The SMUAA 4^th Executive Committee

Ming, as he is more affectionately known, is President of the SMU Alumni Association. He is responsible for leading the Alumni Association's Executive Committee, and coordinating its efforts in the interests of the SMU community at large. Upon graduation from the School of Business in 2005, Ming started his career at Deutsche Bank. He does business development and strategy planning work for the Asset Management division, covering both Asia Pacific & Middle East markets.

One of Danny’s most memorable experiences during his university days was participating in the first ever Zero Limits cycling trip in “the beautiful and wonderful country” of Tibet where he and the team spent three weeks biking along the Friendship Highway from Lhasa to Kathmandu, his exchange program in the St Gallen Asian Management Programme (Switzerland), where he got to meet the people from the University of St Gallen. He sometimes still wonders what made him join SMU at its early days and even to lead a Youth Expedition Project group to Dili, East Timor when the country was still unstable in his second year of studies. There, he and his team helped set up an internet café for students. If he could turn back time, he would bombard his Profs with questions- something he regrets not doing more of- as he believes that they tend to be more tolerant of inane queries than your boss.

He accounts for his success with the presence of family friends and a sprinkling of “good luck”. In five years time, he hopes to be overseas, pursing further education.

Boon Loong is a dreamer. During his undergraduate days, he was privileged to work with his peers from the student government and outdoor adventure fraternity to dream up and realize exciting ideas. Being a university where dreamers can realize their aspirations, SMU has transformed Boon Loong’s life and he would always want to play a part in his alma mater’s growth. Boon Loong thinks of the Alumni Association as a gigantic spaceship exploring the stars. He hopes to be able to pilot it together with his fellow alumni.

Susmit Gupta is an extremely determined and diligent individual who currently holds the position of General Secretary in the SMUAA. Working as an assistant manager with United Overseas Bank, Gupta’s job scope involves working as part of the Corporate Strategy Team at the CEO’s office where they initiate and launch projects dealing with operations, strategy and organization. His creativity which contributes greatly to his current job scope has been evident since his tenure at SMU where he was awarded the top prize for the Ventures Business Plan Challenge.

Besides being a brilliant student in the School of Information Systems, Gupta was actively involved in innumerable sporting activities with cricket being his forte. His willingness to gain experience and exposure in various fields has currently led him to take up golf as a hobby which would simultaneously serve beneficial when hosting his clients and business partners from overseas.

Enrolled in a double degree programme at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy a year ago on a Masters Scholarship awarded by the Public Services Commission, the valedictorian of th class of 2008 has spent the past year since graduation at the NUS Bukit Timah Campus where he completed his first degree in Master in Public Policy. In the coming year, Zhong Yi will be at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs where he will embark on his Master in Public Administration.

With a ravenous appetite for travelling, Zhong Yi was also part of the inaugural BSM trip in SMU to New York City, went to Ireland for his exchange programme, and did his overseas community project in the Min Hang district of Shanghai – the most eventful trip of all which he attributed to his wonderful teammates whom he became closely-bonded with. For all of his travel experiences, Zhong Yi attributes them to having broadened his world views, and more importantly, helped put history into perspective.

Driven to contribute in a meaningful manner to the environment we live in, Zhong Yi hence decided to pursue his Master in Public Policy. However, he was also quick to add that his decision was not all altruistic, as his hand in shaping the Singapore policies of the future is to also serve as a legacy for his children; one which his parents can be proud of. Little can be argued that when it comes to Zhong Yi, crafting public policy is la vrai chose .

Shalini Arul currently works in the insurance industry upon graduation from the Singapore Management University last year. A Business Management undergraduate, Shalini started the first student run café, Frujch, along with her partners in 2006. During its existence, Frujch came to be a place much loved by the student population with its own quirks and unique service culture. Shalini believes that without the opportunity given by the school to run Frujch, she would never have experienced all the trials and tribulations, the blood, sweat and tears of joy that came with running a café whilst studying. She is forever grateful for the opportunity to run Frujch and believes that this experience shaped her to be the determined, service driven and motivated financial planner that she is today with Great Eastern.

Whilst in SMU, Shalini also managed to satiate her desire to travel and stay aboard with both the Work and Travel Program to Morey’s Pier, New Jersey as well as do a summer term at St Gallen University in Switzerland. She feels that the life lessons learnt from such exchange programs only serve provide one with a different perspective to University life and she encourages students to try to go for more such programs, especially since SMU has such a vast array of them.

An avid sports lover, Shalini was also a part of the Floorball women’s team in SMU, serving on the EXCO as co-head of welfare and events. Her best memories in floorball include competing at tournaments with her fellow team members and knowing that in a team, it was one for all and all for one. Most of her closest friends in school are from the Floorball club and she believes that these are the friends she will treasure always.

Ong Ken Hoon currently works in the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) as a Senior Policy Analyst. Having a strong background in finance, his job scope at MAS is to analyze and make recommendations and suggestions on banking regulatory policies. Ong Ken Hoon is at present, the Director Membership of the SMUAA and graduated with a double degree in accountancy and business from SMU.

Ong Ken Hoon is constantly seeking to gain new experiences and believes that it is essential to adopt a life-long learning attitude. Besides being an ardent reader, he continually sets goals for himself in order to gain greater exposure of the world by traveling to various countries especially the rapidly developing nations. During his tenure as a student in SMU, Ong Ken Hoon was actively involved in numerous activities and programmes. He participated in a Youth Expedition Program where he was able to gain the experience of performing community service at an international level in Chiang Mai, Thailand. As an active member of SMU Ventures, Ong Ken Hoon has participated andorganized an entrepreneurship bootcamp to raise awareness of the need to have an entrepreneurial spirit. His efforts and dedication, however, did not go unrecognized as his team won an entrepreneurship competition while in SMU.

Jimmy Boh is the Director of Membership in the SMU Alumni Association. Since his time
as an undergraduate student at SMU, Jimmy displayed a keen interest in the financial
world. His current occupation as the Operations Executive in the Singapore Exchange
(SGX) clearly manifests his passion and interest in the realm of finance. Jimmy strives to take his career a step further and aims to broaden his horizon and enhance his domain knowledge in the intricacies of the global financial industry interdependencies.

Graduating with a double degree in Business Management and Accountancy, Jimmy was
part of the Studentsʼ Association in SMU. Moreover, he was a fervent writer and enjoyed playing pool with his companions. Jimmy is a vivid example of an all-rounded individual and his zealousness in all that he does will serve beneficial and bring him to greater heights in the future.

Hamidah Aidillah currently works in the public relations industry upon graduation from the Singapore Management University last year. Double majoring in Sociology and Corporate Communications, she is an account executive at a global PR Agency serving a number of blue chip clients ranging from healthcare, consumer goods to fashion and is responsible for news coverage for her clients. She believes that great results come with true commitment and dedication to the cause.

Active in her pursuits for community causes, she was selected to be part of the People’s Association inaugural Youthslead Programme which acquainted her with grassroots- related activities. Such furthered her love for the community as she continues to help out in weekly Meet the People’s Sessions. Recently, she was roped in to be part of Young PAP’s New Media Committee. She is also in Mendaki Club’s EXCO and serves as the Communications Director of the SMU Alumni Association.

Back in University, she was an active Peer Helper for four years and was the Events and Communications Manager of the movement. She was also the Leader of the Teens Management Committee at the Jurong Regional Library overseeing activities encouraging youth to visit the library.

Julian graduated in 2005 and is working as a consultant with a leading global management consulting firm. His desire to continue contributing to the SMU community has led him to formalize his relationship with the SMUAA in his role as Director of Special Projects. Julian will be driving an initiative to institutionalize an Honorary Alumni system to recognise non-SMU graduates who have made significant contributions to the university and its community, and with whom the SMU community would like to identify as a role model. Julian will also be responsible for looking into other special projects on an ad hoc basis.

Quek Fu Jin currently holds the position of Director of Special Projects in the SMU Alumni Association EXCO. Graduating from the School of Business, Quek is presently working as a Manager, Business Consultancy and his job scopes involves the provision of mortgage brokering services as well as business finance consultation to local enterprises and individuals. His current position stands him in good stead and reveals his passion and expertise in the financial world. Moreover, he has expressed his ambitions to further his career and build an international business consulting division.

Aside from his career, Fu Jin engages in a number of sporting activities which include Muay Thai and scuba diving. Being an adept swimmer, one remarkable milestone which he accomplished was successfully swimming a relay from Batam to Singapore in 12 hours. This achievement alone clearly displays Quekʼs all-rounded capabilities. His most memorable moment in SMU, however, was his trip to Vancouver on international exchange where he experienced a whole new culture and environment at University of British Columbia.

During his time at SMU, Chiraag was actively involved with SMU Ventures: The Entrepreneurship Society, SMU-OCBC Business Center Program, the International Student’s Association and AIESEC. He has represented the university at several international conferences across the world including Beijing, Mumbai, San Francisco and Switzerland. He also participated in the Management International Exchange Program at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in upstate New York, USA for one semester.

Prior to SMU, Chiraag spent his schooling days in India and Sweden. He is well-versed in English, French, Hindi and some Swedish. In his downtime, Chiraag loves to discuss Greek philosophy, is an avid soccer coach and a martial arts enthusiast. He currently advises different organisations on key strategic and operational issues as a management consultant.

Ezen is Director of Personal Development. A founding member of SMUSAIC, this vivacious lady is enthusiastic about life. She is a wellness consultant in her professional capacity, and strives to bring more personal development programmes to the Association's members.

Known amongst his peers as "JZ", Jay was a pioneer of the rock climbing team and the SMU Sports Union. He also took charge of countless marketing and events management activities in his undergrad years. Although he claims to have never regretted anything he has done in his SMU days, something that ranks as his craziest stunt is an incident that happened when he tried skiing – or was it more tumbling – down a slope whilst being drunk.

On a more personally, Jay loves to challenge conventional notions that we all have a set destiny or fate (as some call it) or the fact that things had to be done a certain way. As such, he prides being able to prove that one does not have to be born with a silver spoon or a well-connected family to be successful in life.

JZ is currently working with Credit Suisse Private Bank, China Desk, but might be tempted away for a good box of tiramisu. When not busy helping out in SMUAA as Ming and Danny's courtesan to repay all the good that SMU did for him, the die-hard Liverpool fan is a soccer/golf/basketball weekend warrior and counts wanderlust, outdoor activities and an insatiable thirst for adventures as his passions in life. JZ will manage the CCA / Student Relations Portfolio for the Alumni Association - working to foster closer collaboration with university CCA groups. He counts his mother as one of his greatest inspirations in life and is currently trying to gain more weight.