explore the HR landscape in Asia

OCT / NOV 2015

Access Asia

Dear members

Welcome to the Oct/Nov issue of our bi-monthly magazine. It’s hard to believe we’re already at the pointy end of 2015, what a busy year it’s been.

This issue we delve into the human resources industry in Singapore and beyond. Employee engagement, attracting and retaining talent, HR technology, foreign manpower quotas and legislative changes are constant hot topics for people doing business on this island.

We went out to a broad range of our members to bring you some different perspectives on these topics from various industries like finance, recruitment, energy and resources and government agencies. Inside, you’ll find out what the hottest trends are from an experienced HR manager, get tips on how to attract top talent to your organisation from three recruiters and, on the flip side, learn how to prepare for the executive job market in Singapore. You’ll also meet Taneal Roach, head of HR, Asia Pacific, Swire Oilfield Services who is one of our new members as well as being new to Singapore.

We were lucky enough to have time with Telstra’s new head of Asia, global enterprises and services, Nicholas Collins for an interview in our regular Face to Face feature. Thanks Nick for sharing your Singapore story with us and offering up some interesting insights into Telstra’s plans in the region.

We have a busy calendar of events leading up to the end of the year and I look forward to catching up with you at an AustCham event soon.

Face to Face with Nicholas Collins, Telstra

Industry insights: Emerging human resources trends In the workplace

Austrade update

Industry Insights: Top 5 tips to attract talent in Singapore

New in Singapore

Industry insights: How to prepare for the executive job market in Singapore

From the Executive DirectorOut and about

New members

Newsflash

46-79

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CONTENTS

President’s message

2128

Guy ScottPresident

Guy Scott

PLATINUM SPONSORS SILVER SPONSORS BRONZE SPONSORS

AustCham Board PRESIDENT Guy Scott VICE PRESIDENTS Adam Lyle Padang & Co

Greg Williams Commonwealth Bank of Australia

HONORARY TREASURER Graham Lee PricewaterhouseCoopers

HONORARY SECRETARY John Dick DA Partners Dr Belinda Braggs ACS ServTech

Nigel Cummings Boost Media International

Philip Forrest Honorary Life Member

Derek MacKenzie designphase dba

Chris Rees Austrade

Vishnu Shahaney ANZ

Sean Straton Credit Suisse

Annette Tilbrook AustCham

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A big part of my role is identifying new talent. I’m always asking my team how can we continue to attract the best people, are we doing enough for our top performers, what are we doing to create the next business leaders in Singapore and across the region.

It’s something we spend a lot of time thinking about and I’m really delighted that next year will see us launch a graduate program in the region with intake in both Singapore and Hong Kong.

We’re starting to build stronger relationships with local universities to identify people that will be interested in joining a company like Telstra.

One initiative I am keen to explore with other Australian companies in Singapore and other key markets in Asia, is how we can work together to develop our local leaders. I see great value in cross-industry collaboration in talent development.

AustCham: This is your 16th year at Telstra, what has kept you loyal to the one organisation for almost two decades? Nicholas: I get asked this question a lot. I think when you stop and think about it, Telstra has a rich history, we go back to federation in 1901. It’s an organisation that’s always evolving and has reinvented itself to better serve our customers, adapt to new technology and expand to new markets.

Because of those three things, Telstra is always presenting career possibilities and my time here has given me the opportunity to work across three different continents.

Today’s Telstra is a very different Telstra to the one I joined all those years ago. With continued growth outside of Australia, along with advances that includes digital technology, robotics, and artificial intelligence, the coming years will continue to provide challenges and opportunities.

Even 16 years on, there is one key thing I share with those that are just starting their Telstra journey – and is that the reason I joined all those years ago. Telstra’s values are built into our DNA, they are the values that attracted me on day one and are the values that kept me here.

I believe this is how you create a sense of belonging for people, for Telstra those values are customer centricity, trusting your people,

Face to Face with Nicholas Collins, head of Asia, Telstra

Insights into Telstra’s plans for Pacnet, innovation and talent

Nicholas Collins, head of Asia, global enterprises and services, Telstra

AustCham: Can you tell us a little about your background and what brought you to Singapore? Nicholas: I was born in England, but grew up living between Papua New Guinea and Australia. Completing my university in Queensland, I spent the first part of my career in Australia before returning to the UK. I joined Telstra in London in 1999 and since then have had the opportunity to work with Telstra across three continents, with eight years in Sydney. Prior to arriving in Singapore, I was based in London.

What brought me to Singapore was wanting to come to the epicentre of our business; Telstra’s growth is anchored in Asia.

In the context of what’s happening economically, Asia has become the centre of the world so the opportunity to get some experience and play a role in growing our business in this region was extremely attractive. Asia also presents a great opportunity for one of my past-times, which is seeing new places and experiencing different cultures. AustCham: What are three ways you approach business differently in Asia, compared to Australia? Nicholas: Firstly, when you refer to Asia, the reality is you’re talking over 40 countries. Each has a very distinctive identity and the region is far from being homogenous.

One thing that we spend a lot of time talking about is that, here, there is no one size fits all. You need to consider your strategies in Asia country by country, investing time to understand the market that you want to do business in is critically important.

This is not always apparent coming out of Australia because of the complexity of Asia; it’s not just a region but a patchwork of different countries. There are lots of factors you have to look at, which in Australia you may take for granted; culture, regulatory regimes, governance and risk structures, and socio economic differences are just some of those.

Secondly, the importance of relationships in Asia is very apparent. In many of the Asian markets deep and long term business relationships has a real and special importance.

Thirdly, Asia requires a much more long term vision of investing in talent. Here when we consider our teams and capabilities, it’s not just for Singapore; it must have the potential to grow into regional roles, but make no mistake – the war on talent, and more importantly local talent is most definitely on!

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respecting individuals in your organisation and recognising that being a successful organisation means embracing diversity.

AustCham: When your previous CEO, David Thodey, was here in April he said Australia is losing innovation to Singapore. What are your thoughts on this?

Nicholas: David is a passionate advocate of innovation and his recent appointment as the chair of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), the federal government agency for scientific research in Australia, is a great example of this.

Fundamental to creating a culture of innovation is collaboration between the private and education sectors. Singapore, has been world leading in bridging industry and academia through the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). I think there is a great opportunity for Australia to learn from Singapore.

I also see it an opportunity for Australian companies to collaborate more with other companies in Asia when it comes to innovation. If you look at the innovation hubs in Singapore, Hong Kong or South Korea, you still don’t hear of a lot of Aussie companies doing a lot of collaboration. If you look at what we’ve done with muru-D, on boarding a number of new start-ups was a way for us to play a role in this innovation space and we’re working closely to bridge muru-D here in Singapore with muru-D in Australia to increase possibilities of smart entrepreneurs working together.

AustCham: You’ve recently been promoted from head of Southeast Asia to head of Asia, global enterprises and services, congratulations. What do you see as your biggest opportunities and challenges in the new role?

Nicholas: Firstly, we recently completed the $700 million acquisition of Pacnet, a pan-Asian service provider based out of Hong Kong and Singapore. This acquisition has significantly expanded our footprint in the region with more people and more capabilities. In fact, Telstra is now the largest operator of cable capacity across Asia, with 30 per cent of all Internet traffic in the region traversing our networks. Having retired the Pacnet brand, we are now well into the integration phase. This in itself is a major part of my new role.

How do we create the right kind of experiences for our customers in the region? How do we successfully integrate and achieve the value we need from this acquisition?

Secondly, never before has Telstra been so active in the region. Our CEO, Andrew Penn has outlined our strategy for Telstra to be a world class technology company. Asia has a key part to play in this strategy and our traditional businesses are now being complemented with investments across health, broadcast services, software and ventures. Telstra now has over 350 people in Singapore supporting these various areas.

One challenge, for me, is quickly getting up to speed on the nuances of the new markets that I’m responsible for; this includes the political background, regulatory differences and business customs. This will of course take time but it’s also necessary to make sure that you’re spending time in these countries with your local teams. Going back to my earlier answer and the importance of relationships, you’ve got to be present and that requires a reasonable commitment to travel time and being outside of Singapore.

AustCham: What advice do you have for people thinking of moving to Singapore?

Nicholas: Come in eyes wide open and talk to people in your professional and personal networks who live here or who have lived here, particularly if you’re coming with family. Taking the time to talk to people, makes your transition a lot easier.

The other thing is immersing yourself in Singapore. Make a conscious effort to soak up the region, make an effort to go out and participate and contribute, not just in the professional sense but also in the personal. Singapore is a terrific hub, and the ability to travel and explore the region is endless. This provides rich rewards personally when you have the opportunity to do that.

Lastly, if you’re going to travel in the region for work, get an APEC card. It truly simplifies the whole experience and it’s well worth the effort of getting one.

with Nicholas Collins, head of Asia, Telstra

L-R: David Heron, Nicholas Collins, Philip Green and Ben Vella

You need to consider your strategies in Asia country by country, investing time to understand the market that you want to do business in is critically important.

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So what does a general manager of HR think are the hot topics for human resources in 2016? We asked Daniel King to talk about HR, technology and the challenges he faces in his role at ANZ.

Using technology to improve employee engagementDo you think HR technology can help to improve employee engagement, therefore productivity, and enable businesses to prosper in 2016?

Although ANZ is an Australian bank, its whole proposition is about connecting Australia and New Zealand clients with the region and we’re in 34 markets, which is a big footprint, even compared to our competitors like DBS. The only way to make it work is through connections, which means we need the technology to enable connectivity.

The right technology can create ideas, particularly in a multicultural organisation where some cultures are inherently more reserved. Recently HR has been behind a big push to break down silos, encourage network enterprise mindsets and create communities through the launch of an internal collaboration tool (Max Connect) that will help ANZ build an online social network.

The fast way in which technology is moving allows us to create a real sense of community when it’s not physically possible. Creating a connected workforce through technology has huge correlations with engagement; communication joins individuals to the organisation’s strategy so they feel aligned.

One of the challenges that workplaces face is that although senior leaders are privy to information pertinent to the organisations strategy, this level of knowledge can fall away as you go down below senior levels.

Technology provides a solution to this challenge as it enables a much broader conversation and creates the connection people really desire.

Another area in which technology is important is data and insights. ANZ is currently focused on up-skilling senior HR leaders who are using data to generate greater insights into the organisation and we’re investing resources on a specific portal around big data.

Gender diversity is a key area for us and technology and data can be used to understand the career movements of women, where promotions are occurring and why, to assist us to attract and retain women at ANZ.

Encouraging leadership over managementIt’s generally acknowledged that poor management has a negative impact on productivity. If good HR practices go hand-in-hand with effective leadership, how do you think the human resource role will help support organizations going into 2016?

With several large professional services firms doing away with annual performance management discussions in favour of ongoing discussions, HR will play a strong role in supporting leaders in this new management style.

In an organisation like ANZ with 50,000 employees, HR plays a key role in positively encouraging managers to call out good and bad performers and challenging their leadership to get results.

Traditionally, HR has played too much of a hand holding role around performance management for our managers. It’s time to open this space up while making sure they’re supported with the right tools and capability to have a meaningful conversation with their people. Unless potentially litigious, none of my team are involved in performance management discussions; it’s left up to their managers.

Emerging human resources trends in the workplace

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Ideally, we will end up with a workforce of senior managers who are comfortable and clear around their position as a people leader. Ultimately this could take us away from the annual and structured end of year process in favour of a constant conversation - and it will be terrific to get there.

Understanding workplace changes and adapting to themFlexible working arrangements and spaces are on the up in organisations, particularly during project development. How can this be applied to day-to-day working practices and what impact will this have in 2016?

This is the number one topic for HR heads.

At ANZ, we’ve shifted the conversation to one where it’s now presumed that all roles should be flexible. When a manager doesn’t allow it, they have to justify why it’s not possible rather than the employee needing to build a case to make a role flexible.

It’s a very important time for us as this policy position has only been implemented over the last six to 12 months, but we are already seeing positive signs of progress in this area. In Asia the current approach is to focus on informal ways of flexible work rather than policies, this will be phase two.

In many of the countries that we operate in, to be present in the office is culturally important and we want to respect this whilst trying to encourage and highlight flexibility in Asia. This will be done by sharing best practice through examples in stories like one of our Board members in Asia who works flexibly.

My job is to help CEO’s make flexible work arrangements practical for them as this is a huge priority for ANZ that is being driven across the

region. I’ll be working with all of our CEO’s to make sure they’re having conversations around how flexibility works and exists in their countries with their senior staff.

Local talent pipelineHow do you work with Singapore’s system of managing foreign manpower?

We just want to create an environment where we encourage local bench strength and I think that’s probably what the Singapore government is asking from an organisation of our size (around 3000 people in Singapore).

Our proposition is to build and seek local talent where possible. ANZ has a very strong internship program in many of our Asian markets that I think is without peer in the region.

Through this program we’re actively attracting Singaporean talent who are looking for roles in finance and strengthening our young, domestic talent pipeline. Compared to even three years ago, our confidence in an Asian pipeline has grown and we’re now at a sufficient size where local talent is a critical part of our succession planning.

Local home grown talent is a priority for us and our aspiration is for the CEO’s across our markets to ultimately ascend from this pipeline.

Here to stay

You have almost 10 years of experience in HR and would have seen many trends come and go over the years. What is the number one HR trend for 2016 that you think is here to stay?

Big data, analytics and HR technology will be increasingly used to facilitate connectivity in an organisation, lifting the capability of our leaders to be truly enterprising and able to think broadly across the organisation.

HR will lose its seat at the top table unless it has deep analytical insights into the workings of the organisation it supports. Beyond people metrics, the industry has to be a strong business partner with a deep working knowledge of how the business operates.

HR being at ease with using data to gain strong levels of analytical insights is a trend that is here to stay.

The fast way technology is moving allows us to create

a sense of community when it’s not physically possible.

Daniel King, general manager of HR, international banking ANZ

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At Stamford American, music plays an important part in every child’s life and holistic development. Specialist music lessons start from Nursery, developing your child’s early love and appreciation for music. Progressing to the world-renowned Suzuki Violin Program in Pre-Kindergarten, children begin to understand and showcase ensemble playing.

We are ready and waiting to meet your future Virtuoso.

Please introduce us.

Stamford American is delighted to offer theWorld-Renowned Suzuki Violin Program.

Future Virtuosos RequiredAges 2-6

Stamford offers an outstanding international

education for students from 2 to 18 years.

We offer the rigorous IB Program –

enhanced by American standards and

a focus on languages – to equip your

child for global citizenship.

Stamford American International School CPE Registration Number: 200823594D Period of Registration: August 10, 2014 to August 9, 2018

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As the most advanced market in ASEAN, Singapore requires training solutions that target more sophisticated and complex skills needs, such as enhancing productivity through innovation, creating an adaptable workforce, and building a future pipeline of talent for the SME sector.

HR practitioners face increasing pressure to create opportunities for Singaporeans to be up-skilled and re-skilled to support the growth of existing and newly-developed industries, amid an ageing workforce and a tight and highly competitive labour market.

Australia has played an active role in working with HR practitioners to train professionals across an array of industries.

William Angliss Institute, a leading tourism and hospitality training organisation in Australia, has established a strong foothold in the services skills training for major hotel chains and events in Singapore.

The Polytechnic of Western Australia has partnered with the Singapore Furniture Industries Council to develop core carpentry talents for Singapore’s local furniture industry.

In the broader healthcare arena, Flinders University, University of Western Sydney and Central Queensland University, are among the Australian universities that have built consistent relationships with Singapore’s education institutions, hospitals and aged care facilities to deliver leadership and technical training for nursing and allied health professionals.

Beyond Singapore, business schools within Australian universities have continued to forge strong ties with multinational corporations to deliver regional and global bespoke executive education and leadership programs for the C-suites and middle management in Asia.

Australian registered training organisations and TAFE institutions have also developed vocational courses for labour-intensive sectors such as agribusiness, transportation, manufacturing, healthcare and infrastructure for developing ASEAN countries.

Many of these programs can be delivered virtually to facilitate employees in remote or inaccessible areas. Australia’s education and training providers have deep capabilities in delivering and

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Partnering with Australia

customising quality and industry-relevant courses worldwide.

Organisations that are interested in exploring training partnerships with Australia, or Australian training organisations interested in opportunities in Singapore, may contact Miss Sharifah Khairunnisa for further assistance at:sharifah.khairunnisa@austrade.gov.au Australian Trade Commission in Singapore

CONTACT USContact us to discuss how our Education Manager can assist you: Phone: +65 6418 8400Email: singapore@austrade.gov.auWeb (International): www.austrade.gov.au/singapore Web (Australian): www.austrade.gov.au

Australia has played an active role in working with HR practitioners to train professionals...

Australian Trade Commission

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Access to skilled labour was revealed as one of the key concerns of AustCham members in our annual Business Survey results in 2015.

We spoke to three of our members who are leaders in the recruitment industry in Singapore to find out what they regard is essential to attracting the best in any industry.

Here are their top five tips for recruiting talent.

Iain Crossing, managing director, Inspirational Workplaces

1. Know your business cultureMany of our clients in Asia are companies growing from an Australian base. With time and growth, the culture of the branch inevitably becomes increasingly distinct from that of head office.

Managing this evolutionary process successfully takes leadership skills and experience that not all candidates will have. Knowing where your business is on that path means you can attract leaders with the right set of skills for now and for the future.

2. Localise your mentalityA fast-growing business dealing with quite different customers, competitors, and regulators across Asia requires a mindset unlike what many leaders are used to in Australia. Applying your familiar models and techniques might not always work in business or in talent acquisition.

Having leaders at the top who are nimble and prepared to invest in getting the offering ‘right’ for the market is key to attracting and retaining excellent people.

3. Loosen up your cultural assumptions (biases)Yes there are some modest distinctions in workplace thinking and behaviour between Australia and the many, varied countries in Asia.

But remember there are many more psychological similarities than there are differences. People are people and excellent leadership practices work equally well across cultures.

Keep your mind and your field of potential talent open by focusing on demonstrated behaviours and capability rather than on hypotheticals and assumptions; and…

4. Gear up for competition…having said that. One significant difference between Australia and Asia that our clients have experienced is the level of competitive-mindedness. Most people born in Australia cannot comprehend what it means to grow up in a developing nation competing so ferociously – perhaps with literally millions of people – for a spot at a reputable university, a graduate position, or a coveted job. This different life experience drives a range of behaviours and expectations in business and in the talent market that can be difficult to navigate.

Insight, empathy and adaptable leadership skills in a candidate go a long way towards enabling them to manage the differences successfully. This is true whether you are hiring a local person or an Australian expat into a leadership role.

5. Know and tell your story wellIncorporate all of the above and more into a compelling (and true) story about your business in Asia and where it is going. Be specific with candidates about where you are right now and where you expect to be in 1, 2, and 3 years’ time. Stick to your story and encourage candidates to opt in or out early; beware the temptation of pursuing ‘star’ candidates if they seem on a different trajectory. If you need help to build business infrastructure for the future before expansion really starts, then find people who will do that gladly.

If you have a growth story now, tell it with passion and follow through with action once they join. Lead your story from the top and ensure it is told consistently by your hiring managers and recruiters.

Richard Cornish, general manager, Chandler Macleod Group

1. Talent attraction strategyThere is no silver bullet to attracting talent in such a competitive market and the traditional channels for employee attraction are being eroded by new approaches. Strategies like social networking, viral campaigns, niche job boards and underutilised channels including employee referrals and alumni programs are part of today’s suite of sourcing channels that managers need to employ to be at the forefront of talent acquisition. But like any targeting exercise, the right media, strategies and messages must be tailored to the right talent mix.

2. Market mappingBeing able to effectively ‘map’ the availability of particular skill sets is essential to successful sourcing, either directly or through trusted recruitment partners/professionals. Who are these individuals working for now, and on what terms? Demographic profiling is an important part of market mapping to know that potential employee groups are identified and organisations target their employment opportunities to ‘hit the right buttons’ both in terms of the messages and the channels utilised.

3. Employee value propositionTo be effective, an employee value proposition (EVP) must be genuine. Promises made in employee attraction must be delivered on, this is particularly important of culture and leadership. It’s no coincidence that these are the highest ranking reasons employees leave their existing employers. Organisations should tailor the wealth of information available on employee job-switch motivators and package their employment offerings accordingly thus using the EVP as a tool of attraction

4. Positive messaging Singaporean business leaders should take stock of their organisational culture and whether “the way we do things around here” enhances or undermines their ability to attract talent through past employees experiences.

Top 5 tips to attracttalent in Singapore

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Iain Crossing, managing director, Inspirational Workplaces

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If existing employees would not refer the organisation as a good place to work, the chances are that the leadership and mindsets/behaviours require attention. Employees are an advocate of your organisation as is all company messaging which will be a deciding factor in attracting talent to work for you.

5. Keep it goingWhilst these are some of the strategies to ensure you are continuing to attract the right talent, there are many considerations once you have attracted talent which includes a speedy interview process that is transparent and timely for all to ensure a successful continued attraction.

The on boarding process and career milestones should be clear to continue to engage employees once in the organisation. Every organisation, regardless of country,

needs a talent strategy and even more so in a labour tight marketplace like Singapore.

Justine Marmion, director, client services, Randstad Sourceright

1. Understand what candidates wantTo attract your target candidate market, you must first understand them and what they are looking for in an employer and in a career. What attracts them to an organisation? What are they looking for in a job? What motivates and drives them? What are their reasons for quitting a job? When you are armed with this research, you are in a better position to attract the right talent and can develop a high quality recruitment marketing campaign with the right message and communication channels to attract your target candidate market.

2. Great company cultureThis undoubtedly ranks in every jobseeker’s top three must-haves of their ideal employer. Create a company culture that promotes team work, collaboration and trust. Employees want to feel safe and welcome in their work environment and to have a good relationship with their colleagues. They want leaders who inspire, support and challenge them. Plus don’t forget to make work fun!

3. A strong employer brandYour employer brand is one of the most critical factors that helps you attract the right people. Ensure there is a positive perception of your brand and communicate

your company’s values and culture through your brand. Everyone wants to work for a company that they can be truly proud of.

4. Offer opportunities for growth and developmentShow candidates you care about their personal growth and development. Have a good learning and development plan in place. Some attractive opportunities you can offer are international assignments, new projects, working with different teams and exposure to different areas of the business.

To attract talent, you must invest in them. Expose them to new challenges and tasks that will equip them with better skills. Ensure there is a clear growth plan for each employee and most importantly, be transparent about this.

5. Good salary and benefitsThe 2015 Randstad Award Report revealed that salary and benefits was ranked by Singapore jobseekers as their most important criteria when choosing an employer.

Attractive salary and benefits are strong drivers of talent attraction and engagement – it makes employees feel rewarded and appreciated for their hard work. Get creative with your benefits – health and wellness, travel, good food, flexible working hours, team activities – these are just some of the things employees love.

www.inspirationalworkplaces.com.auwww.chandlermacleod.asiawww.randstad.com.sg

Dimbulah Cafe is a popular spot for authentic Australian coffee and food

Richard Cornish, general manager, Chandler Macleod Group

Justine Marmion, director, client services, Randstad Sourceright

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Tell us a little about your story and how you came to Singapore?Born and raised in Western Australia, after completing my degree in human resources management I set off around the globe to commence my informal degree at ‘the university of life’. I spent two years in the United Kingdom where I started my HR career whilst travelling in my spare time. Upon returning to Perth from my working holiday, the isolation got too much and I missed the taste of the big city life so I ventured off again to set myself up in Melbourne where I remained for the next eight years. I was fortunate to have many opportunities along the way across various industries and roles. I returned to Perth for personal reasons in 2012 and accepted my first role in the energy and resources industry. It was this change in industry that ultimately led me to working with Swire Oilfield Services - after a chance encounter with the regional general manager whilst I was in holiday in Singapore. In my first six months I was based in our Perth office getting to know the Australasian business. I permanently relocated to Singapore in January of this year and have gone from strength to strength. I love the vibe, energy and everything both Singapore and Swire Oilfield Services has offered me.

Can you tell us briefly about your role and its main purpose? The APAC region (including Australasia, South East Asia, India, Sakhalin and Middle East) is the newest addition to the Swire Oilfield Services Group and has been growing steadily over the past four years. I was brought in to set up a strategic HR presence across the region and build our people foundations in line with the Swire Oilfield Services global standards. It has been 12 months of hard work and I’m pleased to say the foundations are now in place and I now have the opportunity to get into the ‘sexy’ side of driving our people agenda.

What gives your organisation a point of difference? What has made it a success?Swire Oilfield Services is part of the Swire group, a global conglomerate which has

Strategy is key for HR success

Taneal Roach from Swire Oilfield Services

been in operation for almost 200 years and covers multiple industries on each continent. Our family heritage of being part of the group is living and breathing the Swire values: integrity, humility, endeavour, excellence and continuity. This is what guides our strategic thinking, everyday operations and is ultimately driven by our employees.

Swire Oilfield Services itself has been operating for 36 years, originally as a North Sea focused oil and gas business, but over the years has successfully expanded overseas and now operates in 27 countries across 63 bases. We continue to diversify our product offering to our customers, guaranteeing we’re meeting their needs whilst working in some of the most challenging offshore environments and ensuring quality and safety of the products remains top priority.

What are the biggest challenges facing the HR industry in Singapore?I believe that HR is still largely viewed as a transactional and administrative function. With many multinational organisations having a regional hub presence in Singapore and the ever growing need to drive more cost effective solutions; making that transition from a high cost transactional function to a lean, mature strategic business partner is becoming more important for business success. Building the local talent to be able to support this transition, to ensure management understands what true value the function can offer and then seek that strategic input is essential for both HR management, business partner and specialist roles.

The ability to recruit and retain key talent can also be a challenge when you are faced with a superficial workforce. Currently, candidates are not necessarily thinking of their long term career, personal growth and cultural fit for a role or company. Instead, they often look to salary and benefits as a means for choosing their next role and this is exasperated by a very low unemployment rate. The challenge comes as candidates will say anything to get the job, regardless of their fit with the company and ability to do the job. They in turn are easily persuaded to jump ship when the next ‘best offer’ becomes available. Spotting genuine candidates, managing ongoing performance and engaging at the right level with these candidates can be time consuming and provide an ongoing challenge for the industry.

What do you believe are the biggest opportunities for the HR industry?With the growth of the economy and multinational organisations being based in Singapore, it is fortunate to have attracted a number of well-respected HR professionals from all over the world. The diversity of

knowledge and experience is something that I have witnessed here, along with a genuine willingness to share ideas and experiences. If organisations are open to learning from this experience pool and formulate what might work best locally there is fantastic opportunity for growth and progression for the HR industry in Singapore.

I also see that greater education for both management and staff on the value creation potential for a HR function is an area of opportunity for the industry. Not only to ensure the function is used in the right capacity but also to attract and engage future talent to the industry by showing there is a highly developed skillset behind what the function can offer and contribute towards the success of an organisation.

Do you have advice for other Australians wanting to make the move to Singapore?There are so many support services out there to help with your transition. Team up with a reputable recruitment agency with great local networks to help you find and negotiate the right role and company. Singapore has many relocation services available to assist with the logistics, finding a new home, set up of utilities, schooling etc. There is also a wide range of support groups and activities to get involved with to help integrate you and your family into the community. I found my transition a very easy and pleasant experience, just be ready for the significant difference in cost on certain things like rent, cars, groceries, and wine.

What do you think an individual needs in order to be successful in Singapore?Respect for cultural diversity is a must for living in Singapore. Appreciate the history behind the country and the journey they have experienced to get where they are. Get the most out of your staff by encouraging them to have a voice and provide input to ideas; however be patient and accepting of traditional ways of working. Continue to drive and support innovative thinking across your team for both the individuals and organisations growth.

Taneal Roach, head of HR, Asia Pacific, Swire Oilfield Services

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Mixed marketThis year has been a good year for some businesses in Singapore and conditions are expected to be mixed throughout 2016 with headwinds of business confidence, economic climate and regulatory agenda.

Luckily, Singapore is a great business hub and people are an integral part of business in such a service-centric metropolis. With the constant flow of people and business comes a mix of interesting and challenging job opportunities.

For foreigners and returnees alike, preparation is key to understanding the local job market. It ensures appropriate presentation as a candidate and an appreciation of elements such as scope, role, level, compensation, benefits and cultural sensitivities.

Searching for a new role can be frustrating and for most career-minded professionals it’s not just any role they’re after. Below, I present a few simple, yet proven steps which will guarantee that your job search in Singapore or Asia is well founded.

Planning Lay out a plan for your job search by stating realistic objectives and setting priorities. This is an excellent starting place and shows how organised you are (or should be) by treating the job search with the right level of focus and investment of your time.

Next, consider what you’re seeking in terms of role, level, location and scope. Then, add-in your type of preferred business or company; size (SME, high growth, MNC, government-related), shape (HQ location and industry) and company culture. Or perhaps ‘just looking’ is a more appropriate target if some of these areas are undecided. Consider adding metrics such as two job offers by a certain date or any offer over a certain salary threshold and any time.

Make sure you allocate sufficient time to the work that will need to be done to achieve your outcome. There will be phone calls, meetings, follow ups and there may be costs incurred that should all be taken into consideration at this stage. In Singapore, planning for lots of networking needs only stating once. As most will attest there is a varied level of quality within the networking events on offer and the higher quality ones are often run by business chambers and industry or function related organisers.

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Communications and presentationSpending time encapsulating and articulating your story and strengths can’t be emphasised enough.

Working on your pitches, one about 20 words and the other 200 words long, a shortened version of your CV (two pages maximum) and key elements for broadcast are crucial. An updated, accurate and interesting online profile on LinkedIn or other online platforms is an essential way to be presented.

Prepare answers to some awkward questions related to your online profile, yes the ones you’re most afraid of being asked, for example:

• your greatest achievement(s); remember numbers and examples are so important for these

• what amazing and interesting things you’ve done• how you shine and what makes you shine brightest within an

organisation• who you really are and what others say about you.• why you should be selected for the role• recent education and personal development• ensure that what people are endorsing you for match what you’ve

said!Be well prepared for a friendly interrogation.

Trevor Williams, Executive Search Asia

How to prepare for the executive job market in Singapore

Right: Trevor Williams, director and managing partner, Executive Search Asia

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Putting on the hiring managers hat Building the profile of a hiring manager and putting on their hat during a job search isn’t for everyone but it can shed an interesting perspective on your application, interview preparation and even online profile.

Here are some general assessment criteria’s that are often used for screening and ranking candidates by recruiters that should be taken into consideration:

• cultural fit, particularly for Asia, let people know upfront if you have worked here before

• ability and comparable achievements• technical skills and abilities• experience with similar work/tasks/projects/issues• willingness and motivation to accept and do the job• availability• manageable, up and down the organisation• personable, a match with other personalities in the team• career potential and ability to be promoted• team skills with comparable groups• appropriate problem solving and critical thinking experience.

Going to market Marketing oneself is often harder than marketing a product or service, particularly for the shy Aussies who tend to understate themselves.

Research first, lots of it, by taking a look at the industry, role, level, company and its competitors, past and present openings and the executive team in APAC and globally. Then, it’s down to:

• getting a good grip on cultural aspects of the role, company and existing team

• looking-up recent opportunities to better understand the market, companies hiring and salary on offer.

• listing current and past people in the roles (or similar) you’d be targeting

• establishing targets of the companies you’d be interested in working for and plan each approach

• making professional contact, make sure you’re sensitive to timing, level or any business challenges they’re dealing with

• developing the relationship, show gratitude and interest by follow up• asking appropriate questions and ensuring your pitch is solid and

interesting• getting involved in the community by attending industry and

networking functions and offering help to others.

Asking for and getting help Not everyone can self-manage while doing such a critical activity so it’s a good idea to seek out help. Searching for jobs in Singapore, at the best of times, can be a rollercoaster ride.

Enlist a mentor or coach, perhaps a former colleague or even a friend who has recently started a new role or is looking themselves. Be honest and ask for their time and effort to provide you with support and encouragement, facilitate introductions and give advice.

It’s best to work with them for at least 30 minutes a week, involving them in all facets of the search and don’t forget to make it enjoyable and reward them in some appropriate way.

Sunny summaryThere are some amazing job opportunities in Singapore at present and it pays to be well-positioned for the discussions.

Importantly, recognise that it can end up being the equivalent of a full-time job looking for another suitable special career option. In summary; be well-prepared, be brave and send out strong messaging.

Show professionalism throughout the process. Work on meeting hiring managers. Listen to them talk about their business. Show understanding and your fit. Be competitive, but be realistic, and you will find the rewards are there for you.

www.executivesearch.asia

In Singapore, planning for lots of networking

needs only stating once.

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Attended by over 1000 guests since 1981 our annual black-tie event is the quintessential way to celebrate Australia Day in Singapore.

Get ready for a spectacular evening full of live band entertainment, fine food and free flow Australian wine and beer and exclusive prizes.

Members only ticket sales started on Thursday 1 October 2015 and non-members can purchase tickets from 15 October. Make sure you book early as this event sells out fast.

Lastly, we are currently offering a six month membership to join the Chamber that is available for a limited time. It’s great value at $195 (exc. GST) so please share this offer with your colleagues and friends so they don’t miss out.

We have a busy October ahead and I’m looking forward to reconnecting with many of you at one, or all, of our upcoming events soon.

Dear members, It’s been a busy few months of events at the Chamber and we have some fantastic events coming up to round up our year with you.

Firstly, I’d like to offer a very warm thank you to the sponsors of our Wine+Cheese Night back in August. We hosted over 650 wine and cheese lovers at the Grand Hyatt and this was certainly one of our biggest and best Wine+Cheese Night’s yet.

We couldn’t have done it without our returning co-event sponsor ANZ and new event sponsor Flight Centre who are also supporting next year’s March event.

a.hartrodt was another new supporting sponsor and I was delighted to welcome the return of Australian International School and Eastern Carpets as well as gourmet sponsor, Fresh Trust.

Our next big social event is the legendary ANZ Australia Day Ball and in 2016 we’re inspired by the Australian film classic Strictly Ballroom and its iconic soundtrack.

Annette TilbrookExecutive Director

Upcoming events

Register for events online atwww.austcham.org.sg

Annette

Thu 29 Oct 2015Inside Business: Finance 101 for your businessCommonwealth Bank of Australia

Thu 15 Oct 2015Business Connects October Pan Pacific Singapore Event sponsor

Sat 23 Jan 2016ANZ Australia Day Ball 2016 Swissotel the Stamford Event sponsor

Gold sponsors

Auction sponsors

Photography sponsor

Wine sponsor

Band flown by

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Going into business? About to launch a startup? Launch Pad is here to help...

Launch Pad commencing in 2016!

AustCham Singapore is excited to announce Launch Pad, a new business events series comprised of five events, all designed for people who are at various stages of going into business in Singapore. We’ve lined up experienced industry experts to host intimate events in a relaxed learning setting. High-level subject matter will be presented with the opportunity for Q&A at the end of each event.

Event topics• Set-up and market entrance strategy• Navigating risk, legal and tax requirements• Understanding and accessing grants and funding• Branding, PR, marketing and social media• Business etiquette, connecting, practices and conventions in Asia.

Who should attend• Startups• Professionals considering starting a business• Micro-businesses

When Launch Pad will commence in early 2016 and will run over consecutive months. A full schedule will be available soon. Further information Event details will be shared by the AustCham team in our e-newsletter and keep an eye on our events calendar at www.austcham.org.sg

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Australian Night at the Races

Friday 24 July 2015 at Singapore Turf Club

Racing expert

Race sponsors

GLOBAL FRESH SPECIALIST

WWW.FRESHTRUST.COM

GOLD SWEET POTATOHYDRO PRODUCE

KALEHYDRO PRODUCE

BROCCOLI

CARROTS

ABOUT FRESH TRUSTFresh Trust is a global fresh specialist, we source premium quality products from around the world. We control our own logistics from origin to retail shelf, maintaining strict cold chain and quality management. Fresh Trust has its own sourcing offices in Sydney and California to provide a year round supply of fresh produce. Fresh Trust products can be found in Market Place, and selected Cold Storage Stores, we also supply hotels and restaurants.we also supply hotels and restaurants.

STRAWBERRIES

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Wine+Cheese Night: A taste of Australia and New Zealand

Friday 21 August 2015 at Grand Ballroom, Grand Hyatt Co-sponsors

1 Australian gourmet cheese

2 (L-R) Yin Poon, Bree Cullen, Jenny Ricciardone, Johanna Evans, Bernadette Ward-Daniels and Georgina Milana

3 Our gourmet sponsor, Fresh Trust’s, produce stand

4 Lucky door winner, Amy Barnes

5 (L-R) Cynthia Kho, guests, Joy Tampi, Adrian Horsfield and Wayne Salamonsen

6 Guests enjoying the event

7 (L-R) Andre Cason, Jo Lu and PJ Roberts

8 (L-R) Bridget Greer, Nikki Wharfe and Aemelia Grounds

9 (L-R) Grant Kelley, Kay Lee, John Francis and Guy Scott

10 A selection of the quality wine and cheese

11 (L-R) Sonia Palmieri, Sande Brown and Amba Brown

12 AustCham board and team celebrating Annette’s birthday.

Supporting sponsors

Gourmet sponsor

GLOBAL FRESH SPECIALIST

WWW.FRESHTRUST.COM

GOLD SWEET POTATOHYDRO PRODUCE

KALEHYDRO PRODUCE

BROCCOLI

CARROTS

ABOUT FRESH TRUSTFresh Trust is a global fresh specialist, we source premium quality products from around the world. We control our own logistics from origin to retail shelf, maintaining strict cold chain and quality management. Fresh Trust has its own sourcing offices in Sydney and California to provide a year round supply of fresh produce. Fresh Trust products can be found in Market Place, and selected Cold Storage Stores, we also supply hotels and restaurants.we also supply hotels and restaurants.

STRAWBERRIES

Australia’s Best Food and Wine Experiences Best of the BestWith point-blank views of Sydney’s famous harbour and iconic Opera House - as well as food consistently rated among the best in Australia - Quay has it all.

Chef Peter Gilmore has reigned supreme over the Sydney restaurant scene for the best part of a decade by serving up food that is truly unique. Consider his remarkable snow egg dessert – a ball of poached meringue with a crisp malotese coating with a heart of custard apple ice-cream – that featured in the final of Masterchef Australia in 2010 and has drawn crowds to the restaurant ever since. Have Coffee Like a LocalMelbourne has long been regarded as the coffee capital of Australia and is one of the world‘s leading cities for finding good coffee. Since the first espresso machines landed on Victorian soil in the 50’s, the city’s reverence for the coffee bean has continued to prosper.

The emergence of specialist roasters has contributed to an obsession with new ways of brewing and the origin of coffee beans. Whether it’s a hole in the wall coffee joint in the laneways, or a quick coffee on the go, Melbourne has a cup to suit every taste. Some favourites including Traveller, Cup of Truth, Seven Seeds, Five Senses, The Sensory Lab, and Dead Man Espresso. Explore the Sunshine Coast’s Market SceneWhen you consider the phrase ‘from paddock to plate’, have you considered just how fresh it can get? On the Sunshine Coast, produce that is delivered straight from the farmer to you is the latest trend, and locals and visitors alike love the results! At the Noosa Farmers Market on at Noosaville, where all products are grown, reared, caught, baked or

prepared by the stall holder, you’ll find some of the Coast’s best produce every Sunday morning. From farm fresh fruit and veggies to just-baked breads, artisanal cheeses, tasty preserves and local seafood, poultry, beef and lamb, this is your chance to discuss your goods with locals who produce them. Sample the Freshest SeafoodWestern Australia’s 12,000-kilometre coastline is the perfect ingredient for dishing up a huge selection of fresh seafood. Fremantle’s Fishing Boat Harbour is where you’ll find arguably some of the best fish and chips you’ll eat anywhere in the world, while off the coast of ‘Freo’ just 20 kilometres to sea is Perth’s holiday playground, Rottnest Island, where sweet, plump scallops grow.

Head south to Albany to where the state’s only oyster producer cares for juicy Sydney Rock Oysters in beds submerged in the pristine waters of the Southern Ocean. Experience Inner-City Vineyard DiningEver heard of Australia’s most famous red wine, Grange? Meet its maker, Peter Gago and be treated to a private tasting at the spiritual home of Penfolds at Magill Estate just 15 minutes from the city. Tour the underground tunnels before topping off the experience by dining at the renowned Penfolds Magill Estate Restaurant.

Recently renovated, the restaurant makes the most of its position nestled among the foothills and offers superb views. The menu features contemporary food and is accompanied by a range of Penfolds wines. For a fine dining experience in Adelaide to remember, Penfolds Magill Estate Restaurant won’t disappoint. For more information, go to www.australia.com to plan your next visit.

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AustCham Special Breakfast: The Global Economy in Transition

Tuesday 8 September 2015 at The Fullerton Hotel

1 Warren Hogan chatting with guests

2 (L-R) Lydia Neo and Alexandra Roza

3 (L-R) John Livorness and Oliver Mould

4 (L-R) Michael Feller and Warren Hogan

5 (L-R) Andrew Simpson and Paul Seaton

6 (L-R) Derek MacKenzie, Nicholas Cocks, John Dick and Lyn Boxall

7 Alexandra Roza and Dion Groeneweg

8 Guest speaker, ANZ’s chief economist Warren Hogan

9 (L-R) Edward Kennan and Belinda Barclay

10 MC Philip Forrest

11 Jeremy Saw and guests listening to Warren Hogan’s presentation

12 (L-R) Andrew Simpson and Warren Hogan

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Business Connects September

Thursday 10 September 2015 at The Tower Club

Event sponsor

1 (L-R) Sally Trethewie, Caroline Richmond, Rob Stokoe and Victoria Fagan

2 (L-R) Alexander Lee, Graham Lee and James Redden

3 (L-R) Janise Tan and Sally Trethewie

4 (L-R) Mark Lee and Jack Chua

5 (L-R) Daniel Tyson-Jones, Craig Winnett and Kerriann Tyson-Jones

6 New member, Stephen Skulley sharing his story with attendees

7 The Tower Club’s gourmet canapes

8 (L-R) Bruce Bird, Nicholas Whalan, Derek MacKenzie and Bill Castellas

9 Avondale’s new principal, Rob Stokoe welcoming guests

10 (L-R) Caroline Richmond, Kirsty Dewhirst and Charlotte Humphrey

11 (L-R) Elena Sidoruk, Peter Ochman, Olga Romanova and Rick Chapman

12 (L-R) Tony Gravina, Felicity Menzies and Derek MacKenzie

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Gold Corporate Members

Gold Corporate Members

COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIAThe CBA Singapore branch was established in 1982.

Since then we have grown to over 100 full time staff

and continue to play a key role in the CBA Group’s

expansion in this economically important region. We

maintain a strong Corporate and Institutional Banking

(CIB) presence across Singapore, Hong Kong, Beijing,

Shanghai and Tokyo with a central focus on supporting

clients with Australian and New Zealand connectivity

– specifically those within the natural resources,

transport, financial institutions and utilities sectors. Our

experienced relationship teams are duly supported by

product specialists in corporate banking solutions and

global markets to deliver practical solutions to our clients.

Commonwealth Private Bank also operates in both

Singapore and Hong Kong offices with a key focus

to provide tailored banking and Australian residential

lending solutions to high net worth expatriate and local

clients in the region.

NICHOLAS WHALAN Private banker

RENEE MAKOWIECKI Senior consultant

ROB STOKOEPrincipal and executive

director

AVONDALE GRAMMAR SCHOOLAvondale Grammar School is a co-educational,

international grammar school offering the Australian

curriculum from Preschool to Primary School. As the only

school in Singapore exclusively offering the Australian

curriculum it is committed to providing the best education

and meet the needs of families living in Singapore as well

as building upon best international practice in teaching

and learning. Avondale Grammar School is recognised

as delivering excellence in education coupled with a

warm and welcoming community. At the forefront of

Positive Education, Avondale recognises and promotes

the social and emotional needs of its students as well as

the academic needs. Avondale stands out as a school

which delivers academic excellence in a warm and

nurturing environment.

QBE INSURANCE (INTERNATIONAL) QBE has been represented in Singapore for more than

a century and forms part of the Emerging Markets

Division of the QBE Insurance Group, one of the world’s

top 20 general insurance and reinsurance companies.

QBE is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange and

headquartered in Sydney with over 17,000 employees

in 38 countries. A specialist of general insurance, QBE

Singapore offers a comprehensive range of products that

cover simple solutions through to complex risks, with

the strength and depth to fulfil our customers’ specific

insurance needs. We are recognised as the leader in

many of our speciality lines and maintained market

leadership in namely marine, liability and professional

indemnity classes.

SAM BIGGINSSenior manager

COLLIERS INTERNATIONALColliers International Group Inc is a global leader in

commercial real estate services with more than 16,300

professionals operating from 502 offices in 67 countries.

With an enterprising culture and significant insider

ownership, Colliers professionals provide a full range of

services to real estate occupiers, owners and investors

worldwide.

Corporate Members

JAMES NG Head of major trading

partners

BALDWIN BOYLE SHANDBaldwin Boyle Group is a leading independent public

affairs consultancy, with a network of offices in Auckland,

Melbourne, Singapore, Bangkok and Shanghai. We are

trusted long-term partners to our clients and our work has

been instrumental in shaping public opinion about key

issues, transactions, products and industries. Our work is

grounded in the belief that reputation is an organisation’s

greatest asset. We build, manage and protect reputations

by combining more than 30 years of experience with

in-depth understanding of contemporary best-practice

communication.

AVIN LUTHER Director, Institutional

banking

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JEFF JAMES Business director

South Asia

DREW NOCENTEExecutive chef

Corporate Members

DAVID COLLINS Associate

CUNDALL SINGAPORE Cundall is a global engineering consultancy operating

from offices in Asia, Australia, Europe and the Middle

East. Our Singapore offices provides client-focused

multi-disciplinary engineering design consultancy

tailored to local market needs. Our team delivers

services with international experience and skills, coupled

with vital local knowledge. Our core services include:

* Building services (M&E)

* Sustainability

* Critical systems

* Existing buildings performance improvement.

Corporate Members

JACK CHUA General manager

INTERNATIONAL PAINT SINGAPORE International Paint Singapore Pte Ltd, (IPS) is a wholly

owned subsidiary of Akzo Nobel (world largest paint

company). IPS established manufacturing facilities in

Singapore in 1970 producing a full range of tested and

proven heavy duty marine and protective coatings.

Product is produced in our Jurong facility; ISO 9001, ISO

14001 and OHSAS 18001 accredited, and supported

by the Asia-Pacific Technical Centre. IPS supplies

shipyards, fabricators and contractors servicing the

marine, offshore and infrastructure markets. The markets

are also served by a professional team of trained

technical service representatives.

FLORAL IMAGE SINGAPOREConnecting businesses through colour is what we do

best. Our life-like corporate flower rentals come in a

stunning range of designs that connect your business

with your customers, through a colourful first impression.

We love bringing colour to business around the globe

everyday. We have locations around the world including;

Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States

of America, South Africa, Denmark, Norway and now in

Slovenia.

ROGER PEREIRASales manager

GRAND HYATT SINGAPOREOne of the premier business hotels in Singapore,

Grand Hyatt is strategically located in the heart of

the commercial and entertainment district. Grand

Hyatt Singapore not only provides award-winning

accommodation, but also features superb restaurants

offering you a wide-range of local and international

cuisines. You will also enjoy world-class conference,

recreation and advanced telecommunications facilities,

concierge, room and butler services. RAYMOND TANDirector of events

PARK REGIS SINGAPOREStrategically located in the heart of the central business

district and within close proximity to Singapore’s

entertainment, dining and cultural hubs such as Clarke

Quay, Boat Quay and Chinatown, the newly refurbished

Park Regis Singapore features all the comforts of city

living and is ideal for business and leisure travellers. Park

Regis Singapore, a non-smoking upscale hotel, offers

complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the property including

202 modernly designed studio-concept classic and

executive rooms enhanced with latest technology, a

stunning 25 metre lap pool with cascading waterfall, two

restaurants and a pillar-less meeting room with

up-to-date visual equipment and conference facilities.

RESTAURANT EMBERSince its opening in 2002, Restaurant Ember prides

itself on creating unforgettable dining experiences for

its customers. Leading Restaurant Ember is chef Sufian

Bin Zain who in the past decade held executive roles in

Iggy’s and Waku Ghin, leading the two restaurants to

clinch titles at The World’s Best Restaurants Awards and

the Miele Guide. Having also been under the tutelage

of Elena Arzak at the 3 Michelin Star Restaurant Arzak

in San Sebastian, Spain, Chef Sufian is definitely a

celebrated name in the culinary scene.

SUFIAN ZAIN Executive chef

5TH QUARTER Housed within the Hotel Vagabond, Fifth Quarter is

the brain child of local entrepreneur Loh Lik Peng in

partnership with executive chef Andrew Nocente. It is a

modern contemporary grill with a strong focus on meat

curing. Nocente, an Australian with an Italian heritage,

uses traditional methods of curing meats with the aid of

modern instruments to maintain the integrity of flavours.

The menu will feature a selection that is derived from

all parts of an animal. Elements of smoking, curing

and pickling will also be found throughout the menu

in sustainable seafood, game, vegetables and even in

desserts. Alongside, premium cuts of meat will be grilled

at the josper using a combination of binchotan and

mesquite wood chips to complete the culinary offering.

PINSENT MASONS MPILLAY LLPPinsent Masons MPillay offer clients a seamless service

in both Singapore and across the wider Asia Pacific

region. Its clients value our ability to advise on all

aspects of both commercial and construction litigation

and arbitration work, with a particular strength in the

construction & engineering and energy sectors.

NICHOLAS BROWN Partner

RANDSTAD SOURCERIGHTWith a focus on total talent architecture and

sophisticated talent acquisition and talent management

solutions, Randstad Sourceright delivers outsourcing

programs throughout the world with a team of more

than 2,000 professionals with expertise in recruitment

process outsourcing RPO, managed services programs

MSP, blended workforce solutions, payrolling and

independent contractor solutions. JUSTINE MARMION

Director of client services

SPORTS CAMPS AUSTRALIA Sports Camps Australia is the leading sports camps

operator in Australia and South East Asia across 22

different sports. Sports Camps Australia in partnership

with US Sports have been running the Nike sports

camps for over 41 years. Sports Camps Australia is a

marketing and administration company that provides

an overlay of services to coaches, sporting associations

and specialist coaching groups to enhance the child’s

camp experience.

MARK WILTON CEO

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Corporate Members

SINGAPORE LEADERSHIP CENTRESingapore Leadership Centre Pte. Ltd. licenses

intellecutal property, products and services from

US based Goldzone Leadership Center, LLC. We

deliver extraordinary results for clients by combining

optimisation technologies, services and custom-built

facilities that ensure sustained growth, fulfillment and

momentum over the long-term. Our clients are able to

recognize their untapped potential and to bridge the

gap from where they are - to where they want to be at a

specific point in time. Progress can be tracked through

easy-to-use tools and systems.

DEAN MATHERSDirector

TAYLOR VINTERS LLP SINGAPORE BRANCH At Taylor Vinters we want to change your view of what

dealing with a law firm is like. Professional yet progres-

sive, we are lawyers who listen and who are flexible, ap-

proachable and quick to respond. Our job is to get to the

point: to get to the heart of the challenges you face, find

practical solutions and communicate them in language

you understand. Our lawyers are excited by our clients,

how their organisations and lives progress and how they

can use their experience and technical expertise to en-

able clients to meet their objectives.

DANIEL SONGAssociate

SMILEFOCUS Established in 1997 by Australian dentist Dr Marcus

Cooney, Smilefocus replicates the caring and friendly

style of his Australian dental clinics. At Smilefocus the

emphasis is always on a warm welcome, stylish comfort,

hygienic cleanliness and the best of modern treatment

methods. Our mission; friendly and personalised

dentistry by a dynamic international team. Smilefocus

has a team of experienced and overseas qualified

expatriate dentists, including dentists with specific

expertise in braces, children dentistry and implant

dentistry. Supported by nursing and administration

personnel from around the world, Smilefocus offers the

full range of dental care.

DR MARCUS COONEY Director

SINGAPORE PRESS HOLDINGS MAGAZINES SPHM publishes and produces more than 100

magazine titles in Singapore and the region, covering

a broad range of interests from lifestyle to information

technology.

SEYMOUR COHEN Operations director

TOUCHPOINT LOYALTY TouchPoint is a specialist in the design and management

of low-discount high-engagement hotel loyalty, a genuine

alternative for hoteliers in need of a higher standard of

card members, significantly lower transaction discounts,

stronger after-sales support and innovative customer

engagement.

TouchPoint’s approach is very different, we understand

that in the business of loyalty, finding new customers

is just the first step - what happens next makes all the

difference.

CRAIG WINNETTDirector

SORRELThe latest addition to the historic district of Telok Ayer

is a bistronomy concept, named after the herb known

for its fresh and clean lemony flavour. Set in a blithe

atmosphere, the restaurant serves up exquisitely crafted

dishes that reflect a passionate commitment to the

freshest and highest quality ingredients possible.

JOHNSTON TEO Executive chef

LLOYDS BANK Lloyds Banking Group is the UK’s largest financial

services group, serving millions of retail and commercial

customers in the UK. Singapore is Lloyds Bank’s hub

for its Asian based operations, providing a platform for

clients who operate in both the UK and Asia, as well as

a gateway for Asian companies to invest in the UK.

STEPHEN SKULLEYCEO

RUNNINGSTREAM INTERNATIONAL RunningStream started in 2006 with a passion for real

estate investing. Being convinced with how well it works

as an instrument to build long-term, sustainable wealth,

our team of dynamic financial professionals built a

practice to help clients achieve their financial aspirations

through real estate. With an unique methodology that

integrates real estate investing with the rigorous

discipline and structure of financial planning,

RunningStream has established the right program,

people, partners and projects to make your investment

success a certainty.

DAN TOHDirector

FM INNOVATIONSFM Innovations (FMi) is an Australian software design and

development company offering solutions to all aspects of

facilities and property management. Established in 1997,

FMi has built a customer base of over 50 blue chip clients

across Australia. They service more than 21,000 buildings

and over 14,000 contractors. Paul’s goal is the “digital

disruption” of the current market of every day services

and previously accepted methodologies, particularly in

the property, shared services, and facility management

sectors. For Paul, harnessing the full potential of the

mobile market is a key priority.

PAUL NEW CEO

Associate Members Individuals

KENNEDYS LEGAL SOLUTIONS

OLLIE VAN DER ZEE

Lawyer

CREDIT SUISSE

JAMES WATSONInvestment banker

SABIC ASIA PACIFIC

JOHN LIVORNESS Senior manager

ANZ

LACHLAN HALSTEAD Chief operating officer

Some things can’t afford to get lost in translation

Our International Company Directors Course will equip you with the knowledge to address the unique challenges faced by directors and senior executives operating across countries and regulatory frameworks.

To find out more visit companydirectors.com.au/icdc

Governance. Compliance. Ethics. Law.

Individuals

VALE INTERNATIONAL

TIM JACKSONRegional compliance officer

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AustCham members enjoy 30 percent off professional

negotiator and 50 percent off strategic collaboration

public programs. For details call +65 6513 2132 or

visit CoalfaceDialogue.com/AustCham

Cliftons is the leading provider of premium, purpose-

built training and event facilities. AustCham members

enjoy a special discount of 25 percent off when

booking a room with Cliftons Singapore.

AustCham members receive 10 percent off

best available rates at Capri by Fraser, Changi

City, Singapore, Capri by Fraser, Ho Chi Minh,

Vietnam and Capri by Fraser, Kuala Lumpur,

Malaysia inclusive of one breakfast and Wi-Fi.

AustCham members also enjoy 10 percent off

Sunday Brunch at Capri by Fraser, Changi City.

Complimentary car park coupon with minimum of four

diners. Conditions apply.

Allied Pickfords are pleased to offer two hours

complimentary handyman service on your moving day,

when booking your move with Allied Pickfords.

Contact Allied Pickfords on +65 6862 4700 to take up

this offer.

AustCham members and their accompanying family

members can access business class check-in at the

Qantas Lounge at Changi Airport, Singapore, when

travelling with Qantas. Just remember to bring your

current AustCham membership card when you travel.

Note: offer is not transferable; AustCham membership

card must be presented to take advantage of this offer.

Floral Image Singapore are offering AustCham

members three months free rental when purchasing

three months. Floral Images life-like corporate flower

rentals come in a stunning range of designs and

are available for rental either long or short-term. For

enquiries please email roger@floralimage.com.

AustCham members and their immediate family can

enjoy member benefits with Dental Essence. Check

out the Membership Card Programme page on the

AustCham website for specific pricing. Terms and

conditions apply.

ANZ Private Bank, Singapore is pleased to waive the

application fee for AustCham members applying for

a new Australian property loan (save up to US$750).

For information, contact Peter Mostyn: t. +65 6681

2254; or email peter.mostyn@anz.com

AustCham members enjoy 20 percent off the total

bill at The Trading Floor, Tuxedo, Plate all-day

dining restaurant and roof top Graffiti Sky Bar every

day of the week. For more information please email

f&b@carltoncity.sg

AustCham members receive 25 percent off best

available rate at Banyan Tree Bintan or Angsana Bintan.

This offer comes along with international buffet

breakfast for two persons and other great benefits. To celebrate SG50, Eastern Carpets are offering

AustCham members a store wide discount of up to 50

percent from September to December 2015 in addition

to a surprise gift with every purchase. For more details,

please visit www.easterncarpets.com.sg.

visit www.austcham.org.sg for full details and conditions

AustCham members receive a 20 percent discount.

Geek Team can fix all your technology support needs.

Whether it’s in the home or office we bring a helpdesk

to your front door. Geek Team tackle both small and

complex issues from setting up a home network, to

servicing the needs of a growing company.

AustCham members receive 20 percent off all corporate

training workshops. Training over 10,000 people a

year, the professional development centre provides

over 60 workshops in seven key areas. They also run

customsied workshops for in-house training.

International school GEMS World Academy (Singapore)

is pleased to extend priority discounts and preferential

placement to all AustCham Singapore members

for enrolments for the 2015-2016 academic year.

33

AustCham members enjoy preferred room rates in a

Deluxe room from S$330++ per room per night.

They also receive special offer dining privileges at

the Victoria Bar receive 30 percent of all drinks and

complimentary bar snacks.

Honan Insurance Group is pleased to offer AustCham

members complimentary insurance assessment.

Contact Celestina Cheung: email celestinac@honan.

com.au; t. +65 8198 4110.

Style sets the tone of the three ultra-luxurious

Mulia properties set along 30 hectares of sprawling

landscape, on the exclusive coastline of Nusa Dua.

AustCham members enjoy up to 20 percent off best

available rates. Conditions apply. For reservations

t. (62-361) 301 7777 or email joy.liu@themulia.com

Wine Exchange Asia is offering AustCham members

S$69 per bottle for cases of six Veuve Clicquot Brut

NV. Subject to availability. To order email Robert at

robert@wineexchangeasia.com.

Shiva Designs are offering a 15 percent discount

on all online and in-studio purchases over $99. This

discount can be used by quoting “AUSTCHAM” or pre-

senting your AustCham Membershio Card.

Pay a flat fee of only S$15 for money transfers to

Australia with Pay2Home Remittance Services, a

saving of 25 percent. To redeem the offer email

customerservice@pay2home.com.

AustCham members receive a 15 percent discount

on the total food bill only (all buffet) at The Square

Restaurant upon presentation of their AustCham

membership card.

With an eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary

dishes, Soi 60 represents a fresh approach to Thai din-

ing in Robertson Quay. AustCham members receive a

10 percent discount off on their total bill, conditions

apply.

Janus Academy offers AustCham members receive

20 percent off private class rates for all general and

business language classes or 30 percent off if your

children are enrolled in any of their language classes.

Conditions apply.

visit austcham.org.sg for full details & conditions

AustCham members enjoy $0 establishment fee (save

up to AUD$750) when they take out a new Australian or

New Zealand investment property loan with Westpac

Private Bank Singapore. For more information,

contact Garine Hagopian on +65 6530 9852 or

ghagopian@westpac.com.au. Subject to meeting

underwriting standards. Terms and conditions apply.

Meeting Magic offers AustCham members free graphic

recordings at facilitated meetings. Contact John Ogier

on +65 82440244 or

john@meetingmagicinternational.com.

AustCham members receive 15 percent off best

available rates at Marina Mandarin Singapore and enjoy

15 per cent discount on food and beverage the whole

year round at hotel managed restaurants and lounge

that include the AquaMarine, Peach Blossoms and

Atrium Lounge. Terms and conditions apply.

Enjoy ‘The Virtual Office’ package and two hours use

of the Servcorp Boardroom complimentary for one

month. Note: the usual Servcorp terms and conditions

apply; not applicable to current Servcorp clients.

AustCham members receive a 10 percent discount off

the best available rates for all room categories at the

Orchard Hotel. A range of discounts are also available

at the hotel’s food and beverage offerings, including all

night long 1-for-1 happy hour at Intermezzo Bar.

QBE Singapore extends a 20 percent discount on

travel insurance to all AustCham members.

This includes coverage on both business and leisure

travels. Please contact Ms Wendy Goh by phone

on +65 6477 1151 or email wendy.goh@qbe.com.

QBE has been represented in Singapore for more than

a century and we are the Republic’s oldest Australian

company.

34

AustCham Singapore (Australian Chamber

of Commerce Singapore) 25 Napier Road, Level 3,

Singapore 258507 Tel: +65 6738 7917

Fax: +65 6738 7916 www.austcham.org.sg

EDITORIAL, DESIGN & ADVERTISING

Angelique Dingle angelique.dingle@austcham.org.sg

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Annette Tilbrook

annette.tilbrook@austcham.org.sg

PRINT Win & Win Printer

MICA (P) 159/08/2014 Any opinions expressed in articles in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the views of the chamber.

Australia’s first bank, here in Asia.With more than 40 years’ experience in Asia, take advantage of our strong local and regional knowledge and expertise. Whether you’re investing in Australian or New Zealand property, or just need a trusted banking partner in Asia and Australasia, Westpac can help.

Westpac Banking Corporation ABN 33 007 457 141 AFSL 233713. Westpac Singapore Branch holds a wholesale banking licence and is subject to supervision by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Westpac Hong Kong Branch holds a banking licence and is subject to supervision by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. Westpac Hong Kong branch also holds a licence issued by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) for Type 1 and Type 4 regulated activity. DW_WBC613A1_AA

Singapore +65 6530 9898 Hong Kong +852 2842 9888 Visit www.westpac.asia

Speak with one of our Relationship Managers today.

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Servcorp’s new office CapitaGreen launched by Australian Governor-General

New Principal joins Avondale Grammar SchoolRobert Stokoe has been appointed as Principal of Avondale Grammar School to support its continued expansion and growth in Singapore. Rob joins Avondale after 16 years as director and headmaster of Jumeirah English Speaking School in Dubai. He was awarded the Order of the British Empire in June 2015 for services to education in the United Arab Emirates.

In a statement from Avondale, Rob commented: “I am delighted to join the Avondale family. The opportunity to shape the future of young people is a privilege that I wholly relish and a responsibility that I do not take lightly. Avondale’s long term vision is to consolidate and enhance its position, placing it alongside the very best schools on the island. We believe our community merits the delivery of an outstanding curriculum in a first class learning context supporting students who are willing, happy and content learners.”

CapitaGreen was officially launched on Tuesday 22 September 2015 by Australia’s visiting Governor-General, Peter Cosgrove.

Located within the centre of Singapore’s business district, the ultra-modern 40-storey office tower is Servcorp’s sixth property in Singapore.

It boasts a striking natural facade of trees and living greenery and is equipped with a rooftop sky forest, sky terraces, a gymnasium and swimming pool at level 38 and a restaurant on level 40. Magnificent views are available from reception of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel and the Singapore River as well as Singapore’s bustling cityscape.

This remarkable 5-star green office has an amazing irrigation system and a cool void to maintain its greenery and to cool the building’s temperature. www.servcorp.com.sg

Australia’s first bank, here in Asia.With more than 40 years’ experience in Asia, take advantage of our strong local and regional knowledge and expertise. Whether you’re investing in Australian or New Zealand property, or just need a trusted banking partner in Asia and Australasia, Westpac can help.

Westpac Banking Corporation ABN 33 007 457 141 AFSL 233713. Westpac Singapore Branch holds a wholesale banking licence and is subject to supervision by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Westpac Hong Kong Branch holds a banking licence and is subject to supervision by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. Westpac Hong Kong branch also holds a licence issued by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) for Type 1 and Type 4 regulated activity. DW_WBC613A1_AA

Singapore +65 6530 9898 Hong Kong +852 2842 9888 Visit www.westpac.asia

Speak with one of our Relationship Managers today.

WBC613 Private Banking Asia AccessAsia FPC FA1.indd 1 17/09/14 4:13 PM

Discover the

IANTHORPEin your child

Globally focused, distinctly Australian

Athlete development at AIS equips budding athletes with the physical and psychological skills to be the best they can be. Sacrifi ce, integrity, belief and excellence are the values we instil in our athletes and our teams are relentless in pursuit of achievement, as exemplifi ed by our unbeaten Under 11 & 12s in Rugby, Netball and Basketball.

Enquire now to fi nd out more

call +65 6653 7906 or visit www.ais.com.sg

The Australian International School is a world-leading school for 2 to 18 year olds. The best of the International Baccalaureate and the Australian curriculum, and a focus on the arts & sports, ensures your child reaches their full potential.

Introducing the AIS

Athlete Development ProgramElite training for budding athletes

Australian International School Pte Ltd is registered by the Council for Private Education. CPE Registration Number 199204405H. Period of Registration 6 July 2015 to 5 July 2019

Book your

personal tour

Register at www.ais.com.sg