December to Remember: Year-End Celebrations

Noel Cornish has extensive international and Australian business management experience.  He is currently Chair of AML3D Ltd and the Hunter Valley Coal Chain Ltd.

Noel’s career spans over 40 years, beginning with a cadetship at BHP Steel in 1969 and culminating in senior leadership roles, including Chief Executive of BlueScope Steel’s Australian and New Zealand steel manufacturing businesses. His leadership extended internationally as President of NorthStar BHP Steel in Ohio, USA and as a Director of Tata BSL Steel Ltd in Maharashtra, India.

Noel’s former roles included Chair of Snowy Hydro Ltd and IMB Bank. His tenure as National President of the Australian Industry Group, representing 60,000 businesses, underscores his national reach and impact on industry policy and development.

In the educational sector, Noel has served as Deputy Chancellor of the University of Wollongong and is currently a member of the University of Newcastle Council and Chair of its Finance and Infrastructure Committee. A proud alumnus, his dedication to tertiary education is further highlighted by his recognition as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2017 for significant service to business as an advocate for industry policy and development, to tertiary education administration, and to the community.

Professor Zee Upton, a biochemist by training, is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) at the University of Newcastle. Prior to this role she was the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing.

She is a member of several Boards where she represents the University, including the Hunter Medical Research Institute, TUNRA – The University of Newcastle Research Associates, ResTech (an entity between the University (30%) and Ampcontrol (70%)), DANTIA – Lake Macquarie City’s economic development company, and the Committee for the Hunter.

Prior to joining the University, she spent 6 years in Singapore (2015-2021) where she was the Executive Director of the Skin Research Institute of Singapore (SRIS), a tripartite research initiative between Nanyang Technological University, the National Health Group and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), as well as the Executive Director of the A*STAR Institute of Medical Biology. In these roles she facilitated extensive collaboration with industry, many via the Wound Care Innovation for the Tropics Industry Alignment Pre-Positioning Program that she also established and led.

Preceding this, Professor Upton spent 15 years at the Queensland University of Technology where she held senior management and leadership positions, as well as established the Wound Management Innovation Cooperative Research Centre, plus formed a start-up that ultimately listed on the Australian Stock Exchange.

Professor Abhishek Singh Bhati is the Pro Vice-Chancellor and CEO at the Newcastle Australia Institute of Higher Education. Previously, Abhishek held Interim Deputy Vice Chancellor and Campus Dean roles at Universities in Australia and Singapore. He obtained his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Business (Tourism Management) from James Cook University and Master of Business Administration in Marketing Management (MBA) from Maastricht School of Management. In addition, he obtained post-graduate learning and teaching qualifications, Graduate Certificate in Education Tertiary Teaching (GCETT) and Diploma in Adult and Continuing Education (DACE).

Abhishek is the Regional Vice-President (SE Asia) of International Tourism Studies Association and makes regular contributions to print media and appearances on TV and radio on tourism-related matters. He serves as a volunteer with Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and mentors Universities in Malaysia and Thailand. He actively participates as a National Environment Agency (NEA) community engagement volunteer and in Purple Parade activities. He is recognised as a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) and graduate of Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD). He contributes to corporate governance through his Board Directorship of Singapore based enterprises. He serves as a member of the WIL SIG under Australian Collaborative Education Network (ACEN) and is a member of the Academy of Management, USA.

Abhishek is an active researcher, and his research has been published in a wide variety of reputable publications in the field of tourism and scholarship of learning and teaching. In particular, he is interested in technology and the role it has as a catalyst for tourism industry changes, Low-carbon tourism for future sustainable development, and the need for tourism to deliver United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). His current research interest is tourist behaviour management, resilience planning and scholarship in Teaching and Learning.

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Siew Choi is a seasoned financial services leader with a three-decade long career focused on (re)insurance within the Asia Pacific. Renowned for her innovative strategies and ability to deliver long-term success, she excels in fostering innovation and driving transformative initiatives within tightly regulated landscapes.

With pivotal roles at industry giants, including AXA, AIG, and Swiss Re, Siew Choi brings extensive expertise in portfolio underwriting, risk assessment, pricing, analytics and distribution management. Having worked and resided in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, Siew Choi’s leadership transcends borders, guiding culturally diverse teams across ten countries.

Siew Choi continues to shape the industry’s digital evolution as an advisor to insurtechs. Her active involvement on board committees for charities and non-profits, as well as her dedication to mentoring undergraduates, demonstrates her passion to serve the community. Armed with a Master’s degree from Stanford University and an Executive Diploma in Directorship from Singapore Management University (SMU), she is primed to contribute her extensive Asia-focused financial services acumen to the NAIHE board. 

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Dr Chew, a Colombo Plan Scholar, graduated from the University of Newcastle in 1974 with a Bachelor of Engineering degree with Honours Class I and University Medal as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. Dr Chew was also awarded a Doctor of Engineering honoris causa by the University in 2003 and is a Patron of the University of Newcastle’s Alumni Chapter Singapore. He is actively involved in the management and boards of several public companies.

Professor Chen completed a Bachelor of Architecture at the University of Newcastle as a Colombo Plan Scholar in 1980, finishing with first class honours and a University Medal. He has subsequently completed a Master of Business Administration, a Master of Architecture and a Doctor of Philosophy at Newcastle. Until 2005, Professor Chen held the position of Professor in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Newcastle. In recognition of Professor Chen’s 20 years of service to the University of Newcastle, he has been appointed as Patron of the University of Newcastle’s Alumni Chapter Singapore.

Bill Chua has served on local and foreign boards for the past twenty years. He is currently an Independent Director on the boards of IES-INCA Pte Ltd, United Hampshire US REIT Management Pte Ltd, Sunseap Group Pte Ltd, Citibank Singapore Limited, and BoardRoom Executive Services Pte Ltd, and a Managing Partner and Director of Green Sands Equity Inc. Bill retired from United Overseas Bank (UOB) as the Managing Director and Head Global Financial Institution Group in November 2014 after thirty-four years of a successful and distinguished career in the financial services sector. He was awarded the Public Service Medal (PBM) in 2004, and the Public Service Star (BBM) in 2016 by the Government of Singapore.

Bill was a Colombo Plan Scholar. He holds a Bachelor of Arts, and a Bachelor of Engineering Hons Class 1 from the University of Newcastle, Australia. He is a Fellow at the Singapore Institute of Directors, and at the Institution of Engineers, Singapore.

Jaspal Singh started his career with the Singapore Government Administrative Service (1978-2004), serving in the Ministries of Transport, Finance and Trade & Industry and on the Boards of various statutory bodies and Government-linked corporates. Key appointments held include Director of Budget and Deputy Secretary in the Ministries of Finance and Transport. He was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 1998 and the Long Service medal in 2003 for 25 years of service.

He received a Colombo Plan scholarship at the University of Newcastle, Australia (1973-77) and completed post-graduate studies (sponsored by the Singapore Government) at Harvard University (MPA, Kennedy School of Government, 1984-85, and AMP, Harvard Business School, Fall 2003).

Jaspal is currently Senior Advisor to SMRT Corporation Ltd and SPH Group. He sits on the Governing Council of the Singapore Institute of Directors and is also Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies at the LKY School of Public Policy. He is also the High Commissioner to the Republic of Rwanda for Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Dr Tay is currently a Corporate Advisor, engaging in business development and coaching budding business leaders. He serves on the boards of companies involved in food and education and writes on management issues in ‘Asian Meat’, and ‘AgriFood Magazine’, two international food publications. For 17 years, from 1989 to 2006, Dr Tay was the President and CEO of Singapore Food Industries Ltd (SFI), a public listed food distribution and manufacturing company in Singapore. Under his leadership, SFI expanded internationally from its base in Singapore to include operations in the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, China and Australia. During the period from 1992 to 2004, he concurrently held other positions, including Group Coordinator for Human Resource and Group Director (Strategic Development) in Singapore Technologies.

A Colombo Plan Scholar, Dr Tay graduated with Bachelor degrees in both Engineering (Honours) and Economics from the University of Newcastle in Australia. In 1986, he obtained an MSc in Management (Sloan Fellows Program) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, United Kingdom, and a Member of the Institution of Engineers, Australia. He was awarded a Doctor of Engineering honoris causa by the University of Newcastle in 2015.

Dr Tan has 33 years of distinguished service in the Singapore Public Service holding various key appointments before completing his term as a Permanent Secretary in 2007. He held various top public leadership positions including as General Manager and Chairman, National Computer Board, Managing Director, Economic Development Board, Chief Executive, Singapore Tourism Board, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Manpower, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, Chairman National Library Board and Chairman of the Media Development Authority. He played a leading role in the information technology, economic, tourism, manpower, library, media, arts and creative industries development of Singapore.

Dr Tan received a Colombo Plan Scholarship to study at the University of Newcastle and completed a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Industrial Engineering with Honours Class I as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Economics. In 1998, Dr Tan was awarded a Doctor of Engineering honoris causa. He had a long and distinguished career in Singapore’s public service holding various key appointments before completing his term as a Permanent Secretary in 2007.

Professor Cheong has played a key role in the urban transformation of Singapore over the years. She was the CEO of the Housing and Development Board (HDB) from 2010 to 2020, overseeing the development and management of over 1 million public housing flats. Prof Cheong was also the CEO of the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) from 2004 to 2010, and has extensive experience in strategic land use planning, conservation of built heritage and the real estate market. On 1 January 2021, Prof Cheong was appointed Chairman of the Centre for Liveable Cities under the Ministry of National Development, Singapore. She is also the current Chairman of the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize Nominating Committee.

A Colombo Plan scholar, Prof Cheong holds a 1st Class Honours degree and University Gold Medal in Architecture and a Doctor of Architecture honoris causa conferred by the University of Newcastle; a Master’s degree in Urban Development Planning from University College London and has completed the Advanced Management Programme in Harvard Business School.

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