Dear Members
The recent AGM at HE Bruce Gosper's private Residence, heralded in a new chapter for the AAS with the departure of Chris Cheah, and the welcoming of Joseph Kwok as incoming President. 7 new members were elected to serve on the Management Committee. Detailed profiles of our 2018 Committee Members are shared in this issue.
It was only a year ago that we announced the AAS Strategic Plan for 2017-2019 with a collective commitment to connecting, engaging and celebrating the 140,000 Australian Alumni in Singapore. Thanks to the University Partner Program and our alliances with JCU, RMIT, Murdoch, UTS, Deakin and USQ, AAS are proud to now offer ordinary membership to more than half of this Alumni community, extending our Partners and Members reach and influence across the region.
The AAS is a cauldron of invention, innovation and ideas and people doing remarkable work. Throughout the year I have had the good fortune to meet policy makers, thinkers, academics, inventors, innovators, pioneers, venture capitalists, and corporate enablers across our Alumni network. A common theme from our networking events has been the acknowledgment that in order for our members and nations to continue to flourish and thrive, it’s imperative for us all to participate in the many platforms that have been created for us. The very essence of the AAS lies in the hearts and minds of our Members who make up our extended Australian Alumni in Singapore community. It is us as a community who provide the camaraderie, energy and ideas, and concrete actions which are having an impact upon you, our Members, on Singapore and Australia, and through these efforts, on societies and companies around the world.
You may recall Smart Shipping entrepreneur, USQ Alumni Chia Yoong Hui, showcased in our premier edition. In 2018 his company was awarded an E50 Award for the second consecutive year, he was recognised as an EY Entrepreneur of the Year, and his company Ascenz, closed their Series B with French listed GTT and are now recognised as the leader in their field. These examples of invention and innovation are everywhere across the AAS, and they have been celebrated as they should be, over the course of this past year. In the pages that follow, we shine a spotlight on our distinguished Australian Alumni. We promote the milestones of research, citizenship and innovation at our Australian Universities. We celebrate your success in leadership as well as your many achievements across the world, and the rankings and launch of new and unique Australian Academic programs.
We are privileged in this edition, to share contributions from our esteemed Patron His Excellency Mr. Bruce Gosper, Australian High Commissioner, our Prime Minister Mr Lee, our friends at EDB Society, and from a selection of our 43 Australian Universities. Let's celebrate your achievements highlighted in our 2018 edition, and rally together to achieve "The Way Forward". For what we have learned over the past 63 years is that we really are stronger together.
Leesa Soulodre
Chief Editor
AAS Magazine
nOTE FROM THE EDITOR