Access Asia

DEC / JAN 2015 / 2016

setting up in singapore

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CONTENTS

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Face to Face with Mark Thirwell

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19 22 28 30

Top Tips for setting up in the Lion City From the Executive Director

Top 5 tips to get your startup off the ground Out & About New Members

Setting up in Singapore New in Singapore: Nicholas Whalan

Membership Card Offers Newsflash

President’s message

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

Dear AustCham members

Greg Williams Commonwealth Bank of Australia

This is the final issue of Access Asia for 2015 and this gives us a chance to look back on a busy year at AustCham.

HONORARY TREASURER Graham Lee PricewaterhouseCoopers HONORARY SECRETARY John Dick DA Partners Dr Belinda Braggs ACS ServTech Nigel Cummings Sliding Doors Entertainment Philip Forrest Honorary Life Member

The Chamber has had a very successful year with many new members and sold-out events as well as a visit from our previous Prime Minister of Australia and our Roadshow with the Australian High Commission and Austrade. Looking back one event from earlier in the year that was a real highlight was our President’s Awards. It’s great to hear people still talking about the long lunch and the great food they had and the laughs that Vince Sorrenti gave to the room. It was a fantastic way to celebrate and recognise Australian businesses in Singapore. This issue we focus on setting up in Singapore and have highlighted success from within our membership. Inside you’ll find tips from a range of businesses in Singapore who share their stories and advice on how to set up here successfully.

Derek MacKenzie designphase dba

I hope your festive season is filled with fun, family and friends. Rest up and come back ready for one of the best parties of the year – our Australia Day Ball on Saturday 23 January. Strictly Come Dancing is shaping up to be the biggest and brightest ever!

Chris Rees Austrade

Have a merry Christmas, happy new year and I look forward to seeing you in 2016.

Vishnu Shahaney ANZ Sean Straton Credit Suisse

Guy Scott

Annette Tilbrook AustCham

Guy Scott President

PLATINUM SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSORS

BRONZE SPONSORS

Face to Face with Mark Thirlwell, Chief Economist, Australian Trade Commission

AustCham: Can you tell us a little about your role at Austrade? Mark: One of the things that myself and the team is responsible for is to provide the internal knowledge bank for Austrade about what’s happening in the global economy. Particularly investment and trade and how that influences Australia’s place in the world. Secondly, we try to understand what the Australian international business sector looks like to make sure Austrade is servicing them in the best way. Taking a top down view, we take all the information coming in and synthesise it together. Some of this information comes from our Business Survey but it also come from our individual people who look after various sectors.

Mark Thirlwell

Appointed as Austrade’s Chief Economist in September 2013, Mark Thirlwell has been tracking global economic trends since he joined the Bank of England’s International Divisions in 1990, where he worked as part of the Whitehall Economists Subgroup, coordinating the forecasting of major emerging markets across the Bank, Treasury, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and other stakeholders. Mark subsequently joined J P Morgan as a Vice President in Economic Research with responsibility for Central and Eastern Europe. He later served as Senior Economist at Australia’s Export Finance and Insurance Corporation (EFIC), working on sovereign risk with a particular focus on East Asia. Before joining Austrade, Mark was the inaugural Director of the Lowy Institute’s International Economy Program and a Fellow at the Institute’s G20 Studies Centre. He was one of the original research team that helped establish the Lowy Institute as one of Australia’s leading think tanks. Mark is currently a Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University’s National Security College. He has degrees in economics from Cambridge and Oxford Universities and a postgraduate qualification in applied finance from Macquarie University.

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Lastly, I’m kind of a spokesperson for Austrade’s investment promotion in the traditional chief economist role. I’m someone who talks about the Australian economy; its strengths, challenges and how it’s performing. If there are international investors visiting Australia we can give them an overview of where we’re at. AustCham: Earlier this year you released some interesting results from Australia’s International Business Survey 2015, can you tell us a little more about this survey and how it came about? Mark: The survey actually started around two years and I inherited the project. It’s very much a collaborative project, Austrade and AFEC provide funding through the Export Council of Australia and the survey is conducted through the University of Sydney. The purpose of the survey was to gain a deeper understanding of Australian businesses and exporters. Although the ABS gives overall trade numbers and the numbers of exporters, we wanted something broader with a fairly large sample size where we could find out how businesses were travelling, what were they doing and where would they like to go next. The sample size is 1200 companies, 19 sectors, 93 sub-sectors and 114 markets. (For an analysis of the Survey results visit www.austrade.gov.au/News/economic-analysis)

AustCham: Talk us through what some of the export and import trends are and what they could mean to Asia? Mark: One of the challenges is that globally it’s actually a tough time for trade as the world and regional trade growth have slowed pretty sharply in the last few years.

One of the nice stories from an Australian perspective is that China’s demand for tourism and education has grown.

In the early 2000’s you had good import and export growth and there was a very strong China driven growth story in the region. China was industrialising rapidly, sitting at the centre of global supply chains and was parrying the industrialisation and urbanisation and that was great for the economy. At the same time, it was sitting at all these global manufacturing chains where it was pumping out products for sale in the US and Europe and other regional economies like Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore. So you had this network of international trade and China was this big hub in the middle.

However, China’s demand for service is now very strong. As the economy rebalances, the things that China wants to spend its money on has shifted and one of the nice stories from an Australian perspective is that China’s demand for tourism and education has grown a lot. AustCham: What do you think lies ahead for the Australian economy in the next 12 months? Mark: I think it’s a really interesting time for the Australian economy and one of the challenges is that a lot of people look at Australia and think the economy performed incredibly well over the past decade because it rode the resources boom and the Chinese industrialisation, and now that’s over the Australian economy will struggle.

This powered world trade got a shock during the global financial crisis because demand collapsed in the rich world and world trade volumes fell off. China delivered its big stimulus package and boosted trade back up but since then, partly because China is going through growth adjustment and partly because the rest of the world growth is still fairly subdued, growth has slowed right down.

Yes, the world economy was beautifully set up for Australia then but there is an awful lot of potential for things to work out for us now.

So, for most of the region, import growth is a lot slower. One of the key questions in terms of prospects is how permanent this shift is. We’re starting to see the US recover and Europe is picking up so maybe the cycle has started to turn and this might help growth.

Its important that we’re not a one trick pony economy and although recognising this new environment can create challenges, there are many opportunities out there and Australia is very well placed to take advantage of them.

Because Australia’s trade profile was, until recently, served by recources there is an assumption that Australia is just a resource player, but when you look at the economy as opposed to the trade profle the majority of our economy is service based. Of the sectors that are currently performing well, many of them are the service sector. We’re seeing a regional shift in terms of the kinds of things it wants to buy, we’re seeing our food and beverage do extremely well as peoples income rises.

AustCham: How important is China to this growth? Mark: China is going through a growth transition and rebalancing the economy, trying to deemphasise the role of investment and exports and increase the role of domestic consumption and services. Services and consumption tend to be less trade intensive then investment so in this way the China growth model has changed. Prospects for regional trade flow have shifted and that shows up in the most obvious way through commodity prices; across the region, trade and the price of exports has fallen. Also, China’s imports of manufactured products and resources has got slower.

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Top 5 tips to get your startup off the ground

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Right: Holleigh Mason and Natalie Dau, partners of startup, Urban Remedy.

Are you planning a startup in Singapore? Wondering where to start, who to talk to and where to go for help? We’ve chatted to our member Natalie Dau from Urban Remedy for her top tips to get you moving. Eleven months ago, Urban Remedy started out as a private Facebook support group (Singapore Slim founded by myself and Holleigh Mason) for like-minded people with wellness goals. We found it soon turned into 4,000 people needing support and information around wellness. Spending 18 hours a day managing a community site on Facebook was not sustainable so we closed membership and re-evaluated. The challenge was how to move this thriving community into a credible business that delivers value. We decided on a customised web platform and embarked on a huge technology build. “Build it and they will come”, was our hope! 1. Plan, review, re-do It is the most basic advice, but most start-ups don’t do it well. We put everything on paper first, going through a rigorous process before we officially started. As a partnership, we needed to make sure we had the same end goal and agreed on how we would get there. We did everything from visioning workshops, presenting our plans to test markets and detailed scenario planning. Then we would re-visit the plan and adjust as necessary. Now that we’ve launched, reviewing our direction and plans is still an important part of what we regularly do. 2. Leverage local resources Singapore is such a great market to start a business in. It is unique in that you can reach people across all demographics in such a small physical space. The Government is so supportive in assisting businesses to succeed and there are great resources in SPRING to help you. Make sure you’re aware of any grants before you start your business as it’s hard to back track once you are up and running. Also, know the local legal requirements and invest to get this right, it’s worth it in the long run.

3. Deciding what to invest in The website was a huge headline investment for us, so we had to be smart about how we spent the rest of our money. Deciding not to take outside capital was a decision we made early on, so we made a few key hires based on skills sets we needed, that we didn’t already have in-house. We also found some great hires that were attracted to working from home with flexible hours. Having the upfront expense of a physical office was not necessary, and something we didn’t necessarily see the immediate value in. 4. Allow yourself to be “business creative” We own the company, so we can make the rules! This approach has allowed us to shape deals that a larger corporate could never do; being nimble and creative can pay big dividends. Finding unique ways to add value to our partner relationships has been a real strength and something that has helped to attract large brands to our platform. Never discount the worth that great energy or a fresh approach can bring to a partner or customer. 5. Just do it Don’t wait for your product or service to be 100 per cent perfect or you will never open for business. Close enough is good enough. Remember, what you think your customer wants may be very different to your initial vision. So start, get feedback, refine and keep going. We were overwhelmed with the success of Urban Remedy on launch, but we were also openly seeking feedback on what we could do better, what didn’t work so well, and were (and still are), refining and making improvements every day. Our next launch is a corporate offering, which is really exciting for us. www.urbanremedyasia.asia Urban Remedy is offering all AustCham members a free threemonths trial membership using the code AUSTCHAM3.

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Australian Trade Commission

Opening the skies to capture opportunities

Around 107 million people are expected to travel in the ASEAN region in 2015, and it is anticipated that over the next 20 years this growth will increase by 8 per cent every year. This will result in airlines taking delivery of new fleets of aircraft, the continued expansion of low-cost carriers, growth of the tourism and hospitality sectors, the development and modernisation of airports, and an expansion in support services such as maintenance and overhaul. Airlines in ASEAN are expected to take delivery of almost 3000 aircraft - worth close to A$735 billion - by 2032. Austrade sees that the opportunities for Australian businesses in the aviation sector will include: • airport infrastructure development and upgrade • air traffic and safety management • education and training • airport and airline services • maintenance, repair and overhaul services (MRO) • global aerospace supply chain manufacturing • search and rescue services and standards harmonisation • aircraft and aerospace products and services • airport and air traffic management systems. To capture these opportunities, Australia will have a contingent of about 13 organisations

exhibiting at the Singapore Airshow from 16-21 February 2016 at the Team Defence Australia pavilion. The governments of ASEAN, recognising the important role that air transport plays in economic development, are pursuing a single aviation market as part of the roadmap for the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community. The first element of this roadmap is the establishment of an Open Skies Agreement (from 1 Jan 2016) which will allow airlines to fly from their country of origin to two other capital cities within ASEAN. Enhancing air connectivity will promote greater flows of trade, investment and tourism throughout the region, while delivering other benefits including greater choice, better service quality and lower prices for businesses and consumers. The region is also expected to push for common systems and procedures, and invest in technology that allows air traffic controllers to better track aircraft movements. Over A$1 trillion needs to be invested in aviation-related infrastructure through to 2020 and regional members are investing in expanding or building new airports to support the anticipated exponential growth in air traffic. Indonesia, the most populous country in Southeast Asia with 250 million people, has plans to construct 46 airports as part

of the country’s 2030 Airport Master Plan, while Myanmar is also planning to upgrade their international airports in Yangon and Mandalay, as well as another 69 domestic airports. For more advanced ASEAN countries such as Singapore and Malaysia, the need for automation and self-service for airport processes is particularly pressing. Why Australia? Read about the Australian Aerospace Industry on Austrade Singapore’s website (http://www.austrade.gov.au/ singapore). Why ASEAN and why now? Insights for Australian Business. A joint AustradeDFAT publication examining Australia’s trade relationship with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the opportunities and challenges for Australian business engaging with the region and the future of the Australia-ASEAN trade relationship. Download a pdf copy here http://www. austrade.gov.au/australian/export/exportmarkets/countries/asean/insights/insightsfor-australian-business.

Setting up in Singapore Candida Braithwaite Managing Director Biopharmax Pte Ltd

From pharmaceauticals to med-tech

Getting involved in a diversity of local forums is critical to understanding the local business environment.

Singapore is recognised as a hub for the pharmaceutical, med-tech and biopharma industry in the region and is continuing to grow. There is also a range of emerging local startups and excellent financial and structural support for the sector from the Singapore Government. With both a core of regional offices of MNC’s and local enterprises using Singapore as a base to drive expansion into Asia and beyond, there is a need for expert support services for these businesses. There is also an academic infrastructure to drive future scientific innovation. With close to 7,000 researchers involved in biomedical science R&D across more than 50 companies and 30 public sector institutions, and an increasing numbers of public-private partnerships, there is an emerging pipeline of products moving toward commercialisation. It’s very straightforward to set up a new business here and Singapore is often recognised as one of the best and easiest places in the world to start a business and my experiences certainly reinforce this perception. Challenges Having lived and worked in the USA as well as Australia, I came to Singapore with a perspective that although things might look the same in business (especially between two English speaking business worlds), they are often quite different. So one of my initial objectives was to understand the local business environment and culture by connecting with people who

are experienced in the sector or know what it takes to be successful in the business environment more generally. People are very generous if you ask for advice, and I have found this one of the most helpful ways to continue to adjust to this new environment. I have also found that getting involved in a diversity of local forums has been critical. These avenues have helped me understand the cultural differences more quickly and to see things in the Singapore business environment from new perspectives.

However, managing my back office financial set up was secondary to establishing the business identity, creating opportunities and following up leads. I now have a great online tool for expense management, invoicing etc. In hindsight I would have put this in place earlier.

I am very lucky to have a small business mentor, an Australian who has lived here for many years and has established a successful business. She has been a font of excellent practical advice, a great sounding board and remains my most important speed dial if I am unsure about anything.

My first clients came from my links to Australian businesses, however my most exciting moment to date was when I got my first Singapore based client that came from my newly established local networks.

Personally, I find establishing and tracking lead indicators is useful as a way to stay motivated whilst building my business, rather than just looking at income. These include metrics on enquiries about our services, and keeping track of the number of proposals submitted, and growth in client numbers. Learnings I used a Singapore based business consultant to help with the operational details of set up. Costs were modest and it made the whole process painless and extremely efficient. There is no question that they were able to provide insights that helped me get started more quickly and stay on top of my obligations in a new operating environment.

Success It’s encouraging to have had interest in our services from both small companies and multi nationals.

Top piece of advice Everyone here keeps telling me that face to face networking is the best way to build a business and so far this is the primary approach I have employed. Certainly Singapore is well set up to facilitate this and I have found this to be productive. However, there is also a need to be patient. It is still very early days for me. I have learnt a lot since I arrived and not all the assumptions in my business plan turned out to be accurate. So it is definitely useful if you can stay flexible enough to evolve to meet the local demand as you learn more about the specifics of this market. www.biopharmax.com

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Have a sumptuous Sunday at mezza9 Gourmet food Enjoy nine unique dining selections including hearty selections from the grill including slow roasted prime beef with Yorkshire pudding, crispy pork belly and slow roasted leg of lamb. Get your fill of fresh, sustainable seafood ranging from a rotation of seasonal oysters such as Fine de Claire (France) and Coffin Bay rock oysters (Australia), Canadian lobsters, Tasmanian black mussels, Spencer Gulf wild king prawns and more is on offer at the seafood kitchen. Take advantage of mezza9’s resident Thai chef for a taste of authentic som tam (shredded green papaya salad, snake bean, tomato, dried shrimp and ground peanut) and tod man pla (thai fish cakes). Devour a variety of Chinese dishes that are steamed, wok-fried or roasted. Take your pick from baskets of assorted dim sum, fragrant wokfried beef, tender spare ribs, roast duck and barbecue meats. From the yakitori and sushi kitchens, be won over by an array of sushi, sashimi, tempura, oden (Japanese hot-pot) and zensai (Japanese Hors d’Oeuvres). Freshly grilled yakitori meats with a variety of condiments are also available at this kitchen. Continue with cold cuts, hand-cut Serrano ham with sweet melon from the deli, along with a selection of international artisan cheeses, homemade breads and more. Drinks Wet your whistle with free-flowing Perrier Jouët Grand Brut champagne, premium red and white wines, beers, mojitos and bloody marys’s.

Sweet satisfaction Indulge at the patisserie which highlights a modern approach to all time favourites such as strawberry cheesecake, milk chocolate tart, croissant bread and butter pudding with vanilla bean custard sauce, chocolate mousse and lemon pie. Watch the pastry artisans at work as they prepare delicate and fluffy ice cream with liquid nitrogen. Family friendly We haven’t forgotten about the kids! With an onsite play room with children’s toys and an ever-changing roster of weekly activities including face painting and balloon sculpting, they’ll be kept entertained. Children will also be able to choose from a selection of kid-friendly food options such as mini burgers, mini chicken sausages and French fries. The deal Enjoy nine different dining experiences in one venue, complete with freeflowing Perrier Jouët Grand Brut champagne, premium red and white wines, beers, mojitos and bloody marys for SGD 148.00++. The Sunday Brunch runs from 11.30 am until 3.00 pm. Other prices include: SGD 288.00++ (Perrier Jouët Belle Epoque, house red and white wines, Tiger and Heineken beer, Mojitos and Bloody Marys) SGD 128.00++ (Non-alcoholic - includes free flowing soft drinks and coffee / tea) SGD 69.00++ (Children age 5 to 12 years) No charge for children 4 years and below. mezza9, Grand Hyatt Singapore, 10 Scotts Road, p. 6732 1234, e. [email protected]

Nicholas Whalan from Commonwealth Bank of Australia

Nicholas Whalan, Vice President, Commonwealth Private Singapore

Tell us a little about your story and how you came to Singapore? For many years I lived on the sleepy Gold Coast and lived in Brisbane before arriving in Singapore a few months ago. I’ve been working with the Commonwealth Bank for many years in various roles but had been looking for an opportunity to broaden my experiences and gather a more global perspective. With Commonwealth Private Bank increasing its headcount in Asia, an opportunity came up in Singapore early this year. My fiancée Natalie, who is a special needs teacher, was also keen for a new challenge so we jumped at the chance. Can you tell us briefly about your role and its main purpose? My role as a private banker revolves around relationship management of high net worth individuals and their families. I aim to provide high level client engagement, residential lending solutions and access to foreign exchange and market insights. Being part of Australia’s largest bank also enables me to provide my clients a seamless transition whether moving in or out of Singapore. A key product provided by Commonwealth Private in Asia is our Australasian Residential

Property Loan, enabling clients to purchase or refinance property located in Australia or New Zealand. Do you find many differences between the finance industry in Singapore compared to Australia? I think the foundations are very much the same but I can see differences surrounding compliance, regulatory guidelines and competition.

If finance organisations want to compete and grow in a competitive market place, improving digital capabilities is an important factor. Do you have advice for other Australians wanting to make the move to Singapore? Singapore is an easy place to transition to and a great place to live. I think it is important to be active in meeting people and get involved in as much as you can.

Being in a location that is central to the rest of the world opens up different risks and opportunities, particularly when dealing with clients who have global assets and liabilities.

There are so many great organisations to be involved with, both from a business networking aspect and a social aspect, so take advantage of that early in your transition.

Furthermore the level of access to private banks in Australia is fairly limited, in comparison to Singapore, making competition fierce.

The expat community is very welcoming and you will meet some fantastic people, but be sure to get amongst the more local aspects as well.

What are the biggest opportunities for the industry in Singapore today? As with many industries an important driver for the finance industry is technology.

What do you think an individual needs in order to be successful in Singapore? Whether you are here specifically for business or just to explore somewhere different, connecting with people is such an important thing, so hone your networking skills and be active in using them.

We are already seeing major banks investing in or forging partnerships with various fintech companies, along with creating their own innovation labs. The technology side of the industry is huge and impacts all facets of how a bank operates, from back office efficiencies, innovative products, workforce mobility, market data and improved customer satisfaction.

People will be so willing to help you and offer advice on your arrival, be sure to take it on board and return the favour when you can.

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Globally focused, distinctly Australian

Top tips for setting up in the Lion City AustCham speaks to Treasury Wines, King&Wood Mallesons and 5th Quarter

Andrew O’Brien, Treaury Wine Estates General Manager - SEA, India, Middle East and Africa

leading luxury wine brands in the country.

What was your key driver to set up in Singapore and why Singapore?

From Singapore, we have also successfully expanded across South East Asia, South and North Asia, with distributors and partners in 30 countries across the region.

Singapore was a natural choice for many reasons - its position as an international trading hub, world-class infrastructure, dynamic economy, highly educated work force and pro-business environment.

We have truly benefitted from Singapore’s position as a gateway to Asia, providing us with the access, enabling us to gain the expertise in operating in an emerging market environment.

In addition, Singapore is also a leader for the region, a showcase market for consumer trends in luxury and lifestyle, with best-inclass practices.

Your number one piece of advice for someone about to set-up a business in Singapore?

It was a very clear and easy decision for the business as to where best to launch our Asia expansion. Tell us a little about some of the initial challenges you faced and how you dealt with them? (If any) Given the pro-business environment provided by Singapore, I’m glad to be able to say our challenges were ones that resulted from a rapid expansion of the business, and finding the right partners to support that growth.

Engage with the relevant bodies on both the Australian and Singapore front. For Australians, I strongly recommend being pro-active in establishing contacts and asking for advice by connecting with relevant organisations. For the Singapore government, engage with the relevant bodies as you may find that you will get a lot of help and support to set up your business. My advice would be to always think global, but act local, especially if you are looking

L-R: Michael Lawson, John Sullivan, Stuart Fuller and Xuhua Huang to expand from Singapore, across the many different exciting markets across Asia. www.tweglobal.com Michael Lawson, Partner, King & Wood Mallesons What was your key driver to set up in Singapore and why Singapore? Our clients, many of whom had been encouraging us to set up in Singapore as it’s a hub for the South East Asian market. As the only global law firm headquartered in Asia, Singapore was a strategic imperative for us.

What really helped was tapping on the support of other Australian businesses and contacts for advice and help. Organisations such as AustCham and AusTrade were integral in connecting us with the right partners and providing us with advice on how best to do business in Singapore. Would you do anything differently? Knowing what we know now of Singapore government’s strong support for foreign investments – we would have certainly engaged more with relevant government bodies to tap into that support, in terms of exploring additional opportunities or expansion of business networks. What has been your greatest success since setting up in Singapore? Wolf Blass wines is now the #1 best-selling wine in Singapore, according to Nielsen. Penfolds is also considered one of the Andrew O’Brien, Treaury Wine Estates General Manager - SEA, India, Middle East and Africa

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We practise international law. Our initial focus is M&A, fund raising and investing (primarily supporting the real estate, infrastructure and private equity sectors), projects, energy and resources work and China work. All important areas in Singapore. What are the unique challenges and opportunities the legal industry faces in Singapore and how have you dealt with them? Singapore’s legal market is crowded and competitive. Standing out from the crowd is key, especially as a new entrant. We are fortunate to have an outstanding brand. This, combined with deep roots in the region and our expertise in China and Australia has given us a head start, as have our already established client relationships and branding in our key sectors. Our initial practice areas align with key areas of focus for Singapore itself, and the region. What has been your greatest achievement since setting up in Singapore? Most gratifying is the support we have received from our existing key clients who encouraged us to set up.

Drew Nocente, Executive Chef, 5th Quarter Tell us a little about some of the initial challenges you faced and how you dealt with them? Work culture in Singapore is very different to what I experienced in Australia, London and Shanghai. Singaporeans need a little more nurturing but you learn to manage differently so you can invest the right amount of time and training into the right talent. What has been your greatest achievement/ success since setting up in Singapore? Actually setting it up. Singapore is not an easy place to set up a restaurant as a lot people perceive it to be. You need to get the right investors, the right partners, the right concept for the right target audience and of course, all the other administrative processes that could really throw a person off. So, setting 5th Quarter up is in itself, a great achievement for me.

5th Quarter’s Executive Chef, Drew Nocente Your number one piece of advice for someone about to set-up a business in Singapore? I think it is important that you go with gut instincts and with listening to the right people. I had the right person backing me up all the way so that was really important. And definitely do your market research and accounting properly before you do so. I think a lot of people have the impression that they are able to make a profit immediately after opening a restaurant, which is not true. You really need to get finances in order before you even search for a space. www.5thquarter.com.sg

We are fortunate to have several excellent mandates in M&A and a group of individuals from Australia, China and Singapore to form a dynamic and cohesive team. Our launch event in May at Clifford Pier was a fantastic night and very well attended. What are your top pieces of advice for someone about to set up a business in Singapore? Get good local help. We used local experts to advise us on the legal, tax, regulatory and people requirements. Invest in relationships. Time spent developing relationships and understanding the local culture and environment is invaluable. Be patient and realistic about the process for setting up – you will get there. And try to enjoy the journey! www.kwm.com

Interior of 5th Quarter on Syed Alwi Road

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Upcoming events Register for events online at www.austcham.org.sg Sat 23 Jan 2016

ANZ Australia Day Ball 2016 Swissotel the Stamford Event sponsor

I hope you’re all enjoying the merriment of the festive season, there’s certainly a lot to celebrate as we look back over the last few months with many sold-out events yet again. Back in September we hosted our annual property forum that focused on the Aussie market, many thanks to our event sponsor ANZ and our guest speakers, David Cannington, chief economist at ANZ and Greville Pabst, CEO, WBP Property Group. Our October Business Connects was a great night of networking at the Pan Pacific and as usual the event was a sell-out. It was great to see so many of our new members connecting with the membership and to hear the value that you get from these events.

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We were honoured to host a Q&A breakfast with Australian High Commissioner, Philip Green in November and to hear his views on the last year in politics and business in Australia and Singapore.

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Photography sponsor

Next year we’re looking forward to bringing you the same high calibre of events and we also have some exciting new programs planned.

Our annual membership is now open for our 2016/17 financial year. The Chamber’s financial year runs from 1 April until 31 March the following year however new members are able to join from 1 January 2016. So, refer a friend or colleague to join between January and March and they can receive up to 15 months of membership for the price of 12 months. If your referral becomes a member you’ll receive a complimentary registration to Business Connects in 2016 to thank you for promoting the Chamber. To refer a friend email us at [email protected] or call us on +65 6738 7917. Lastly, tickets to the famous ANZ Australia Day Ball on 23 January are 80 per cent sold out – there are a few tables left so I urge those who haven’t organised tickets to book before you head off for the holidays. We wouldn’t want you to miss out! Merry Christmas, I hope you have a restful and relaxing break and I look forward to seeing you in 2016.

Wine sponsor

Annette Annette Tilbrook Executive Director

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leasecdlhome.com.sg Flexible leasing options vary for each property. *Valid for tenants without agent representation. Only applicable to The Residences at W Singapore Sentosa Cove and Cliveden at Grange. Other terms and conditions apply.

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5

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Business Connects October Thursday 15 October 2015 at Pan Pacific Singapore

Event sponsor

1

L-R Belinda Braggs, Andre Casson and Philip Forrest

2

Guests mingling in The Living Room

3

L-R Natalie Drummond and John Gordon

4

L-R Wayne Salamonsen and Trevor Seaman

5

L-R Claire Ettinger, Katrina Bracken and Mariel Lowe

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L-R Mark Morgante, Clele White, Ben White and Annette Tilbrook

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L-R Fiona Johnson, Neil Smith and Philip Forrest

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L-R Derek MacKenize and Ruth Spence

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L-R Jenny Nicholson, Karin Clarke and Domenique Onishi

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Delicious canapes

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Lucky draw winner, Zann Lee and Andre Casson

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L-R Isadora Noble and David Harker

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3

5

6

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Q&A with Australian High Commissioner Philip Green Tuesday 24 November 2015, Grand Hyatt 1

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2

L-R Carolyn Chin-Parry, Faith Sing and Philip Forrest L-R Annette Tilbrook, Derek MacKenzie and Kuldip Gill

3

L-R Justin Taylor, Vishnu Shahaney, Guy Scott and Philip Forrest

4

L-R Ali Moore, Philip Green and Philip Forrest

5

L-R John Dick, Nigel Cummings, Derek MacKenzie and Greg Williams

6

L-R Rasitha Wickramasinghe and Mark Jamieson

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L-R Guest speaker, Philip Green

8

Rob Stokoe

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Moderator Ali Moore and Philip Green

10

L-R Nicholas Whelan, Graham Lee and Bill Castellas

11

Jennifer Goedhuys

12

Michael Feller

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Suzanne Ardagh

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AustCham Special Breakfast: The Global Economy in Transition Tuesday 8 September 2015 at The Fullerton Hotel

1

L-R Rowland Winten and Stephen Berton

2

L-R John Dick, David Cannington and Jithendra Padmakumar

3

Networking before the update

4

L-R Greville Pabst and Adam Adamczyk

5

L-R Stephen Berton, June Leong-Seth, Annette Tilbrook and Ben Smith

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Guests enjoying the presentation

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MC, Adam Lyle

8

Guest speaker, David Cannington

9

David taking questions

10

L-R Greville Pabst and David Moss

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Guests listening

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Guest speaker, Greville Pabst

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Gold Corporate Members

Gold Corporate Members

Corporate Members AMPERSAND EXECUTIVE & SEARCH

ANZ

Ampersand is a leading Asia Pacific Talent Acquisition

ANZ’s presence in Singapore dates back almost four

and Leadership Advisory. Its world-class service

decades. Starting as a representative office in 1974,

delivery, strength of local and global networks,

the Bank progressively transformed its business

innovation in service and channel offering, and

to grow alongside client needs, offering financial

uncompromising executive and client experience has

solutions as an offshore bank in 1980 and later in

created new benchmarks in industry standards within

2002 as a wholesale bank with a private banking unit.

Australia and Asia with offices now in Melbourne, Sydney and Singapore. Ampersand differentiates its services

JOANNA STEINER Private banker

In 2010, ANZ received approval from the Monetary Authority of Singapore for a Qualifying Full Bank license,

SUSANN FREY

after completing the acquisition of Royal Bank of

Principal consultant

Scotland’s retail and commercial banking businesses in

by inspiring its partners toward a Customer & People mindset. We partner with clients to appoint and develop exemplary leaders to create inspirational organisations for sustainable people and customer growth.

Singapore.

AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSION The

QBE INSURANCE (INTERNATIONAL)

Government

general insurance and reinsurance companies.

headquartered in Sydney with over 17,000 employees in 38 countries. A specialist of general insurance, QBE

is

the

official

relations services. It also acts on behalf of Australian

of the QBE Insurance Group, one of the world’s top 20

QBE is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange and

Commission

passport, visa and immigration, citizenship and cultural

century and forms part of the Emerging Markets Division

JASON CHONG

High

It provides a range of services, including consular,

QBE has been represented in Singapore for more than a

Head - local broker division

Australian

representative of the Australian Government in Singapore.

authorities

by

representing

Australia’s

interests to local, regional and multilateral government and business organisations in Singapore.

RUTH SPENCE Acting director of public affairs

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

BINCHO RESTAURANT

insurance needs.

Transformed from a 70-year-old traditional coffee shop, Bincho showcases elements of the past, present and

We are recognised as the leader in many of our speciality

future through 1) the old skool mee pok stall, coffee and

lines and maintained market leadership in namely marine,

toast, marble tables, old blue square tiles, distressed walls

liability and professional indemnity classes.

et al; 2) a modern open-concept yakitori bar with hues of copper by Chef Asai Masashi; and 3) a cocktail bar featuring progressive and playful Japeritifs as well as fresh

DENISE TAN Group marketing and communications manager

22

fruit cocktails by restaurant manager, Joe Chan.

Corporate Members

Corporate Members

CST TAX ADVISORS Our business provides expatriate individuals and international business clients with integrated tax accounting and structuring advice for their home market and the international markets in which they operate.

GRANT THORNTON ADVISORY PETER GODBER Partner

Grant Thornton is an international network of independent firms providing audit, tax and advisory services to dynamic, growing enterprises throughout the world.

As a client of CST we have empathy with your facts and circumstances, a focus on executing tax and or

BOON TAN

business solutions for you while we add value in the way

KNIGHT FRANK ASIA PACIFIC

we present information to you and deliver our services.

Headquartered in London with 370 offices, employing more than 12,000 professionals and spanning five

Director

continents, Knight Frank provides the highest standards of quality and integrity in global residential and

ENTITY SOLUTIONS

commercial property advisory services. Our reputation

Pioneered in Australia and operating globally, we are

for uncompromising professionalism in everything we do

a leading and trusted contingent workforce specialist servicing multiple Tier 1 customers including many ASX200 listed companies. We design and enable

KARIN CLARKE Regional director, Asia

is earned by serving our clients and earning their trust.

KEVIN COPPEL Head of Asia Pacific

Advising clients ranging from individual private investors, clients and homeowners to major developers and

customised solutions that support the unique needs

investors, we put teamwork, innovation and our passion

of contingent workers and the organisations engaging

for property at the heart of everything we do, striving to

them. We combine unmatched industry knowledge, an

go the extra mile to exceed our clients’ expectations.

outstanding compliance record and superior service, to simplify processes and ease the complexities associated

MACQUARIE GROUP

with flexible work arrangements.

Macquarie Group is a global financial services provider. It acts primarily as an investment intermediary for institutional, corporate and retail clients and

FOUR SEASONS HOTEL SINGAPORE Located on tranquil, tree-lined Orchard Boulevard, Four

CHRIS GRAY Executive director

counterparties around the world. Macquarie has built a uniquely diversified business. It has established

Seasons Hotel Singapore provides a welcome oasis of

leading market positions as a global specialist in a wide

calm in the midst of the city’s bustle. Enjoy luxurious

range of sectors, including resources, agriculture and

residential comfort and technological conveniences

commodities, energy and infrastructure, with a deep

within our 255 spacious rooms and suites, and opt for

knowledge of Asia-Pacific financial markets. Alignment

room service – delivered in 15 minutes – or an intimate,

of interests is a longstanding feature of Macquarie’s

delectable meal at One-Ninety Wood-fired Steaks and

client-focused business, demonstrated by its willingness

Seafood.

to both invest alongside clients and closely align the interests of shareholders and staff.

CHINEN PHILLIPS Director of sales

MERITUS HOTELS & RESORTS Meritus Hotels & Resorts is part of the hospitality division

FRAGOMEN SINGAPORE

of Overseas Union Enterprise Limited (SGX-ST: “OUE”).

Fragomen is the world’s leading provider of corporate

Long established as an icon of Asian hospitality in

immigration services and solutions. We are able to

Singapore, the Meritus brand founded its roots from

provide immigration services throughout the Asia Pacific

The Mandarin Singapore, now Mandarin Orchard

region. In Singapore, we provide a full range of local

Singapore. More than 40 years on, Meritus is an award-

and regional immigration services. Our Asia Pacific

winning hospitality brand providing guests its signature

Coordination Center in Singapore is responsible for

MATTHEW MANI

Asian Grace, Warmth, and Care through hotels and

service delivery in those locations where we manage a

Assistant director business development - corporate

resorts located in Singapore and Malaysia. Its current

network of high quality partners firms in the region.

MARK BUCHANAN

portfolio includes the brand’s flagship Mandarin Orchard Singapore, Marina Mandarin Singapore, and Meritus Pelangi Beach Resort & Spa Langkawi.

Partner

GOVERNMENT OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA TRADE AND INVESTMENT OFFICE

MILLWARD BROWN Millward Brown ( a member of the WPP Group) is a

The Western Australian Trade Office serves as a link to

research based brand advisory with 85 offices in 55

business partnerships for Western Australian companies

countries. Millward Brown is the worldwide leader in

and counterparts in Singapore. The office offers

helping clients grow the value of their brands. The firm

assistance for bilateral trade activities and also serves as

works with 90 per cent of the world’s leading brands.

an investment gateway for Western Australia.

ADRIAN GONZALEZ JOHN CATLIN Regional director

CEO Africa, Middle East, Asia Pacific

23

Welcome home

#feelslikehome Qantas Airways Limited ABN 16 009 661 901

Corporate Members

Corporate Members

PARTNERS IN PERFORMANCE INTERNATIONAL

THE WESTIN SINGAPORE

Partners in Performance (PIP) is a firm that builds

office building, The Westin Singapore occupies levels 32

better businesses. We deliver rapid performance

to 46 of Asia Square Tower 2 commercial development

improvements in industrial, resource, manufacturing

in Marina Bay, the heart of Singapore’s bustling financial

and service companies, using specialist teams and a

district. Embracing the Westin Brand’s promise ‘For a

hands-on approach to lower costs and increase

Better You’, The Westin Singapore offers 305 guestrooms

As Singapore’s first integrated hotel located within an

revenues.

TOM SONNEN

LANCE JOSEPH OUREDNIK

Managing director

General manager

and suites, four distinct dining venues, an outdoor infinity pool with a stunning view over Singapore’s south coast, the Heavenly Spa by Westin and 1,350 square meters of versatile event spaces, all designed with guests’ wellbeing in mind.

STANDARD CHARTERED BANK Standard Chartered is listed on the London, Hong Kong

DEAN ELDER Private banker

and Mumbai stock exchanges and ranks among the top

WORLEYPARSONS

20 companies in the FTSE-100 by market capitalisation.

The WorleyParsons Group is a major provider of

Our business is organised around three client segments

engineering, project management and construction

which are serviced by five dedicated global product

services across a broad range of traditional and leading

groups. Our client segments are corporate and

edge technologies. The group forms one of the largest

institutional, commercial and private banking and retail

multi-disciplinary consultancy operations in the Asia

clients including business clients. We cover eight key

Pacific region. WorleyParsons, which employs over

regions: Africa, Americas, ASEAN, Europe, Greater China, MENAP, North East Asia, South Asia.

ADRIAN SMITH Director - South East Asia

THE BIG BLOW

13,000 people, has a comprehensive network of technical resources and expertise in offices located throughout Australia, South East Asia, New Zealand, Europe, the Middle East and the USA. Services are provided through 60 offices in 30 different countries. The company is listed

THE BIG BLOW is Singapore’s first mobile hair styling,

on the Australian Stock Exchange, with annual turnover

make up and nails service. We are passionate about

in excess of US$1000 million.

providing our clients with the best premium service in the comfort of their own homes or hotels. All our stylists are trained by Ellie, and use the best equipment and

Associate Members

products available. Launched in late 2013, The Big Blow’s Mobile In-Home and In-Hotel service is now

BANYAN TREE BINTAN

available out island-wide. Our team are also available for

Located in the Riau archipelago on the spectacular

location shoots, fashion shows and media productions.

talcum-white private beach of Tanjong Said on Bintan

ELLIE SAKRZEWSKI

Island, Banyan Tree Bintan is 45 minutes from Singapore

CEO/Founder

by ferry. This award-winning resort is built on elevated surroundings with breathtaking views of the South

THE EVENT COMPANY STAGING CONNECTIONS Five time award-winning Event Marketing Agency Of The Year. We create, plan, manage and deliver amazing,

China Sea. It comprises 64 beautiful villas modelled

ALPHA ELDIANSYAH Hotel manager

memorable event experiences for our clients in Singapore

on traditional Balinese architecture, designed and decorated with a colloquial flavour. Each villa is raised on stilts, perched on hillsides with stunning views of the bay below, giving an exciting tree-top experience.

and across Asia Pacific. Our specialties include brand experiences, experiential marketing, special events,

JOEL LEE

ground breaking ceremonies, award celebrations, gala

BANYAN TREE LANG CO

dinners, product launches, team building, sales kick-offs

Enter a world steeped in deep-rooted history, dramatic

and conferences.

vistas spread across a rugged landscape, unspoiled nature and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Explore

Director of sales

the beauty and charm of Lang Co. In Central Vietnam, Banyan Tree Lang Co is an all-pool villa resort. Feel the

THE MULIA RESORT & VILLAS - NUSA DUA

your gaze to behold the magnificent stretch of the Truong

set along 30 hectares of sprawling landscape, on the

Son Mountain Range. Within touch of three UNESCO

exclusive coastline of Nusa Dua. The Mulia with its prime beachfront location offers pure lifestyle retreat with the highest level of privacy and personalized service, ideal for

ADRIAN GOH Account director

warm waves of the East Sea tickle your toes, and raise

Style sets the tone of the three ultra-luxurious properties

MICHAL ZITEK Area general manager

World Heritage Sites – the imperial city of Hue, charming old town of Hoi An and My Son’s historical ruins culture aficionados will be satiated. Those with a bent

a romantic getaway. Mulia Villas are designed to provide

for the physical will also find joy in wide range activities.

a liberating sense of space and seclusion. It is a supreme

Golfers can tee off in style at the Sir Nick Faldo-designed

sanctuary complete with a hydrotherapy swimming pool

18-hour championship golf course, meandering through

creating an unparalleled island experience for those who

rice paddies and trickling streams against the backdrop

seek an exceptional tropical escape. Mulia Resort with

of a staggering mountain range.

its extensive facilities and activities is certainly a great destination for family traveller and dynamic people who enjoy a vibrant resort lifestyle.

25

Associate Members

Individual Members

LASH CREATIVE Lash Creative is a full serviced digital marketing agency based in Sydney, Australia. We collaborate with our diverse portfolio of clients to create strategicially sound, effective and visually stunning digital solutions to maximise digital spend and bring results. Lash Creative has an office branch in Seoul, Korea with the intent of

ALICENT PLATENKAMP

expanding operations to Singapore.

Client services director

ANDREW DAGLEY

CRAIG DAVISON

Head of Asia Pacific ATLANTIS RESOURCES

VP CEP supply chain strategy and logistics GLAXOSMITHKLINE

OBT ANYWHERE (ASIA) OBT is a pioneering and innovative service provider that delivers a customised technology infrastructure in the cloud. Our flexible approach and small size make us agile and able to bring solutions to market quickly. With our highly skilled technical resources we have the ability to deliver cloud solutions combined with on premise

BEN TAZEWELL Business development manager

support. OBT has been delivering cloud solutions for over 15 years.

JERRY DIMOS Senior vice president C2FO

CORNELIUS EHRAT Senior investment advisor ROTHSCHILD WEALTH MANAGEMENT

PMB TECHNOLOGIES ASIA PMB Technologies Asia exports our Polymer Modified Bitumen Products into the Asian civil, road construction, resources and mining and municipal markets. Our export products are accredited, patented and certified and are non-regulated for transport globally. We offer all onsite technical support for the use of our products utilizing existing contractors to perform all

ANDREW BOND Director

applications through out the Asian and global markets.

GREG KELAARTCOURTNEY Senior pursuit lead BT SINGAPORE

WBP PROPERTY ADVISORY

BELINDA KNOWLES Operations manager ePROJECT MANAGEMENT AUSTRALIA

WBP Property Advisory is a division of WBP Property Group, one of Australia’s largest independent property valuation and advisory companies. WBP Property’s twenty-year valuation history tells us when it comes to buying and selling property there is no need to speculate.

BRAD MCCARTHY

WBP’s advice is based on hard facts and experience

GREVILLE PABST

and takes into consideration a property’s growth

CEO

performance – a factor that makes us different from most other property valuers and advisors. Our valuation culture and philosophy means we’re completely independent from developers and estate agents. We have the experience, access to data and the capacity to undertake meaningful analysis of a property’s performance track record, which is typically a good indicator of future potential. WBP Property Group has more than 150 skilled property professionals examining the trends and opportunities shaping Australian property every day.

26

Managing director PERMAL

MARIEL LOWE Associate director KPMG SERVICES

Individual Members

PHILIP ROUTLEY

EMANUEL PERNA KIERAN NETTING

DAVID REES

Head of operational risk, private bank STANDARD CHARTERED BANK

VP Asia Pacific SALTO SYSTEMS ASIA

GLENN SINNOTT Director customer retention and upselling SINGTEL

Head of marketing IBM

Independent consultant Financial Alliance

ROWLAND WINTEN Head APAC assets SYGENTA ASIA PACIFIC

ANDREW STEWART Financial controller Asia exc. China and Japan ROBERT WALTERS (SINGAPORE)

匀倀伀刀吀匀 䌀䄀䴀倀匀 䄀唀匀吀刀䄀䰀䤀䄀 ⴀ 匀䤀一䜀䄀倀伀刀䔀 䨀伀䤀一 匀䌀䄀 吀䠀䔀匀䔀 匀䌀䠀伀伀䰀 䠀伀䰀䤀䐀䄀夀匀℀ 一䤀䬀䔀 䈀䄀匀䬀䔀吀䈀䄀䰀䰀 䌀䄀䴀倀 一䤀䬀䔀 䠀伀䌀䬀䔀夀 䌀䄀䴀倀 一䤀䬀䔀 䜀伀䰀䘀 䌀䄀䴀倀

一䤀䬀䔀 匀圀䤀䴀䴀䤀一䜀 䌀䄀䴀倀 一䤀䬀䔀 匀伀䌀䌀䔀刀 䌀䄀䴀倀 一䤀䬀䔀 吀䔀一一䤀匀 䌀䄀䴀倀

䈀漀漀欀 愀 挀愀洀瀀 琀漀搀愀礀㨀 眀眀眀⸀猀瀀漀爀琀猀挀愀洀瀀猀愀甀猀琀爀愀氀椀愀⸀挀漀洀 簀 ⬀㘀㔀 㘀㌀㐀㠀 㘀㌀㤀　 䔀渀焀甀椀爀椀攀猀㨀 椀渀昀漀䀀猀瀀漀爀琀猀挀愀洀瀀猀愀甀猀琀爀愀氀椀愀⸀挀漀洀⸀愀甀

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

AustCham members and their accompanying family

AustCham members enjoy 20 percent off the total

members can access business class check-in at the

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

Qantas Lounge at Changi Airport, Singapore, when

dining restaurant and roof top Graffiti Sky Bar every

travelling with Qantas. Just remember to bring your

day of the week. For more information please email

current AustCham membership card when you travel.

[email protected]

Note: offer is not transferable; AustCham membership card must be presented to take advantage of this offer. Cliftons is the leading provider of premium, purposeAllied Pickfords are pleased to offer two hours

built training and event facilities. AustCham members

complimentary handyman service on your moving day,

enjoy a special discount of 25 percent off when

when booking your move with Allied Pickfords.

booking a room with Cliftons Singapore.

Contact Allied Pickfords on +65 6862 4700 to take up this offer.

AustCham members enjoy 30 percent off professional

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).

negotiator and 50 percent off strategic collaboration public programs. For details call +65 6513 2132 or visit CoalfaceDialogue.com/AustCham

For information, contact Peter Mostyn: t. +65 6681 AustCham members and their immediate family can

2254; or email [email protected]

enjoy member benefits with Dental Essence. Check out the Membership Card Programme page on the Night On US @ Banyan Tree!

AustCham website for specific pricing. Terms and

Book the Stay 3 Pay 2 offer and enjoy the third night

conditions apply.

on us at value starting from USD 357++ per night. Rejuvenate and indulge in memorable experiences of a lifetime at Banyan Tree Lang Co:

5th Quarter is offering an exclusive menu for AustCham

- A minimum of 3 nights stay

members at just $88++ (regular price $108++). This

- Daily breakfast at the Water Court Restaurant

offer includes personalised service from Chef Drew and

- Complimentary night(s) will be granted at time of

his team, a tour of his amazing kitchen and a welcome

check-in.

glass of Cava! Offer is valid until 31 March 2016.

AustCham members enjoy 20 per cent off their total bill at Bincho. Inspired by a yakitori-ya (traditional small grilling stalls) in Osaka, Bincho is an all-in-one unique dining concept by Unlisted Collection showcasing a neat mix of Singapore’s past, present and future.g.

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 [email protected].

AustCham members receive a 20 percent discount. Geek Team can fix all your technology support needs. 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,

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.

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.

28

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.

visit austcham.org.sg for full details & conditions

Honan Insurance Group is pleased to offer AustCham members

complimentary

insurance

assessment.

Contact Celestina Cheung: email celestinac@honan. com.au; t. +65 8198 4110.

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 [email protected].

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

QBE Singapore extends a 20 percent discount on

children are enrolled in any of their language classes.

travel

Conditions apply.

This includes coverage on both business and leisure

insurance

to

all

AustCham

members.

travels. Please contact Ms Wendy Goh by phone 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.

on +65 6477 1151 or email [email protected]. QBE has been represented in Singapore for more than a century and we are the Republic’s oldest Australian company.

For a table of four or more, AustCham members receive a complimentary Sommelier’s Choice bottle of wine worth $80-95. To book, please call +65 6347 Exclusive for AustCham members, LongPlay will

1928 or email [email protected] or at

offer a special package that consists of a food platter

[email protected]

(Sweet Potato Fries, Hummus, Buttermilk Chicken and Butternut Squash) and either a bottle of Chukker 1 Torrontes or Circus Malbec at only $117. To book,

Shiva Designs are offering a 15 percent discount

please call +65 6291 3323 or email [email protected]

on all online and in-studio purchases over $99. This discount can be used by quoting “AUSTCHAM” or presenting your AustCham Membership Card.

Meeting Magic offers AustCham members free graphic recordings at facilitated meetings. Contact John Ogier on +65 82440244 or

Exclusively for AustCham members, Sorrel will waive

[email protected].

the corkage for the first bottle of wine, a saving of up to $60 per bottle so guests can enjoy the full gastronomic

Style sets the tone of the three ultra-luxurious

experience with their preferred label. For reservations,

Mulia properties set along 30 hectares of sprawling

please call +65 6221 1911 or email [email protected] and

landscape, on the exclusive coastline of Nusa Dua.

mention that you’re an AustCham member.

AustCham members enjoy up to 20 percent off best available rates. Conditions apply. For reservations t. (62-361) 301 7777 or email [email protected]

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

AustCham members receive a 15 percent discount

Private

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

contact Garine Hagopian on +65 6530 9852 or

Restaurant upon presentation of their AustCham

[email protected].

membership card.

underwriting standards. Terms and conditions apply.

Bank

Singapore.

For

more

Subject

information, to

meeting

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.

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 [email protected].

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Aidha Graduation 2015 AustCham is a proud supporter of Aidha and our President, Guy Scott and Executive Director, Annette Tilbrook recently attended their 2015 graduation ceremony where a record 166 students graduated! Guy was honoured to annouce the winner of the Business Plan Finals and presented Marilyn Apayao (below) with the top prize. “As the breadwinner of my family, I had to give up my dream to study”, says Marilyn. But somewhere deep inside, she continued to hold on to that dream. When opportunity knocked at her door, she was ready to take up the challenge. At first, it was not easy to get out of her comfort zone. “I used to be shy and insecure when talking to highly educated people”, she recalls. “But Aidha helped me to discover a new way of thinking.” Since 2006, Aidha has assisted over 2,700 foreign domestic workers in Singapore who have had to leave their homes and families and travel abroad in search of employment opportunities. Aidha provides training programmes in financial literacy and self-development skills can enable women to have more opportunities and choices in the future. www.aidha.org

Sia Partners makes top ten For its first participation, Sia Partners has been ranked #7 by Vault in its list of top 10 consulting firms in Asia-Pacific. Vault, a leading source of employer rankings, compiles an annual list of the “Best Companies to Work For”. Their rankings are based on a weighted formula measuring prestige, culture, employee satisfaction, and quality of life issues. The ranking reinforces Sia Partners’ brand awareness in the Asian market, no small achievement for a relatively young company. This visibility will help Sia Partners in its continued efforts to expand, having opened its third Asian office in Tokyo in March 2015. www.sia-partners.com

New campus for Nexus 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

With an estimated investment of SGD 230 million, the new Nexus International School (Singapore) at Aljunied Road is slated for completion by end 2018. The new campus, to be constructed in a single phase, will be situated on approximately 8.9 acres of land. It’s enrolment capacity will be for 2000 learners a significant growth in capacity from the current campus at Ulu Pandan Road which has capacity for 1,200 learners. www.nexus.edu.sg/ Aerial view of the new campus

Angelique Dingle [email protected]

UN children’s appointment Tyra Sioni, a Grade 4 student at Australian International School has been appointed Children’s Ambassador to the United Nations following attendance at the Voices of Future Generations Children’s Summit and winning a UN literacy prize. Tyra won gold in the Voices of Future Generation’s (VoFG) Children’s Book Series for her book The Visible Girls. The Visible Girls highlights discrimination faced by women in her native country, Papua New Guinea (PNG). www.ais.com.sg

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EDITORIAL, DESIGN & ADVERTISING

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Annette Tilbrook [email protected] PRINT Win & Win Printer AIS grade 4 student, Tyra Sioni

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

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Your child’s Passport to Success

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Part 6:

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INTRODUCING

the best of

International and Australian Curriculums The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program and the Australian Higher School Certificate offer choice in curriculum to suit your child’s future path. The iGCSE, examined in Years 9 and 10, delivers academic rigour in preparation for these high challenge programs.

DID YOU KNOW AIS STUDENTS ENJOY AGES 14 - 16

iGCSE

INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATE OF SECONDARY EDUCATION

AGES 16 - 18

IB

DIPLOMA PROGRAMME

AUSTRALIAN

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www.ais.com.sg +65 6653 7906 AIS is the world’s most popular Australian International School for children aged 18 months to 18 years old, offering the best of the Australian curriculum and the International Baccalaureate.

HIGHER SCHOOL CERTIFICATE

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