viewed as the end of the deal that represented 40% of the world economy. And the implications of Brexit continued to dominate discussions across industries.

Today the remaining countries from the TPP have moved forward with a revised pact known as TPP-11. Together with good momentum from 2017 and a strong forecast for Southeast Asian economies in 2018, we can be cautiously optimistic about the next 12 months.

Bicky Bhangu

President, British Chamber of Commerce, Singapore

Singapore remains focused on building a digital economy and leveraging the opportunities created through technological advancements, which will continue to disrupt the way we work. We’re seeing progress across multiple industries to increase competitiveness following the release of recommendations from the Committee on the Future Economy. All positive momentum to take us through 2018.

For the Chamber, we will continue to strengthen connections across our communities in Singapore and the UK, and to do that by identifying opportunities and enabling regular conversations in support of shared business goals. This is where I believe we can deliver real value to our members.

Earlier this year, we welcomed the UK Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Trade Mission team, partnering them with relevant institutions and organisations in Singapore to facilitate the sharing of on-site expertise across all industry sectors.

I’d also like to highlight two other areas of focus.

The first is our plan to build even closer links between the Chamber and the UK Department of Industry and Trade, so that we can identify opportunities and business needs and make the right connections early.

And the second is on our efforts to connect Singapore and Southeast Asia, and to strengthen our connections between the British Chamber of Commerce teams across the region. The year 2017 saw the first Regional Presidents Conference in Singapore where we were able to have conversations to identify opportunities for collaboration.

I look forward to seeing you at one of our many events in the near future.

Best regards,

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Executive Director’s Message Dear Members, I would like to begin by wishing you a Happy New Year.

It has been four months since I took office as Executive Director for the Chamber and I am very grateful for the support members, the Board, the High Commission and our Executive Team have given in helping me settle quickly into the role. It is a testament to the fantastic commitment that exists and the vibrant ecosystem that prevails in the Chamber.

Since taking office, I have been fortunate enough to meet many members and will continue to do so in 2018. Listening to you and ensuring we are delivering on value is a critical part of my role, and guarantees we are driving all our activities towards that goal. Our successes as an organisation are, after all, made possible by your engagement. Thank you.

2017 has been another fantastic year for the British Chamber. With a network of over 3,500 individuals, we have seen a vibrant community engage in the 80 events we successfully delivered last year, from focused industry-specific events to our Annual Business Awards that drew in 400 participants. You have provided valuable inputs as the business community to key visiting UK Ministers and through your participation in our 12 Business Groups. Your contributions in thought leadership in the Orient magazine and Knowledge Bank have given members and the wider business community access to knowledge and insights, strengthening the vital information sharing that underpins the Chamber’s ecosystem. A note of gratitude and recognition as well to all of the sponsors who have supported the Chamber in 2017.

Olivia Widen

Executive Director, British Chamber of Commerce, Singapore

As we reflect on the successes of the past year, we are also looking ahead at 2018 and beyond. I wish to share what our vision and goals are for this year.

We will be listening even more We will continue to engage and reach out to you to find out how best we can support you in your membership to the Chamber. Our Member Relations Manager Nicole and I are at hand to meet with you, so please do not hesitate to touch base with us. We will further be looking to make some changes in the coming year to provide dedicated platforms to take on your views and insights on how we can continue to improve.

We will continue to drive a relevant and vibrant events calendar for 2018 Zoe and Sophie, our events team, are putting together a calendar for 2018 that reflects the excellent contributions that our Business Groups are feeding into this. We are also continuously reviewing our events to ensure they deliver on your needs.

We will support our Business Groups in achieving their goals for 2018 Our twelve Business Groups continue to shape a proactive agenda and dialogue around key business issues, and we will be looking to deepen our support to help you achieve your goals for 2018. In particular, we will be facilitating more collaboration and cross-fertilisation of ideas and activities between the Business Groups through a number of initiatives. If you are not already part of a Business Group, please get in touch with Nicole who will help you find your best fit.

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/britishchamber-of-commerce-singapore Twitter @britchamsg Instagram @britchamsg Facebook @bccsingapore

We will be transforming the way we communicate and the platforms in which our members can engage with each other We have taken on board your feedback and will in 2018 and beyond, be taking a step change towards a more digitally focused approach at the Chamber. We hope this will help further enhance your membership experience with us. Do not hesitate to approach Lucy who heads communications at the Chamber and I as we begin to roll out some of our activities in this area.

We will continue to open up the Chamber’s brand, services and expertise to the membership Whether you are looking for support in raising your profile, running an event, or making use of our facilities (meetings and event space), we are at hand to offer you bespoke services.

Contact our Business Services Manager Carole and our Senior Events Manager Zoe for more information on our events facilitation and other services. If you are looking for sponsorship and partnership opportunities, please contact Lucy and I.

W W W. B R I T C H A M . O R G . S G

We will be enhancing our role in representing your views We continue to carve out the voice of the UK and the British Chamber in Singapore to better put across your views and influence the policy environment in order to benefit members through our strategic alliances with the Singapore Government, Singapore Business Federation, the British High Commission and the Department for International Trade (DIT). In 2018 our External Affairs Committee will be ramping up its activities with the Singapore Government and we will continue to invite you to the table with visiting UK Ministers. Jointly with DIT, we will be seeking your views and inputs on shaping the future of the UK’s trade relationship with Singapore and ASEAN. Please feel free to email me to share your views and thoughts.

We will continue to strengthen our connectivity in Singapore and beyond Finally, through closer collaboration with other Chambers, Trade Associations and industry bodies, we will aim to grow your network here in Singapore. Our network of British Chambers in Southeast Asia (BiSEA) will also be working closer together to help you seamlessly tap into the region in order to expand your reach into and connectivity with ASEAN. Here at the Chamber we place great value in your voice and views. As such, I would like to end my message by encouraging you to continue to communicate with myself and the team whose contact details can be found below. Our door is open and we encourage you to come and speak to us. I will be communicating directly with you on a quarterly basis to update you on our progress for 2018.

OLIVIA WIDEN

LUCY HAYDON

NICOLE WHARFE

SHARMILA MANIAM

NICOLE ALISON LIM

ZOE FAZAN

SOPHIE GOWING

CAROLE MCCARTHY

NICO PUTRI

JESSIE OR

SAMANTHA NELSON

PAULINE YEO

ANNA GARCISO

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

SENIOR EVENTS MANAGER

EVENTS EXECUTIVE

Best Regards,

DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

EVENTS MANAGER

FINANCE MANAGER

MEMBER RELATIONS MANAGER

BUSINESS SERVICES MANAGER

OFFICE MANAGER

MEMBERSHIP ADMINISTRATOR

SENIOR BUSINESS SERVICES ADVISOR

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS EXECUTIVE

BUSINESS SERVICES ADVISOR

Building Networks Connecting Business Creating Opportunities

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Sterling Members

W W W. B R I T C H A M . O R G . S G

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Special Feature

W W W. B R I T C H A M . O R G . S G

Jardines Raises S$394,000 for Mental Health Charity, MINDSET

By MINDSET Care Limited Over 200 racers scaled 33 floors of Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 1 in support of mental health. The Jardines annual charity event raised S$394,000 for Singapore’s first and only specialised training and placement centre for people recovering from mental health issues.

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Special Feature: Jardines Raises S$394,000 for Mental Health Charity, MINDSET

M

INDSET Care Limited (MINDSET), the registered charity of the Jardine Matheson Group in Singapore, raised S$394,000 for a mental health job hub at the MINDSET Challenge & Carnival 2017. The event, which comprised a 33-floor race up the Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 1 and a carnival at The Lawn @ Marina Bay, aimed to provide a platform to raise awareness and reduce the social stigma surrounding mental health issues.

Endorsing the anti-stigma message was guest of honour Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Health and Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources. Speaking at the event, Dr Khor highlighted the importance of having difficult conversations on mental health to reduce social stigma surrounding it.

Since the fundraiser launched in 2012, Jardines through MINDSET has raised more than S$1.6 million for mental health initiatives. The beneficiary of the 2017 event was MINDSET Learning Hub (MLH), Singapore’s first and only job placement and

training centre that offers Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) and non-WSQ courses for mental health persons-in-recovery. With a S$2 million commitment from MINDSET, the hub opened in October 2016 and has since trained 182 clients and placed 73 individuals into the workforce.

Event Highlights

The event was off to a good start with over 200 race participants in competitive individual or team segments. Among them were a group of seven charity runners, Mental Muscle, medical students who ran to raise funds for mental health. The fastest race time clocked in 2017 was an impressive 5 minutes 16 seconds.

The vertical race serves as a reminder of the uphill climb mental health clients face in their journey of recovery. This message is also shared with young ones. Each year’s race includes a segment for children under the age of twelve who will scale ten floors.

In 2017, a new fun segment was introduced to encourage non-competitive participants

Dr Francis Yeoh; Alex Newbigging

>

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Guest of honour Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Health and Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources; and Alex Newbigging, MINDSET Chairman

Too often mental illness is stigmatised in society, and we want to change that by creating more opportunities to build greater understanding of mental health conditions.

We hope that all participants of (the) event can also be ambassadors and spread this message by starting conversations on a sensitive topic such as mental health.

– Alex Newbigging, MINDSET Chairman

W W W. B R I T C H A M . O R G . S G

>

Jardine Ambassadors at the MINDSET Challenge & Carnival 2017

to be involved in the event. It comprised a nine-metre inflatable challenge followed by an army-themed obstacle course before racing up ten floors to the finishing line.

The event extended to a carnival on The Lawn @ Marina Bay. The carnival offered food and beverages from twelve food outlets including MLH Café. MLH Café is an operating F&B outlet located within MINDSET Learning Hub. It provides mental health clients undergoing the WSQ food hygiene course first-hand experience in food preparation and customer service. The café also serves as an outreach platform to raise awareness and acceptance for mental health. Well-known F&B brands such as Garang Grill by New Ubin Seafood, Old Chang Kee and The Travelling Cow participated to lend their support to mental health and to also satisfy carnival-goers with scrumptious food.

placements for mental health clients within the Jardine Matheson Group. Championed by its employee volunteers, who are aptly named “Jardine Ambassadors” over 29,000 employee volunteer hours were contributed to mental health activities and efforts.

The event brought together 2,000 Jardine employees, their families and friends, business partners as well as 300 mental health clients from five voluntary welfare organisations. The successful event continues to be an encouraging testament of MINDSET’s continuing outreach and integration efforts.

The Jardine Matheson Group Efforts

Jardines through MINDSET has been paving the way for the underserved cause of mental health in Singapore since 2011.

Since 2011, MINDSET has donated S$3.8 million to mental health programmes.

MINDSET has also sourced 120 job

Dairy Farm donation box

>

Attendees were also treated to a selection of nine different games booths and three creative arts and crafts workshops, where they jointly made craft pieces with mental

health clients. Everyone brought home a piece of the event in the form of their very own handmade craftwork — a heartwarming memento of the time spent in support of the mental health community.

Other carnival highlights included virtual reality games, music performances, as well as a bouncy castle and a “Candy Cannon” segment to delight the young ones.

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Special Feature: Jardines Raises S$394,000 for Mental Health Charity, MINDSET

>

Over 2,000 participants congregated at the 2017 event

The MINDSET Challenge & Carnival brought together 300 mental health clients and 2,000 employees, their family and friends, as well as business partners.

Raising the Bar

In 2017, MINDSET has seen significant milestones including winning the Charity

About the Company MINDSET Care Limited (MINDSET) is a registered charity established by the Jardine Matheson Group of companies to make a tangible difference in the area of mental health. Led by Jardine Ambassadors, MINDSET aims to raise awareness and understanding of mental health issues to change attitudes, while at the same time, provide practical support to individuals, families and charitable initiatives in the mental health sector. MINDSET was named a winner of the Charity Transparency Awards 2016 and 2017 by The Charity Council. For more information, visit www.mindset.com.sg, www.facebook.com/mindsetsingapore and contact them at admin@mindset.com.sg The Jardine Matheson Group companies in Singapore are: Jardine Matheson (Singapore), Jardine Cycle & Carriage; Cycle & Carriage Singapore, Jardine Engineering Corporation; Jardine Lloyd Thompson; JOS; Innovix Distribution; Schindler Lifts; Gammon Construction; Hongkong Land; MCL Land; Mandarin Oriental, Singapore; and Dairy Farm Singapore (Cold Storage; Giant Hypermarket; 7-Eleven; and Guardian Health & Beauty).

TMCC 2017 – Fun Run

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New initiatives implemented in 2017 to amplify the need for awareness and understanding included Dairy Farm Singapore, a Jardine company, rolling out an island-wide donation box drive in 650 of its retail outlets such as Cold Storage supermarkets and 7-Eleven convenience stores to raise funds. Its Health and Beauty banner, Guardian, also retailed S$5 toiletry sets at over 60 outlets, of which S$1 from each set sold was donated to support mental health programmes.

TMCC 2017 – Challenge

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The event included several child-friendly activities

Transparency Award for the second consecutive year, for its exemplary disclosure and governance in Singapore.

In addition, the Jardine Matheson Group was invited to participate in the prestigious National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre’s “Company of Good Fellowship” Programme.

The programme seeks to develop a community of leaders to strengthen Singapore’s corporate giving ecosystem.

Through participating in the programme, the Jardine Matheson Group seeks to serve the community as a leader in the area of mental health and create a multiplier effect by encouraging others in corporate giving.

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In Focus

In Focus: Victoria Hogg, General Manager, APAC, Scott Dunn

By Lucy Haydon In this issue, I discussed the changes in customer tastes in a growing digital lifestyle with Victoria Hogg, APAC General Manager of Scott Dunn. We also delve into Scott Dunn’s acquisition of Country Holidays and how they stay on trend and ahead of the curve for the latest travel destinations and experiences.

W W W. B R I T C H A M . O R G . S G

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Luxury is still key but the definition has slightly changed over time towards exclusivity.

Your passion for travel began with a gap-year trip around Southeast Asia.

Having worked in the travel industry for several years, did these experiences help drive your decision to return to the region?

I have always had a passion for travel and have been quite adventurous. At boarding school, one of my friends lived in Indonesia and at the age of twelve, I took the opportunity to visit her. I am quite an opportunist and had used my gap year to see as much as possible.

I didn’t immediately take the path of the travel industry for my career. I started with roles in property and events before the constant travel of a friend who worked for Scott Dunn piqued my interest. She introduced me to the Human Resources department and I began my journey with the company as an Administration Assistant for the Asia team; from there, I worked my way up the career ladder.

Having started in the Asia team, my product knowledge has been focused in this region, so when the CEO, Simon Russell, mentioned the opportunity to move out to Singapore, it was a natural progression for me. I was keen to experience living abroad and of course this is made far easier by the choice of Singapore as an expatriate.

In Focus: Victoria Hogg, General Manager, APAC, Scott Dunn

W W W. B R I T C H A M . O R G . S G

Having joined Scott Dunn in 2010, how have you observed the industry and customer tastes shifting in the years since?

When I first started, guests were utilising our hotel and product knowledge more than looking at their trip as an adventure or an experience. That has been the major shift in recent years. Itinerary-based, multi-centre trips are now the norm as guests look to make the most of the holiday time that they have.

Guests are also keen to better their last trip or their friends’ travel stories, looking for Instagram-worthy moments and unique access to experiences. There

is less emphasis on the facilities of accommodation, as people look to these as a base point rather than the only point of entertainment. Luxury is still key but the definition has slightly changed over time towards exclusivity. A knowledgeable guide with good contacts can make all the difference in these trips.

Have you seen any changes in particular as people have moved towards a digital lifestyle?

There has certainly been a change in guests wanting to be more electronic in their communications, but our customer service focus is on the consultancy element of being a travel consultant —

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we prefer to speak with our guests at the beginning of the process to understand their personalities and tailor options to suit them. A 10-minute telephone conversation is always going to be more fruitful than multiple emails back and forth. For example, a request for two weeks in Thailand can mean different things to different people.

We do see a move from the hotels and tour guides towards adding social media tours — specific points in an itinerary that have been identified as providing the best photo opportunities. This is a reflection of today’s lifestyles but is not unique to millennials.

We read with interest the news of Scott Dunn’s acquisition of Country Holidays in January 2018. Over the next twelve months, Country Holidays will be rebranded as Scott Dunn and

In Focus: Victoria Hogg, General Manager, APAC, Scott Dunn

In particular for those travelling with children, allowing them opportunities to see the world outside of luxury comforts is something that they will likely never forget.

the existing Scott Dunn Singapore and Country Holidays teams will be merged, sharing new headquarters in Singapore. Country Holidays’ founder, Chang Theng Hwee, will become Scott Dunn’s new CEO – Asia, reporting to group CEO Simon Russell. How does the acquisition fit into the company’s strategic vision, particularly in this region?

We opened Scott Dunn in Singapore to complete the 24-hour service model for our guests around the world but were also aware of a huge market of opportunity in Asia. We could have reached market penetration organically but not as quickly as through acquisition.

Country Holidays has been in the market for over twenty years and has some fantastic destinations in its product catalogue that we do not currently offer,

W W W. B R I T C H A M . O R G . S G

and vice versa for our own catalogue with European trips, ski offerings and kids clubs for example; so we are all highly excited for the opportunities in the future.

The management of Country Holidays are passionate about travel. They invest time and money in regularly sending their consultants to destinations to build on their knowledge — as we do, so there are similarities in corporate culture which reassure us of the integration path that lies ahead of us this year. We see this very much as a partnership.

Theng Hwee is very proud of his team and equally enthusiastic to extend new services to their existing customer base and to work with the Scott Dunn team.

With offices in Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai, we will be expanding the reach of our combined company considerably across the region.

Our members are well-travelled people, both for business and leisure purposes.

What trends do you see emerging and what recommendations would you make for this year to our readers?

Getting off the beaten track and using travel time to experience more of the world would be our recommendation.

In particular for those travelling with children, allowing them opportunities to see the world outside of luxury comforts is something that they will likely never forget.

If you ask a child whether they remember a specific hotel in the future it is unlikely, but they will absolutely remember the time they saw wild animals on safari, took to the skies in a hot air balloon or saw the Northern Lights!

We have also seen great demand for less common travel methods, for example train journeys — the Glacier Express, which runs

Getting off the beaten track and using travel time to experience more of the world would be our recommendation.

through major mountain resorts in the Swiss Alps, is popular for the Asian market.

How are you able to stay on trend and ahead of the curve for the latest travel destinations and experiences?

It is very important that we adapt our products to the market we are servicing,

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as the Asian market is of course looking for something different than the US or UK markets. For example, travellers originating from the UK are typically factoring in sunshine and warmer temperatures to their plans. Whereas for travellers originating

In Focus: Victoria Hogg, General Manager, APAC, Scott Dunn

from Southeast Asia, this is their daily climate and hence less important to them.

To stay ahead of the curve, we work closely with our partners at each of our destinations and send our consultants to

About the Company Scott Dunn specialises in luxury and adventurous tailor-made holidays to Africa, India, Asia, Latin America, Europe, the Caribbean, South Pacific and the Indian Ocean. Scott Dunn also operates the very best luxury ski chalets in the Alps and has a specialist team who looks after alpine ski hotels.

In the Mediterranean they operate a portfolio of superb luxury family villas with chefs, nannies and hosts, and hotels with children’s clubs. Find out more about Scott Dunn at www.scottdunn.com

the destinations to build their first-hand knowledge, especially as destinations change over time. Our product team in the UK is divided by region and focuses on building this knowledge and travelling to the destinations to keep our finger on the pulse.

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Feature

InfraCo Asia:

A Sustainable Model for Infrastructure Development

By Lindsey Zouein, Communications Advisor, InfraCo Asia InfraCo Asia catalyses private sector participation while creating social and economic benefits for the communities in which it operates. In this article, our winner for the Excellence in Sustainability category for the 18th Annual Business Awards discusses their sustainable model for infrastructure development.

W W W. B R I T C H A M . O R G . S G

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he need for more infrastructure investment in developing Asia is clear: the Asian Development Bank estimates that S$1.7 trillion per year will need to be invested from 2016 to 2030 if the region is to maintain its growth, eradicate poverty and respond to climate change.

Within this immense opportunity lies a great challenge. In many of the region’s countries, private sector investors are either unable or unwilling to invest in some of the riskiest, yet most-needed infrastructure projects.

If brought to fruition, these projects have the potential to provide access to quality, sustainable infrastructure to communities and economies, while providing attractive returns to investors. But because their risk profiles are initially very high, many never get off the ground.

This is the gap that InfraCo Asia steps in to fill. Funded by the Private Infrastructure Development Group, a multi-donor organisation, InfraCo Asia invests at the

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Feature: InfraCo Asia: A Sustainable Model for Infrastructure Development

early stage of project development. Run by a diverse, tight-knit team of fifteen, headed

by CEO Allard Nooy, the team’s backgrounds include engineering, finance, legal, business development, communications and project development. The combination of relevant skills and funding serve as “leadership capital” to enable the de-risking of infrastructure projects in developing countries of South and Southeast Asia.

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Concrete being poured at the Gul Ahmed wind power project site

For every dollar InfraCo Asia has invested, approximately S$12 in private sector capital has been mobilised. By mitigating the earlystage development risks, InfraCo Asia opens up opportunities for further investment by the private sector. And by setting out best practices and precedents, InfraCo Asia paves a road for further development in the countries in which it operates.

A New Kind of Power in Pakistan

The Metro and Gul Ahmed wind power projects, from which InfraCo Asia divested its shareholding in 2017, provide an additional 315 gigawatt-hours of electricity per year from both projects combined,

The InfraCo Asia Executive Management Team

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In 2012, InfraCo Asia commenced the development of the Metro Wind and Gul Ahmed Wind projects jointly with local sponsors, the Alimohamed family and Gul Ahmed Energy. InfraCo Asia invested S$15.8 million into the two projects, which had a combined total project cost of US$242.9 million. InfraCo Asia ensured the projects met international quality standards and complied with World Bank environmental and social standards. The company also led efforts to successfully raise non-recourse debt financing from development finance institutions and commercial banks for the two wind projects, which reached commercial operation in September and October 2016.

A wind tower being constructed at the Gul Ahmed site

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The Metro and Gul Ahmed wind power projects in Pakistan’s Sindh province serve as an example of InfraCo Asia’s mandate at work. Pakistan experiences frequent power outages and has a more than 5,000 megawatt (MW) capacity shortfall in power generation. This accounts for about a third of total demand on the system, and impacts the ability to do business, gain an education and a myriad of other areas of society that must be functioning well in order for longterm development to occur.

By setting out best practices and precedents, InfraCo Asia paves a road for further development in the countries in which it operates. enough to provide 700,000 people with better access to electricity, including almost 90,000 people who live below the poverty line. At the same time, they reduce 180,000 tonnes of carbon emissions per year.

Diversifying power sources and investing in renewable energy is particularly important in Pakistan, which relies heavily on imported petroleum fuel to power expensive and polluting oil and diesel power plants.

The benefits of the Metro and Gul Ahmed projects extend into the local communities.

They created about 700 jobs during construction, and spurred the Metro Wind company to invest in improving the quality of life for people in the surrounding villages.

Adults received training through construction work, water wells and pumps were built, and a school was built where boys and girls are educated side-by-side — a rarity in Pakistan.

Hydropower Helps Vietnam

In the far north of Vietnam, Lao Cai province suffers from a stressed power grid. To fill the gap, the local grid operator relied heavily on expensive, unreliable power imported from mainland China. With the construction of a 29.7MW run-of-river plant, the need to import power has decreased, and a precedent for future development has been set in place: this project, known as the Coc San hydropower project, is the first foreign direct investment in the low-income Lao Cai province.

InfraCo Asia provided the development expertise and capital needed to revive the Coc San project, which stalled in 2011 when the initial capital was expended and the project company had been unsuccessful in securing long-term loan financing.

Having placed itself on the frontlines of the project’s success, InfraCo Asia proceeded to commission an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment gap analysis in accordance with World Bank and IFC standards. This

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Celebrating the start of operation for the Coc San hydropower project

The Gul Ahmed wind power project reached commercial operation in 2016

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The InfraCo Asia team visits the Coc San hydropower project site in the construction phase

analysis ensured the project was developed to global standards, which is not the norm for small-scale projects in Vietnam.

of a US$44.5 million project. The Coc San hydropower project reached commercial operation in April 2016.

InfraCo Asia also restructured commercial arrangements with the Engineering Procurement and Construction contractor, and secured US$23 million in non-recourse, long-term debt financing from the Saigon and Hanoi Commercial bank. This was an important innovation at the time, as the nascent Vietnamese banking industry typically followed balance sheet financing.

The surrounding community also benefitted from InfraCo Asia’s sustainable approach to the project. On the environmental side, the fact that Coc San is a run-of-river project means it has no adverse impact on Coc San river flow and ecosystem. On the social spectrum, about 300 jobs were created during construction, and a Community Development Programme was established that rehabilitated three schools and led to the construction of an access road, enabling easier movement of farm produce. As part of

InfraCo Asia’s initial investment of US$7.5 million enabled the financing and completion

the programme, several small-scale irrigation projects assisted with crop diversification.

InfraCo Asia’s business approach is helping to forge a sustainable bridge between private sector funding and greenfield infrastructure projects. Commercial returns and sustainable development serve as equally important measures of success, and the company has been able to consistently deliver on both sides of this balance. What’s more, InfraCo Asia’s projects create a strong “demonstration effect” that paves the way for the development of other similar infrastructure projects in the communities in which it operates.

About the Author Lindsey Zouein is InfraCo Asia’s Communications Advisor. A storyteller at heart, she is inspired by the company’s innovative model and passionate, committed team — all the ingredients needed to tell a compelling narrative about the groundbreaking work that InfraCo Asia is doing in the region.

About the Company InfraCo Asia is a commercially managed infrastructure development and investment company of the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG). Headquartered in Singapore, it aims to stimulate greater private sector investment in infrastructure in South and Southeast Asia. InfraCo Asia funds high-risk infrastructure development activities by taking an equity stake with a focus on socially responsible and commercially viable infrastructure projects that contribute to economic growth, social development and poverty reduction. InfraCo Asia is currently funded by three members of PIDG — the UK Department for International Development (UKAid), the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). You can find out more about InfraCo Asia at www.infracoasia.com

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Feature

Optimism and Turbulence in 2018

By Richard Fenning, CEO, Control Risks In their Riskmap for 2018, Control Risks identifies the twin threats common to all countries. We examine a world where a new type of leader — characterised by highly personalised and assertive leadership styles — is shaping and perhaps exaggerating our perception of the risks we face.

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018 looks set to deliver the highest economic growth in ten years, a sign that the global financial crisis might finally be behind us. This is of course good news for international business. But the surge in business confidence is tempered by a sense that despite bullish economic data, the year ahead seems beset by uncertainty and confusion. This is the dichotomy that defines 2018: when outside is blue skies and sunshine, why are so many people preoccupied by the threat of dark clouds and destructive storms?

In RiskMap 2018, we examine a world where a new type of leader — characterised by highly personalised and assertive leadership styles — is shaping and perhaps exaggerating our perception of the risks we face. Even so, some of the issues that

confront us in 2018 are among the toughest the world has faced in a while. We do not make that statement lightly.

Some of the most pressing leadership challenges include the immediate need to de-escalate tensions over North Korea, the regional rivalries reshaping the Middle East, and the rapidly evolving challenges of regulating a global, multi-stakeholder and cyber-vulnerable digital economy. The threat of damaging trade disputes has not gone away. Running through all these issues is a virulent strain of digitally fuelled populism — itself a by-product of the inequities crystallised by the global financial crisis and rapid technological change.

And here is the conundrum: in the face of these profound challenges to the stability

This is the dichotomy that defines 2018: when outside is blue skies and sunshine, why are so many people preoccupied by the threat of dark clouds and destructive storms?

and predictability that international business craves, the combination of strong GDP growth and the availability of cheap money is fuelling corporate profits and stock market highs almost regardless of the unchartered challenges to global equilibrium.

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2018 presents a series of complex issues that will test the mettle of leaders of all persuasions and the optimism of investors.

This is a different dynamic. It is almost as if each time some kind of acute geopolitical drama unfolds, markets pause, catch their breath and then quickly discount the likely impact, and the party continues.

Nevertheless, 2018 presents a series of complex issues that will test the mettle of leaders of all persuasions and the optimism of investors. These include: • How can the nuclear-tipped ambitions of North Korea be reconciled with South Korean, Chinese, Japanese and US national security, and avoid the possibility of military action?

• Is it too late for Europe to recover the grand EU vision from the centrifugal force of nationalism, and will this inevitable period of self-absorption mark a permanent decline in Europe’s influence?

• Saudi Arabia has embarked on an extraordinary and exciting journey that seeks to cast off the old system of power patronage and embrace a new technocratic state. Under Mohammed bin Salman, the country means to stamp its authority on a fractured Middle East and challenge what it regards as the expansionist ambitions of its rival, Iran.

• How can Prime Minister Narendra Modi accelerate the modernisation of the Indian economy without being constrained by a swing to the conservative identity politics of Hindu nationalism and the politics of division?

• President Xi Jinping is set on reasserting the power of the Communist Party, but

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over a China whose economic dynamism and global reach make it unrecognisable from the country his notable predecessors governed. He has enhanced his personal hold on power during 2017 and has set out a bold ambition for a global China. But continued economic reforms necessary for long-term growth remain hard to implement. • The common denominator for all countries is the twin threats of cyber attack and terrorism. No state is immune.

Each threat has entered a new and potentially more dangerous phase in how it materialises, necessitating new corporate strategies to respond effectively.

Then there is the matter of US power. The noise generated around the polarising

Feature: Optimism and Turbulence in 2018

presidency of Donald Trump has fuelled the notion that the US is on a downward trajectory. This is wrong. The world has

Describing the challenges and complexities facing the world in 2018, it is easy to forget that the economic outlook remains bright.

inevitably shifted around the US and now the stand-off between its two competing identities, global superpower and domestic republic, is out in the open. Call it a period of intense introspection. The US is not going away.

Informing all these dynamics, in their myriad and contextualised forms, are nationalist sentiment and digital populism. Wherever leaders stand on the spectrum of liberty and control, they cannot ignore this reality.

For businesses, this comes at a time of fierce competition not only for new markets, but over the very rules of the game. Technology, the great undiscriminating enabler, is subjecting political and business leaders — and societies for that matter — to relentless pressure. Authoritarian governments worried

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about control, or democracies concerned about privacy and democratic integrity have all been outpaced by innovators racing on the nitrous oxide of technology. 2018 will be the year political leaders try — and mostly fail — to take back the lead.

Across ideologies and imperatives, governments will move to control the use of data and cyberspace by organisations and individuals. They are intruding more directly on international business. In Europe, new data protection regulations, and more aggressive anti-trust, tax and labour enforcement have called time on what many regulators regard as a period of excessive laissez-faire for the digital economy. In China, the government is determined to strengthen the concept of internet sovereignty. In the US and other democracies, the market power of the internet giants will occupy legislators.

Scrutiny of foreign investments, as well as mergers and acquisitions, is getting more politicised.

Elsewhere, leadership will be tested as local political movements assert themselves more

strongly. In Latin America, a series of critical elections — Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela — will test the resolve of anticorruption and reformist movements. In India, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party will have to satisfy its Hindu nationalist base that economic reforms fit their agenda ahead of state elections. Across Africa, investors as well as grassroots activists are planning for the day when geriatric ruling elites leave the political scene.

The major risk, of course, is that the next world order will be imposed, not agreed.

Warning signs abound. The US and North Korea engage in nuclear brinksmanship.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and Iran have taken the gloves off in Yemen, and their rivalry will continue to inform regional conflicts. Describing the challenges and complexities facing the world in 2018, it is easy to forget that the economic outlook remains bright. How and when markets lose their resilience to risk will be played out in a drama of localised triggers and ripple effects.

But it will be a year when optimism needs to be tempered with an appropriate amount of clear-headed prudence.

About the Author Richard Fenning is the Chief Executive Officer of Control Risks. Richard joined Control Risks in 1993 and was head of the firm’s New York office from 1997 to 2000. He was appointed Chief Operating Officer in 2001 and CEO in 2005.

Richard advises many of the firm’s clients on a wide range of risk management issues. In addition, he is a frequent speaker on geopolitical risk and its impact on business. Recent engagements include the Economist Summit, The Oxford University Union, The International Economic Forum of the Americas, FT Emerging Markets Forum, Harvard Business School, Gibs Business School in Johannesburg and Sciences Po in Paris.

Richard has an honours degree in Modern History from the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom and in 2004 attended the Advanced Management Programme at INSEAD business school in France.

About the Company Control Risks is a specialist risk consultancy. We are committed to helping our clients build organisations that are secure, compliant and resilient in an age of ever-changing risk and connectivity.

We believe that responsible risk-taking is at the core of our clients’ success. We have unparalleled experience in helping clients solve the challenges and crises that arise in any ambitious organisation seeking to convert risk into opportunity globally. The insight and depth of experience we have gained over more than 40 years proves invaluable in giving our clients the intelligence they need to grasp opportunities with greater certainty.

Our clients include national and multinational businesses in all sectors, law firms, government departments from many parts of the world and an increasing number of non-governmental organisations. We also support small and medium-sized national and international companies on their journey to greater security, compliance and resilience. You can visit www.controlrisks.com for more information.

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Achieving Commercial Success While Fulfilling Your Organisational Purpose

By Simon McKenzie, Managing Director, BRIDGE Asia-Pacific Businesses have both the obligation and opportunity to play a vital role as a force for good in the world. And “doing good” is not restricted simply to the familiar domains of CSR and philanthropy. So how do purposeful businesses achieve commercial success whilst being a force for good?

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n his 1954 landmark book, The Practice of Management, the late management guru Peter Drucker wrote: “It is management’s...responsibility to make whatever is genuinely in the public good become the enterprise’s own self-interest.”

More than half a century later, Drucker’s wisdom remains equally relevant, if not more.

Today, the expectations from the public and stakeholders on businesses stretch beyond creating wealth for shareholders, jobs for employees, and products or services to meet customers’ needs. Given their resources and span of influence, businesses have both the obligation and opportunity to play a vital role as a force for good in the world. And “doing good” is not restricted simply to the familiar domains of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and philanthropy, but integrating the sense of purpose deeply with business strategy, decision-making and daily actions.

A study by Colombia University revealed that purpose-driven firms produce superior financial performance. They have achieved an outstanding aggregate return of 1,025% over the past 10 years, compared to 122% for the S&P 500. According to Fast Company, the most purpose-oriented group to ever enter the workforce will account for 75% of the workforce by 2025. Several leading companies such as Unilever, Patagonia and Whole Foods have risen to the challenge.

They stand for something greater than themselves, and the results are astonishing.

According to Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever, “Purpose and profitability go hand in hand.” Purpose-led brands such as Lifebuoy and Dove are not only contributing to the bottom line, but making a positive difference to the life-saving hygiene practices of rural communities and selfesteem of women. For example, Unilever’s

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Feature: Achieving Commercial Success While Fulfilling Your Organisational Purpose

commitment to double its revenue and halve its environmental impact by 2020 through the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan has led to a significant increase in share price, level of employee engagement and attractiveness to jobseekers.

In turbulent, volatile and rapidly changing times like the present, a clear sense of purpose can provide a stabilising anchor as well as a compass for navigating the uncertain terrain. However, unless an organisation’s purpose is deeply embedded in the hearts and minds of its employees, it risks becoming a beautifully crafted rhetoric or perceived as another marketing gimmick.

When executed well, an organisational purpose can be a powerful force that liberates the potential of all its stakeholders to be a force for good in the world. And here are three vital building blocks for creating a truly purposeful organisation to unleash this potential.

1. Discover the Purposeful Advantage

Traditionally, businesses gain “competitive advantage” when organisational capabilities are uniquely applied to satisfy customer or consumer needs. When a third dimension of societal needs is added, the result is what we call “Purposeful Advantage”. In short, a purposeful organisation operates at the sweet spot where organisational capabilities, customer/consumer needs and societal needs intersect. Finding the sweet spot is the first building block of a truly purposeful organisation.

2. Create an Enabling Culture

According to Drucker, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” Without an enabling culture, even the best strategy will fail to deliver on its promise. And the same applies to purpose. Culture has a profound influence on behaviours, which ultimately shape the performance and impact that an organisation makes in the world.

While each organisation has its unique culture, there are several vital elements that are common to purposeful organisations.

These include: • Being purpose-driven and values-led; making decisions that are guided by

purpose, and consistent with the values espoused by the organisation • Promoting openness, equality and inclusiveness; every employee is treated with respect and feels safe to express themselves authentically • Balancing autonomy and accountability; employees enjoy sufficient freedom to act in the best interest of the organisation and are willing to be held accountable for their actions • Embracing the “Growth Mindset”; willing to take risks and learn from failures • Valuing long-term performance and impact over short-term profit • Possessing the agility to evolve and thrive in the age of disruption Creating an enabling culture is the second building block of a truly purposeful organisation.

3. Develop Purpose-led Leaders

An organisation is only as purposeful as its leaders. Hence, organisations need leaders who are driven by a deep sense of purpose and at the same time, possess the courage, conviction and tenacity to lead, inspire and support others to live fully their personal and organisational purpose.

Purpose is deeply personal. It is not something that can be taught or learnt, but something to be unearthed from within. Developing purpose-led leaders often involves deep introspection, external stimulus and purposefully designed disruptive experiences that invite leaders to uncover the essence of who they are, their values, passions, gifts, talents, strengths, life experiences, fears and concerns.

Purpose-led leaders are the third building block of a truly purposeful organisation.

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So, where does the journey towards becoming a purposeful organisation begin?

In our work with leading global organisations, we have found that the pathway that works best isn’t a sequential

Culture has a profound influence on behaviours, which ultimately shape the performance and impact that an organisation makes in the world.

one. Ideally, the three building blocks are addressed simultaneously. In other words, like three strands of an interweaving rope, leadership, organisational culture and purposeful advantage develop best when they evolve together.

About the Author Simon (Mac) McKenzie is the Managing Director of BRIDGE Asia-Pacific, and has extensive operational and leadership experience at senior level, both in private and public sector.

He identifies his purpose as working with leaders and organisations to address some of the big challenges the world is facing over the next 25 years — be it inequality, water security, sustainable growth, education, energy security, climate change or peace-building.

Mac can be reached at Mac.McKenzie@bridge-partnership.com About the Company BRIDGE is a global consultancy that helps leaders and organisations evolve. They work with leaders to build organisations that “break the mould” and tackle seemingly impossible challenges.

They have partnered over 200 organisations in more than 30 countries in three key areas: leadership development, creating the culture needed for Organisations of the Future, and unearthing an organisation’s Purposeful Advantage.

BRIDGE has offices and representatives in London, Chicago, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Sydney. Find them at www.bridge-partnership.com | @Bridge_Leaders

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Feature

So, What Do You Do, Exactly?

By Melanie Mahtani-Patching, Copywriter and Editor, The Giles Agency One of the first questions new acquaintances ask is inevitably, “What do you do?”

Apparently, your profession tells them everything they need to know about you. Except in my case, people appear to be left none the wiser. “I’m a copywriter” is met with hesitation, and then a confused, “So, what do you do, exactly?”

Let me explain, once and for all, what it is I do.

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ne of the first questions new acquaintances ask is inevitably, “What do you do?” Apparently, your profession tells them everything they need to know about you. Except in my case, people appear to be left none the wiser. “I’m a copywriter” is met with hesitation, and then a confused, “So, what do you do, exactly?”

with no assurance that anyone will read it, let alone come and find you.

Let me explain, once and for all, what it is I do.

That’s where copywriters come in. We take away your frustration by writing your message in a way that hits home with your target audience. Your message gets results.

No more messages in bottles.

Partly because I am rather indignant that my profession isn’t met with instant recognition (and awe). Partly because it’s frustrating to have to explain the difference between “copyright” and “writing copy” over and over again. But mostly because I’m concerned. Concerned for every company out there who isn’t making use of copywriters. Yikes.

What does a copywriter do?

A copywriter sells. It’s that simple. My job is to find a way to communicate your message to the right people in a way that gets results.

“Copy” is the industry word for “text”.

Essentially, I write the messages your company uses to market itself, whether it is web copy, Facebook posts, emails, brochures, newsletters or an annual reports.

Everyone can write. Why pay someone else do to it?

A copywriter sells. It’s that simple. My job is to find a way to communicate your message to the right people in a way that gets results.

No, not everyone can write (although they think they can), and it takes a certain amount of expertise to be able to choose the words that sell. You can easily describe what your company has to offer, but can you put it in a way that attracts, engages and converts?

Sometimes, posting your marketing content online can feel like throwing a message in a bottle into a river and watching it drift away

Often, you know what you want to say, but you’re not sure how to say it. You do everything short of screaming, “We have what you need, come get it now!” but for some reason, people are not coming and getting it. It’s frustrating, right?

How does a copywriter find the words that sell?

This is the fun part. Copywriting combines the science of consumer behaviour with the art of communication.

First, we need to understand your target audience, which requires a good deal of market research, a bit of data analysis, and an expert knowledge of marketing strategy.

Then we need to marry your message with the insights we have found about your ideal customers. This requires a good dose of creativity, using the power of language to tell a story that connects, compels and converts readers into customers.

What difference do copywriters make?

Well, let’s say you are offering a great promotion in the run up to Christmas.

So you send out an email to everyone on the database with a logical subject line – something along the lines of:

Great Christmas promotion, available for a short time only!

Any copywriter would tell you that, although this subject line says what you want to say, it doesn’t say what subscribers want to hear.

Estimated email open rate? 1%. Max.

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To boost your open rate, your subject line needs to spell out the value customers will receive if they open the email. What motivates your customers when buying Christmas presents? Saving money? Probably, but it’s likely to be something more than that.

Imagine your customers are young, middleclass men and women working their way up the career ladder. They want to provide for

Feature: So, What Do You Do, Exactly?

their family, but still have a limited budget.

At Christmas, they wish they could impress their family without breaking the bank.

Wow them with your generosity this Christmas. (No one has to know you got it all at 30% off.)

How many of these customers would let that email go unopened?

Where can I find these copywriters, then?

A marketing agency like ours partners with companies and in-house marketing and communications teams, to extend their capabilities and lighten their load. Copy writing, editing and design are among many ways in which we create truly effective content and get your project the attention it deserves.

About the Author Blogger, storyteller and keen theatre-goer Melanie Mahtani-Patching (Mel) possesses an avid interest in Chinese culture. She spent four years in mainland China studying Mandarin, keeping a travel blog and writing for language schools. Having lived on three continents — Africa, Europe and Asia — she knows how to bridge the communication gap between cultures. Mel holds a BA (Hons) in Management Studies from the University of Nottingham and a diploma in Copywriting.

About the Company At The Giles Agency, we combine creative talent and communications know-how with in-depth industry expertise to craft content that gets results. We offer professional results — delivered personally. We have been helping clients like Swire Pacific, AIA, DBS, Miele and Estee Lauder choose the words that sell for over ten years now.

Get in touch today at www.gilesagency.com and let us know how we can support you.

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At GEMS World Academy (Singapore), everything we do is focused on setting up your child for success as global citizens.

Our Exceptional Educators Daniela Rodnite - Music teacher From the age of 10, my wish was to become a concert pianist. I achieved this dream with the help of my violin coach and mother. After years on stage, I am now giving back to young musicians by sharing my passion and experiences.

I believe music education is essential to the development of a global citizen.

In all my classes, mutual respect is instilled and I strive to create an environment where students fall in love with the beauty of music.

That is why we ensure our students are in an environment that is deliberately diverse in cultures and people.

Our international syllabus provides a balanced education across Academics, Arts and Sports.

This helps us grow children into well-rounded individuals who are naturally inquisitive and better prepared to face their exciting futures.

Danny Tauroa - Head of Sport/ Secondary Years PE Subject Leader I have always been involved in competitive sport in some form or another since the age of 4 when I played my first game of rugby. I enjoyed the success from pushing myself to be better in sport and learned a lot about what it takes to be a team player and working for others just as much as for myself.

Sport is one of the pillars at GEMS World Academy (Singapore) that allows our students to experience the value of hard work to gain success and develop important personal characteristics like communication, perseverance, persistence, and team work.

Paul Rimmer - Grade 5 teacher As a 1st XV rugby captain, I was required to take on coaching duties as part of the leadership role. It was at this time that I started to believe I could support people moving forward in their understanding of new skills and concepts. I chose Primary Education because I believe this is the time when a thirst for learning needs to be encouraged and supported.

I had an incredible mentor at university, also a rugby player, who inspired me to follow the profession and use my sporting background to make those valuable connections with the students.

ChOOSE GEMS WORlD ACADEMy (SInGAPORE)

ACAdEMiCS

ARTS

Trevor & Erica Parra with kids Gavin, Grant & Tegan It is an honour and pleasure to be part of the GEMS(Singapore)community.

Our family was immediately welcomed with open arms by the faculty and staff who made the transition for our three children seamless. Moving to another country and changing schools is always challenging and families must be ready for the unexpected.

The school, faculty and facility is amazing and we are grateful we made the best choice for our family to join an environment of respect, transparency, and engagement.

Thank you GEMS(Singapore)!

Dmitrii & Anna Koklia with sons Danil & Yaroslav We absolutely love GEMS (Singapore) for its creative approach to every little thing. We are happy to see inspiring teachers and smiling students every day. We have chosen GEMS (Singapore) for our son because the school gives plenty of opportunities to be creative and true freedom of expression.

As parents, we appreciate play-based learning and Danil is happy to go to school every day!

WhAT SETS uS APART -

Globally experienced and passionate teachers Comprehensive sporting and arts programme Active parent engagement opportunities Integrated i-STEAM and EduTech programme Three programme (PYP, MYP, DP) IB World School - Cambridge IGCSE programme - Part of the international GEMS Education group of schools - Low student-teacher ratio

SPORTS

Avaana Harvey, Singer/Songwriter, Grade 9 I love so many things about GEMS (Singapore)! The facilities are amazing... but what I love the most are the people. I have an awesome teacher and great classmates whom I’ve become so close to in such a short period of time. Music is my passion, it is my life and I can never make it through a day without singing. I would like to be a singer, songwriter and performer when I am older.

At GEMS (Singapore). I know these dreams will come true. Step by step I know I can make it.

Emma Middleditch, National triathlon champion, Grade 10 GEMS World Academy (Singapore) is a really fantastic school. It has amazing sporting facilities and the teachers are understanding, kind and fun. I especially love the after-school activities. In swimming, the coaches motivate us and encourage us to push our limits, which is great for a person like me, as I really enjoy challenging myself to do better. When I grow up I want to be an Olympic triathlon champion.

I am determined to get there one day and I know GEMS (Singapore) will help me.

We created an environment in which creative, entrepreneurial and innovation skills are at the foundation of the taught curriculum - every day, in every classroom.

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The Art and Science Of Making Memories

By Kristy Castleton, Founder, Rebel & Soul As winner of the Excellence In Technology & Innovation category at BritCham’s 18th Annual Business Awards, Kristy shares how Rebel & Soul is revolutionising brands’ and consumers’ perceptions of the memorable impact which events can achieve, combined with neuroscience and marketing technology to craft truly novel experiences.

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t’s early in the morning, you are led through a backdoor into a blacked out space. You have no idea where you are, your spatial sense searches for objects to calibrate, but finds none. The space is silent except for whispers from other delegates. You’re still, yet your heart

is beating with anticipation. Suddenly an eerie sound booms from a sound system.

You look up and around a dark unfamiliar room, searching for an answer. The sound turns into muffled speech. You struggle to understand it. Then it becomes clearer.

A wave of nostalgia grows inside you as

you hear a familiar voice. You’ve heard these words somewhere before. Suddenly, with a crescendo, four precision projection mapped panels with emotive imagery on the walls light up. These are the voices of icons including Martin Luther King and Churchill, giving revolutionary speeches

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Feature: The Art and Science Of Making Memories

which have been distorted and mismatched to vivid digital visual displays of famous scenes in history.

This was the scene on day one of The Performance Theatre in Singapore, an annual meeting of global CEOs, thought leaders and influencers, such as the Singapore Deputy Prime Minister and the former President of Mexico, Felipe Calderón. The series was created by Xynteo, a Scandinavian leadership company, run in collaboration with EDB and brought to life and committed to memory, by the Rebel & Soul team.

This event opening was artistically curated and designed to distort reality and create the unexpected. This is just one of the ways that Rebel & Soul makes memories.

Living in cities, we see tens of thousands of marketing messages a day. Despite our brains having a hard drive of 2.5 petabytes (1 million gigabytes), or to put that in real terms; enough capacity to hold three million hours’ worth of your favourite Netflix downloads, we retain less than 0.01% of the information that we see every day.

Why is that? Ultimately, because our brains are incredibly hard to impress, they’re still protecting us in a primal way. We are still built to fight or take flight. So, unless a piece of information will save our lives or help us be top of the race for survival of the fittest by knowing the greatest and latest, our brains don’t want to know. Expectation is one of the brain’s biggest filters.

Another way to look at it is to imagine your brain’s filter process like Simon Cowell in a talent contest. If you stand on stage, sing a Beyoncé number one, half as good as the lady herself, you won’t have a hope getting past Simon’s rigorous criticism and into the second round. In fact, if Simon has heard the song before, you’ll be lucky if his neurons even stand to attention long enough to bank a short-term memory, which is one of the reasons many of those auditioning don’t even make it to the end of their performance before they get the red light. However, go on stage and deliver a self-penned song duet with your pet Chihuahua and you’ll put Simon in unexpected mode. If he doesn’t know what’s about to happen, his brain is getting ready to fight or flight. His adrenalin

will pump and his neurons will be on high alert. Then you’re one step closer to Simon remembering your performance.

Creating the unexpected or “intrigue” is the first step in the proprietary methodology I created for Rebel & Soul called INVOLVE. The model is rooted in neuroscience and forms one of a number of models we apply to the experience design process to ensure that we are making positive memories at every moment. Most people think of event design as an art. We have proven that there is a science behind it and we have created a lot of fun memories in the testing process.

One of the next steps to creating memories in the INVOLVE process is to ensure that we

have an element of “new”. Our brains are akin to crows and monkeys; we love shiny new things and one of the easiest ways to win here is to apply new technologies at our events. New enhances the unexpected and together they form a powerful reason to bank a memory. Examples of recent Rebel applications of this include Augmented Reality (AR) golf, Virtual Reality (VR) surgery and a Star Wars hologram. In our AR “Beat the Pros” golf game with Brooke Henderson and Minjee Lee, the edutainment technology was so advanced that one of our guests literally, beat the pros. During our VR experience for the recent launch of the new technology club, Spectrum, visitors were given the opportunity to be transported into three different worlds.

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New enhances the unexpected and together they form a powerful reason to bank a memory

how VR may become a part of the everyday classroom, lecture, theatre or hospital in the not-so-distant future. On a lighter note, we were commissioned to create a 20-metre talking hologram of Richard Branson, dressed as Princess Leia for a fun parody of the infamous Star Wars scene with R2D2, floating over Branson’s tennis court on Necker Island.

The first took people face to face with a surgeon's knife to see what happens when you’re under general anaesthetic, the second threw users into the Costa Rican jungle to explore wildlife and plants, and finally

people experienced how neuroscientists are using VR to rehabilitate patients to regain use of limbs using the brain to stimulate muscles, guided by a virtual limb. Each of these experiences were designed to show

We always strive to create fun, engaging, immersive firsts. We have to find a way to trigger fight or flight, or we risk having a very small brand recall which in turn gives us a very low return on investment. Using our model, we have taken brand recall from a single event up to 87% up to two months post-event and driven up to a quarter of a million dollars’ worth of free PR. That generates a positive return on marketing investment for what historically has only been an area of spend. Using science in collaboration with art in the design process is improving our client’s bottom lines.

About the Author Kristy Castleton is the founder and Managing Director of Rebel & Soul, a socially conscious business which produces highly memorable events for global brands across Asia-Pacific. Kristy is both the rebel and the soul, an extrovert and a geek. Her passion for neuroscience and technology teamed with a love for parties and new experiences, drove her to set up an agency that does things a little differently to all the rest. Kristy was nominated by Campaign Asia to be on their Women to Watch list.

About the Company Rebel & Soul works with brands like Heineken, HSBC, Chanel and MINI, and agencies such as Dentsu and Saatchi & Saatchi to create events that pack a punch. Think wearables, gamification, holograms and virtual reality mixed with awesome music and a free-flow bar. Rebel & Soul’s vision is to drive event technology to be the new frontier of marketing in Asia.

To find out more about INVOLVE and how it can help your brand make Simon Cowell’s neurons stand to attention, please visit www.rebelandsoul.com or contact hello@rebelandsoul.com

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Feature

10 Tips for Your Personal Branding in the Year of the Dog

By Chris J Reed, CEO, The Dark Art of Marketing Find out everything you need to know about having a personal brand in the year of the dog.

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s the Chinese year of the dog is upon us, it is a fantastic time to think about refocusing your personal branding for the year ahead.

We can learn a thing or two from looking at dogs. They are adored for just being themselves, they love staying groomed, and are loyal, social creatures. Here are ten tips to enhance your personal brand in 2018.

People invest in people — in a personal brand that they can believe in.

1. Make People Remember Your Name

was a nobody. At the point when Walter stands in the desert, having killed all his competitors to become the undisputed drug lord “Heisenberg”, king of all, he surveys

As Breaking Bad taught us — your personal brand is everything in business. Walter White

and says to his disbelieving associates, “Say my name.” Without thinking, they utter in fear: “Heisenberg.” The personal branding attached to that name means everything that Walter White is not — power.

2. Dress to Make a Statement

Dress and look how you wish to represent yourself. You can and should respect someone or an organisation by dressing in a smart or casual manner, but do it in a way that is true to yourself and not merely conforming to how others want you to dress.

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uses LinkedIn. They may not, but everyone uses Google.

Personal brand development and putting yourself out there is the best kind of PR you can get.

3. What Does Your Google Search Say About You?

A Google search reveals many things and much more that you may not want. It could also be the first thing that someone does even before they get your business card.

The first thing that usually that comes up when I Google you is your LinkedIn profile.

I click on that link and your LinkedIn profile is the first personal brand impression that I get of you. Have a complete LinkedIn profile and think about that next time you say no one

4. Your Reputation Lives On

In the film Gladiator, it wasn’t enough for the gladiator Maximus to be killed by the jealous emperor. The Emperor had to tarnish Maximus’ reputation too. The Emperor knew that by killing the Gladiator, his personal brand would live on and inspire rebellions against the empire. His reputation proved much harder to kill than the man.

Humans die but reputations live forever — as does your personal brand.

brand, allowing him to promote his 200 Virgin brands and infuse them with his core personal branding credentials of entrepreneurialism, passion, zest, risktaking, fun and company culture. Personal brand development and putting yourself out there is the best kind of PR you can get.

7. People Invest in People

5. It’s Not What You Know, It’s Who You Know It’s all about the people you know. Keep everyone close (not just your enemies), talk and connect. Do people favours without expecting one in return. It’s all about your relationships, who you know and who they know.

Have a personal brand like Elon Musk. No one else could get as many people to invest so much into so many loss-making ventures as Elon Musk. He has the magical personal branding that no one else has. He has visions and dreams, shooting for Mars — not just the moon — and bringing people along to believe in him in the process. People invest in people — in a personal brand that they can believe in. They invest in people that have a vision, credibility, a track record of delivering, who are recommended, have an excellent reputation and who they can trust to work hard for them.

6. Be More Extroverted

8. Say Yes

Do what Richard Branson does. Even if you are an introvert, be more outgoing, more extroverted. Richard Branson is not a natural extrovert but he puts himself forward to promote his personal

Say yes to speaking opportunities, writing blogs, writing opinion pieces for newspapers and websites, doing interviews for TV stations, YouTube channels, radio programs and podcasts — basically anything that

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Feature: 10 Tips for Your Personal Branding in the Year of the Dog

People love authentic, confident people.

People follow confident people, people invest in confident people.

Since arriving in Asia, I have developed more confidence than I had being an entrepreneur in London. While I used to get nervous before talks in London, I no longer get nervous and I look forward to doing talks all across the Asian region now.

You can achieve so much more if you and your personal brand are confident. People love authentic, confident people. People follow confident people, people invest in confident people.

allows you to enhance your personal branding for free to your target audience and beyond.

You can then use social media platforms to amplify it to millions of professionals.

9. Have Confidence

When I wanted my photo on the front of my first book, my publisher said that every business book barring ones written by famous people like Richard Branson or Elon Musk did not have photos of the entrepreneurs or professionals on them. My retort was 1) my

first book was about LinkedIn marketing and how your personal brand is key to this, and 2) I market myself as the “only CEO with a Mohawk”. It was important to have my photo with my mohawk on the front.

He agreed and everyone loved it. For my second book, he was the first to say, “We definitely need your photo with your mohawk on the front!” The only difference this time; I changed the colour of the mohawk from blue to red.

Don’t miss your opportunity to make your mark by thinking that you are not worthy or that you can’t offer anything or can’t contribute. You can. Everyone can. It’s not rocket science. Just do it and you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve.

10. Look Beyond Perfection

As the famous quote went: “Beauty is the opposite of perfection. It’s about confidence, charisma and character.” That’s all your personal branding is about too. Go for it and you won’t regret it!

About the Author Chris Reed is the only CEO with a mohawk! He is also a two-time No. 1 international bestselling author with his latest book Personal Branding Mastery For Entrepreneurs and previously with LinkedIn Mastery for Entrepreneurs, the No.1 book about LinkedIn on Amazon.

Chris is a serial, global entrepreneur having created Black Marketing — Enabling LinkedIn For You, The Dark Art of Marketing — Personal Branding For Entrepreneurs, Mohawk Marketing — TripAdvisor Engagement For You and now his masterclass brand, Chris J Reed Mastery, which promises to engage, delight, educate and entertain you and your teams.

About the Company The Dark Art of Marketing — Personal Branding for Entrepreneurs will transform your personal brand to rock star status beyond LinkedIn. Their highly exclusive and boutique personal branding consultancy will manage all aspects of your personal brand.

From your LinkedIn profile to your YouTube channel. From becoming a best-selling author to a nonExecutive Director. From your interviews and blogs to your speaking engagements and award entries.

From networking at the right events to the way you look and dress. The Dark Art of Marketing will intelligently and sophisticatedly ensure that your personal brand is one to be reckoned with. Find out more at thedarkartofmarketing.com

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2 Annual Celebrating Diversity Photo Competition nd

How Can I Change the World?

This was the question posed to entrants of this year’s 2nd Annual Celebrating Diversity Photo Competition. Promoting diversity and inclusion is imperative to future generations of talent and leaders across all five pillars — disability, gender, generation, LGBT and culture.

We received over 100 entries to this year’s contest, and we thank all those who entered. These photos aim to highlight the importance of this topic by featuring our twelve finalists.

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Feature: 2nd Annual Celebrating Diversity Photo Competition

“You can’t change the world unless you accept the colours amongst us” – Wong Chek Poh, First Prize Winner

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“The art of thinking independently together” – Harris Norzlan, Second Prize Winner

“Creating an inclusive society is of utmost importance” – Ong Yi Chao, Third Prize Winner

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Feature: 2nd Annual Celebrating Diversity Photo Competition

“Harajuku Fashion Walk: diverse between the normal and colourful people contrasted in one place” – Maryann Kiong Kai Qin, People’s Choice Winner

“Bali cup wheelchair basketball” – Chris Pardey

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“Everybody as one whole world” – Jessica Lum

“Racial Harmony Day at Pinsent Masons Mpillay, every staff member in national dress” – Priya Panwar

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Feature: 2nd Annual Celebrating Diversity Photo Competition

“Learning from her mother” – David Hong

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“We can only ascend on the whole as the human race when we open our minds and hearts to others” – See Sze Ping

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Feature: 2nd Annual Celebrating Diversity Photo Competition

“Magnify your sight.

Sometimes we do not see the natural laughter of a human, but we need to magnify to see it” – Jennifer Chong Yun

“Diversity means that people of different races sit together and enjoy meals with laughter and no discrimination. There is racial harmony even though they are from other races” – Terence Teo

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“Diversity simply means a range of different things. Our world is progressively changing.

Break stereotypes and learn to accept different mindsets, genders and that everyone loves differently. This is how we can change the world” – Terence Teo

“Sight for the visually impaired. Acceptance of physical activity for them is more than this.

Journey to acceptance” – Jennifer Chong Yun

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Britain in Southeast Asia News

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BiSEA News Looking back at 2017, some of the BMCC’s highlights included VIP receptions for visiting ministers Richard Graham MP, The Rt Hon Greg Hands MP, The Rt Hon Liam Fox MP and Mark Garnier MP. We’ve also reached new milestones in launching several formations, namely our Business Centre, the BMCC Johor and significantly our two sector committees in Energy and Education. Another momentous establishment was the Government Advocacy Working Group installed to relay the business needs of our members to the government.

Also with thanks to the strong support of our members, the BMCC’s 13th Annual Charity Rugby Dinner raised RM75,000 in charity for the National Cancer Society of Malaysia.

Ushering in the new year, the BMCC has hit the ground running as the Chamber held a New Year’s Drink Party and a special keynote address on understanding decommissioning, both to great reception.

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BCCT announced their 2018 Board of Directors at the Annual General Meeting on 25 January, electing nine of 15. The Chamber would like to thank all the 2017 Board members for their contributions and support last year. The full BCCT board of directors for 2018 with officers elected as indicated is as follows: Chairman Chris Thatcher – Anglo-Thai Legal Co., Ltd Vice Chairmen Simon Matthews – ManpowerGroup Thailand David Cumming – Amari Watergate Bangkok Carl Sellick – Lucy Electric (Thailand) Limited Directors Ali Adam – Arcadia (Thailand) Co., Ltd Billy Chomsakorn – British Airways Plc Viriya (Boyd) Chongphaisal – GlaxoSmithKline (Thailand) Limited Gareth Davies – Fluxus (Thailand) Co., Ltd Stephen Frost – Bangkok International Associates Ltd Colin Hastings – The BigChilli Co., Ltd Simon Landy – Colliers International Thailand Pinyapa Pichaipalakorn – HLG (Thailand) Co., Ltd Nick Smart – Tesco Lotus (Ek-Chai Distribution System Co., Ltd)

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Pictured from left (top row) are Nick Smart, Viriya Chongphaisal, Pinyapa Pichaipalakorn, Billy Chomsakorn, Colin Hastings and from left (bottom row) are Ali Adam, David Cumming, Chris Thatcher, Simon Matthews, and Gareth Davies. Directors absent from the photo are Carl Sellick, Stephen Frost and Simon Landy

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At the Chamber: Business Group News

Updates from the Financial & FinTech Business Group Chairperson: Ashley Jones — Financial Planning Consultant, The Fry Group

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017 concluded with the Financial Services Business Group being renamed the Financial & FinTech Business Group. We all identify changes in the world of finance. The name change was synonymous with the sector’s evolution.

The very name of FinTech certainly inspires debate. Questions such as “what does it mean?” and “how do we define it?” have been continual.

FinTech appears to provide additional opportunities with new sectors opening up. There are complexities to address and Churchill’s quote “out of the intense complexities, intense simplicities emerge” is reassuring in this regard. We can only hope simplicity is a conclusion we reach over time. A key positive is the focus on the consumer with a hope that there will be greater transparency with transactions over time with various forms of financial activity.

The new committee focus was underlined with our launch event in November — a professional networking evening at the stunning rooftop bar in the Oasia Downtown Hotel. Credit for this must go to Nick Barlow from KPMG, whose energy encouraged the final delivery of the event, which followed hard on the heels of the FinTech Festival in Singapore.

Those in attendance not only represented the FinTech space but the legal sector as well as banking and other financial services businesses.

We have agreed as a business group that this event will not stand in isolation and we are concentrating on additional professional networking sessions for the FinTech community in 2018.

The focus in 2016 was the UK referendum and the first half of the year was spent developing the debate at Raffles Hotel one week prior to the referendum vote.

Over 150 people attended and the event in my view delivered the intent. We fastforward fifteen months and half a year after Article 50 was triggered and we identified an opportune time to assess the position. This was a chance to hear directly from businesses and we invited a large German bank, a British bank, a senior economist and a leading British law firm to discuss the evolving situation. It encouraged a lively debate and the nature of discussion was surprisingly separate from the points covered by global media at the time. While this event — Brexit: The Next Chapter — took place in September, as we neared the year-end it was clear

that FinTech would be the focus for 2018 and the business group name change was inevitable to correctly identify the focus not just of the committee but the financial services industry.

The new focus coincided with the end of the term for the Co-Chair, Sunil Iyer, a Director with the Iyer Practice. Sunil has been a true advocate for the group and an outstanding thinker, fully connected with the group’s development over the past two years, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank Sunil for the diligence he has shown during the twoyear term. Nick Barlow, a Director with KPMG, was nominated and appointed as the Co-Chair, and commenced his role at the start of the current year. An excellent and inspired choice by the business

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group. Nick will facilitate a new direction and stimulate different thinking.

We are delighted with the wider business group development with HSBC and Prudential now fully involved in the group and we are fostering the ambition to be fully connected in the FinTech community in Singapore to provide a valuable platform for member companies with the British Chamber.

The first group meeting took place in January. A fresh direction was discussed to generate debate and share information in 2018. Announcements will follow.

In conclusion, we have a new name, focus and perspective with fresh and inspired leadership thinking.

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At the Chamber: Business Services News

Supporting British Companies doing Business in Singapore Recent Events BritCham Hosted DIT South East Trade Delegation + Visit to Rolls-Royce Seletar Facility The Department for International Trade (DIT) South East Team brought a trade mission delegation to attend the MRO Asia-Pacific show in Singapore from 31st October to 2nd November 2017.

We were pleased to organise a full day of programme activities for the delegates on 31st October 2017. This included a market briefing on the aerospace and aviation sector. We would like to thank our expert speakers from Singapore Airlines Engineering (Philippines) Corporation, the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), K&L Gates LLP and the British High Commission Singapore.

In addition to the market briefing for the DIT South East Trade delegation, we organised a visit to the Rolls-Royce Seletar facility where delegates were given a tour of the assembly and test unit for large commercial Trent aeroplane engines.

The unit is the first of its kind in Asia. Dr Bicky Bhangu, Regional Director for Southeast Asia & Pacific at Rolls-Royce and BritCham’s President also gave an insightful presentation on the history of Rolls-Royce in Singapore.

Santander UK and UOB Launch their UK–ASEAN Corridor to Facilitate New Business Opportunities Santander UK and United Overseas Bank (UOB) celebrated the official launch of their joint UK-ASEAN corridor on 15th November, in the presence of Santander CEO Nathan Bostock and the British High Commissioner, HE Mr Scott Wightman. Held at Eden Hall, the British High Commissioner’s residence in Singapore, this corridor initiative is based on an integrated business ecosystem of bank and non-bank partners, facilitated jointly

by Santander and UOB, which enables businesses to identify growth opportunities in the ASEAN and UK markets. In this way, the Santander-UOB partnership makes an important contribution to systematically and proactively facilitating trade and investment flows between the UK and Southeast Asia. Read more about the launch at www.britcham. org.sg/business-services/business-services-news

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Haigh Quattro Launch We are happy to have coordinated the Haigh Quattro Launch Event on 6th November 2017, hosted by DIT’s Regional Director Christopher Pook at Eden Hall.

Haigh has worked closely with the UK National Health Service (NHS) to design and manufacture renowned patient waste macerators. The Quattro® is Haigh’s premium pulp macerator and provides a controlled opening, easy loading and a short efficient cycle time while disposing of four pulp items in a single load.

Attendees from the healthcare industry had an educational session on infection control and how Haigh’s macerators minimise the risk of infection transmission. Together with their local distributors, Radiance Medical Systems, they did a live demonstration of the products and answered various questions from the guests.

“Thank you so much to the DIT and British Chamber of Commerce for making the event such a success, we’ve had fantastic comments from our guests and are so pleased with how it went.” – David Meek, International Business Development Manager, Haigh International and Steven Ho, Managing Director, Radiance Medical Systems.

Find out more about the Quattro at www.haighmed.com/products

Healthcare Software Systems (HSS) Our Senior Business Services Advisor assisted Healthcare Software Solutions (HSS) Ltd with a market research report and in setting up meetings with potential distributors and partners with a good knowledge of radiology systems and medical imaging in Singapore.

The meetings allowed HSS to develop valuable relationships in Singapore for their radiology information system software, and to explore potential market opportunities here.

“Nico was excellent in her energy and responsiveness. We were able to set up a number of high-quality meetings on short notice and were able to qualify the market opportunity quickly. Thanks for your support.” – Mr Dan Taylor

Case Study: FSSGlobal Our Business Services Advisor assisted with organising a programme of meetings for FSSGlobal in Singapore. FSSGlobal, represented by Mr Ovidiu Draghici, is a boutique IT consulting company specialising in ERP software solutions and process support for the oil and gas industry. Building on their successes with Royal Dutch Shell, they are looking at expanding into Singapore. Through the meetings, FSSGlobal has developed relationships with multinational system integrators and explored various areas of collaboration with them.

Export Opportunities We help UK companies find and apply for Export Opportunities from businesses looking for products or services in Singapore.

BritCham Singapore is committed to source and publish Export Opportunities on a regular basis across most sectors.

Eligibility To qualify for Business Services, a business must: • Have an active UK trading address

• Be able to demonstrate that any support they receive from the Chamber would help them deliver economic benefit to the UK through this trading address Visit www.GREAT.gov.uk for the opportunities in Singapore and worldwide.

Contact our Team You would like to ask a question?

Please contact Carole our Business Services Manager. Carole@britcham.org.sg

The British Chamber of Commerce Singapore is the appointed delivery partner for DIT (Department for International Trade) in Singapore. Our Business Services team offers market entry support services to British companies looking to do business and grow business in Singapore.

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At the Chamber: New Members

Sterling Vodafone Gary Hamilton-Walker

BritCham New Members

Corporate Accenture Strategy Andrew Lea-Cox

ALTIOS International Stephane Benoist

Bray Leino Singapore Pte Ltd Poppy Robinson

Falcon Capital Wilson Rondini

Handelsbanken Charlotta Petersen

Luxury Escapes Tom McMenemie

ALTIOS

Australia

Expanding your business beyond the horizon

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Odgers Berndtson Andie Rees

Premier Group James Price

Sodexo Elliot Ruse

Qualia Care Developments Kevin Caldwell

World Fuel Services Piers Gorman

Corporate SME ENGAGE! Communication by design Pte Ltd Jacu Amansec

Integrated Food Concepts Pte Ltd Gretchen Tan

Space Executive Pte Ltd Marek Danyluk

To Go Micro Kitchens Asia Pte Ltd Stephen James Ramage

Upskill People Richard Huggins

ZUZU Hospitality Solutions Daniel Lynn

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At the Chamber: Sterling News BP has been in Singapore for over 50 years, and we are embarking on a new chapter for our businesses in Singapore as we meet the dual mission of meeting the world’s energy needs, whilst advancing the transition to low carbon.

Our office has now relocated to: 7 Straits View, #26-01 Marina One East Tower, Singapore 018936, Main line: +65 6335 3000

On 8th January 2018, British Airways announced a multimillion-pound investment in its World Traveller (long-haul economy cabin) catering, introducing an exciting and expanded new menu, which provides more quantity and quality to both meals and great snacking options throughout the flight. The airline’s customers will be welcomed with pretzels and a drink. Once they are settled in, they will be served a four-course meal such as a starter of couscous salad, followed by a main course of chicken casserole with an ale sauce, colcannon mash and seasonal vegetables, or a vegetarian tomato, farfalle and vegetable dish. Dessert will be a Pots & Co salted caramel and chocolate mousse, followed by biscuits and cheese.

The meal will be accompanied by a bread roll and a bottle of Highland Spring water. They have added Graze snack boxes on their longest flights. They are also offering Magnum icecreams on daylight flights from London and a Tuck Box on inbound and overnight flights.

Read more at mediacentre.britishairways.com/pressrelease

On 10th January 2018, BT announced the launch of a new service to provide global businesses with direct access to IBM Cloud via the BT network. BT Cloud Connect Direct for IBM offers businesses the benefits of highly predictable, security-rich and reliable network performance when building and deploying critical business applications and data on the IBM Cloud.

With Cloud Connect Direct for IBM, BT customers receive a dedicated, high-performance connection to the IBM Cloud so they can access services including compute, network and storage infrastructure as well as an extensive catalogue spanning AI, blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT), data and analytics capabilities. Direct cloud connectivity helps businesses achieve better performance, security and availability compared to connecting over the open internet.

Read more at www.globalservices.bt.com/seas/en/news

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City Developments Limited (CDL) and DBS have joined over 100 companies from 10 sectors headquartered in 24 countries and regions in the inaugural sector-neutral 2018 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index (GEI). Launched on 22nd January 2018, the reference index measures gender equality across internal company statistics, employee policies, external community support and engagement, and gender-conscious product offerings.

Singapore companies made up a third of the six Asian (ex-Japan) companies included in the GEI, which is tracked by investors. CDL is also the only real estate management and development company named in the GEI. The city-state has made significant inroads in recent years on gender equality. Visit www.cdl.com.sg to read more.

Team Singapore sailor Amanda Ng (23 years old) has been awarded a Deloitte Singapore Scholarship specifically to help support her Asian Games 2018 goal while she pursues her undergraduate degree in accountancy at the Singapore Management University (SMU). The scholarship, valued at S$20,000, will help Amanda in funding all aspects of her training, preparation and equipment needed for her to qualify for the Asian Games in Jakarta this year. When she graduates from SMU, Amanda will join Deloitte as an Audit & Assurance Associate under Deloitte Ignite — a special programme for elite athletes that offers flexible employment in order for these athletes to pursue both their careers and sports with equal dedication and commitment. Read more at www2.deloitte.com/sg/en.html

In preparation for its first IB Diploma cohort in August 2018, Dulwich College (Singapore) is in the final stages of building its IB Diploma Centre adding further state-of-the-art facilities to its existing Senior School. In addition, the newly appointed Director of University Counselling has developed a series of university fairs that sits alongside an innovative enrichment programme which ultimately completes every student’s personal enrichment profile. The many enrichment opportunities include hosting the notorious World Scholar’s Cup in The Alleyn Theatre with over 200 students attending and a chance for the local community to share the newest theatre space. Students also partake in dedicated enrichment days and, as well as local outreach and support programmes, Dulwich fully funds a school in Cambodia providing free education to children previously unschooled which allows its own students to contribute time, resources and coaching.

For further information please visit singapore.dulwich.org

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At the Chamber: Sterling News On 18th January 2018, HSBC Singapore announced its partnership with 7-Eleven, the largest convenience store chain in Singapore, to offer HSBC customers access to more than 300 of its stores for QuickCash withdrawals. HSBC’s partnership with 7-Eleven will expand its total cash access network by 30% to over cash 800 touchpoints island-wide.

This partnership with 7-Eleven further complements and expands HSBC’s existing fleet of ATMs including those from the ATM5 network and QuickCash participating outlets including Cold Storage, Guardian Health and Beauty and Market Place in Singapore.

HSBC customers can leverage its ATM / Branch Locator on its website to find the nearest HSBC Branch, ATM and QuickCash service locations for cash withdrawals. Read more at www.about.hsbc.com.sg/news-and-media

Despite tough conditions in some markets, Jaguar Land Rover achieved record global sales in 2017 with retails of 621,109 vehicles, up 6.5% on the prior year.

Commenting on the full year, Andy Goss, Jaguar Land Rover Group Sales Operations Director said: “We have once again delivered year-on-year sales increases thanks to a world-class product range and new models such as the E-PACE and Velar, as well as Chinaspecific models such as the XFL. But we are facing tough times in key markets such as the UK where consumer confidence and diesel taxes will hit us.”

Jaguar retail sales were 15,079 vehicles in December, down 7.8% compared to December 2016 as solid sales of the long wheel base Jaguar XFL in China and the introduction of the E-PACE were more than offset by softer sales of XE and XJ. Land Rover retailed 40,618 vehicles in December 2017, up 4.1% compared to December 2016, led by the introduction of the Range Rover Velar and the sales ramp-up of the all-new Discovery.

Read more at www.landrover.com.sg

Following a successful two-year collaboration, Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) and StarHub today announced the renewal and deepening of their strategic partnership for a further two-year term. The two companies will continue their tie-up in advertising sales, content creation and distribution, data analytics and marketing. In addition, further collaboration will be explored in new areas such as healthcare, retail and education. The two companies will also explore collaborations on solutions in relation to connected buildings, the Internet of Things and smart retail.

The strategic partnership has combined SPH’s extensive sales team and StarHub’s content and distribution platforms to offer integrated multi-platform advertising packages to the market. With the renewal, the two will continue working to develop omnipresent branding opportunities for advertisers across TV, print, out-of-home, radio, mobile and digital media.

Read more at www.starhub.com/about-us/newsroom.html

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At the Chamber: Corporate News

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On 19th January 2018, Comfort Delgro and Uber introduced a new option for faster rides at affordable prices with UberFLASH. The new service matches riders with the nearest driverpartner, either a ComfortDelGro taxi or an uberX vehicle; reducing waiting time and getting riders to their destination more quickly and efficiently. Riders will be able to see UberFLASH trip fares upfront before requesting a ride. Fares will be, on average, 5–10% lower than uberX, with both cash and credit card payment options accepted.

How to use UberFLASH: 1. Open the Uber app 2. Enter your destination under the “Where To?” section 3. Select “UberFLASH” and tap “Request UberFLASH” 4. Your ride will arrive in a few minutes!

Read more about this at www.comfortdelgro.com.sg

GSK Consumer Healthcare has announced the appointment of Filippo Lanzi as Regional Head of the Asia-Pacific region. Filippo reports to Brian McNamara, CEO of GSK Consumer Healthcare, and becomes a member of the Consumer Healthcare Strategic Leadership Team as well as the GSK Singapore Country Board.

Brian McNamara commented, “Filippo is an outstanding leader who brings a wealth of expertise to a dynamic and rapidly growing Asia-Pacific region at GSK Consumer Healthcare.

He has a unique ability to translate strategy into world-class execution by bringing together teams and innovations that drive results. His people-focused leadership style and proven track record growing categories and transforming businesses are exactly what we need to win.”

Read more at sg.gsk.com/en-sg/media/press-releases

The Master is delighted to announce that the Head of Marlborough College’s Prep School from September 2018 will be Mrs Rachel Eaton-Jones. Mrs Eaton-Jones is an experienced Prep School Head who has led Trinity Prep School in Devon with distinction since 2012, and the significant growth in the school’s numbers reflects parental confidence in her leadership. Mrs Eaton-Jones enjoyed a similar record of success at the Prep of Wellington School in Somerset and her broad experience includes developing boarding and being Head of Juniors in an international school.

Anticipating her move to Marlborough, Mrs Eaton-Jones said, “I am very much looking forward to becoming fully involved in MCM life; getting to know families and contributing to the continued success of a school with such a fantastic reputation in Malaysia and the UK. I have been so impressed with the warmth of the welcome throughout the application process. It is clear that the whole school’s commitment to ‘Compassion, Companionship and Conversation’ is far more than lip service to a vague ideal. A school with ambitions that cares about people — little wonder I can’t wait!” Read more at www.marlboroughcollegemalaysia.org/news

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At the Chamber: Corporate News MSIG Insurance’s latest campaign “Drive safe to the max with UMax” seeks to promote safe driving in Singapore with its usage-based motor insurance plan, UMax. Through a telematics device installed in their cars, driving data is relayed back to UMax policyholders so they can receive real-time feedback and tips via a free mobile app and improve on their driving habits. If they have been keeping a good drive score, UMax policyholders can also enjoy up to 100% waiver of their policy excess in the event of an accident. As part of the campaign, two video parodies focusing on harsh braking and harsh steering habits were produced. The campaign executions included digital, social as well as out-of-home activations on buses and radio. Watch the videos on MSIG Singapore’s YouTube or Facebook channel and visit www.msig.com.sg/umax for more details of the motor insurance plan.

When we opened the doors to our first restaurant in Singapore, in Scotts Square in 2016, we were keen to demonstrate to Singaporeans why PizzaExpress has become a permanent fixture in the lives of so many Brits over the past 52 years. A successful outing here would pave the way for the sort of rapid expansion we have undertaken in other parts of Asia; with the mainland China business now boasting over 40 restaurants, a 24th outlet in Hong Kong due to open shortly, and a successful franchised business in Indonesia operating in 18 locations across Jakarta.

But we were not necessarily expecting quite the level of attention we enjoyed in Scotts Square, where there were queues out the door of the restaurant most weekends in 2016 as customers — both new to the brand and existing fans from other countries — flocked to savour our famous dough balls. If 2016 was busy, 2017 was exhausting, with a further three restaurants opening; first in Duo Galleria in August, then Holland Village in November, and finally in Marina One just before Christmas.

This year looks set to be no different, with (at least) two more restaurants in the making.

First up, we’ll be touching down in Tampines this June, with a fantastic unit at the heart of the exciting Century Square redevelopment. And you can expect at least one more PizzaExpress to appear in Singapore before the end of the year, so watch this space (and our Facebook page)!

Odgers Berndtson is opening a new base in Dublin, Ireland. The move comes as increasing numbers of organisations look to invest in Ireland prior to Brexit. They include JP Morgan, Bank of America, Citibank, Standard Life and Barclays in financial services and Google and LinkedIn in the tech sector. A market-leading team already established in the executive search market will extend the global firm’s reach across 58 offices in 29 countries.

“The growth of our business depends on being able to provide a high level of support to major global clients as they address some very significant challenges posed by Brexit,” said Kester Scrope, Chief Executive of Odgers Berndtson.

Damian Ringwood, the Managing Partner of the new Odgers Berndtson Dublin office, said, “The team here are thrilled with the opportunity to join Odgers Berndtson. Working as part of one of the global ‘big six’ search firms will help us to maximise the opportunity that Brexit offers and provide a wider reach in terms of securing top talent for new and existing clients.”

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Singapore-based tailor-made travel specialist Country Holidays announced its sale to international luxury tour operator, Scott Dunn on 15th January 2018.

Together with Scott Dunn’s existing operations in London, San Diego and Singapore, the deal will make the combined business Asia’s biggest player in bespoke, private travel, with a global team of over 300 staff offering 24-hour service. Over the next 12th months, Country Holidays will be rebranded as Scott Dunn and the existing Scott Dunn Singapore and Country Holidays teams will be merged, sharing new headquarters in Singapore. Country Holidays’ Founder, Chang Theng Hwee, will become Scott Dunn’s new CEO – Asia, reporting to group CEO Simon Russell. For more information please visit www.scottdunn.com.

Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Life services, announced it has taken a majority stake in French start-up FoodChéri, a food-tech pioneer. This move is in line with Sodexo’s strategy to continually adapt its offers to meet emerging consumer trends and reinvent the customer experience.

Sodexo’s investment enables FoodChéri to consolidate its strategic positioning as a “virtual restaurant” with a focus on serving businesses, and to expand nationally in France.

FoodChéri will continue to be managed by its co-founders.

Founded in 2015, FoodChéri now has 70 staff and delivers over 12,000 fresh meals prepared by professional chefs every week, in the Paris metropolitan area. With a healthy, balanced and diversified offer, FoodChéri targets both individuals and companies, over 200 of which now look to the start-up to provide meals for their employees.

Visit www.sodexo.com to read more.

International health and fitness club operator and industry leader Virgin Active Fitness Clubs is spearheading a revolution yet again, announcing today that it has permanently done away with a mandatory fee that was previously imposed across all its membership types. The removal of the one-time activation fee relieves Virgin Active members from any unnecessary financial constraint and is a reflection of the brand’s commitment to make exercise irresistible and more accessible.

Virgin Active’s decision to no longer charge people an activation fee when they sign up for a membership is an unprecedented one for the industry, and heralds a progressive change in people’s attitudes to health and fitness. The current overpopulated landscape of differentiated and innovative fitness products catering to the constantly evolving needs of consumers has led Virgin Active to posit that gym operators will have to either regularly refresh and improve their offerings or lower their rates to retain their membership figures.

Read more at www.virginactive.com.sg/home/newsroom.aspx

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At the Chamber: Members’ Offers

To find out more about our members’ offers, visit our website under Membership -> Members Offers.

Anagram Group

City Developments Limited

Garner International (S) Pte Ltd

Black Marketing - enabling LinkedIn for you

CMC Partnership (UK) Ltd

Grand Hyatt Singapore

Black Marketing - enabling LinkedIn for you

Courts (Singapore) Pte Ltd

Harry's Holding Pte Ltd

British Airways

Developing Global Leaders Asia Pte. Ltd

IDM Training Pte.Ltd

BSI Group Singapore Pte Ltd

Emirates

Enjoy up to 10% off Emirates fares

IOM (Institute of Occupational Medicine) Singapore

Bupa Global

EVA Group

Luxury Escapes

City Developments Limited

Expat Living

Mega Adventure

1 Hour Training Session at $990 and 10% off all 1-day training workshops

Free One Hour Consultation on How You Can Use LinkedIn To Achieve Your Business Goals + Free Book

Free One Hour Personal Branding Consultation + Free Personal Branding Book

10% off airfare for British Airways

10% discount on ISO certification, training services and purchase of standards

10% off Medical Insurance Plan

Enjoy a 6-week Complimentary Trial Membership at Tower Club

10% discount on facilities and services

Discount on Change Management training & certification

5% off electrical & 10% off furniture on presentation of your BritCham Membership Card

5% off Women in Leadership Programs Developing Global Leaders Asia

5% discount on training

50% off Expat Living Subscription (usual price $78)

FREE: Two Hour’s Consultation with Garner International Executive Search & Recruitment Services

Mezza9 relaunches with exclusive 15% discount on food items

15% off at Harry’s on presentation of your BritCham Membership Card

50% Off Access To Online GDPR Qualification

NEBOSH International General Certificate (IGC) course on 20% off

$100 off on Luxury Escapes holiday Packages for Britcham Members

20% Off Team Building Programs

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MSIG Insurance (Singapore) Pte. Ltd

Regus

Special Membership Offer for BritCham Members

The British Club

MSIG Insurance (Singapore) Pte. Ltd

Sasha's Fine Foods Pte Ltd

The Fry Group

Pacific Prime Insurance Brokers Singapore Pte. Ltd

Shangri-La Hotel Limited

Shangri-La Business Travel Programme for BritCham Members

The Institute of Marine Engineering Science & Technology

PestBusters Pte Ltd

Singapore Cricket Club

Total Health Chiropractic Pte Ltd

PizzaExpress Singapore PTE. Limited

Singapore Management University

Transform Your Conversations

Progress - U PTE Ltd

Sonru Asia Pacific Pte Ltd

Ultimate Performance (UPFitness Pte LTD)

15% off MSIG’s Prestige Healthcare

30% off MSIG’s TravelEasy Insurance

Free Market Review & 5% Discount on Insurance Coverage*

Complimentary Professional Pest Consultation

25% off at Pizza Express on presentation of your BritCham Membership Card

5% off International Corporate Coaching Program

10% Off Any Order at Sasha Fine Foods

Up to $1000 credit for F&B for BritCham members

5% discount on SMU Executive Development Programme

10% off Annual Subscription for Corporate Members

The British Club exclusive membership offer from Britcham Members

10% off UK Tax Return Service

Up to 75% off Sustainable Maritime Operations degrees

50% off first visit at Total Health Chiropractic

10% discount on all 1 Day and 2 Day Performance Management Programmes

10% off personal training packages with Ultimate Performance

Regus

15% Discount for all Britcham Members on all products

Survival Chic

Special Membership Offer for BritCham Members

Virgin Active Singapore Pte Ltd Enjoy corporate membership rates with Virgin Active

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At the Chamber: Annual Event: The BritCham Ball

The BritCham Ball: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year 9 December 2017 BritCham ended the flagship event season with a bang — celebrating the Most Wonderful Time of the Year with colleagues, family and friends old and new.

Dressed to the nines, our stunning guests arrived at Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore to live carols and crafted cocktails. We had priceless photo moments with the British High Commissioner, Scott Wightman and Chamber President, Bicky Bhangu dressed as Father(s) Christmas!

Guests were lavished with a sumptuous traditional Christmas dinner — the full works with pudding and brandy sauce. Once again, the live auction saw winning bidders walk away with luxurious getaways across the globe at quite a steal. Congratulations also to the unsuspecting winners of our inaugural lucky draw!

As the phenomenal band and DJ got all fired up, everyone took the dance floor and danced into the wee hours, wine glasses in hand. Special thanks to 10.seconds for the amazing live music and for making our 12 Days of Christmas sing-along unforgettable!

We would like to thank our sponsors listed on page 75, who made this night possible and sent every guest on their way with generous goodie bags in tow.

SUPPORTING SPONSOR

PHOTOGRAPHY

LIVE AUCTION SPONSORS

PRIZE SPONSORS

SUPPORTING PARTNER

SUPPORTING ORGANISATIONS

SPIRITS

WINES

BEER

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At the Chamber: Breakfast Club Events

Transforming Prudential into a Customer-centric Organisation 1 November 2017 Customer-centricity is not just about offering great customer service, it means offering a great experience from the awareness stage, through the purchasing process and finally through the post-purchase process.

In this session, Angela Hunter explained the critical steps and success factors in

Customer Experience (CX) transformation, and discussed the importance of CEO and executive sponsorship. She also touched on brand, product design, customer experience,

culture and organisational design. This was all concluded with an explanation of why digital alignment to the business and customer strategy is critical for success.

The Digital Transformation of Healthcare 7 November 2017

Event Technology: The New Frontier 21 November 2017 Kristy Castleton, who recently won the award for Excellence in Technology & Innovation at

and care of patients, empowering healthcare professionals, optimising clinical and operational effectiveness and transforming the healthcare industry.

Dr Simon Kos – Chief Medical Officer, Microsoft

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This session focused on how digital transformation is delivering on the promise of more affordable, accessible and agile health systems. It featured thought leadership from three global experts on this area, and showcased real-world examples to demonstrate how technology innovation is improving the engagement

Dr Adam Hill – Chief Medical Officer, McLaren Applied Technologies Dr Steven Tucker – Founder, Tucker Medical

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Kristy Castleton – Founder and Managing Director, Rebel & Soul and Calyx Technology

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the BritCham 18th Annual Business Awards, shared her insights and secrets to event success. This includes how to transform events with technology, and create truly immersive, engaging customer experiences which reflect positively on your brand. This session was highly recommended for individuals in marketing or technology and anyone putting out events to engage B2C or B2B customers.

UK Industrial Strategy Update 15 December 2017 In this regard there are few better to hear from than Gareth Davies, Director General, Business and Science at the Department for Business, Industrial Strategy and Skills.

He provided an overview of the Strategy and how the UK plans to connect with international partners in these areas.

Gareth Davies – UK Director General, Business and Science at the Department for Business, Industrial Strategy and Skills

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The UK’s newly-published Industrial Strategy sets out a long-term plan to strengthen and grow an economy with innovation and creativity at its heart, supported by a strategic public and private investment in R&D. Through this Strategy, the UK commits to building on its strengths, boosting the productivity and earning power of people across all industries, continuing to make the UK one of the most competitive places in the world to start or grow a business.

You can access the white paper and read the Industrial Strategy summary on the BritCham website.

CMO Series: Brand Storytelling – Involving Your Audience Without Interrupting 19 January 2018 In an age of unprecedented consumer choice and content overload, the challenge for marketers is to get their message across using new methods of brand storytelling, and develop content which the consumer would proactively seek out rather than avoid.

In a lively presentation and referencing currentday transmedia classics, this session taught guests how to integrate the elements of classical storytelling into marketing, approach

distribution through transmedia disciplines and adapt to audience interaction in order to send out a message that cuts through the noise, lending it significant impact.

Sponsored by:

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At the Chamber: Evening Events

Marketing 360 Series: Sponsorship Marketing in the 21st Century 16 October 2017 >

We all know that technology has changed how we market our products and services.

We live in a fast-paced world, where it is critical that we drive value from our creative messaging and through programmes such as sponsorships etc.

Ross Collett – Managing Director, Roco Communications

Charlotte Nors – Managing Director, Singapore Repertory Theatre

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Dan Paris – Regional Business Development Director, TBWA

> Dan Paris started off this session by sharing some of the research they had done over the past year based on a global case study. Dan also talked about his work for SRT and how they look at changing perceptions about the arts and its relevance — in a time where technology has taken over many entertainment and informational requirements.

Ross Collett spoke about how sponsorship/ brand partnerships has evolved from traditional fairly one-dimensional logo recognition to today’s more content-led, multichannel approach. This included very practical “dos and don’ts” for companies considering an investment in sponsorship.

Charlotte Nors rounded the evening off with a few examples of their work with sponsors.

This event included wine, soft drinks and light canapes and time during registration and post-event for networking with other members and guests.

Sponsored by:

Networking Evening: Leadership, Talent and Professional Development 2 November 2017 We were delighted to host a special networking event for those interested in the Chamber’s newly-formed Leadership, Talent and Professional Development Business Group.

Guests shared wine and had a good chat with the new group’s leaders such as Chris J Reed, Steve Wyatt, Mark Chowdhry and Joe Tofield as well as the Chamber’s senior management team. It was also a chance for interested parties to help us shape this group, join us or just give us your opinion.

If you have ever been interested in joining one of the Chamber’s business groups but didn’t think that there was one relevant for you, this could be it. Acting on our members’ feedback, we have created this group to address the journey from starting out as a graduate all the way to reaching the C-Suite, and the career path in between.

The new group will cover learning and development, recruitment, talent retention,

personal development, professional services, employer/employee engagement and many other aspects involved in making work a better, more rewarding experience.

This exclusive networking event was the perfect opportunity to voice suggestions on what we should be addressing and to meet fellow professionals in an informal networking environment. Thank you for joining us!

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Fin Meets Tech 22 November 2017 Some of the latest advancements in technology are happening within the financial industry, leading to the drive in new fintech companies emerging in Singapore and beyond. With the recent repositioning of our Financial Services business group to Financial & FinTech, we invited professionals across both industries to join us for a relaxed evening of networking and conversation with free-flow beer, wines, soft drinks and light canapes.

This event was highly recommended for individuals interested in creating meaningful connections in the financial and fintech industries, and in particular those keen to get involved in the Chamber’s events and discussions in these sectors. Thank you for joining us!

Creating Future-ready Students Through Education 4 December 2017

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Michael Klemm – Senior Associate Director / Head of Industry Relations, Centre for Future-ready Graduates, National University of Singapore Tony Little – Former Headmaster of Eton College Edward Christian Kieswetter – President and Member of Council, Da Vinci Institute

As our economy, institutions and societal structures are shifting at an unprecedented pace, education leaders have an opportunity to innovate, to create a future that supports every learner. Taking action today to prepare students for new ways of learning, working and living can help ensure their future success.

The new era we have entered promises to change learning dramatically, affecting the ways education prepares learners and the education industry as a whole. These forces of change could present both opportunities and challenges for learning, even as they also reconfigure the contexts in which learning takes place.

This dialogue session with three of the world’s foremost education leaders explored foundational issues faced by education organisations, and the strategies they are implementing in response to them, with

Event Sponsored by:

Lord Andrew Adonis – Chair, National Infrastructure Commission

a spotlight on Kindergarten to Year 12 school-based education.

Upon examining what education systems aim to achieve and how institutions are responding, some fundamental questions that were addressed include: - How can we educate the whole person and enable lifelong learning that supports academic and social-emotional growth?

- How can we personalise learning and create flexible approaches that respond to learners’ needs?

- How can we renegotiate definitions of success?

Our three panellists considered how best to respond to an increasingly complex external environment that will impact their operations, give rise to new organisational structures and business models, and shift learners’ expectations.

This event included free-flow house wine, beers and soft drinks with light canapes and time during registration and post-event for networking with other members and guests.

Supporting Organisation:

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At the Chamber: Special Events

Start-up Series: Finance and Tax for Start-ups 28 November 2017 This seminar equipped participants with the necessary know-how to sort out their finance, accounting and tax administration requirements in advance in order to avoid last-minute complications.

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Henry Tan – Managing Director, Nexia TS

Entrepreneurs usually push such matters to a later stage but the unresolved issues will return to hound them, soaking up even more precious time and resources than what is necessary to deal with such requirements. Attendees learned more about the many hassle-free ways to handle these matters. In addition, this sharing session also discussed the latest tax areas that a business should look out for.

What to Expect as SMEs and Start-ups for 2018 5 December 2017 Many of the sectors that have driven the economy in the past, such as financial services, oil services, property and shipping are either depressed or being restructured. Besides encouraging growth in new areas such as fintech and biotech, the Singapore government has embarked on a productivity drive which has had an impact on sourcing foreign labour.

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Our panellists and moderator, who themselves are successful entrepreneurs specialising locally and regionally, shared their outlook for 2018 and thoughts about how small businesses can be successful in the current economic environment.

Mark Florance – Managing Director, S.E.A. Strategic Pte Ltd Anuj Jain – Co-Founder and CEO, Startup-O Ray Ferguson – Founder and Managing Partner, Caber Partners Pte Ltd Thomas Fernandez – Chairman and CEO, PestBusters Pte Ltd and Author Jacqueline Low – COO, Hawksford Singapore Pte Ltd Vandana Hari – Founder and CEO, Vanda Insights

Sponsored by:

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At the Chamber: Leaders In Business Lunch

2018: Risks and Opportunities for the Year Ahead with Richard Fenning, CEO, Control Risks 24 November 2017

We joined Richard Fenning, Chief Executive Officer of Control Risks, as he looked ahead to the key risks and opportunities for companies in 2018. As an industry expert who has had 25 years of experience in

geopolitical risk and impact, his perspectives are highly sought after on numerous platforms and global events, with regular contributions to and appearances on media outlets such as Bloomberg and Forbes, sharing invaluable insights on navigating shifting political risk trends.

At this Leaders in Business Lunch event, Richard Fenning touched upon the potential trajectory of US politics and policy, the

Many answers that unlock economic growth on a global scale lie in the forefront of science and technology. Such answers are most vital now, with rapid advancements and economic uncertainties such as Brexit looming.

In the midst of intensifying competition, the UK and Singapore have built vibrant economies and embraced open innovation — yet more can be done to further engage industries and accelerate technology adoption.

Richard Fenning – CEO, Control Risks

future of the US-China relationship, and prospects for resolving tensions on the Korean peninsula and South China Sea. He also assessed the changing dynamics of international terrorism and the growing threat of cyberattack, and evaluated what new opportunities this shifting risk landscape might create for business in Asia.

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Transforming Your Business Through Innovation feat.

Lim Chuan Poh, Chairman, A*STAR 31 January 2018

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What does 2018 have in store for businesses globally and in Asia-Pacific specifically?

Will global tensions continue to rise? Will terrorism continue to pose a significant threat? How will the cyber threat develop?

Lim Chuan Poh – Chairman, A*STAR

Thank you for joining us for the first Leaders In Business Lunch of 2018 for a threecourse meal and to hear from Lim Chuan Poh, Chairman, A*STAR. He spoke on how A*STAR drives economic growth by taking a differentiated approach to working with companies and institutions, enhancing lives

through open collaboration and integration of research across numerous sectors. Referring to case studies, he illustrated the importance of finding complementary capabilities in open innovation and collaboration, and allowing researchers to be immersed in different cultures and academia abroad.

Sponsored by:

BUILDING NETWORKS CONNECTING BUSINESSES CREATING OPPORTUNITIES

THIS IS WHAT WE DO BEST. The Chamber plays a strong role within the community in Singapore, providing valuable links for our members, whilst maintaining a focus on delivering quality support to our growing membership base.

We currently represent almost 400 companies across all industry sectors. The network of executives representing their companies grew substantially over the past years to now over 3600 a dynamic development that is continuing in 2018.

Our Membership is open to all nationalities.

Join us today! Visit www.britcham.org.sg