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SMU
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Dear Founding and Alliance Families,

Season's Greetings from the Business Families Institute @ Singapore Management University (BFI@SMU)!

As the year draws to a close, we would like to extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who have helped make 2020 a fulfilling year of creating knowledge, building friendships and strengthening connections among the business families. Your generous support has provided validation for our mission as a regional business family-centric institute.

We would also like to take this opportunity to warmly welcome the new Families who have joined us in 2020 - Jia Foundation and Vital Wellspring Group. Thank you for being a part of BFI@SMU’s network of business families. We will pursue the delivery of dynamic educational programmes and leading-edge research to build knowledge and sustainability for business families in Singapore and the region in the years to come.

Looking beyond, even as Professor Annie Koh transitions into an Emeritus role, BFI@SMU's focus on Asian family business through thought leadership will continue. Under the leadership of BFI@SMU Steering Committee from 2021, we have an exciting line-up of programmes and research endeavours that focus on family entrepreneurship, business transformation, sustainability, and other issues of pertinence to business families. Please stay tuned for upcoming activities.

Thank you once again for being a part of BFI@SMU’s continual journey of development. As we look forward to 2021 with anticipation, we would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a joyous Christmas and a Happy New Year ahead!

 

Warmest Wishes, 

Annie, Hwee Hoon, Kenneth and Esther

Stay connected with us on Facebook and LinkedIn

NEW FAMILIES
 

 

Jia Foundation Logo

JIA FOUNDATION

The Lim and Lin families are involved in a variety of businesses in the financial services space. These include work in the foreign exchange, M&A and private equity space. The families strongly believe in working collaboratively for both economic and social good.

Jia Foundation was established in 2013 to support the arts, mental health and programs that provide equal opportunities in the education sector. “Jia” means family in mandarin and that is the kind of relationship they strive to have with everyone they work with.

They are currently working with the Singapore Mental Health Film Festival and the Samaritans of Singapore to increase awareness of the mental health and suicide prevention support systems in Singapore.

 

Vital Wellspring logo

VITAL WELLSPRING GROUP

The Vital Wellspring Group established in Singapore was founded by the Fu Family from Taiwan – Michael and his wife Jennice.

A respected management consultancy as well as a renowned publisher for university business textbooks in Taiwan, the Vital Wellspring Group also specialises in integrating practical industry knowledge with academic theory and is held in high esteem by both the industry and academic world. The Group views sustainability as one of its core values and brings together professionals from 3 different areas, namely economy, health and education to push forward this key agenda of sustainability in the world.

Under the Group, the International Association for Agricultural Sustainability (Singapore) gathers experts and consultants by applying technology to overcome agricultural sustainability challenges; the Agrigada Biotech Company (Singapore) specialises in utilizing herbal remedies for illnesses arising from the modern lifestyle; and the Future Career Professional Publisher (Taiwan) focuses on higher education and advanced teaching materials.

Michael moved to Singapore to pursue the SMU PhD in Business (General Management) and to expand and internationalise his family’s publishing business which is now wholly owned by the Group. He is the President of the Group with Jennice serving as the Chief Financial Officer for the Group and the family office.

 

BFI@SMU Steering Committee

 

BFI Steering Committee

BFI@SMU Staff

 

BFI Staff

 

2020 in Review

 

G
IBF FTS Programme

Accredited Training Workshop for private Bankers on Family Offices by IBF

[Ongoing]

The Training Workshop for Private Bankers on Family Offices is designed by BFI@SMU for experienced Relationship Managers to develop an in-depth understanding about their UHNW family business clients and to complement the functions of the family offices. Accredited by the Institute of Banking and Finance (IBF) under the Financial Training Scheme (FTS), two runs of the programme had been conducted since BFI started enrolment in August.

Read More

The Great Reset

The Great Reset Programme for senior Business Leaders 

[2 October to 10 November 2020]

A total of close to 70 participants took part in the 2 runs of inaugural The Great Reset Programme which aimed to equip next gen family business leaders with the critical skills to develop business and digital strategies for their companies. This programme was made possible by the kind donation through V3 Group Professorship in Family Entrepreneurship. A post-programme info session was held to connect participants with Design Singapore, IMDA and GlobalConnect@SBF.

Read More

   
 

FIRESIDE CHAT

Fireside Chat

Harvey Toor, Chief Investment Officer, SMU

10 March 2020 | Hosted by VUE at OUE Bayfront
 

WEBINAR SERIES

Webinar Series 01

When the Going Gets Tough – How to Up Your Game Together as a Business Family?

21 April 2020 | Knowledge Partner: Lansberg·Gersick & Associates

Webinar Series 02

Preparing the Next Gen in Turbulent Times

13 May 2020 | Knowledge Partner: Exaudi Family Business Consulting

Webinar Series 03

Sustaining Competitiveness in the Face of Disruption – How to Do This?

3 June 2020 | Invited Speaker: University Professor Arnoud De Meyer, SMU

Webinar Series 04

Post COVID-19 – The Acceleration of ESG Investing and Sustainability Practices in Business

23 June 2020 | Knowledge Partners: Aberdeen Standard Investments and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank

LEGACY LESSON 

Legacy Lesson

Making It Bigger

3 July 2020 | Invited Speaker: Nirvana Chaudhary, Managing Director, Chaudhary Group
 

 

COLLABORATIVE EVENTS

STEP Project Webinar Series

STEP Webinar Apr 2020

1) Family Businesses through Global Pandemic: from Disaster to Opportunity 

[21 April 2020]

STEP Webinar Jun 2020

2) Transitioning to the New Normal: Successful Practices from Asian Families-in-Business 

[18 June 2020]

STEP Project Webinar Series leveraged the business families domain knowledge of BFI@SMU Ms Esther Kong and Prof Annie Koh where they shared their perspectives with the family business space across the globe on the management of family firms during the pandemic in the two virtual sessions.

 

 BCALP2020

Business China Advanced Leaders Programme - Alumni Special Edition 

[19 June 2020]

BFI@SMU is the knowledge partner for Business China (BC) Advanced Leaders Programme (ALP) – Alumni Special Edition workshop. In the half-day webinar, over 40 business leaders from BC ALP learned about new ways of business management and investment opportunities in the ASEAN region disrupted by the world pandemic through renowned academic professionals and family business leaders, namely Mr Alwyn Chong and Mr Arthur Chua.

Read more

 

 

AMENConf1

AMENConf2

AMEN Conference 2020 

[25 November 2020]

BFI@SMU, as the knowledge partner of the AMEN Conference 2020 co-organised with ASEAN Business Advisory Council, brought forth two panel discussions with insightful sharing by Asian family business leaders including our invited business families, Dr Robert Yap and Ms Bonnie Wong. The sessions aimed to highlight the significance and relevance of mentorship and how “big brothers” can help bring about collaborations with the emergence of the “new normal” worldwide.

 

case book

Case Book Release - Asian Family Businesses: Succession, Governance and Innovation 

[1 December 2020]

BFI@SMU is pleased to be the Executive Producer of the case book titled "Asian Family Businesses: Succession, Governance and Innovation". The case book presents 10 cases from 7 participating universities across Asia Pacific and addresses key challenges in succession, governance and innovation faced by the family enterprises. The book was officially launched at the 7th CFBR China Family Business Heritage Forum & CEIBS 9th China Family Heritage Forum in Xiamen, China.

Purchase your copy here

STAY TUNED FOR OUR EVENTS IN 2021

 

WEBINAR SERIES

AI Logo

Managing the Rising Tide of Political Risks: Lessons for Enterprising Families

20 January 2021, 4:30pm SGT | Invited Speakers: Iraj Ispahani, Ispahani Advisory Ltd, and Philip Marcovici, Offices of Philip Marcovici

Registration Link

OVERSEAS BUSINESS MISSION

Business China logo

In Conjunction with Business China Advanced Leaders Programme 2021 - Jakarta, Indonesia

Date to be confirmed | Jakarta, Indonesia 

 

 

 

 
 

 

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