Senior financial sector alumni share insights at NBS Alternative Investments Symposium

The second Nanyang Business School Alternative Investment Symposium was held at the SGX Auditorium on 9 January 2015. Featuring top alumni speakers from the private equity and hedge fund sectors, the event attracted over 150 participants, comprising local university students, academics, and finance professionals.

This year’s symposium was kicked off by Associate Professor Low Buen Sin, Associate Dean (Executive Programmes and External Relations). In an opening address, he highlighted the rising prominence of alternative investments and how the symposium was a critical bridge between students and industry professionals.

Mr Tay Lim Hock, president of GIC Special Investments, shared insights into the world of private equity, drawing on the Government of Singapore Investment Corp’s (GIC’s) experience in this small but growing sector.

Mr Tan Chin Hwee, founding partner of Apollo Asia, shared his career experience in the alternative investments industry, and encouraged aspiring investment professionals of the future to “stay hungry” and “stay humble” in order to succeed.

Six other high-level leaders in the industry spoke on a wide range of topics, such as navigating uncertainties in Asian capital markets, and preserving and creating wealth for family offices.

The audience also had opportunities to fire off their own questions to the experts over two panel discussions. Recent developments in the financial industry, such as the steep drop in oil prices and the policy divergence between the Federal Reserve and other central banks, notably the European Central Bank and the Bank of Japan, were of particular interest to the participants.

The symposium comes amid increasing interest in private equity and hedge fund careers by Nanyang Business School students. Over the past five years, the number of students interning and finding their first jobs in alternative investment positions has been growing steadily.

Recent double-degree alumnus Lee Da Wei organized the first symposium last year. Inspired by the London School of Economics Alternative Investment Conference that he had attended earlier in the year, he wanted to create an invaluable forum for students to dialogue, network and gain exposure to this burgeoning industry. The 2015 event was jointly organized by the NTU Investment Interactive Club, Banking and Finance Club and Investment Banking Club.

Seah Wei Hao, President of NTU Investment Interactive Club, said: “The Alternative Investments Symposium offers a varied line-up of luminaries who share with us their personal stories and what they do in their line of business. This is an event that NBS students should look forward to attending in the future.”

UBS Asia Credit Research head Timothy Tay, who spoke at the symposium, said: “The best way for students to get up to speed with developments in the various professions and industries is through connecting with our vast alumnus network. As an alumnus, I hope the insights that we have shared will enable and inspire students to work towards their professional goals, and for them to know that others before them have been down that path in which they are considering and have succeeded.”

Speakers at the 2015 NBS Alternative Investments Symposium

Wealth management: The needs of the affluent

Pathik Gupta, Director & Head of Wealth Management, McLagan Partners Asia

Creating balanced portfolios: Seizing opportunities and managing risks

Dharmo Soejanto, Asset Management Director, UOB Group