“I want to tell you all about what made this country. Hard work, persistence and a first generation that always sought hard seats – not the cushy seats we were sitting in for the dialogue session.” So said our Sixth President of Singapore, S R Nathan, a few months before his death in 2016 when he kindly addressed a small group of our alumni, mainly our younger members who we invited to meet and hear from the great man.

At his request, that session was an intimate, closed doors dialogue, limited to a dozen. Though already ill, Mr Nathan graciously spent two hours with us to share his thoughts on social mobility, leadership and the future of Singapore. With true candour, he also shared his concerns for the less fortunate in our Society, his worry about stress, mental illness and suicides amongst our younger Singaporeans and exhorted us as privileged members of Society (especially our millennials) to feel a duty to put back into the country and to not just be takers.

Inspired by Mr Nathan’s call to emulate the public service and sacrifice of Singapore’s first generation leadership, the Oxford and Cambridge Society of Singapore inaugurated the Annual “S R Nathan Hard Seats” Lecture Series with eminent leaders as an annual keynote event of The Oxford and Cambridge Society, in memory of our beloved former President of Singapore.

The aim of the “Hard Seats” Lecture Series is to provide a platform for us to learn from leaders and changemakers from varied walks of life who have overcome and tackled challenging circumstances to bring about impact and change in their various spheres.

Watch the introductory video here.

Minister Chan Chun Sing (an alumnus) gave the inaugural lecture on 11 January 2018, talking about the issues that irk our society and sharing his views on Singapore’s future, our challenges and how we help the less fortunate.

Dato Paul Supramaniam, President of the Oxford and Cambridge Society of Singapore, gave the opening speech at the lecture.

You may watch a video of it here.

Watch a slideshow featuring the highlights of the evening here.

The Fireside Chats is a series of events at which the Oxford and Cambridge Society members can gain a more in-depth understanding about important topical matters. These events welcome experts with unique experience and exclusive insights to explain recent happenings from their perspective. The members can enjoy a more intimitate atmsosphere which allows for pleasant disussion and anwers to their personal queries during the ensuing questions session.

---

Fireside Chat with David Koh, Cybersecurity Chief of Singapore

Posted on September 29, 2018

“Cybersecurity- are we under attack?”

WannaCry, ransomware, World of Hell – the new language of warfare in cyberspace. Even as we become more interconnected through the internet, this presents new challenges for cybersecurity and new opportunities for hackers. Singapore is not immune, having suffered its worst cyberattack recently where 1.5 million people’s data were stolen from Singhealth’s health databases. Who are behind cyberattacks in general? Are they individuals, syndicates or states? What is their motivation? What can be done to thwart their efforts?

Join us for a fireside chat with David Koh, Singapore’s cybersecurity chief….

Mr David Koh is concurrently the Commissioner of Cybersecurity, Chief Executive of the Cyber Security Agency (CSA) of Singapore; and the Deputy Secretary (Special Projects) and Defence Cyber Chief of the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF).

As a Commissioner, he has the legal authority to investigate cyber threats and incidents to ensure that essential services are not disrupted in the event of a cyber-attack. Concurrently, as Chief Executive of CSA, he leads Singapore’s efforts to provide dedicated and centralised oversight of national cyber security functions. These include enforcing the cybersecurity legislation, strategy and policy development, cyber security operations, ecosystem development, public outreach and international engagement.

Mr Koh also sits on the Boards of the Government Technology Agency (GovTech), Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) and DSO National Laboratories (DSO), the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) Cyber Security Advisory Panel as well as the Public Utilities Board (PUB)’s Board Risk Management Committee.

Mr Koh is the recipient of the first Billington CyberSecurity International Leadership Award. He has also been awarded the Public Administration Medal – Gold, Silver (Military), Bronze (Military), and the Commendation Medal (Military). Mr Koh has a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Harvard University, USA; and a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from King’s College, London, UK.

Date: 12 October 2018
Venue: 2A Victoria Park Close, Singapore 266550
Time: 7pm – mingling with food and drinks / 7.30pm to commence fireside chat
Charges: $50 for members. $75 for non-member guests (must be accompanied by member).
Sign up: Via Peatix

Kindly contact membership@oxbridge.org.sg to verify your membership status, if necessary.

Special Invitation: Fireside Chat with Michael Milken, Chairman of the Milken Institute

Posted on September 9, 2018

Dear Members,

We are pleased to have the opportunity to invite you to a special event.

Addressing tomorrow’s challenges, today. Join us for a special Fireside Chat with renowned financier and philanthropist Michael Milken, Chairman of the Milken Institute. Named one of the “75 Most Influential People of the 21st Century” by Esquire magazine, Milken will share his perspectives on building meaningful lives and navigating a world in transition. This expansive discussion will explore topics as wide-ranging as demographics and population shifts over the coming century, the future of health and medicine, how food and environment may both be addressed by the same advances, and how we can begin to plan today for major disruptions across industries that will displace as many as a billion workers worldwide.

Join us for what is bound to be an engaging discussion moderated by Dato Paul Supramaniam, President of the Oxford and Cambridge Society of Singapore.

Venue: 2A Victoria Park Close, Singapore 266550

Date/Time: Friday, 14 September, 5:00pm – 8:00pm.

The Fireside chat will begin at 6:00pm sharp.

Registration will begin from 5:00pm, with drinks and canapes served.

Tickets: $45 for members; $60 for non-member guests (must be accompanied by a member)

Please note that capacity for this event is very limited and on a first come first serve basis. Priority will be given to members of the Oxford and Cambridge Society of Singapore. Members are limited to bring only one non-member.

Sign up now via Peatix. (Password is MilkenOB18)

About Michael Milken

Michael Milken has been at the forefront of successful initiatives in medical research, public health, education, and access to capital for more than four decades. Starting as a financier in 1969, he revolutionized modern capital markets by pricing and rewarding risk more efficiently. The thousands of companies he financed created millions of jobs, and a Washington Post article said Milken “helped create the conditions for America’s explosion of wealth and creativity” in the late 20th century.

In 1982 he formalized his previous philanthropy by co-founding the Milken Family Foundation. Fortune magazine called him “The Man Who Changed Medicine” and Forbes listed him among “Visionaries Reimagining Our Children’s Future.” He is chairman of the Milken Institute, a nonprofit economic think tank determined to be a catalyst toward expanding prosperity and improving health outcomes by connecting those with social, human and financial capital to those who desperately need it.

The Institute hosts more than 250 events each year including major conferences in Singapore, London, the Middle East, New York, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. The Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University was named to recognize an Institute gift. He also chairs FasterCures, which speeds progress against all life-threatening diseases.

A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, he earned his MBA at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He and his wife, Lori, who are members of the Giving Pledge, recently celebrated their 50th anniversary; they have three children and 10 grandchildren. More information is at www.mikemilken.com.

The Future of X is a series of events aiming to bring some of the most successful entrepreneurs with unique insights regarding their operating field closer to the Oxford and Cambridge Society members. Set in a more casual atmosphere, the entrepreneurs can discuss the future of their field in a way that is rarely seen elsewhere. These events are sure to be entertaining and stimulate further thought about what the consequences of the developments are for other fields. Additionally, a Q&A as well as a networking session after the main presentation allow some individual queries regarding the future of X to be answered.

The Oxbridge Entrepreneurship Series on the “Future of X”

Posted on November 8, 2018

The Oxbridge Society of Singapore is launching a series of talks on the “Future of X”. Bringing together local entrepreneurs who are helping shape the future of subjects that are of broad interest, the talks aim both to inform and to stimulate lively debate. The first talk in the series is on “The Future of Food” given by Andrew Kwan who is the Group Managing Director of Commonwealth Capital Group of companies, which has investments across the food vertical including barramundi fish farming, cold chain logistics, central kitchen, butchery, bakery and ice cream production.

The second talk in the series is planned for February 2019 and will be on “The Future on Love”. The idea is to bring together tech entrepreneurs, who are transforming the way that people meet on-line, and traditional matchmakers, who continue to practice their craft in the 21st century, for their respective views and thoughts on “The Future of Love”.

Ideas for subsequent talks include “The Future of Money”, “The Future of Shipping” as well as “The Future of Cars”.

The Future of Food: A talk by Andrew Kwan, Group Managing Director, Commonwealth Capital Group
Venue: DBS Asia X (DAX), Sandcrawler Building, 1 Fusionopolis View, Singapore 138577
Date: Wednesday, 28 November 2018
Time: 6.45pm registration, 7pm standing/mingling light dinner and drinks, 8-9pm: talk followed by Q&A
Tickets: $25 for members and non-members
Sign-up: Via Peatix

About the Speaker:
Andrew Kwan

Andrew Kwan is the Group Managing Director of Commonwealth Capital Pte Ltd (CCPL) is a Singapore-based investment company with a F&B portfolio from end-to-end manufacturing, logistics to retail services. Focusing on the food vertical value chain, CCPL portfolio of companies engage in Barramundi farming, in-house production of meat, bakery, ice cream & ready-to-eat products, operates a state-of-the-art warehousing and logistics services for food retailers and manages over 200 retail points in 13 countries.

CCPL is one of Singapore’s most successful home-grown conglomerates. The Group employs more than 1,200 employees and aims to grow its food business aggressively over the next five years.

Some of Commonwealth Capital’s brands are PastaMania, Swissbake, Soup Spoon, Baker& Cook, Udders Icecream, ZAC Butchery and Kuhlbarra Barramundi.

Dear Members,
The Meet the Ambassador series was launched in 2017. We have been privileged to be joined by British High Commissioner to Singapore, Mr Scott Wightman in March 2018, American Head of Mission, Mrs Stephanie Syptak-Ramnath in September 2017, and Japanese Ambassador, Mr Kenji Shinoda with Mr Lui Tuck Yew (the new Singapore Ambassador to Japan and former Cabinet minister) in April 2017.

Lions of Asia: The Ambitious Plan to Remake India and Singapore’s Strategic Partnership

Meet the Ambassadors Series: Fireside Chat with Mr. Jawed Ashraf, Indian High Commissioner to Singapore and Mr. Gopinath Pillai, Ambassador-at-large for Government of Singapore on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Ambitious Plan to Remake India and Singapore’s Strategic Partnership

We are pleased to have the opportunity to host His Excellency, Mr. Jawed Ashraf, Indian High Commissioner to Singapore and His Excellency Mr. Gopinath Pillai, Ambassador-at-large for Government of Singapore as part of our Meet the Ambassadors Series.

Under Chatham House rules, Mr. Pillai and Mr. Ashraf have kindly agreed to share their thoughts on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s governmental priorities and challenges, the 2019 elections in India, and India’s foreign policy in the region.

Join us for what is bound to be an engaging and interesting discussion, over dinner and drinks, moderated by Dato Paul Supramaniam. Sign up now via Peatix.

Lions of Asia: The Ambitious Plan to Remake India and Singapore’s Strategic Partnership

Venue: 2A Victoria Park Close, Singapore 266550
Date/Time: Friday, 28 September 7.15pm: drinks and dinner, 8pm: fireside chat
Tickets: $40 for members; $55 for non-member guests (must be accompanied by a member)
Sign-up: Via Peatix here

About the Speakers:

Jawed Ashraf

Mr. Jawed Ashraf joined as High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Singapore in November 2016. A career diplomat, High Commissioner Ashraf joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1991. He served in Frankfurt and Berlin from 1993 to 1999. He worked in the Americas Division of Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi from 1999 to 2004. He completed a three-year tenure as Counsellor at the Embassy in Kathmandu in 2007. From 2007 to 2010, he served as Counsellor and Minister for Political Affairs in Washington DC and then headed the Americas Division in the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi from 2010 to 2012.

High Commissioner Ashraf served as Joint Secretary in the Prime Minister‘s Office under Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi, and his predecessor, Dr. Manmohan Singh. His portfolio included External Affairs, Defense, National Security, Atomic Energy, and Space. He returned to Ministry of External Affairs in January 2016 and was Joint Secretary (Special Projects) until his appointment in Singapore.

High Commissioner Ashraf studied Economics at St. Stephen‘s College, New Delhi and Management at Master‘s level at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.
He recently published a coffee table book of his photographs, “A Day in the Life of Kathmandu”, dedicated to the victims of the Nepal earthquake of April 2015. Outdoor interests include tennis and trekking in the Himalayas.

He is married to Dr. Ghazala Shahabuddin, an ecologist and conservation biologist.

Gopinath Pillai

Mr. Pillai obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Malaya, Singapore in 1961. He has had a varied career as an entrepreneur and diplomat. He ¡s the founding Chairman of the Management Board of the Institute of South Asian Studies, Ambassador-at Large ¡n the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since August 2008, and Singapore’s Special Envoy to Andhra Pradesh. He served as Singapore’s longest serving Non-Resident Ambassador to Iran between 1989 and 2008, and as Singapore’s High Commissioner to Pakistan between 1994 and 2001. He is also Chairman of the Indian Heritage Centre Advisory Board.

For his manifold contributions to public service, the Singapore government has awarded him the Public Service Star Award (BBM) in 1999, BBM (BAR) in 2009 and The Meritorious Service Medal in 2015. For his efforts ¡n bridging and advancing Singapore-India relations, the Indian government conferred him with the Padma Shri Award at the 2012 Republic Day. The National University of Singapore has bestowed on him the Outstanding Service Award in 2015. In 2016, the National University of Singapore Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences has bestowed on him the Distinguished Arts and Social Sciences Alumni Award.

FacebookTwitterGoogle+Share