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Introducing the new Deputy High Commissioner

Hot on the heels of the new Australian High Commissioner to Singapore, The Hon Will Hodgman, our new Deputy High Commissioner – Angela Robinson – took up her post in March 2021. We grilled Angela shortly after she arrived to hear about her role, first impressions of Singapore and previous work in Dili, Baghdad and at a greyhound racing track in Cannington, Western Australia!

What is the role of a Deputy High Commissioner? 
The best part of my job is that there’s no template. As Deputy Head of Mission in Iraq, I was flying to meetings in Black Hawks. In Timor-Leste, I was opening sanitation plants. Here in Singapore, I’m driving collaboration on cutting edge digital economy projects. The role also adapts to the strengths the Head of Mission and Deputy Head of Mission bring to the table. It’s great working with High Commissioner Hodgman and the political skills he brings. Think of him as the Chairman and me as the CEO of the High Commission!

You have been in Singapore for a few weeks now. What are your first impressions? 
I’ve always known how diverse Singapore is, but it’s amazing to see this in-person; on the streets, in the food culture, and in workplaces. Australians pride ourselves on our multiculturalism. Singapore also embraces this wonderful strength as part of its national identity. In terms of what has impressed me day-to-day, I love how kid-friendly Singapore is. I have a four-month-old son and an eight-year-old daughter. Everywhere we go, my kids are greeted with smiles.

How has the COVID-19 pandemic changed your role and how are you adapting?
COVID-19 turned diplomacy on its head. No country can tackle this crisis alone and strong foreign relationships have never been more important. But diplomacy has traditionally been driven by human interaction behind closed doors. We had to quickly invent a new form of digital diplomacy. For me, this crisis is an opportunity to break down the (high) walls of our diplomatic buildings and innovate how diplomats work and communicate. Lucky for us in Singapore, the Government has handled the health crisis amazingly well. I arrived after you all did the hard yards on lockdown last year. For now, I’m enjoying being able to meet people face-to-face (or mask-to-mask). But it’s clear that diplomacy will never be the same again.

Steamed Chicken Rice

What local foods have you tried and what are you looking forward to trying? 
I’ve already had some outstanding Singaporean food experiences, from the laksa and satay at a food centre close to my home to fine-dining at Candlenut on Dempsey Hill, but there is obviously much more I need to try. On my list is chicken rice, hokkien mee, bak chor mee (as long as it’s not too spicy), chilli crab, char kway teow and ice kachang. I’m also game to try the King of Fruits, come durian season and I’m enjoying the fresh Australian produce on supermarket shelves here. Singapore is truly a food paradise.

Australians living in Singapore are naturally excited about the prospect of a travel bubble. What information can you provide? 
Ministers have said that opening a travel bubble between our countries is a priority, when safe to do so. Australia is taking a measured approach to re-opening our borders and COVID-19 brings new challenges every month so it’s hard to predict exactly when a travel bubble will get off the ground. Here at the Australian High Commission, we will be working hard to make it happen. We all want to help families and friends reunite and a bubble will be an important step for economic recovery.

You previously served as Deputy Head of Mission in Dili and Baghdad. What experiences from these postings will you will bring to your current role?  
My time in Baghdad certainly put things in perspective and made me a more relaxed person as a result – if we’re not in life threatening danger, there’s always time for a cup of tea. My time in Dili came with stark lessons on the things that are really important to a society, including nutrition, education, health and safety in the family home. I also previously served at the UN in Geneva, which taught me the (often unheralded) power of collaboration. My work in Singapore will be very different, but Dili and Baghdad were formative experiences which showed me what diplomacy can achieve.

What is the strangest job you’ve had? 
I called Bingo at a greyhound racing track in Cannington, Perth when I was about 14 years old. It was possibly a reflection of my skill with numbers that I was promoted to cashier by age 15 to count the day’s takings at the track. The fact they allowed a high school student to count tens of thousands of dollars alone in a locked room each evening still makes me laugh.

What would be in your “care package” from Australia? 
We’re spoilt for choice in Singapore with the range of Australian products, produce and experiences. Like most of the expat community here, my “care package” would be my family and friends, so I can show them around this fascinating place.

Dealing with Airborne Viruses & Dengue in Singapore

person sneezing

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As we continue to contend with COVID-19 and dengue cases in Singapore, there are proactive steps and measures that can reduce the spread of disease. “We are constantly at risk of cross contamination and disease transmission, such as dengue,” says Paul Hellyer, Managing Director, Rentokil Initial Singapore. “As the leading pest control and hygiene solutions specialist, we introduce cutting-edge air purification and dengue prevention innovations to protect people and enhance lives.”

Transmission risks and concerns
Pathogens can be spread in three ways: through person-to-person, surface-to-person and air-to-person contact. There are growing concerns about aerosol transmission of viruses such as COVID-19, as variants continue to spread around the world.
In a recent research conducted between Opinium LLP and Rentokil Initial among 2,000 adults in the UK, 75% of respondents agreed they can easily wash or sanitise hands to protect against contaminated surfaces, but are unable to protect themselves from breathing in contaminated air.

Air quality concerns in public spaces included:

  • How many people are in the environment
  • How long they’re spending indoors
  • What the overall hygiene protocols in place are
  • What the current air quality condition is
  • Whether there is constant activity and engagement taking place

virus killer

Eliminate 99.9999% of viruses, including Coronavirus
Air quality is vital to health and wellbeing and it’s even more critical recently as bacteria and viruses like COVID-19 can be spread via the air. Regular exposure to other air contaminants, including particles, volatile organic compound (VOC), pollutants and dust also puts us at risk of ill health and diseases. Reducing the risk of airborne transmission requires more than just opening doors and windows for air circulation and ventilation or installing standard air-filters that have limited efficacy against enveloped viruses.
Indoor environments, such as homes and offices, are great breeding grounds for pathogens and germs that are released during talking, coughing, sneezing and regular exhalation. Air sterilisation helps to minimise our exposure risk as we engage in human interactions and activities at home or in the workplace. More importantly, it offers peace of mind during this pandemic.

Initial VIRUSKILLER™ Air Purifiers
Initial VIRUSKILLER™ Air Purifiers kill Coronavirus in the air
The latest air purification innovation from Rentokil Initial eliminates 99.9999% of viruses effectively on a single pass, with independently tested cases against the Coronavirus DF2 (a surrogate for Coronavirus), Adenovirus, Influenza and Polio.
The air purifier eliminates contaminated air through a triple filter system, including a HEPA 13 filter plus a UVC chamber (with titanium dioxide, TiO2) that removes particles as small as 0.3 microns in size and is certified to eliminate virus in a single pass.
The Carbon filters remove a wide range of larger contaminants from the air while the HEPA filtration captures airborne bacteria and viruses. The unit uses shortwave ultraviolet light to eliminate viruses, and effectively moderates the air intake and ensures that the air released back into circulation is free of pathogens. The unique UVC chamber captures and kills more remaining pathogens, delivering a safer and more sterilised environment among the breathing zones.

Virus killer

Suitable for placement in various spaces
Air purifiers are available in different size coverages and installation modes, depending on whether you are using for residential homes, office receptions, high engagement premises or critical and high dependency businesses. For example, the Hextio model is used for a small coverage setting of 20m², ideal for residential homes or office receptions as it’s conveniently placed on a table or counter top.
For bigger spaces, such as commercial and industrial premises, schools and retail and hospitals and medical, the VK 102 and VK 401 are designed for wide coverage. While the VK 102 extends protection up to 165m² on a floor-standing basis, the VK 401 are wall-mount units with medium size coverage of 60m².

Designed to return purified air through air decontamination technology
Most purification efficiency works at eliminating 99.99% of viruses. In an environment of 1,000,000 viruses, this means leaving behind 100 viruses. A 99.9999% filtration leaves just one virus in the environment. The VIRUSKILLER™ takes control of the airflow in a room – contaminated air is filtered and sterilised before sending it back into the breathing zone of the room. The single air pass means it offers real time protection with clean air circulating all the time, instead of the need to draw air through the unit’s multiple times. Compared to typical air filtration it can support viral kill, viral removal efficiency and Coronavirus (DF2) surrogate claims.

Aedes Mosquitp

Stay vigilant against dengue
With the tropical and warm climate in Singapore, the need for constant mosquito prevention is essential. Mosquitoes thrive particularly well in warm conditions, reducing their life cycle and turning mosquito-breeding larvae into adult mosquitoes more quickly. In homes with outdoor spaces, such as a balcony, patio and garden, family members working from home place themselves at higher risk of contracting dengue.

Mosquito Trap

Get rid of mosquitoes with Rentokil In2care Mosquito Trap
The In2care Mosquito Trap controls both adult mosquito and larvae without the need for frequent entry to your home or premises. It works through a “domino effect” – female mosquitoes spread the active ingredient as they fly and land on other sites, stopping the development of the mosquito life cycle. This prevents the transmission of diseases, not just at the localised site but also other potential breeding areas.
The contactless mosquito trap innovation allows continuous and consistent control in mosquito breeding and effectiveness against insecticide-resistant mosquito challenges. In addition, it is green and sustainable with low toxicity ingredients used.

Call Rentokil Singapore at +65 6347 8138 for air purification and mosquito control solutions today. rentokil.com.sg

Review: NOX Dine in the Dark

NOX Dine in the Dark, 296 Beach Road, 199546; 6298 0708

While dining in the dark may sound like a kitsch novelty, NOX – Dine in the Dark, hosted by a blind and visually impaired team has a much greater social impact.

NOX first launched in Singapore in 2013 and has proved a huge success with diners. The basic concept of dark dining is that the removal of vision enhances the other senses and increases gastronomic pleasure. The concept is also a social enterprise, providing employment and skills development for the visually impaired.

NOX bar

How it works:

We book a table for four and arrive 15 minutes before our allocated slot. This allows our host for the evening, Bernard, to explain the concept to us in more detail, while we enjoy a small amuse bouche to tingle our taste buds. He tells us we will be served a mystery set menu of three courses (a vegetarian option is available) for $88++. Each course features four small dishes.

A wine pairing option is on offer ($30++ for two glasses or $40++ for three) or a cocktail pairing ($50++ for three cocktails, $30++ for three mocktails) but we select a bottle of Australian Pinot Noir from the wine list to share.

Diners can opt for a cocktail or mocktail pairing

Once our table is ready, we’re asked to deposit our mobile phones and other valuables into a locker while we eat (including anything that might ‘light up’ such as watches or fitness trackers). My hubby has a moment of separation anxiety and everyone agrees that dining minus mobile phones is novelty enough for a start!

We’re then asked to stand in single file and place our hands on the person in front’s shoulders. The door to darkness opens and we slowly ascend some stairs into a pitch-black dining room.

Instantly, we are taken aback with exactly how dark the dining area is. We naively expected that surely, we would be able to see something! But no! Bernard carefully seats us and guides our hands to find our cutlery and water glasses. Bernard is visually impaired but makes his way around effortlessly. He explains that all the hosts at NOX are either visually impaired or blind and are able to move around by sharing subtle clicking sounds while they move and with carefully considered communication.

Immediately we feel our senses are heightened. It feels like everyone is talking loudly, perhaps to compensate for the lack of vision. We ask Bernard how he can pour the drinks? A lifetime of experience he explains, laughing. He asks if we want to try pouring ourselves, but we decide to leave it to the expert.

Could you discern pork from chicken in the pitch dark?

Dark dishes

Each course is presented in the same manner; four small dishes arranged on a wooden serving platter. There is fish, chicken, beef, lamb…or is it duck? We carefully taste each dish together, recounting what we ‘think’ we can taste! There is lively debate as we smell and taste, roll the food around our mouth…some flavours are easy to pick, some we cannot agree on! Every dish is crafted from the finest ingredients and no dish disappoints. Bernard is a wonderful host – funny and engaging. We hear laughter from other tables and try and guess how many there are in the room. It’s hard to tell.

When our meal comes to an end, we are carefully escorted out the way we came in. As we reach the bottom of the stairs, we reclaim our phones (which we didn’t miss at all!) and enjoy an after-dinner coffee at a table outside. Another host comes to our table with an iPad and proceeds to show us pictures of all the dishes we’ve just enjoyed. Some are a no brainer but others a complete shock! Foie Gras! Ox tail! Swordfish! Peach sorbet! It makes for a lively discussion and debate.

NOX Dine in the Dark is an amazing sensory and culinary experience, where dishes are elevated through a heightened sense of touch, smell, taste and sound. Every dish was fantastic and of an exceptionally high quality. The service was exceptional and we had such an appreciation for all the hosts and their ability to manoeuvre and carry out their roles and responsibilities, with such efficiency and ease.

Verdict: This social enterprise is well worth experiencing, for the food, for the novelty and to meet such an amazing team of hosts.

 

Tax Breaks for Giving Back in Singapore

Donation in Singapore
Get a hefty tax break when donating to Singapore charities

Did you know that if you have made a cash donation to a charitable organisation, you may be eligible for a significant tax deduction?

Since 2016, in an effort to encourage Singaporean tax residents (that includes expats holding EP’s, LOC and S Passes) to give back to the community and support the charitable sector, a whopping 250% tax deduction for qualifying donations has been put in place. Recently the Minister of Finance announced that as part of the 2021 Budget, this 250% tax deduction will be extended to the end of 2023.

ANZA Action supports a range of charitable organisations through our volunteer work and also through donations from generous members and ANZA initiatives. This year, we got creative with a range of small events, tours and craft items and raised over $12,000 for Kodie, our sponsored therapy pony at Riding for the Disabled Singapore

How does it work? 

To claim a tax deduction on your charitable donations, the organisation must be an approved Institution of a Public Character (IPC). Not all registered charities are approved IPCs and donations made to a charity without approved IPC status are not tax-deductible. You can search if an organisation is an approved IPC at the Charity Portal through the IRAS website. Note: Your donation must have been made within the financial year, in cash and a receipt must be issued, in order for the donation to be counted that specific financial year.

When making a donation, it is also imperative that you provide the IPC charity with your NRIC, this way, when doing your tax return electronically, your deduction should already be included. The approved IPC charity is responsible for sending all donations they receive to the IRAS every year.

Who to donate to? 

ANZA Action supports a number of fantastic Singapore charities – from children’s homes to support for young mums, meals on wheels, and more. You can find out more about the organisations that ANZA Action supports (and ways that you can become a volunteer) here

Nippers Committee

Mitch Board
This will be our fourth year of ANZA Nippers. We originally joined as I wanted to provide our kids, who have never lived in Australia, some of the experiences I had growing up. It also helped that it starts at a nice time on Sunday morning – everything else in Singapore tends to open at 11am! We could give the kids a great day out and still get them back home to beat the heat.
I was quickly wrapped up into Nippers to support the founders, Alex and Skye, and the rest of the team who did an amazing job building it from scratch. Being part of the committee as well as an Age Manager, (plus various other functions) has been extremely rewarding, particularly after you see the kids having a great time on the beach on Sunday mornings.
We have also been fortunate enough to forge some amazing friendships and create incredible experiences. It is a very social activity during normal times, and we will be strengthening the community aspect as soon as MOH guidelines allow.

Steph Condon
Originally, I’m from Ocean Grove in Victoria. I grew up surfing and had very little to do with the local surf club. However, after moving to Singapore three years ago, via Hong Kong, I wanted my son to have a little piece of home. We joined ANZA Nippers and I initially volunteered as Secretary, but as Nippers were short of Age Managers, I found myself leading the U7 group this year. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to be a lifesaver to lead the age groups. We leave that important skill to our certified Bronze Medallion holders. So far, it’s been a great experience leading the kids – they’re so enthusiastic and such good sports when it comes to participating in races, either in the water or out. Although I really look forward to when restrictions lift so we can involve more parents and engage with other groups.

Jaq Molloy
Our family has been living in Singapore since 2014. Although I am Singaporean by birth, I lived in Sydney for 16 years, where I met my husband while discovering the surf and beach culture. We saw a bunch of kids in ANZA Nippers rashies one morning at Tanjong Beach and enthusiastically enquired about it… the rest is history! We joined in 2018 when Olivia, our eldest daughter turned six. Fast forward to 2021, she is now in the U9 group while Brigitte, my youngest has started in the U6 group.
I volunteer my time as an Age Manager for the U6 group, teaching them beach and ocean awareness. I’m also the voluntary Events Manager, which involves organising parent social nights, year-end celebrations, volunteer appreciation nights and educational sessions around ocean conservation and beach awareness.
As the Events Manager I work with multiple organisations and very closely with Guardians of the Sea, the conservation arm of Resorts World Sentosa on many occasions. One of the highlights of this role was when our Nipper kids participated in the Ocean Heroes Bootcamp by creating a marketing campaign to ban single use plastic. We competed in this global competition to celebrate World Oceans Day in 2019. Our kids learnt a great deal from this experience and although we didn’t win, it was an unforgettable experience for us all.

ANZA Singapore Nippers is a not-for-profit volunteer group where children aged 5-13 participate in fun activities at Palawan Beach to learn essential ocean and swimming skills. Stay up to date with ANZA Singapore Nippers news at anza.org.sg/sports/nippers or by following our Instagram @sgnippers or Facebook page @SingaporeNippers

Street Netball Tournament

ANZA Netball players adored playing a fast and fun Street netball tournament to finish up their season. Street Netball rules state that each team has four players on the court, and players can move anywhere (providing no more than two players from each team are in the goal circle at one time). All players can shoot goals. The duration of each game is 7-minute quarters with 3-minute intervals. Rock Paper Scissors starts the game. All other standard netball rules apply, including footwork, contact, obstruction etc.
With the increase of permitted group sizes to 8, and the return to Tanglin Trust School in the last half of the season, conditions were perfect for the modified game of street netball. Fortunately, the size of each ANZA Netball age group is sufficiently large to allow some great competition across the groups. The players were very excited to have matches to look forward to at the end of the season in a tournament format. The tournament was set up so that the girls (from age 8 and up) rotated each week in groups of four, to take on a different opponent.


Different age groups played slightly different versions depending on their skill level, for example in the younger age groups, players were nominated to be in a shooting role each quarter, and in the older age groups, the matches were longer in duration.
Whether winning or losing, beaming smiles greeted parents on pick up, as the girls played their hearts out and thrived on the competition experience. The season ended with a fantastic bright orange t-shirt gift to all players and a specially designed ANZA Netball mask. The fabulous ANZA volunteer coaches have continued to do a wonderful job throughout the changing season and are now fortunate to get a well-deserved break. But for those players who want more netball, the off-season programme, run by the professional coaches, from April to June, provides additional opportunities to maintain and improve their skills and fitness.


Congratulations to all for a fantastic season – we look forward to seeing you again soon for Season 2021/22 commencing in September, including the first intake for girls born in 2015.

anza.org.sg/sports/netball

2020–21 Season Highlights

During the 2020–21 season, ANZA Soccer’s motto of ‘fun, friends, and football’ held true, despite the extraordinary circumstances caused by the pandemic. We congratulate the players, parents, volunteers, staff, and sponsors who persevered to make sure the kids enjoyed their time on the pitch.

Getting started
The season started early to make up for lost time during the circuit breaker. In July, pilot summer camps yielded positive feedback from participants and Age Group Coordinators (AGCs). Throughout August, all players could attend pre-season sessions to get back in shape, enjoy old and new friendships, and get used to the COVID-19 protocols. Working in groups of five, players engaged in active drills, fitness exercises and small-sided scrimmages. Volunteers adapted and refined the guidelines in response to government inspectors’ feedback. We were heartened that nearly 800 players registered for ANZA Soccer, and our parent community stepped up to volunteer for all the extra roles, from organisers to temperature takers and safe-management officers.
Once the season officially started on 29 August, we had even better rates of attendance than normal because ANZA Soccer was one of the only games in town! While our usual league games and age-group competitions were not possible, our many willing parent coaches – guided by our professional coaching staff – had fun and varied drills ready each week and were creative in finding new ways to challenge and engage each group of five. Our youngest players focused on fitness, skills and fun, while our older players improved their passing and positioning through multiple touches in 2v2 or 3v3 games.

Training sessions with our professional coaches began in early September and were well attended. At all times, ANZA Soccer’s Code of Conduct applied, and players were expected to uphold our Fair Play ethos.

League play
After a few weeks, we were given the go-ahead for 5v5 scrimmages with a buffer zone between the groups. This made for more authentic soccer play and was quickly adopted. Once the government allowed groups of eight in early 2021, most age groups organised modified league competitions, with points counted from each team’s Saturday mini games. Coaches and AGCs collaborated to agree on special rules to meet safety guidelines and encourage passing and team play. It was a season like no other, but many creative and positive innovations were developed thanks to our community’s can-do attitude.

Matildas
Our girls-only teams had a very successful year, with players developing strong team spirit, supporting each other, working on their skills, and playing competitively whenever possible. On Saturdays they were a force to reckon with, known for their passing, communication, and patience with the ball. Our Matildas competition teams are proving themselves strong opponents against teams from other academies. We are pleased that our girls’ programme has continued to develop and now boasts at least one Matildas team in every eligible Saturday age group, as well as multiple competition teams across external leagues’ age groups.

Competition teams
Over 250 of our keenest players spent longer than usual preparing for Sunday competition team play! Encouraged by their enthusiastic Competition Team Coordinators (CTCs), they attended weekly practice sessions diligently and were more than ready by the time the government’s regulations allowed for inter-squad play. When the JSSL and ESPZEN leagues finally got up and running in the spring, ANZA Soccer entered over forty 4-a-side teams across age groups and divisions. In our eyes, our comp team players are already winners for their patience and dedication to their sport!

Our volunteers, professional staff and sponsors
ANZA Soccer’s parent volunteers rose to the occasion in record numbers this season! Our Committee put in long hours discussing, developing, and communicating the many rules and protocols needed. AGCs and CTCs kept records, allocated mini-squads, liaised with volunteers and professional staff, and dealt with on-pitch issues. Parents in yellow vests helped everyone remember about masks, check-in, distancing, and entry and exit rules. Our professional coaches and groundskeepers proved ready and able team players in ever-changing circumstances. By helping offset our costs, our generous sponsors ensure that ANZA Soccer remains affordable for all. We thank all these contributors to our success—you certainly went ‘above and beyond’ this season!

Hats off to all our families!
Thank you to all our families for your support and positive encouragement of your children over the 2020–21 season! From our two-year-old’s to our Young Lions B18 team, ANZA Soccer players had fun, played with friends and enjoyed their football in this unique and challenging year. While we all hope for more relaxed conditions next season, we will certainly never forget this one!

 

Meet the 2021 Executive Committee

President: Adam Martin

Current employment: Private Banker
Years in Singapore? 13
Years on the EC? 11
Why did you want to join the ANZA Exec? I still remember landing in Singapore many years ago without really knowing anyone. Luckily, I found ANZA with their warm welcome in our new home. That evolved into an opportunity to do my part in the ANZA community, which has been an amazing experience alongside our awesome and passionate volunteers!
What skills or experience do you bring to the committee? 11 years across various roles on the Executive Committee, the majority as Vice President and now President. This has given me an intimate view of the structure, processes and people within our awesome association; important as we’ve navigated the COVID-19 situation.
What are your goals for ANZA? Across 2020, ANZA played an even more essential role within our community as we all faced long periods away from home. In this dynamic, fast moving Covid environment I want to ensure the Executive Committee continues to evolve to support our members through this period and continue our amazing 73-year legacy.
Something interesting about you?
I have three girls under five so there is plenty happening in the Martin household!

Vice-President: Megan Kinder

Current role: Relocation Consultant and Realtor
Years in Singapore? 17
Years on the EC? 6
Why did you want to join the ANZA Exec? To be involved in the ‘bigger picture’ and share what I’ve learned from working in an exec capacity in one section of the organisation (ANZA Cycling) to support the wider association.
What skills or experience do you bring to the committee? A long-term outlook, quirky creativity, vast reserves of patience and openness to change, along with a deep understanding of what it takes for an organisation to thrive within the local context and culture.
What are your goals for ANZA? To see even greater diversity across the organisation and for each member to feel they really belong to the ANZA community.
Something interesting about you? An avid wordsmith and word puzzler, I once worked as a lexicographer (writing dictionary entries).

Treasurer: Tristan Perry

Current employment: Head of Tax at Select Investors Australia.
Years in Singapore: 5
Years on the EC: 3
Why did you want to join the ANZA Exec? To give back to the amazing community at ANZA.
What skills do you bring? Bean Counting! I’m an Australian Chartered Accountant and Tax agent and love numbers. I’m also a people person and love to connect, share and collaborate with fellow members.
What are your goals for ANZA? To ensure that the financial function runs smoothly and that we remain in a great financial position to keep ANZA going for at least another 74 years…and longer!
Something interesting about you? My name comes from a remote British island off the coast of South Africa called Tristan De Cunha. My mother was born there, but
her family had to flee when the Volcano erupted.

Joint-Sports Coordinator: Sonia Heath

Current employment: Communications Consultant and General Manager for Active8me.
Years in Singapore? 4
Years on the EC? This will be my second year. I’m looking forward to getting
back out and mixing with the ANZA community and making a difference! It’s been a strange (and somewhat frustrating!) year.
Why did you want to join the ANZA Exec? To meet new people and provide support to the ANZA community.
What skills or experience do you bring to the committee? I have a background in journalism, media relations, and consulting. As an Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) Scholarship graduate, I have sat on not-for-profit Boards in Australia. I’m also a former Olympic rower, so I’m thrilled to be appointed as Joint Sports Coordinator. We all want to see sport – the lifeblood of ANZA – return to full capacity.
Something interesting about you? I love stair climbing – Singapore is ideal for it!

Joint-Sports Coordinator: Megan Scott

Current employment: VP Talent Management at Northern Trust
Years in Singapore? 9
Years on the EC? 4 or 5, though not consecutively.
Why did you want to join the ANZA Exec? I received a huge amount of support from the ANZA community when I arrived in Singapore. Being part of the exec helps me stay actively involved. It’s a chance to give back.
What skills or experience do you bring to the committee? My background in hospitality, HR and leadership development brings many varied opportunities to support the ANZA Executive and community at large.
What are your goals for ANZA? I’m so proud of the way our community connected and supported each other through the last 12 months; some amazing and very creative people kept subgroups and connections alive. Our most important goal as an exec team is to support our many volunteers and the community they serve, so we continue to grow and reach more people.
Something interesting about you? I was part of a storytelling group that performed in the Perth International Fringe Festival. I’ve told dozens of different (always real life) stories since then through different story telling groups, including Storyslam here in Singapore.

Association Secretary: Mark Neo

Current employment: Group General Counsel and Company Secretary
Years in Singapore? 7
Years on the EC? 5
Why did you want to join the ANZA Exec? ANZA contributes so much to the community and its members – mostly on the effort and time so generously given by volunteers. As part of the committee, I hope my small contribution will help ANZA continue to flourish.
What skills or experience do you bring to the committee? My legal and secretary background aligns well with my role as committee secretary, and I will continue to support the President, Vice President and Executive Treasurer through some of the greatest challenges that ANZA has faced as a result of the pandemic.
What are your goals for ANZA? Covid has caused so much upheaval for so many of us and not being able to return back to Australia or New Zealand to see family and friends has been difficult. ANZA has helped us to cope by providing a sense of community, a de facto family and a reminder of the best bits of the Australian and New Zealand spirit that we all sorely miss. I want to see ANZA come out of this pandemic stronger than before.
Something interesting about you? My Singapore grandparents lived on a farm raising chickens and fish and growing local fruits. So much has changed since then, but I still fondly remember visiting and helping cut down durians as a child.

ANZA Action: Louise Jones

Years in Singapore? 4
Years on the EC? 2
Why did you want to join the ANZA Exec? To introduce our members to a broad range of people in Singapore within volunteer, social and recreational settings, where there are opportunities to forge and strengthen bonds with the diverse local community. And to help our members be aware of the environment and sustainability.
What skills or experience do you bring to the committee? I’ve been on many different committees including Aussies Abroad Abu Dhabi, Wesley Rowing Parents Support Group, APSM Rowing Club, Dental Therapists’ Association, Parap Preschool Parent Committee, Darwin Junior Netball Coordinator – to name just a few.
What would you like to achieve for ANZA? I want to be part of ANZA Action to enrich the lives of our members. Through charitable acts and volunteering we can engage in new activities and connect with community. We can make a difference. I want volunteers to share the joy, meet new friends, and learn new skills while doing good for others and for themselves.

Committee Member: John Neilson

Current employment: Technology and Cyber Security, Banking / Citibank
Years in Singapore? 11
Years on the EC? This is my first year.
Why did you want to join the ANZA Exec? I’ve always enjoyed the ANZA community and events. Now, with more time on my hands due to other commitments easing I wanted to see how I could help at a broader level.
What skills or experience do you bring to the committee? I’ve been a surf lifesaver and instructor and was the U11 age group coordinator for ANZA Nippers for two years, as well as a condo chairman, social club organiser and coach of various sports.
What are your goals for ANZA? To learn where my skills and experience can help the most and give it a go.
Something interesting about you? My wife Silvia Hajas and I joined ANZA Nippers with our daughter Trinity three years ago after Silvia risked her life to save three boys from drowning on the east coast.

Committee Member/Asst Treasurer: Zenaida Bharucha

Current employment: Stepping Stone – Portfolio CFO
Years in Singapore? 7.5
Years on the EC? 4
Why did you want to join the ANZA Exec? We joined ANZA years ago as my son wanted to play soccer. With my finance and accounting background I put my name forward for the role of the Treasurer to give back and volunteer for the broader ANZA community. This was also a great opportunity for us as a family to meet more people in Singapore and make more friends.
What skills or experience do you bring to the committee? Before joining ANZA, I volunteered with various organisations overseas and have been part of school Parent Associations, so I understood and valued the volunteering ethos. My roles in Finance, Accounting and Project Management allow me to help ANZA from a financial reporting and compliance perspective, as well as assisting on projects.
What are your goals for ANZA? To assist the finance team and board in constantly improving our financial processes and embracing technology.
Something interesting about you? I was born as a Zoroastrian (we are often called Parsees) Our religion started 4000 years ago in ancient Persia. Today we are only 160,000 in the world and unfortunately are a dwindling community.

Committee Member: Maria Taylor

Current role: Head of Commercial, Asia-Pacific, Amadeus Hospitality
Years in Singapore: 13
Why did you want to join the ANZA Exec? To help people assimilate into our great life in Singapore.
What skills or experience do you bring to the committee? Good software technical skills and 20 years’ experience and knowledge around online marketing and e-commerce. I am also good with change management. With 35 years in the hospitality industry, event planning is a skill I hope to be able to use if we can start doing some events in the next 12 months.
What would you like to achieve for ANZA? In a post COVID-19 world, I think we will be working through very different challenges in the next few years, so I’ll have to wait and see what I can assist with.

Committee Member: Christo Alexander

Current employment: Song Division Asia
Years in Singapore? 6
Years on the EC? 2
Why did you want to join the ANZA Exec? To give back to the amazing community and to Singapore. The EC is a great vehicle to propagate change and positivity, and I love being a part of it.
What skills or experience do you bring to the committee? 20+ years of event delivery and production, as well as expertise in the virtual event space. In the last year, my company has planned and delivered over 600 virtual events worldwide, so I’m well placed to help ANZA with the most current and best practices in the field.
What are your goals for ANZA? I’m looking to help the EC plan and manage virtual, hybrid and in-person events in the coming years.
Something interesting about you? I’ve been a professional composer and musician since the age of 19. During my touring days, I shared the stage with Jimmy Barnes and Ian Moss (Cold Chisel), Delta Goodrem and even David Hasslehoff! I’ve also written a custom song for Sir Richard Branson and performed it with him live on stage. It
was a real highlight!

Membership Secretary: Philip Simmonds

Current employment: Director, Asia at ExpertsDirect.com
Years in Singapore? 12
Years on the EC? 4
Why did you want to join the ANZA Exec? When I first arrived in Singapore 12 years ago, I knew very few people. The ANZA events provide a springboard to meet new and interesting people, from diverse backgrounds. The ANZA spirit is strong in Singapore and I feel that I can help to expand that camaraderie and inclusive nature to a wider community.
What skills of experience do you bring to the committee? I have worked as an integrated marketing and sales professional for 15 years, as well as marketing within the hospitality sector. I think the combination of the two can help build our membership base, through a connected, socially conscious community, and commercial partnerships and opportunities.
What are your goals for ANZA? To help sustain ANZA’s role and relevance for the next 70 years in Singapore. To create a connected experience across all the groups and communication channels we have, and build a diverse and inclusive local-global community.
Something interesting about you? I once had my own radio show called ‘Boogie Nights’ on a community radio station in Sydney.

Committee Member: Alistair Green

Current employment: Regional Vice President, Oracle Cloud Engineering
Years in Singapore? 3.5
Years on the EC? This is my first year.
Why did you want to join the ANZA Exec? I’ve been an avid member of ANZA Cycling and Triathlon and felt a desire to contribute to the people and the organisation that supports so many in our community.
What skills or experience do you bring to the committee? I spend my days building connections between people, teams and strategies through my leadership role.
I have a keen sense for business and the ability to see through the details to the real issues impacting people.
What are your goals for ANZA? To grow our community building and supporting role in Singapore. This present time is a challenge for so many in Singapore and abroad. The sense of community and identity that ANZA brings is important for people’s self-worth and feeling of belonging.
Something interesting about you? My wife, Karen, and I are regular Scuba Divers and look forward to the borders opening again soon to explore waters beyond Singapore.

Committee Member: Don Northey

Current role: Sole Practitioner, Chartered Accountant
Years in Singapore? 14
Why did you want to join the ANZA Exec? When I first joined the committee some 10+ years ago they were without a treasurer, so I was asked to help. The other benefits have always been the social and networking sides of ANZA.
What skills or experience do you bring to the committee? As a Chartered Accountant and trainer in accounting software I initially brought my expertise to help with setting up and running the financials for six years as Treasurer. My side passion is photography and pre-Covid I enjoyed supporting with events photography.

ANZA Action Bra Drive

Do you have bras that have outlived their usefulness?

Don’t feel right? Too big? Too small?

Finished with those maternity bras?

Doing a Marie Kondo on your wardrobe?

If you have gently used bras, in good condition, then we can take them off your hands and donate them to a worthy cause.

until the end of May, we are supporting BRA Girls, an online group aiming to provide bras to women in disadvantaged communities in the Philippines or Africa. These ladies are unable to obtain or afford any form of undergarment, and in many cases, the undergarments provided by charitable organizations may be the only ones they will ever own. Bras are more than just an everyday essential; they also provide women with dignity and protection. In particular, maternity or nursing bras and even crop tops are in demand.

Avery big thank you to all our generous bra donors. We had an extremely successful drive and all bras have been shipped. Look out for the next ANZA Action Bra drive by following us on Facebook here

You can find out more about ANZA Action here.

 

Review: Tiffin Room

Tiffin Room

1 Beach Road, Raffles Hotel Singapore, 189673
6337 1886

raffles.com/singapore/dining/tiffin-room

The legendary Tiffin Room has been a part of Raffles Hotel Singapore’s history since 1892, serving delectable North Indian cuisine. Located off the Grand Lobby, the elegant restaurant offers authentic Indian dishes with interactive tableside service by chefs. The recently restored interiors feature herringbone wooden floorboards, along with locally made porcelains and tiffin boxes.


A la carte dinner choices include succulent boneless chicken leg cooked with chickpea flour and rich saffron, accompanied by a fragrant sweet corn and onion salad. Plump, juicy scallops in a coconut, lemongrass and tamarind curry, scented with curry leaves and coconut, marry well with cool cucumber salad. Tandoori (clay oven) bread and chawal (rice) choices add to the colourful meals.
Enjoy a tiffin box (tiered container for transporting a meal) of meat or vegetarian curries, accompanied by chutneys, pickles, rice and bread, presented in a tiered copper tiffin, harking back to home-prepared meals in India.


Indian desserts are legendary. Gulab jamun (sweet milk dumplings) with chocolate and saffron is recommended, while mango kulfi (ice cream) refreshes the palate after a spicy feast. Lassi (yoghurt drink) should not be missed and there is an international wine list.

VERDICT: For a relaxing environment reminiscent of a bygone era, enjoy a delicious meal here with service to match.

Note: Due to Covid restrictions, the Tiffin Room’s breakfast and lunch buffet menus are currently available as à la carte options.

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