Events Coverage - Singapore Institute of Directors

SGX Listed Companies Development ProgrammeUnderstanding the RegulatoryEnvironment in SingaporeThe 6th and 7th runs of the SGX ListedCompanies Development Programmeon “Understanding the RegulatoryEnvironment in Singapore” were heldon 18 May 2007 and 12 July 2007respectively. Response from listedcompanies to the programme wasvery good and we had 78 participantsfor the 6th run and 90 participantsfor the 7th run.The training programme, designedby SGX and SID, covered topics ondirectors’ duties and responsibilities;governance, risk management andcompliance; and corporate governanceand SGX’s regulations.The presenters for the 6th run wereMs Kala Anandarajah, partner ofRajah & Tann, Mr Richard Wilkins,director of PricewaterhouseCoopersand Mrs Yvonne Goh, managingdirector of KCS Corporate ServicesPte Ltd. For the 7th run we again hadMs Kala Anandarajah and Mrs YvonneGoh together with Mr Ng Siew Quan,partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers.At the end of each of the programme,we had a panel session involving all3 presenters and representativesfrom SID and SGX. For the sessionheld on 18 May, SID was representedby Mr Reggie Thein while SGX wasrepresented by Ms Lorraine Chay. Forthe session held on 12 July, SID wasrepresented by Mr John Lim whileMr Ashley Seow represented SGX.SID thank all the presenters andpanellists for their kind contributionand thank SGX for partnering SID toconduct the training programme. n30

SID-WongPartnershipLaw WorkshopsSID and WongPartnership recentlyconducted 2 law workshops fordirectors to update them on theirlegal obligations and responsibilities.The first of the two law workshops,“Managing Your Risks as a Director”was held on 23 May 2007. Thepresenters, Ms Annabelle Yip, ElaineChan and Jenny Tsin, were all partnersof WongPartnership, The discussionpanel was chaired by Mr Dilhan PillaySandrasegara, managing partner ofthe firm.The second workshop was held on25 July 2007. The topic was “HandlingCorporate Meltdown”. The presenterswere Ms Jenny Tsin, Ms Vivien Yuiand Ms Joy Tan while the panelsession was chaired by Mr Wong MengMeng SC, Founder-Consultant ofWongPartnership.SID thanks WongPartnership for conductingthe workshops and for the use ofits premises to host the workshops. n31

The 2007 Asian Roundtable onCorporate GovernanceThe 2007 Asian Roundtable on CorporateGovernance was held at TheRegent, Singapore on 27 and 28 June2007. The theme for the roundtablewas “Ten years since the Asian FinancialCrisis — where are we heading withcorporate governance?”The 2007 Roundtable was organised byOECD and World Bank in partnershipwith the Government of Japan and wasco-hosted by Singapore Exchange andthe Singapore Institute of Directors.The guest-of-honour for the openingceremony was Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam,Minister for Education andSecond Minister for Finance.Participants from OECD member countriesincluded Australia, Japan, Korea,UK and USA while participants fromnon-OECD member countries includedBangladesh, China, Hong Kong (China),India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan,Philippines, Singapore, Chinese Taipei,Thailand and Vietnam. Internationalorganisations represented includedthe Global Corporate GovernanceForum and the International FinanceCorporation.The Asian roundtable is an annualevent and is hosted by a different Asiancountry each year. n32

Talk on“What the Board and CEO Needto Know about IT Governance”An evening talk on “What the Boardand CEO Need to Know About IT Governance”was given by Mr John Thorpeon 23 July 2007 at Grand Plaza ParkHotel, Singapore. It was attended byabout 35 members and guests.John Thorpe is an internationalconsultant on IT and author of severalbooks, including the best seller “TheInformation Paradox — Realisingthe Business Benefits of InformationTechnology”. He was in Singapore toattend an IT Governance conference.The talk was arranged and sponsoredby Fujitsu Asia Pte Ltd.SID thanks Fujitsu Asia for kindlysponsoring the talk for members of SID,and all members and guests for theirpresence. n34

SID-SMU ExecutiveCertificate inDirectorshipThe SID is very pleased to have concludedthe successful launch of the SID-SMUExecutive Certificate in Directorshipwhich was held from in July 2007.This marks a significant developmentin the area of training and educationof directors and the collaboration withthe Singapore Management University(“SMU”) bodes well for the continuingprofessionalisation of directorships inSingapore.The inaugural first module ,“The Roleof Directors: Duties, Responsibilitiesand Obligations” , was conducted byMr Adrian Chan, a partner of Lee & Leeand a practising director, and AssociateProfessor Pearlie Koh, Lee KongChian School of Business, SingaporeManagement University.This module seeks to ensure thatparticipants are keenly aware ofand fully understand the numerousobligations that are imposed ondirectors and officers by variousstatutory enactments and regulations,and how they may manage theiraffairs to minimise possibleliabilities.A total of 18 participantsattended the 3-day programwhich was spread over a two weekperiod. The participants also took partin a written assessment exercise at theend of the program. Feedback fromthe participants has been universallyuseful and positive, and the coursehas proven to present a good blendof practical insights and sound theory.Comments received include:“It has been very informative andenlightening and has helped mecontribute more constructively toBoard discussions” Lim Beo Peng,Executive Director, HupSteel Ltd.“Good balance of theory and casestudies” Lim Cheng Chuan John, VPInformation Technology & Operations,Abacus International Pte Ltd.“A highly recommended course forall executive officers and directors toattend” Jessie Lee, Managing Director,Progressive Components (Asia) PteLtd.This new certificate-level programreplaces the Company DirectorsCourse which SID has been conductingsince 1999. The second module willbe “Strategic Business Directions”and will deal with how directors andmanagement need to guide, influence,formulate and approve medium-to-longterm strategies in organisations andhow strategic management plays anincreasingly important role today. Thethird module will deal with “Financefor Directors” and is structured tohighlight various financial indicatorsand the thinking needed for finance toplay a strategic role in business.Participants who successfully completeall three modules in the certificatelevelprogram will be able to progressto the diploma-level program whichSID and SMU will be launching in 2008.If you are interested in finding outmore about this Executive Certificateprogram, please contact our Secretariatat admin@sid.org.sg n35

Talk on“Anti-Ageing — StayingFit, Active and Young”A talk on “Anti-Ageing — Staying Fit,Active and Young Throughout YourGolden Years” was held for membersin the evening of 22 August 2007 atHoliday Inn Park view. It was attendedby about 40 members and guests. Theevent was sponsored by Bayer ScheringPharma and Thomson Medical CentreLtd.The speaker was DrWC Cheng, founderof Thomson MedicalCentre. Dr Cheng,besides being anO&G consultant,is an experiencedconsultant in thefield of anti-ageing medicine. He is afounding member of the InternationalSociety for the Study of the Aging Male,London; a member of the AmericanAnti-Aging Academy of Medicine; andthe President of the Healthy Aging Association,Singapore.SID thanks Bayer Schering Pharma andThomson Medical Centre Ltd for kindlysponsoring the talk for members ofSID, and all members and guests fortheir presence. n36

Workshop on“Reporting it Straight –Keeping Out of Trouble”A repeat workshop on “Reporting itStraight — Keeping Out of Trouble”was held on 23 August 2007 at MarinaMandarin Singapore. The workshop wasco-organised by Singapore Exchange,KPMG and SID and was attended byalmost 50 participants.The workshop was conducted by MrTham Sai Choy, Partner and Head ofAudit at KPMG. He spoke about therequirement for directors to ensurethat statutory financial statementsare properly prepared and show atrue and fair view of the financialposition of a company and thatdirectors run the risk of running foulof the law when inaccurate financialstatements are issued.SID thank SGX and KPMG for coorganisingthe workshop with SID. n38