|
|
Speakers 
 Gordon Benton,
Senior Executive Advisor,
Lippo Kawarachi
A Malayan-born Scot, Gordon Benton earned his architectural qualification in Aberdeen, Scotland in 1956, and was accepted into the Royal Institute of British Architects the following year. He has worked in Scotland, Kenya, Iran, East (Bangladesh) and West Pakistan, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Australia, China and Indonesia, largely in private practice tending to foreign investors’ needs - in industry, international schools, housing and high-rise office buildings. After winning the planning competition for Jakartabaru, a 2500 Ha New Town, Mr Benton left his practice and joined the Lippo Group in 1991 in charge of Planning and Development of a 500 Ha portion called Lippo Village (now Lippo Karawaci). In 1994 as Town Manager he helped set up its unique privatised Town Management organisation. The honour, Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, was awarded by HM Queen Elizabeth in 1977 for services to the expatriate community in Indonesia. He presently has urban planning, building control as well as investor relations' responsibilities.
|
Ambrose Cheung,
Executive Director,
Lai Sun Group
|
 Jonathan Galaviz,
Partner,
Globalysis Ltd.
Mr. Galaviz is one of the leading world experts on the strategic development of the casino gaming, airline, and hotel/lodging industries within the broad international tourism sector; he is a Partner at Globalysis Ltd., a highly respected Las Vegas, NV based boutique research and advisory firm. He is a regular guest on BBC, Bloomberg, and CNN as an industry analyst and is frequently quoted in major newspapers around the world.
Early in his career Mr. Galaviz was in the management consulting industry focusing on strategy formulation for Fortune 500 clients mainly in the investment banking and technology industries. Before becoming a Partner in what would become Globalysis Ltd., he was employed with Mandalay Resort Group (later purchased by MGM-Mirage, NYSE: MGM), as a Las Vegas based Senior Project Analyst within the corporate group focusing on strategic and technology initiatives.
Mr. Galaviz has significant cultural expertise and functional business knowledge of Asian markets such as Singapore, Thailand, SAR Macau, SAR Hong Kong, China, Japan, and South Korea. He has facilitated significant joint venture partnerships between large corporations based in Asia and Fortune 500 U.S. corporations in various industries; he has also acted as an advisor to several governments around the world.
In 2002, Mr. Galaviz founded the non-profit Singapore Association of Nevada (SAN), an organization that encourages bilateral political and economic exchange between the State of Nevada, USA and the Republic of Singapore; he was awarded the title of President Emeritus after serving as SAN’s first President.
During his undergraduate university years, Mr. Galaviz was selected to study as an exchange scholar at the National University of Singapore (NUS), Faculty of Business Administration. Mr. Galaviz is invited to be a guest speaker at several globally recognized events every year focusing on international tourism, emerging aviation, casino gaming, and general business topics.
|
 Lynne Ireland,
Vice President, Marketing,
Small luxury hotels of the World
Lynne Ireland has worked exclusively in the luxury sector for twenty five years, holding senior management and directorship roles in corporate and wholesale travel, below-the-line advertising and hospitality industries. As Vice President, Marketing for the Asia Pacific and Director of the regional office, Lynne has been involved in the evolution and development of Small Luxury Hotels of the World throughout the Asia Pacific region, spearheading the growth of brand identity, standards and development over the last fifteen years. The Small Luxury Hotels of the World brand is a collection of over 360 independently-owned exclusive hotels in more than 60 countries. Carefully selected for their style and sophistication, Small Luxury Hotels feature award-winning properties including spas, country houses, golf resorts, island retreats, city sanctuaries, game and wilderness lodges.
|
 Anchalika Kijkanakorn,
Managing Director,
Aleenta Resort & Spa
Anchalika spent 9 years with GE Capital undertaking responsibilities ranging from Financial Analysis for GE Capital Commercial Real Estates in Singapore, to Internal Audit (Worldwide), reporting to GE’s Board of Directors, to Investment Product Development for GE Insurance Holdings in UK, to Risk and Operations Management for GECC Equipment Leasing in Europe, to most recently Pricing Leader, leading a team of 12 across Europe, developing the new “pricing” practice for the business based on market driven pricing strategy. She left GE Capital to join Honeywell in 2002 to bring “Pricing” practice to Honeywell Control System Europe and build the practice for Honeywell from scratch.
Anchalika decided to leave executive position within the corporate world to build a dream retreat. Having spent most of her working life living in hotels in many cities as well as her private life travelling in many continents, she has accumulated an understanding of travellers’ needs, business and leisure alike, and is able to bring the best of what she has experienced and improve upon them to create a new concept of lifestyle hotel. In addition, Anchalika brings to the team financial skills and accounting knowledge, operation, cross cultural management experience, and an understanding of market based pricing which focuses on customer’s perception and relation to price. She received a BA in Marketing from University of Texas (Magna cum Laude) and an MBA in International Business from University of S.Carolina.
|
 Helmut Knipp,
Senior Vice President, Development Asia Pacific,
Langham Hotels International
|
 Rob Koepp,
Vice President, Chief Economist,
Rising Star Holdings
|
 Ken Low,
Assistant Chief Executive (Brand),
Singapore Tourism Board
Mr Ken Low assumed the position of Assistant Chief Executive of Brand & Communications for the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) in January 2006. He oversees the development, implementation and management of the destination brand, and also manages the development and execution of the Board’s communications and corporate messaging.
Ken started his career with the Board as Director, Brand Management in April 2003. During his term as Director, Brand Management, he led the development of the nation’s compelling destination brand, Uniquely Singapore, and was responsible for managing the consistent application of all brand communications to local and overseas stakeholders. Concurrent with his position as Director, Brand Management, Ken was also appointed as Director, Lifestyle & Events in January 2004. Besides this, he also led a number of successful tourism marketing initiatives such as the Singapore Roars! and Project Postcard campaigns, which played a significant role in boosting visitor arrivals and restoring visitors’ confidence in Singapore during the post-SARS period.
Today, Ken looks actively in developing powerful and positive perceptions of the Singapore destination brand through strategic communications and branding initiatives with media owners, journalists, editors and correspondents worldwide.
Ken brings with him a wealth of experience from the public and private sector. He was the Marketing Director for Singapore Post from 1991 to January 1996, and joined Citibank N.A. as Vice President, Marketing from February 1996 till 1998. Prior to joining the Board, Ken also held various senior management positions in organisations such as Warner Bros, Singapore, The Esplanade Co. and Concept Factory Pte Ltd.
In addition to his professional career, Ken is an avid contributor to the arts and music industry. He composed the music and lyrics for Singapore’s most successful home-grown musical to-date, ‘Chang & Eng’, and also composed the popular song ‘Uniquely You’, which has been presented and sung at a national level.
|
 Nick Marrett,
Founder, Octtance and Director,
Spaceport Pte Ltd
The worst thing you could say about Nick’s career is it sounds like a clichéd TV commercial. He didn’t exactly start out in dispatch, but he wasn’t much higher. And in less than ten years rose to become CEO of Batey, the most recognized and awarded independent advertising agency in Asia-Pacific.
During this time, Nick honed his marketing skills on some of the world's greatest brands. He played a key role in developing global and regional strategies for brands such as Singapore Airlines, Singapore Tourist Board, Mercedes-Benz, StarHub, OCBC, and many others.
Nick has worked in both North and South Asia, has extensive experience of markets across the region, and has been involved in many worldwide and pan-regional marketing projects in sectors as diverse as telecommunications, finance and banking, insurance, automotive, hotels, tourism and airlines.
|
Keith Martin,
Development Director,
Singapore Sports Council
|
 PG Mathew,
Managing Director,
Oakwood Asia Pacific Pte Ltd
As Managing Director for Oakwood Asia Pacific, Mr. Mathew has overall responsibility for the management and supervision of multiple residential properties and Oakwood Corporate Housing (OCH) operations in the Pacific Rim countries. He also has primary responsibility for Oakwood’s business development, finance, and investor relations. He has responsibility for locating properties suitable for Oakwood management in each Asia Pacific market, and expanding the Oakwood brand name through relationships with major global property companies. Mr. Mathew has over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry.
Mr. Mathew was Director of Operations prior to taking over as the managing director and was responsible for overseeing the efforts of property general managers in achieving projected business objectives. His responsibilities also included new business development, property acquisitions and takeovers and property start-ups.
|
 Tom Mehrmann,
Chief Executive,
Ocean Park
Tom Mehrmann is the Chief Executive of Ocean Park Corporation, Hong Kong’s sea-life and animal theme park hosting over 4 million visitors annually.
Mr Mehrmann started his career in the theme park industry at Knott’s Berry Farm in the United States as a park service attendant in 1977. From there, he spent the next 21 years working through the ranks eventually becoming Vice President of Park Operations and Entertainment.
In 1998, he joined Six Flags Marine World as Vice President and General Manager, and later accepted an appointment as VP and GM of Warner Brothers Movie World in Madrid when the park was taken over by Six Flags in 2000. He had the responsibility for the design, development and construction of the US$380 million Madrid Movie World, which opened in April 2002 with revenues of US$71 million a year.
Since joining Ocean Park in 2004, he has directed the activities of the park to achieve the highest attendance, revenue and surpluses in the company history, while leading the effort of defining the Concept Master Plan for the future of Ocean Park. The Concept Master Plan received government approval to proceed in December 2005.
|
 Kevin B Murphy,
Managing Partner,
Asiawide Hospitality Solutions
Kevin Murphy is the Managing Partner of Asiawide Hospitality Solutions, a newly formed partnership of Asia Pacific based highly experienced hospitality advisors set up by him in February 2006 to provide informed assistance to existing and new hotel owners and hospitality investors with interests in Asia and elsewhere to maximise future profitability, and offer strategic advice to planning authorities on hospitality supply development needs and trends.
In early February 2006, Kevin Murphy retired from the position of Senior Vice President - Development for Langham Hotels International, the hotel subsidiary of Hong Kong’s publicly listed Great Eagle Holdings where he led their expansion for 10 years from September 1995 following a widely experienced 28 year career in international hotels spanning 5 continents including his native Australia.
Mr Murphy brought a unique perspective and wide international experience to the rapid growth of that company’s hotel investment portfolio and the launching of its own Langham brand accompanied by the successful return of management of their owned portfolio to the new operating company. That knowledge and experience in this region makes his perspective on future Hotel Investment needs and trends in Asia Pacific particularly relevant to both hotel investors as well as those authorities charged with planning such infrastructure competently and competitively.
|
 Jin Teik Oon,
Chief Executive Officer,
Singapore Sports Council
Oon Jin Teik has a strong business background, having worked for the past 13 years in two US multinational firms. Mr Oon has a proven track record in pioneering and establishing new ventures, leading businesses with profit and lost accountability and managing large teams effectively in Asia Pacific. He joined the Singapore Sports Council as Chief Executive Officer in April 2004. He also chaired the Organising Committee Secretariat for the successful 117th International Olympic Committee Session, held in Singapore in July 2005.
|
 Morgan Parker,
President,
Taubman Asia
Taubman Centers is a global leader in the shopping center industry.
Mr. Parker was formerly based in Tokyo where he oversaw Morgan Stanley Real Estate’s retail investment and management businesses in Asia.
Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Mr. Parker was an executive with leading Australian firms, Lend Lease and Macquarie Bank in Asia.
Mr. Parker is a well known industry figure throughout Asia Pacific. Over the last ten years, Mr. Parker has led businesses in China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, and Indonesia.
He holds a Bachelor of Laws. He is a member of the International Real Estate Institute, the International Council of Shopping Centers, and a Board member of the Asia Public Real Estate Association.
|
 John M. Probandt,
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer,
Rising Star Holdings
|
Rana Amer Saeed,
General Manager,
Trident International Holdings
|
 Gurjit Singh,
Property Director,
Sentosa Leisure Group
|
 Tony South,
Senior Vice President, Development and Asset Management,
InterContinental Hotels Group
Tony South is Senior Vice President, Development & Asset Management, of InterContinental Hotels Group, Asia Pacific, with responsibility for the Group’s development, asset management and mergers & acquisitions activities across the region.
Tony, a Chartered Accountant, has more than 35 years management, property and consulting experience with more than half that time in the tourism, hospitality and leisure industries. He was previously the Group’s Chief Operating Officer for the Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific region. Prior, Tony was Managing Director, Tourism Asset Holdings Limited in Australia, Managing Director, Sydney Convention and Visitors Bureau and held a senior position with Colliers Jardine after retiring as a partner from Horwath, Chartered Accountants.
Tony is a keen motorsport, enthusiast, and enjoys reading and music.
|
 Mark Vlassopulos,
President,
Eighth Wonder
|
 Li Hao Zhuang,
Managing Director,
NorthCourse Advisory Services
|
|
|
|
