Introduction to the NUS MENA Lunch Sessions
The NUS MENA lunch sessions is a monthly event that aims to expose NUS students to working professionals, businessmen, academics and other interesting people who have lived or worked in the Middle East through an informal lunch setting. We believe that through the informal setting and small group discussion, students would be able to best benefit from the contacts and experiences of the guest speaker. Every lunch session would consist of 1-2 guest speakers and 8-9 NUS students.
Upcoming talks
Ex-CFO, Dubai Dry Docks, Sameer Khan: 21st Jan
Banker, Yong Syn Yew: 18th Feb
Islamic Finance Consultant, Raja Mohd: 3rd March
Chief Strategy Officer Sabana REIT, Bobby Tay: 17th March
Wealth management Advisor, Noor Quek: 7th April
Lunch with Ex-CFO Dubai Dry Docks Sameer Khan
Date: 21st Jan, 12pm
Sameer is a finance and general management professional with substantial experience at the board level. He has extensive expertise of acquisitions, management information systems and human resources, having worked in the UK, Pakistan, the Middle East and Singapore.
Majority of Sameer’s career was based at the Drydocks World in Dubai, U.A.E, which became one of the world’s largest ship repair facilities under his leadership. He was one of three Group Executive Directors and the Group Chief Financial Officer from 2007 until 2011. In these roles, Sameer managed the acquisition of two listed companies in Singapore valued at $US 2.2 billion, enabling Drydocks World to diversify into ship-building and shipping. He spent two years living in Singapore overseeing the integration of the Dubai and Singapore operations. During this period the group grew to employing 22,000 people worldwide.
Prior to this, Sameer held several other leadership positions at Drydocks World. He started his career as the chief accountant in 1983 and was rapidly promoted to head of human resources, a role in which he grew the organisation from 3000 to 6000 employees. In 1998, the management board appointed Sameer Finance Director, responsible for accounts, legal, human resources, information systems and public relations. As Finance Director, Sameer increased the company’s revenue 10-fold to $US 207 million. He excelled in creating both the structure and team necessary to guide the company through the turbulence and challenges of this dramatic growth.
Between 2008 and 2011 Sameer was also Non-executive Director of Beng Kuan Marine, a Singapore listed company.
Sameer was recruited to Dubai from Ernst and Young in London, where he was a Management Consultant. He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants England and Wales, a Certified Management Consultant (UK), and a member of the Singapore Institute of Directors.
Lunch with DBS Banker Yong Syn Yew
Date: 18th Feb 2012, 12pm
Syn Yew worked in DBS Dubai for 5 years, during his time there he was the head of corporate and investment banking for the Middle East, introducing inter-regional capital flows between Far East and Middle East. He was instrumental in supporting key financing and investment transactions between the 2 regions.
Lunch with Islamic Finance Consultant Raja Mohammed
Date: 3rd march 2012, 12pm
Raja Mohamad (Raj) has had an extensive banking and sales career in the financial
industry, collectively for over for 21 years. He started his own consultancy firm in the
growing niche market of Islamic finance in 2005 via Five Pillars Pte Ltd.
Raj started his career in Standard Chartered Bank, Singapore before joining the then
Rabobank Asia Pte Ltd as a pioneer member starting their Private Banking operation. He
was a key member of their Risk Management team and was highly commended by his
peers and management. He left Rabobank Singapore to join Bloomberg Asia Pacific,
Singapore region.
Raj has attained various financial qualifications from the Institute of Banking and
Finance, Singapore and finishing his Islamic Finance Qualification at the Chartered
Institute of Securities and Investment, London. He also holds professional qualifications
in teaching, training and public speaking.
Raj experience in almost every Shari’ah compliant trusts activities in Singapore makes
him an authority in advising such products. Raj had the benefit of working directly under
some of the best Islamic Finance experts in the world which allows him to position
Islamic Finance as a valuable proposition to the conventional financial markets world.
He has through Five Pillars advised on Sabana REIT, Securus Data Centre Shari’ah Fund,
and Cambridge REIT etc. Raj has also been lecturing in the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public
Policy’s Brunei EDP on Islamic Finance for the last 3 years.
He does active social service and sits on the council of Singapore’s Islamic Religious
Council (MUIS) and also on other government appointed advisory panel.
Lunch with Sabana Shariah REIT, Chief Strategy Officer, Bobby Tay
Date: 17th March 2012, 12pm
Mr Tay has more than six years of experience in investor relations.
Prior to joining the Manager, Mr Tay was the Director, Business Development at TCP (formerly known as Emirates Tarian Capital (S) Pte. Ltd.) from October 2009 to August 2010. From August 2007 to September 2009, Mr Tay worked with Cambridge Industrial Trust Management Limited as the Manager of the Investor Relations Department.
Mr Tay was the Manager of Investor Relations at Aztech Group Ltd from April 2007 to August 2007. From April 2004 to April 2007, Mr Tay was a Manager of Magnecomp International Limited where he handled media, investor and analyst relations for the company. He worked closely with the company's CEO and CFO for the quarterly reporting of results to the board of directors and the financial market, and produced collateral for investor relations, presentations for analyst briefings and press releases. He also performed market research for mergers and acquisitions and joint venture opportunities, conducted statistical analysis on industry trends and competitors, and business analysis of the company's performance.
Mr Tay began his career working as an operations executive for the People's Action Party at its headquarters from January 2000 to April 2004.
Mr Tay holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Management from the University of Western Sydney and a Master of Business Systems degree from Monash University.
Lunch with Wealth Management Advisor, Noor Quek
Date: April 7th 2012, 12pm
Noor has 35 years experience in a broad range of banking and financial services with
various established institutions. Her previous positions, all based in Singapore, with
regional responsibilities, include being Director and Head, Business Development (South
East Asia), The Citigroup Private Bank, Director, Business Development (South East
Asia), GE Capital and Deputy Managing Director, Rabobank Asia Ltd (Merchant Bank);
Noor’s main area of expertise is in initiating, negotiating and facilitating implementation of
wealth advisory and financial transactions. This has evolved from her extended years in
the industry where she has managed account relationships and lead teams, for
international high networth individuals, families and corporations.
Noor has extensive experience in wealth management as well as in cross border
corporate finance, investment banking, joint-venture, and merger and acquisition related transactions. Her market strengths are South East Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
Noor’s wide network of clients and institutions extend globally to include providers of key
professional services such as trust services, tax, real estate and fund management.
Noor is based in Singapore and founded NQ International in October 2007.!
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