|
| |
| |
|
| |
 |
| |
|
| |
IIMPact 2010 held on September 3, 2010 at the Raffles City Convention Centre was in the format of a business seminar based on the theme Sustainable Development: Looking Ahead – An Asian Perspective. A small albeit distinguished and eclectic group of speakers shared with the participants their personal stories which were enlightening and inspiring while promoting ways of sustaining this Earth. They spoke about the services they had created, that allow nature and commerce to fruitfully co-exist. This event was the fifth in the IIMPact series of events organised by the alumni of the Indian Institutes of Management in Singapore, beginning with the inaugural event, Access India: The Indian Professional in Singapore in the year 2005.
Hon. Minister for Foreign Affairs, Government of Singapore, Mr. George Yeo was the Guest of Honour. The event was also graced by the High Commissioner of India, H.E. Dr. T.C.A.Raghavan. The gathering of around 500 guests included Singapore-based and visiting IIM alumni, senior corporate managers, representatives of several local associations including SICCI, representatives of ‘green companies’ and other invited guests. The event was sponsored by the DBS Bank, Standard Chartered Private Bank and Spice i2i; Clearpack was a speaker sponsor and Contact Singapore, an alliance between the Economic Development Board and the Ministry of Manpower, continued to be strategic partner.
Sanjiv Aiyar, President of the IIM Calcutta Alumni Association Singapore, welcomed the delegates, speakers and dignitaries to the event. The evening witnessed several inspiring speeches by the invited guests. It began with an address by John Hardy, co-founder of The Green School, Bali, who spoke about his dream and vision for the bamboo haven for learning that he has helped create in the island of Bali. He was followed by Anne-Valerie Ohlsson, Director of Outreach and Partnership, Aidha, Singapore who spoke about the Singapore based not-for-profit organisation dedicated to building the savings and entrepreneurial capability of the poor. The next speaker was John Pearson, Head of the South East Asia Climate Change Network, British High Commission of Singapore, who spoke about the impact of climate change in South East Asia and solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change. He was followed by Indu Tandon, an IIM alumnus, who spoke about another IIMPact organisation, a society in India founded by IIM alumni that focuses on the education of girl children from socially and economically disadvantaged sections of society. Ken Hickson, journalist, consultant and writer moderated the proceedings.
The presentations were followed by a short speech by the Indian High Commissioner on the ties between India and Singapore and how the IIM alumni were furthering these ties. The highlight of the evening was a speech by the Guest of Honour, Hon. Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. George Yeo who spoke about the ‘power of networks’. He said, "It's important for networks not to be internally pre-occupied and become exclusivist in their outlook, in their thinking and narrow-hearted in the way they share because then you are sowing the seeds of hatred, of envy, and that in the end is not sustainable. The networks which are historically successful are those which have the wisdom to go outside and to do good to others.” The speakers’ session ended with a keynote address by special guest Mr. Gurcharan Das, author, management guru and intellectual who gave an anecdotal and illuminating talk centred on his book ‘The Difficulty of Being Good: On the Subtle Art of Dharma’. He likened Sustainable Development to Dharma, whereby growth occurs with a sense fairness, righteousness and justice. The proceedings of the evening were moderated by Suresh Shankar.
The evening ended with felicitations - Venky Krishnakumar, senior alumnus, was honoured with the inaugural ‘Distinguished Alumnus Award’ in recognition of his outstanding achievements and contribution as an ambassador of the IIM brand in Singapore; the sponsors were then felicitated. The event not only provided food for thought but also for the palate in the form of a sumptuous buffet which afforded the attendees an opportunity to network.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
