OUR 11TH Executive Committee
Adeline Lai (EMBA 2019)
President
I believe that our learnings and experiences shape the person that we become and the mentors that come into our lives are the ones that provides the foundation for us to become the best that we can be. Keeping in touch with our teachers, professors, schoolmates from the various educational institutions has helped make a difference in my business and career choices as well as igniting my desire to keeping up-to-date on the changes in the various industries as well as being open to continuous learning.
I am Adeline Lai and am currently an executive director with Standard Chartered Private Bank. Having been in the financial sector for more than 30 years with financial institutions like Citi, DBS, UBS and HSBC has given me a wide spectrum of experience in this industry. My experience ranged from trade operations to customer service to relationship management, sales and people management.
Having experienced the SMU EMBA pathway, I would like to give back by running for the exco of SMUAA, to help create greater connectivity between alumnus and SMU, to provide a platform of continuous engagement with our alumnus and to curate activities to add value to SMU as well as her alumnus. I see SMUAA as the glue that will keep SMU and the alumnus bonded – I see the future of SMU Alumni as a safe space for all alumnus to find solace, to catch up with friends and faculty, to explore ideas, to discuss opportunities, to improve and learn either from talks, courses, events, mentorship or reverse mentorship. This could be over a meal, snack, drinks or events that capture the essence of what SMU is all about.
SMU Alumni will be a support system for everyone regardless of the phase of live that we may be at, at any point in time.
Michael Walter (EMBA 2018)
Vice President (Governance)
I am an SMU EMBA graduate (Class of 2018) and my time at the university was a challenging and richly rewarding experience. I would like to contribute back to an institution that gave me so much. I believe that, with my wide-ranging legal, business and consultancy skillset, I will have a lot to offer on the SMUAA Executive Committee, in support of SMUAA’s pledge to provide the highest service standards to its members.
SMU’s mission is to generate leading-edge research with global impact and to produce broad-based, creative and entrepreneurial leaders for the knowledge-based economy. My vision for the future sees SMU alumni as leading lights in their chosen fields, and as truly ground-breaking professionals both within Singapore and on the world stage.
Claressa Sim (BSc (Econs) 2009)
Vice President (Outreach)
Greetings. I’m Claressa from the School of Economics 2009 Graduating Batch.
After my graduation, I was part of the SMUAA Events Director and assisted in the School of 2009 Alumni Gathering and a number of other ad hoc events.
Currently, I am a part of the SMU Host and Mentoring Programme, hoping to contribute what the school has blessed me with - career guidance and also international working and adventure experiences.
In addition, I was a mentor in the recent round of SMU-Peeli Rural Entrepreneurship Program that I was honored to be a part of, and am always thankful for SMU in welcoming us the community of alumni to contribute back in the ways we can.
I also actively participate in Alumni focus group discussion whenever possible, hoping to integrate the industry needs to strengthen the color of our community of students as they embark in the working world.
With all the above mentioned, I envision an associate of closer knitted SMU Alumni Community - willing to come forward to serve the school just because of what they have been blessed with, and also forge new friendship bonds crossing the boundaries of graduation years.
As we journey through this timeline called Life, we will realize that these friendships and bonds will bring us further than that of networking. And most importantly, for the SMU Alumni to remember how proud they were to be a part of the SMU Family, and that SMU can once again be a place to rest and be ourselves.
During my university days in SMU, my memories were filled with laughter, joy and exploration. Being involved in various and multiple CCAs such as indancity, smurts, econs society, i found that was what contributed to my character and thus I feel its important to open up bonding activities to alumni to get to know one another again.
Recently I went to an Emergentics workshop and was grouped together with a group of juniors where we now have an active chatgroup sharing our experiences , learning in our workplace, chilling and relaxing at random events - this is what we all seek for - away from a workplace filled with strategic alliances - but that of just pure friendship.
In addition, my exposure in LTB and also volunteering in SMU, made me realize the importance of giving back and how our every giving can make a difference in someone's life.
In summary my focus would be to strengthen ties via
1. Having more community events
2. Having more CCA alumni have workshops for Alumni to bond
Thank you for hearing my thoughts and I look forward to the chance to contribute to the SMUAA Exco once again in the ways I can.
Poh Sze Hui (BBM 2021)
Honorary General Secretary
Being a fresh graduate from SMU, I have benefited from the alumni community from various mediums such as being an SMUAA Scholar in 2019 and being a mentee in the alumni mentoring programme. Through networking with alumni, I managed to gain greater insight into the industry in which I am interested in and I am truly grateful for all the valuable opportunities for me to develop myself through my undergraduate years.
Hence, I decided to pay it forward by running for the SMUAA Executive Committee as I truly resonate with the ideology of having a virtuous cycle. By coupling with my past tenures as the President of SMU Operations Management Society and Vice-President of SMU Habitat for Humanity, I am confident that these experiences will be beneficial for the committee when we are brainstorming for initiatives or conceptualizing for events.
I envision more students will be interested to join back as active SMU alumni to network with one another, participate in alumni events, or being a mentor in the alumni mentoring programme which enables them to share their working experiences with the current students. By continuously having more alumni joining us back in SMU, I believe that we will have a bigger and closely knitted SMU family.
Vedant Pednekar (MQF 2022)
Director of Marketing & Communications
Ever since completing my Masters in Quantitative Finance from SMU, the institution has been a beacon in my journey. It moulded my academic pursuits and paved paths to diverse opportunities and enduring bonds. My experiences at SMU primed me for varied roles, transitioning from corporate finance to quantitative analysis at Phillip Capital.
Now, as part of the SMUAA, I'm propelled by a singular drive: to rejuvenate our digital presence and build a welcoming environment where every graduate feels right at home. My foundation in programming and data analysis becomes instrumental as I delve into innovative digital engagement strategies, aiming to create a united community.
In pursuit of this vision, I am deeply committed to strengthening our ties, valuing each member's unique contribution, and fostering enduring connections.
Naden Jaime Isabel Koh (MQF 2022)
Director of Outreach (Events)
Hello there! I am Jaime.
During my time at SMU, I pursued the Masters in Quantitative Finance (MQF) program and graduated in 2022. Since then, I have embarked on a fulfilling journey as a Business Analyst at Point72. Prior to this, I had enriching experiences as a Lead Business Analyst at Deutsche Bank Singapore and Reporting Specialist at DBS.
In my previous workplace, I championed Environmental and Sustainability CSR projects. Additionally, mental health advocacy holds a special place in my endeavors. I currently volunteer at the Singapore Mental Health Film Festival (SMHFF).
Being on the programme at SMU has opened up opportunities for me and I would like to give back and contribute to the growth of SMUAA.
I firmly believe that being in the Exco team can help me to continue to create opportunities for alumni to foster lasting connections among alumni.
Shreya Jajoo (MIM 2015)
Director of Outreach (Partnerships)
Hello, I'm Shreya, and I am excited to share a bit about myself and my purpose for joining the SMU Alumni Association as an EXCO member. Currently, I lead the sustainability practice for Asuzero, where I work with organisations to drive sustainable practices and make a positive impact on the environment. Prior to this, I gained diverse experience working with early-stage startups, as well as renowned companies such as InMobi, Bosch, Meta, and VaynerMedia. In addition, I had the opportunity to found and successfully exit my own travel tech B2B company, allowing me to develop a strong entrepreneurial mindset.
Lee Kang Wee (BBM 2015)
Director of Outreach (Events)
There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what its identity, and what it cares about. As an alumni association that is still in its nascent stage, I believe that SMU Alumni Association can become a community that all SMU alumni identify with, find value in, and commit to.
As an Exco member of the SMU Flare Alumni Group (the cheerleading team), I have witnessed the transformative power of a group with a clear identity. My involvement in the inaugural SMU Imagine Better Alumni Committee has also shown me the power of a common cause. The committee was formed to drive fundraising efforts for the SMU Imagine Better Fund. United by a common cause, the committee has dealt with the inherent uncertainties of being the pioneer batch, and achieved various milestones and fundraising targets.
In my professional capacity, I am the Country Manager in Mednefits, a tech company providing a solution for employee benefits.
With luck, I hope to be able to play a part in contributing to the SMU alumni cohort through my involvement in the SMU Alumni Association, building a community with a strong identity and a clear cause.
Adeline Bek (EMBA 2024)
Director of Outreach (Partnerships)
I graduated from the SMU EMBA programme (Class of 2024) and I’m one of the appointed alumni reps for my EMBA12 cohort.
Embarking on the EMBA programme was one of the best decisions I made in my life. I have gained so much in terms of valuable experience, knowledge and learning from a diverse group of amazing classmates from various industries. My passion is in connecting people, building purposeful relationships and fostering collaborations.
My desire is to build a strong global and connected SMU alumni network to make a positive impact on society. I hope to achieve this by creating meaningful partnerships and events to support alumni in their personal and professional endeavours.
Many alumni would be familiar with me as I have led alumni engagement at SMU for about 9 years.
With more than 15 years of experience in alumni, community engagement and creating partnerships in the higher education sector and other sectors, I hope to continue to give back to SMU in various ways.
I look forward to serving and working in partnership with our alumni to strengthen the SMU global alumni community!
Anna Huixuan Xu (MSA 2020)
Treasurer
Having graduated from SMU with a Master of Science in Accounting (Data & Analytics), I often reflect on the rewarding experiences I had as a class committee member, where I organized events alongside other members for classmates and professors. These experiences not only enriched my academic journey but also deepened my connections with my classmates, alumni, and professors within the School of Accountancy.
Joining the SMU Alumni Association (SMUAA) Executive Committee (Exco) team is a great opportunity for me to replicate the experience and expand my engagement with the larger SMU community. Moreover, as an expatriate working in Singapore, maintaining a close connection with SMU and its dynamic community is essential for me to feel grounded and strengthen my sense of belonging in Singapore.
I am very grateful to be part of this dedicated team committed to creating opportunities for current students and alumni to strengthen existing friendships and forge new connections, thereby creating a robust network supporting everyone involved.
In my role on the Exco team, I am ready to leverage my knowledge to help achieve the dual objectives of organizing enjoyable and memorable events for alumni and students while ensuring the financial sustainability of SMUAA. By balancing a focus on fun and engagement with prudent financial management, I hope to contribute to the long-term success and vitality of SMUAA.