Business Resilience in Times of Lockdowns and Uncertainty
27 October 2021
New Zealand, like many economies across the globe, has been balancing public health, well-being and economics in dealing with the current pandemic. Various forms of lockdowns created have been a mechanism for this balancing act. Unfortunately, this generates uncertainties for businesses. Business resilience and innovation are needed as the business environment continues to evolve. How have businesses responded in times like these? How can New Zealand businesses learn from responses of many other businesses across the globe, in particular those of our neighbours in Southeast Asia?
Join us to hear from a panel of business leaders who will share their experience, observations and advice on how to navigate various challenges.
Panel
Kenneth Leong – Private company investor/director
Kenneth has over 20 years of experience in corporate finance and international business, with a long history of working with businesspeople from Southeast Asia and China. He was Chairman of ASEAN New Zealand Business Council (2017-2021) and a Trustee of the Auckland Foundation (since 2016). Kenneth is also a KEA World Class New Zealander (since 2015). He started his career as a corporate finance advisor at Deloitte in Auckland and subsequently joined the investment banking team at Macquarie.
Kenneth is now director-shareholder of several private businesses in education, retail and health technology, including:
• MEO, the award-winning face mask designer, manufacturer and exporter, with manufacturing facilities in Auckland and Xiamen (China)
• Omni Tech, the largest mobile phone accessories and repairs retail chain in New Zealand, with 29 stores nationwide.
• Euroasia, a specialist language and cultural education provider, servicing government agencies and corporates.
As Director at Tiaki Capital, Kenneth advises senior business people and high net worth investors, utilising his networks, multi-lingual and business development skills to facilitate succession planning, business exits, acquisitions and investment.
Rachel Boyle – Executive Director, NZ Chamber of Commerce, Singapore
Rachel is responsible for the operations and strategic oversight of the NZ Chamber and leads the team to deliver events, build and maintain key sponsor relationships, increase the Chamber’s relevance for members, ensure compliance and governance, marketing and financial reporting.
The New Zealand Chamber of Commerce (Singapore) is a non-profit organisation established in 1983 with the vision to be a vibrant New Zealand hub in Singapore and the purpose is to foster a community of people and businesses in Singapore who are interested in and connected to New Zealand.
Rachel has been based in Singapore for the past 4 years and has also worked in NZ, Australia and the UK in marketing roles. Originally from Auckland, Rachel holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing and a Bachelor of Arts in Japanese from the University of Auckland.
Rachel enjoys connecting business and people and working with the NZ Inc agencies in Singapore to passionately promote NZ products and services in the region. And she loves a glass of cold NZ Sauvignon Blanc. Rachel is a mum of 3 who loves traveling and exploring South East Asia (in non-covid times!), yoga, cooking and reading. She enjoys trying new Hawker food and exploring Singapore with her family and doesn’t miss NZ winter!
Andrew Bayly – Emec Technology
Founder and owner of Emec Technology, a consultancy company specialising in the design of laboratories for research and development, bio-containment and oil and gas, and is the founder and owner of Emec Scientific, a manufacturing and contracting company making specialist laboratory equipment and the building and renovation of laboratories.
After completing a Degree in Engineering from Canterbury University he has been living in Malaysia since 1993 and has worked on projects right across Asia.
Emec Technology was started in 2003 and clients include the Malaysian Ministry of Health, Petronas and all Malaysia’s leading hospitals. The laboratory equipment is used throughout Malaysia and Singapore and exported to Australia, India and Vietnam.
He is currently Chair of the Malaysia New Zealand Chamber of Commerce, MNZCC is a non-profit promoting business in Malaysia amongst New Zealanders and those doing business with New Zealand.
He is also a founding member and Chair of the New Zealand ASEAN Business Alliance. NZABA is an alliance of the New Zealand chambers and business councils across ASEAN and New Zealand and works to promote business between chambers and provide an integrated network for New Zealand businesses entering ASEAN.
Khoa Nguyen – Director, Viet River Holdings Ltd
Khoa is a proud New Zealand citizen of 31 years with deep Vietnamese roots and heritage and is an Independent Director and Managing Director of Viet River Holdings Limited. As a seasoned professional and entrepreneur executive with deep expertise and substantial experience in financial leadership and commercial effectiveness, Khoa has been working alongside the Boards of Directors, Chief Executives and Senior Leadership teams as a trusted advisor with exposure to a wide range of sectors and organisations for over 15 years.
Khoa was the Vietnam Chapter Chair of the ASEAN New Zealand Business Council for over 10 years and brings expertise in trading with the ASEAN market and best commercial practice in a trans-border cultural environment. His company, Viet River Holdings Ltd specialises in creating and connecting business links between New Zealand and Vietnam. Khoa helps organisations enter ASEAN, especially the Vietnam market, providing commercial linkages and forming high network relationships for a wide range of businesses and enterprises.
He is currently on the Board of Barnardos New Zealand, the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board, Iwi Board – Tu Mai Ra Investment and has also held several Directorships with not-for-profit organisations and privately-owned companies in NZ and abroad. In the past Khoa has also served as a National Board member of the Social Workers Registration Board, New Zealand Greyhound Racing, Racing Integrity Unit Board, Birthright New Zealand, and AIESEC Victoria University of Wellington.
Moderator
Professor Siah Hwee Ang – Director of the Southeast Asia Centre of Asia-Pacific Excellence
He is also Professor of International Business and Strategy and the inaugural Chair in Business in Asia at Victoria University of Wellington. In these roles, Siah works closely with various stakeholders and companies on their strategies in Asia and Asia’s engagement in New Zealand.
Beyond publishing in international top journals and an expert in strategy, competition and international business, Siah is Senior Editor of Strategy, Institutions and Research Design of the Journal of World Business, a leading international business journal, and sits on various editorial boards of international top tier journals over the years. In New Zealand, Siah sits on the national assessment panels for New Zealand Prime Minister’s Scholarships for Asia, Prime Minister’s Business Scholarships, and Marsden Fund.
Before joining Victoria University of Wellington, Siah was Professor in Strategy and Associate Dean Postgraduate and International (Asia) at the University of Auckland Business School, a research fellow at Cass Business School, City University in London and the National University of Singapore, where he completed his PhD in Management. Siah is Visiting Professor to a few Asian universities. He writes frequently in the media.
