In this special episode of our podcast celebrating International Women’s Month, Charlotte Wilkinson of the British Chamber of Commerce Diversity and Inclusion Committee speaks with Pushkaraj Gumaste, Head Of Corporate Banking For Asia Pacific & Middle East, and Executive Sponsor For Barclays APAC Gender Agenda; and Aditi Nair, Managing Director Head Of HR, Asia Pacific, and Global HR Business Partner, Sustainable Finance, both from Barclays Bank Plc. The discussion explores how diversity, equity and inclusion can be built in organisations and how it can become a competitive advantage.

Pushkaraj and Aditi share how Barclays’ commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and gender representation has grown over the years. Barclays has been increasing their female representation in leadership roles and providing avenues for women to have successful careers after returning from breaks. One example is through Launchpad - a platform that women across the organisation can access to plan and enable their careers in a structured manner.

The conversation covers the challenges around gender equality and equity programmes in businesses, and the importance of having people take personal accountability for driving inclusion and diversity. The duo also touched on the importance of staying the course in DEI initiatives, not expecting immediate results and the power of employee resource groups in building equality and equity.

These networks build community, solidarity and momentum in bringing about sustainable change within organisations.

The episode culminates with practical wisdom and steps that organisations of all sizes can apply to begin addressing DEI and gender equity.

Subscribe to the BritCham Singapore Podcast on your favourite player, and if you're listening on Spotify or Apple, please take a second to give us a 5* rating if you enjoy theshow. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Signup to our newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information and the opportunity to request topics and guests in future episodes, or head to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Thank you for watching!

---

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/britcham-singapore/message

In this episode of our Podcast, Kate Wheble of the British Chamber of Commerce’s Sustainability Committee, speaks with Yuki Yasui, Managing Director of GFANZ Asia Pacific Network. The discussion presents a thought-provoking exploration of how sustainable finance can be a powerful force for positive change in addressing pressing environmental and social challenges on a global scale.

Yuki shares her personal journey into sustainable finance, tracing back to her early involvement with the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) and highlights pivotal moments such as the launch of the Equator Principles and the Principles for Responsible Investment.

The dialogue extends to recent global developments, with a particular focus on the outcomes of COP26 and COP28. Yuki underscores the critical importance of sustainable finance in driving forward the global climate agenda, emphasising the need for concerted efforts from governments, multinationals, and financial institutions alike.

Furthermore, Yuki articulates the imperative for clear definitions and robust transition planning in sustainable finance. She advocates for common understanding and alignment on financing strategies, particularly in the transition from "brown" to "green" economies, to mitigate risks such as greenwashing and ensure genuine impact.

Throughout the conversation, Yuki's insights underscore the pivotal role of finance in catalysing sustainability efforts, shaping policies, and fostering collaboration across sectors.

Subscribe to the BritCham Singapore Podcast on your favourite player, and if you're listening on Spotify or Apple, please take a second to give us a 5* rating if you enjoy the show. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Signup to our newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information and the opportunity to request topics and guests in future episodes, or head to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Thank you for watching!

In this episode of our podcast, Mike Rourke, Head of Product at GSG, speaks with Nawaz Imam, Group Head of Corporate Development at MoneyHero Group, discussing the growth of FinTech in Asia.
Sharing insights into Money Hero Group’s journey to make personal finance decisions rewarding and timesaving for the five markets they operate in across greater Southeast Asia – Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Hong Kong and Taiwan, the conversation explores the strategic planning behind Money Hero’s growth – highlighting some of the key challenges of adapting to varying levels of financial literacy within the markets they operate in, achieving standardisation across these diverse markets and the importance of operational efficiency.
The conversation also spotlights his personal journey from the institutional finance world to becoming a FinTech entrepreneur – delving into the challenges and successes faced in building a FinTech startup in Asia. Emphasising the understanding market dynamics and having a clear commercial strategy, he shares key lessons from his experiences and touches on resilience in entrepreneurship – encouraging individuals to embrace the learnings that come with the journey.

Subscribe to the BritCham Singapore Podcast on your favourite player, and if you're listening on Spotify or Apple, please take a second to give us a 5* rating if you enjoy the show. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Signup to our newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information and the opportunity to request topics and guests in future episodes, or head to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Thank you for listening!

In this insightful podcast, Nick Magnus, Head of Dulwich College (Singapore), speaks with Sophie Hughes, Head of Business Development at Lightfoot Travel, as she provides valuable insights into the post-pandemic travel landscape in Singapore. The discussion covers evolving travel trends, emphasising the shift towards personalised itineraries and immersive experiences while underscoring the advantages of using tour operators for stress-free planning.

Through the conversation, they delve into changing dynamics in family holidays, highlighting the demand for active and educational experiences, especially for children - bringing to light the increasing popularity of the digital detox holiday. Looking ahead, she anticipates a growing trend of exploring less-visited destinations.

Subscribe to the BritCham Singapore Podcast on your favourite player, and if you're listening on Spotify or Apple, please take a second to give us a 5* rating if you enjoy the show. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Signup to our newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information and the opportunity to request topics and guests in future episodes, or head to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Thank you for watching!

In this episode of our podcast series, Bridging the Sustainability Gap, Brendan May, Chairman and Founder of Robertsbridge, speaks with Lorena Paglia, Data and AI Global Business Programs and Operations Lead and Sustainability Ambassador at Microsoft and Member of the Board at the British Chamber of Commerce - exploring the challenges and nuance of sustainability development, how the industry has transformed over the years and the opportunities we have before us.

A pioneer in strategic sustainability, Brendan founded his own sustainability consultancy Robertsbridge in 2010, employing some of the most prominent environmental thinkers of our time. As a team, they drive real transformative change in sustainable development with their customers, often not shying away from challenging and complex multi-stakeholder work.

Our podcast series, Bridging the Sustainability Gap, is focused on businesses and individuals who are making a difference in driving impact across sustainability development and industry transition.

The intent of this series is to celebrate work that is in progress, be open about the challenges that exist and take our listeners on a learning journey on what more can be done to Bridge the Sustainability Gap. 

Subscribe to the BritCham Singapore Podcast on your favourite player, and if you're listening on Spotify or Apple, please take a second to give us a 5* rating if you enjoy the show. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Signup to our newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information and the opportunity to request topics and guests in future episodes, or head to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Thank you for tuning in!

In this podcast episode, our Executive Director, David Kelly, speaks with the Headmaster of Caterham School, Ceri Jones, discussing the importance of British education and exploring factors as to why it continues to be so highly regarded even as educational landscapes and needs have been subject to change over the years.

Through the conversation, Ceri highlights the need for students to develop a diverse toolkit of skills, including emotional self-regulation and adaptability, in addition to pursuing academic excellence. He also emphasises the role of well-being in students' success and the importance of creating inclusive school environments that allow for students to be their true selves and thrive - lending insights to some of the initiatives at Caterham School that have been set in place to foster global citizens that are equipped with the skills to adapt in an everchanging, rapidly globalising world.

The conversation explores the continued excellence of British education throughout the years, spotlighting its ability to adapt to changing needs and technologies, while focusing on building emotional intelligence and resilience, bringing to light the role of schools in preparing students for a rapidly changing world and the diverse pathways available to them after their education, including university, apprenticeships, and entrepreneurship. 

Looking into the future, the discussion delves into the landscape for students as they progress through tertiary education, touching on the significance of emotional well-being in both education and the workplace and the role of businesses in supporting students in their transition to the workforce.

Subscribe to the BritCham Singapore Podcast on your favourite player, and if you're listening on Spotify or Apple, please take a second to give us a 5* rating if you enjoy the show. ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Signup to our newsletter⁠⁠⁠ for more information and the opportunity to request topics and guests in future episodes, or head to our ⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠.

Thank you for tuning in!

In light of Singapore International Cyber Security Week, we are delighted to have with us, in this very special segment of our In Conversation series, Baroness Neville Rolfe DBE CMG, talks to David Kelly, Executive Director of the British Chamber of Commerce Singapore. Baroness Lucy Neville-Rolfe DBE CMG has been a minister in the Cabinet Office at the heart of the UK Government since 2022.

Lucy has a broad range of responsibilities, including Cyber Security and other national security related areas, the Conflict Stability and Security Fund (a £1 billion fund that tackles conflict, stability and security challenges overseas), tackling public sector fraud and the post Brexit trade border.

Lucy joined the House of Lords as a Conservative Peer in October 2013 and served as a junior minister in the Business, Culture and Treasury departments 2014-17. For much of this period, she was Minister for Intellectual Property and, in 2015-16, responsible for data protection. Lucy also worked at Tesco Plc from 1997 to 2013 and was an executive director on the main Board from 2006. She has served on the boards of ITV, PwC, Metro AG, and other organisations and has chaired EuroCommerce, the EU retail trade association, the UK ASEAN Business Council and Crown Agent.

Through the conversation, she discusses the shifts she feels are impacting businesses operating in both the UK and overseas, highlighting the influence of the move to the digital on economies and the opportunities it can bring for businesses – delving into the important role ASEAN plays in this realm.

Placing emphasis on the importance of the UK’s relationship with not only Singapore but ASEAN as a whole, she shares her insights on the importance of international cooperation in tackling challenges involving cybersecurity, fraud, and data protection – in particular, ensuring the improvement of professional standards across the board through supporting skills development as well as establishing inclusivity through increasing female representation within the industry.

In this episode of our podcast series, we draw from the insights of our recent business sentiment survey, spotlighting two of the top challenges businesses reflected they were facing – attraction of talent and retention of talent. Putting a lens on small businesses, we explore the challenges they are facing within these realms, providing thoughtful discussions around the options and opportunities available for them to navigate through these obstacles.

Steve McArthur, Managing Director/Resident CHRO at Insights & Solutions Asia and member of our Start Up, Entrepreneur & Small Business Committee, speaks with our Executive Director, David Kelly – taking listeners through some of the current challenges SMEs are facing with talent attraction and talent retention. Through the conversation, he lends his own experiences and successes consulting with SMEs to curate employee benefit packages tailored to the demographics of their organisation. Delving into the changing needs of today’s multi-generational employee workforce, he highlights the wide range of resources and possible solutions available for small business owners and other leaders within smaller organisations to build strong employee welfare and development programmes.

Subscribe to the BritCham Singapore Podcast on your favourite player, and if you're listening on Spotify or Apple, please take a second to give us a 5* rating if you enjoy the show. ⁠⁠

Signup to our newsletter⁠⁠ for more information and the opportunity to request topics and guests in future episodes, or head to our ⁠⁠website⁠⁠.

Thank you for tuning in!

In this episode of our podcast series, Bridging the Sustainability Gap, we explore the topic of green finance, putting a lens on the role financial institutions play in enabling business to meet their sustainability goals and effectively mitigate climate change. Going beyond just the green, we take the conversation further, diving into the importance of addressing the blue economy as well when thinking about building a robust climate strategy.

Søren Nikolajsen, CEO of NatWest Asia Pacific, speaks with Lorena Paglia of our Sustainability Committee – taking listeners through some of NatWest’s climate initiatives and priorities in sustainable development around the carbon market, he shares with us the role he played in driving leadership with the organisations sustainability strategy and spotlights the opportunities that can come with investing sustainable business practices. Through the conversation, he also lends his insights on the significance of blue bonds and what they entail, bringing to focus the blue economy’s role in leading successful climate change action.

Subscribe to the BritCham Singapore Podcast on your favourite player, and if you're listening on Spotify or Apple, please take a second to give us a 5* rating if you enjoy the show. ⁠⁠

Signup to our newsletter⁠⁠ for more information and the opportunity to request topics and guests in future episodes, or head to our ⁠⁠website⁠⁠.

Thank you for tuning in!

In this episode of our podcast, we explore the multifaceted topic of leadership and workplace culture – delving into the extent leaders play in shaping, creating and influencing environments, behaviour's and attitudes within organisations.

Elizabeth Bradford, Managing Director for Wholesale Banking at HSBC draws from her wealth of experience leading global teams as she speaks with Ashish Trivedi of our Leadership and Talent Development Committee, sharing her tips and strategies for cultivating positive, conducive and inclusive workplace culture. Bringing real world experiences into the conversation, she highlights some of the common challenges facing leaders today, lending insights on how to navigate through the shifts happening in today’s organisational culture.

Subscribe to the BritCham Singapore Podcast on your favourite player, and if you're listening on Spotify or Apple, please take a second to give us a 5* rating if you enjoy the show. ⁠Signup to our newsletter⁠ for more information and the opportunity to request topics and guests in future episodes, or head to our ⁠website⁠.

Thank you for tuning in!

In this episode of our podcast, we delve into the crucial topic of staying safe while navigating the vast digital realm. As technology continues to advance at an unprecedented pace, it is increasingly essential to equip ourselves with practical tips and knowledge to ensure the safety of ourselves and loved ones. Ian Stevenson, CEO and Co-founder of Cyacomb shares with us more about technology safety online with Daisy Radford of the ICT Committee, and gave his knowledge regarding the dark web, the impact on one's psychological health especially in children if we are not careful and steps on building awareness to see the warning signs.

Subscribe to the BritCham Singapore Podcast on your favourite player, and if you're listening on Spotify or Apple, please take a second to give us a 5* rating if you enjoy the show. Signup to our newsletter for more information and the opportunity to request topics and guests in future episodes, or head to our website.

Thanks for listening!