- Mapletree Annual Lecture is a key milestone of the Mapletree Real Estate Programme at Singapore Management University (SMU), a multi-faceted partnership that provides a platform for students, experts and industry practitioners to network and share knowledge
SINGAPORE – Mapletree Investments (“Mapletree”) is pleased to announce that the inaugural Mapletree Annual Lecture was successfully delivered to an audience of over 250 people comprising students, industry professionals and members of the public at Singapore Management University (“SMU”) today.
As part of the proceedings, Mapletree Professor of Real Estate, Professor Francis Koh, delivered his lecture on “How to Grow Singapore into a Premier Financial Centre for Global Real Estate Investments”. It was followed by an panel discussion moderated by Professor Gerard George, Dean of SMU’s Lee Kong Chian School of Business, together with the following eminent experts:
- Professor Francis Koh, Mapletree Professor of Real Estate; Professor of Finance; and Special Advisor, Office of the President, SMU
- Mr Wen Khai Meng, Senior Advisor, Group Strategy for CapitaLand Limited
- Mr Gan Seow Ann, Executive Vice Chairman, Global Wealth Management, UBS AG; and
- Mr Chua Tiow Chye, Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer, Mapletree Investments.
The annual lecture serves as a platform for private-public-academic discourse on real estate-related topics. Professor Koh shared insights and trends about the real estate industry in Singapore and beyond, as well as proposed strategies to cement the nation’s capabilities and position as a premier financial centre for real estate investments further.
In his opening remarks, Mr Wong Mun Hoong, Group Chief Financial Officer of Mapletree and Chairman of the SMU Real Estate Advisory Board, said: “In the real estate industry, we are not immune to disruption and technological trends. With this ever-changing landscape, it is necessary that the Real Estate Programme prepares students and harness their capabilities to manage a broad range of issues inherent in globally active companies.”
The partnership between SMU and Mapletree dates back to 2013 and continues further with a second endowed gift of $3 million to SMU. With 1:1 government matching, the total sum of $6 million has enabled the establishment of a multi-faceted partnership in January 2018 named the ‘Mapletree Real Estate Programme’1.
This partnership is the first of its kind in the real estate sector and has enabled SMU to establish: (i) the Mapletree Professorship in Real Estate; (ii) Mapletree Awards for talented students taking the SMU Real Estate Track; (iii) Mapletree Real Estate Business Study Trip Grants that support local and overseas field trips; and (iv) Speaker Events to engage the industry and broader community in real-estate-related topics.
Besides enabling the inaugural Mapletree Annual Lecture which was held today, the gift has also made possible an overseas study trip to Shanghai and Hangzhou, China, for 26 students from 7 – 13 October 2018, which was supported by the Mapletree Real Estate Study Trip Grant.
The next Mapletree Annual Lecture will be held in November 2019.
1 More information about the Programme can be found in this press release: http://www.mapletree.com.sg/en/Media/News/2018/January/Mapletree%20Real%20Estate%20Programme.aspx
Photo credit: Please use ‘SMU’ or ‘Singapore Management University’.
(From L-R) Panellists: – Professor Francis Koh, Mapletree Professor of Real Estate; Professor of Finance; and Special Advisor, Office of the President, SMU – Mr Gan Seow Ann, Executive Vice Chairman, Global Wealth Management, UBS AG; – Mr Chua Tiow Chye, Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer, Mapletree Investments – Mr Wen Khai Meng, Senior Advisor, Group Strategy for CapitaLand Limited and – Moderator, Professor Gerard George, Dean of SMU’s Lee Kong Chian School of Business
Panel discussion during the inaugural Mapletree Annual Lecture.
(From L-R): 1. Professor Gerard George, Dean of SMU’s Lee Kong Chian School of Business 2. Mr Wong Mun Hoong, Group Chief Financial Officer, Mapletree Investments 3. Mr Hiew Yoon Khong, Group Chief Executive Officer, Mapletree Investments 4. Mr Edmund Cheng, Chairman, Mapletree Investments 5. Professor Lily Kong, Provost; Lee Kong Chian Chair Professor of Social Sciences, SMU 6. Professor Francis Koh, Mapletree Professor of Real Estate; Professor of Finance; and Special Advisor, Office of the President, SMU 7. Dr Chan Wah Mei 8. Mr Gan Seow Ann, Executive Vice Chairman, Global Wealth Management, UBS AG 9. Mr Chua Tiow Chye, Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer, Mapletree Investments and 10. Mr Wen Khai Meng, Senior Advisor, Group Strategy for CapitaLand Limited
(L-R) Prof Lily Kong (5th from right) with the SMU Real Estate Advisory Board comprising: 1. Professor Gerard George, Dean of SMU’s Lee Kong Chian School of Business 2. Mr Vincent Koo, Managing Director, DCA Architects 3. Mrs Penny Goh, Co-Chairman, Allen & Gledhill Singapore 4. Mr Pok Soy Yoong, Retired Ernst & Young Tax Partner 5. Mr Wong Mun Hoong, Group Chief Financial Officer, Mapletree Investments 6. Mrs Eng-Kwok Seat Moey, Managing Director and Head (Capital Markets), DBS 7. Professor Francis Koh, Mapletree Professor of Real Estate; Professor of Finance; and Special Advisor, Office of the President, SMU 8. Mr Wen Khai Meng, Senior Advisor, Group Strategy for CapitaLand Limited 9. Mr Wan Kwong Weng, Group Chief Corporate Officer, Mapletree Investments
