Mark Gillespie

Exciting News! I’m thrilled to announce that I will be serving as the Chairperson for the Group Treasurers Innovation Forum held by Trueventus on August 14-15, 2024 in Singapore. This event will bring together leading treasury professionals from across the Asia-Pacific region to discuss how treasury profession can stay relevant amidst rapid advancements in efficiency and technology. As a Managing Director (and former CFO), I’ve seen firsthand the critical role the treasury function plays in maintaining financial health and strategic agility, particularly cash as the lifeblood of the company. At the Forum, together with other distinguished CEO and CFO speakers, we will discuss key themes such as talent development, technology integration, geopolitics, macroeconomics, and the transformative potential of digital solutions. These discussions are critical for treasurers who want to stay ahead in the VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous) and BANI (Brittle, Anxious, Non-linear, and Incomprehensible) environments to support businesses moving forward. I look forward to sharing my experiences and insights from top executive seat on harnessing innovation and relevant transformative skill sets needed in treasury operations to stay relevant in the markets. As a Chairperson, I am excited about the opportunity to moderate the discussion. It’s a privilege to bring together such a wealth of experience and insight, and to align our mission towards advancing the treasury function amidst evolving market demands. These leaders bring unique perspectives on how technology and efficiency can be harnessed to drive strategic growth. Am I eager to facilitate these important conversations. By fostering a collaborative and forward-thinking community, I strongly believe we can ensure the treasury profession thrives and adapts in a constantly evolving market. Join us for this pivotal event and be part of the conversation shaping the future of treasury in the APAC region! OCS | OCS Indonesia | EGN Indonesia (Executives'​ Global Network) | EGN Singapore (Executives'​ Global Network) Natasha Zureen - thank you for appointing me as Chairperson of this event. See you on 14-15 August. #digitalization #innovation #leadership #sustainability #finance #treasury #transformation #Trueventus

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TDM – a wrong plantation bet I originally viewed TDM as a plantation Group with a healthcare arm. About 17 years ago, the healthcare segment only accounted for about 16% of the Group revenue. The Group plantation operations then was mainly in Malaysia and this accounted for a large part of the Group’s revenue. The Group decided to expand it plantations segment by venturing to Indonesia. It took several years to get this going such that the maiden revenue from the Indonesian plantation was only in 2013. By then the Group had “..earmarked that the growth of the plantation operations will be in Kalimantan.” But things began to go wrong with the Indonesian operations soon after. The losses and impairments got so bad that the Group announced its plans to sell the Indonesian assets in 2019. By 2023 it was still trying to complete the sale of its Indonesian assets. If not for the healthcare segment, which had grown to account for 56 % of the Group’s revenue in 2023, TDM would be in a worse shape. Moral of the story? Beware of companies announcing expanding into foreign countries as the Malaysian experience may not always be transferable. Given the poor plantation segment performance, the market took a dim view of the company despite a growing healthcare segment. I guess the market is still waiting for TDM to prove that it can recover from the Indonesian lesson. Refer to “Is TDM a value trap?” if you want to bet on its turnaround. 

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Industrial Centre Yen My stands out as a premier choice for investors, offering a compelling blend of factors that position it as a highly appealing investment opportunity. Its Premium Estates concept, prime location, advanced infrastructure, sustainability in mind and more have attracted numerous businesses both domestically and internationally. Explore the top 10 reasons why choosing Industrial Centre Yen My is a strategic investment decision. #RealEstate #IndustrialLogistics #North #Vietnam Frasers Property Vietnam

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Celebrating a milestone as we embark on the third year of our ESG-reporting journey! 🌱 It's heartening to see the significant strides being made by companies across APAC, including Kaer, in disclosing climate-related metrics to employees and stakeholders https://lnkd.in/ggVg_GZc. #coolingasaservice #caas #digitaltransformation #innovation #sustainability

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What a brilliant move by the public housing authority. In Singapore where the design of some public housing estates look better than private housing, it is not surprising to see some household electing to pay $1 million for public housing. Though the investment merits needs to be questioned as well as the role of public housing. But that’s another discussion. The open concept is great as it can reduce wastages in renovations and potentially shorten the construction time. Is it practical for open concept developments in private housing?

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14Aug2024, another great day for us - "Build Your Best You (BYBY)" in house trainers ( Siti, Sha, Yen & Zin Xi) ), getting ready in delivering our 2nd BYBY session today. 😊 When it comes to supporting employees, we strive to help our employees in identifying and discovering their personality traits, as the key to craft their career pathway and maximizing their potentials. Sha Zainuddin, siti nadzirah adanan, Zin Xi Leong #CBREBSO #LearningDevelopment

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Mental illnesses are on the rise. Not only in Singapore, but everywhere else around the world. However, it is important to remember that is is one of the more indeterministic medical conditions because psychosomatic mental pathways are not well understood. It is important therefore to engage with living breathing human beings constantly in order to receive constant true reflections of your own mental wellness back into yourself so that you are informed and current about your own presentation to others. Isolation has always been the culprit to a host of mental ailments and it is with good reason. Most times, people just prefer to keep their conditions bottled up, and when feedback loops find not real outlet, it gradually grows in pressure. Until one day…. As you would expect, we become uninsurable because of a psychologist’s diagnosis… Until we are fully and unconditionally discharged from our mental conditions (which could take decades of our lives), we won’t be able to insure ourselves against pure risks. Some have asked: “Why the lengthy diagnosis”. In response, I will always shake my head and say that “because psychologists themselves don’t even know the root causes to such afflictions.” Agree?

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🏆 We are honoured to be conferred the Business Leadership in Sustainability Award (IMPACT) at the SGBC-BCA Leadership in Sustainability Awards 2024.   🌏 Organised by the Singapore Green Building Council and the Building and Construction Authority, this award recognises organisations that have incorporated sustainability into business operations, products, and solutions, making meaningful contributions to our communities. Our initiatives to drive solar adoption in Singapore includes: 🏢 Supplying green energy in the built environment as a major contributor to Singapore’s 2025 solar target of 1.5GWp. ☀️ Catalysing the adoption of solar energy, through the installation of solar PV systems at over 4,300 sites. 👷‍♂️Building an ecosystem focusing on workforce competencies across EPC firms and establishing industry standards. ➡Find out more about our renewable energy solutions: https://lnkd.in/gfSJ3dkr Photo credit: Singapore Green Building Council #Sembcorp #DrivingEnergyTransition #RenewableEnergy #Solar #Sustainability

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#GlobalBusiness #FDI #Singapore What actionable international insights do you need to grow your revenues globally? Hello, I'm Lucie Newcomb, CEO of The NewComm Global Group, Inc., "Global Business Success From the Inside Out" (sm). If you're ready to #GrowGlobal, please DM here or complete our go-to-market assessment today (link in Comments) for a free consultation. Let's get started!

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The regulator (Pusat Pembinaan Profesi Keuangan) has (for quite some time) collected data (opinions of value and comparative market data). If this can be made freely accessible for appraisal firms (and I think it should be and remain so) data availability should not be a major concern. On the other hand, data credibility deserves more attention. With the methods/techniques (under the umbrella of value uncertainties) that I have developed and currently developing (namely value range and valuation variance), me and my firm are able to double check the fairness and the statistical posture of the value produced. Hence may lead to a better estimate. Larger quantity of market data would be nice for validatory purpose. If we know the position of our opinion statistically relative to other related data, fairness can be self assesed. Few days ago I heard and noticed (from a valid source) that "fairness" is a major concern in litigatory cases, as many (licensed valuers) are unwilling (reluctant) to do issue such opinion due to poor compensation and other reasons. Imagine that from hundreds of millions legal investigation budget, only a very small fraction is "allocated" to compensate the expert opinion of a licensed valuer. That is scandalous.

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The unprecedented speed and scale of urbanisation in that part of the world drives ADM Capital's focus on financing the development of smart cities, encompassing “anything that makes cities smarter spanning sustainable infrastructure, education, financial inclusion, healthcare, entertainment, and food and beverage or deals with circularity,” said Sabita Prakash in a recent interview with Rashmi Kumar from Asian Venture Capital Journal (AVCJ) and Mergermarket. With ADM Capital's 25 years of local knowledge and networks, we adopt a partnership approach to finance the ‘missing middle’ and have identified exciting opportunities in Southeast Asian markets such as Indonesia and Vietnam.   Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gbG9W3tW   #APAC #PrivateCredit #SmartCities #SustainableInvesting 

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🔍 A recent case study highlights a crucial lesson in retirement planning - the delicate balance between property assets and retirement security. A 90-year-old mother and her 69-year-old son found themselves in a legal battle over their $700,000 HDB flat. The mother needed funds for medical care, while the son relied on rental income for survival. This situation raises a vital question: Are you truly prepared for retirement beyond property ownership? Key Takeaways from 20+ Years in Retirement Planning: • Property wealth isn't always readily accessible when you need it • Medical costs can rapidly deplete retirement savings • Having diversified retirement income streams is crucial 💡 Did you know? The Lease Buyback Scheme allows seniors to monetize their property while continuing to live in it. Don't wait until it's too late. Let's have a conversation about securing your retirement beyond property assets. 📞 Book a consultation today #RetirementPlanning #EstatePlanning #FinancialSecurity #bartnersg #pfpleagacy #BernardLim #SingaporeFinance #WealthManagement #RetirementSecurity Sources When co-owners refuse to sell their HDB flats https://lnkd.in/gprJxgzB

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Singapore will introduce a new law this year that will help gig-economy workers plan for their retirement needs and get work injury protection, Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng said. “No Singaporean will be left behind, especially vulnerable workers,” Tan said in his May Day message published on Saturday. “This is a landmark move in employment legislation, and we are one of the first in the world to do so.” Gig-economy workers are also known as platform workers as they rely on online ride-hailing or food-delivery companies such as Grab, Deliveroo and Lalamove to connect them with consumers for their services. In addition to building protections in the areas of work injury compensation and retirement fund contributions, the new law will also provide for collective representation of such workers, Tan said. Singapore had in 2022 accepted recommendations of an advisory panel on the status of gig workers, including requiring platform companies to provide protection in case of injury. The government will also be announcing new support measures for some unemployed individuals to help them return to the workforce, Tan said. #GigEconomy #PlatformWorkers #Workforce #Inclusiveness #Singapore I Bloomberg News I Karthikeyan Meenakshi Sundaram

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Sembcorp Industries, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Sembcorp Development, has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with two subsidiaries of Panbil Group to jointly develop low-carbon industrial parks in Batam, Indonesia.  Located within the Muka Kuning area on mainland Batam, this proposed industrial park aims to serve light to medium industries.  Industries in this zone include electronics, electrical, precision engineering, and pharmaceutical sectors.  The focus is on providing renewable energy and sustainable circular solutions.  Tanjung Sauh, one of the smaller islands of Batam, was recently granted special economic zone (SEZ) status for industrial development.  The park intends to cater to advanced manufacturing customers, data centres, and energy-intensive businesses.  It aligns with the Singapore-Batam twinning model, promoting green solutions. In response to the climate crisis, industries are increasingly seeking ways to reduce their environmental impact.  Low-carbon industrial parks have emerged as a promising solution, combining economic growth with sustainable practices.  Low-carbon parks prioritise clean energy sources, energy efficiency, and waste reduction.  By doing so, they significantly lower carbon emissions. Industries within these parks contribute less to global warming, supporting climate goals.  Reduced pollution improves air and water quality, benefiting local residents. Efficient infrastructure and renewable energy sources lead to cost savings.  Energy-efficient designs translate to lower utility bills and maintenance costs.  Effective waste reduction strategies minimise disposal expenses.  Companies in low-carbon parks gain a competitive edge.  Investors and customers increasingly favour environmentally responsible businesses.  Sustainability initiatives enhance brand image and attract socially conscious consumers.  Proximity to like-minded companies fosters innovation.  Research centres, startups, and incubators thrive in collaborative environments.  Companies explore and adopt cutting-edge sustainable practices.  Low-carbon parks attract capital.  Investors seek sustainable projects.  Policymakers offer grants and tax breaks to promote green initiatives. Developing energy-efficient infrastructure requires substantial upfront investment.  Striking a balance between sustainability and affordability is crucial.  Investments pay off over time but require patience.  Navigating regulations and obtaining permits can be complex.  Meeting environmental standards is essential.  Governments must create favourable policies and incentives. In any case, this is merely an MoU. Too many MoUs signed with Indonesian companies never go anywhere. It remains to be seen how the project develops. Terence Nunis Terence K. J. Nunis, Consultant President, Red Sycamore Global

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"The reality is that Singapore’s housing market has not experienced a proper downturn in almost a decade. While the pace of growth in prices and rents has slowed significantly, the government is still concerned about the risk of overheating. If there is a slowdown in Singapore’s property market, it is a normalisation of activity after years of explosive growth." A Decade??? We have not have one bad period since 2008, and that lasted 3 months before the market REBOUNDED stratospherically; so that would be like 15 years minimum that Singapore housing has had a solid run - great for homeowners not so good for aspiring homeowners trying not to stay in the nether lands (like anywhere super ulu) of Singapore. Contrast that to 1998, when it took almost 10 years for prices to reach the same peak in 1997/98. Any hotter, the Singapore market might have been mistaken for Chinese property.

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Good read James Pitchon and indeed what can be done to stimulate the Thai domestic buying market hit by credit woes and a soft economy. While there is a push for overseas buyers, we have yet to see reforms in land and property ownership or lease terms. While REIC has rightly focused on the rise of a resale market, is this a cyclical supply-demand indicator or market correction to a more balanced primary and secondary market in the West? Time will tell but certainly, resales are moving up a notch. #C9Insider C9 Hotelworks Michael Kenner Brennan Campbell FazWaz #Thailand #property #resales

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