Media Releases
The Future in Focus: A JCU Singapore Panel Discussion on Chambers in Singapore
Media Releases
James Cook University’s Centre for International Trade and Business in Asia (CITBA) organized a Panel Discussion Series on Futures in Focus: The Relevance of Chambers in the 21st Century on 12 April 2019.
“This panel discussion brought together key members of various Chambers of Commerce, industry, government and academia to address transformational market challenges, discuss evolutionary technological changes, and to plot the future trajectory of Singaporean Chambers of Commerce to ensure continued future economic sustainability and relevancy,” said Dr. Wesley Kendall, Senior Lecturer in Business.
In a hyper-competitive market, with a wide array of vested interests both domestic and foreign, Singaporean Chambers of Commerce are aggressively vying for members, revaluating their value propositions, and creatively evolving to meet future challenges in a market that has seen their traditional services eclipsed by technological disruption.
James Cook University’s Chancellor Mr. Bill Tweddell moderated the panel with speakers from various chambers including Mr. Victor Mills (CEO, Singapore International Chamber of Commerce), Mr. K. Barathan (CEO, Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry), Mr Azrulnizam Shah (Executive Director, Singapore Malay Chambers of Commerce and Industry), Er Dr Michael Teng (Assistant Secretary – General, Singapore Manufacturing Federation), and Mr John Dick (Austcham Singapore (Honorary Secretary, past President and Life Member), Austcham ASEAN (Honorary Treasurer), AusCham Vietnam (past President and Life Member).
Dr Jacob Wood, Director of CITBA and Senior Lecturer in Business, said “The panel provided a series of interesting insights into how Chambers can remain relevant and provide value to their members in the era of digital marketing. They also shared their views on how to diversify revenue streams, preserve membership numbers, and offer customized membership services such as training and education, and discover new profit centres”.
In his closing remarks, Professor Chris Rudd OBE, Deputy Vice Chancellor and Head of Campus, Singapore shared, “As society evolves and with it the business environment, chambers just like universities must continuously challenge themselves to reassert their relevance. Innovation in the way chambers educate and engage with their target audience is critical. I am delighted that CITBA has created this unique platform which brings such high quality audiences to our campus to foster intellectual debate and the exchange of new ideas. James Cook University is committed to staying relevant to the needs of the people of the Tropics and to being a respected provider of talent training and new ideas that improve lives and sustain our fragile environment.”
JCU’s Business discipline bring together scholars in the areas of banking and finance, business management and marketing, tourism and hospitality, and urban planning. For further information on areas of research strength in business, click here and to learn more about the Centre for International Trade and Business in Asia, click here.
Contacts
Research: Professor Dean Jerry [email protected]
CITBA: Dr. Jacob Wood [email protected]
Media: Pinky Sibal [email protected]