Leading Through Turbulence:
Geopolitics and the Future of Business Success
Thursday, 4th September 2025
About The Event
We welcomed George Yeo, former Minister for Foreign Affairs, for a fireside chat at Leading Through Turbulence: Geopolitics and the Future of Business Success.
The evening opened with Mr Yeo’s wise insights on navigating global complexity and staying ahead in uncertain times. The discussion continued with Chin Hwee TAN (Chairman, SGTraDex & Chairman, Energy Resilience Advisory Panel, EMA) and Tun Kim Ong (GM, IBM Manufacturing Solutions), who shared how they have led organisations through volatility, and turned challenges into opportunities.
A special highlight was the book sale and signing of Mr Yeo’s publications, bringing his ideas even closer to our community.
We thank our Strategic Partners HSBC and SATS Ltd. for generously sponsoring the event and for generously hosting us at the SATS Experiential Centre at The Arts House.
This session was done as part of the Action Learning Project of our 2025 SGLN Fellows: Chia Hong Tan, Hui Ping Low, Regina Lee, Ren Chao Y. and Ted Low together with SGLN Ambassadors Estelle Ang, Huiping (Ping) Huang, and Yina Chua. Their commitment has brought this meaningful conversation to life.
Speakers
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George Yeo
Visiting Scholar, LKYSPP
Former Singapore Foreign MinisterGeorge Yeo is currently a Visiting Scholar at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy of the National University of Singapore, and the Founding Patron of its Asia Competitiveness Institute.
Mr Yeo was with Kerry Group in Hong Kong from 2012 to 2021. He was Chairman and Executive Director of Kerry Logistics Network from 2012 to 2019.
From September 1988 to May 2011, he served 23 years in the Singapore Government, and was Minister for Information and the Arts, Minister for Health, Minister for Trade & Industry and Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Mr Yeo has a BA in Engineering (Double First) from Cambridge University and an MBA (Baker Scholar) from Harvard University.
He began his military career as a Signals Officer in the Singapore Army, crossed over to the Air Force, became Chief-of-Staff of the Air Staff, and Director of Joint Operations and Planning in the Defence Ministry attaining the rank of Brigadier-General.
Mr Yeo was a Member of the Pontifical Commission for Reference on the Economic-Administrative Structure of the Holy See in 2013-2014 and the Vatican Council for the Economy from February 2014 to July 2020.
Mr Yeo is a member of the Board of Trustees of Berggruen Institute on Governance, International Advisory Panel of Peking University, Senior Advisory Council of Beijing Forum, International Advisory Board of IESE Business School, International Advisory Council of China’s Eco Forum Global Guiyang, International Advisory Board of Japan’s National Graduate School for International Policy Studies (GRIPS), Global Advisory Board of MUFG, the External Advisory Board of the European University Institute’s School of Transnational Governance and the Board of Governors of the Singapore Manufacturing Federation, Panel of Expert of the Indonesia Business Council. Mr Yeo is also an Independent Non-Executive Director of AIA Group listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and Pinduoduo listed on NASDAQ and Creative Technology listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange, Huawei International Pte Ltd in Singapore, Winning International Group and Gurin Energy Group, Salim Group and Wilmar International Limited. Mr Yeo has recently been appointed as a Distinguished Nonresident Fellow of the Contemporary China and the World (CCCW) at the Hong Kong University (HKU).
Mr Yeo was the Conference Chairman of the Singapore Summit from 2012 to 2016.
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Tan Chin Hwee
Tan Chin Hwee Chairman, SGTraDex
Chairman, Energy Resilience Advisory Panel, EMAMr. Tan Chin Hwee was appointed as the Chairman of the Energy Supply Resilience Advisory Panel in October 2023. The panel is established by The Energy Market Authority (EMA), which will help to identify strategies to improve the reliability of Singapore’s fuel supply and energy system. He is also Chairman of Singapore Trade Date Exchange Services Pte Ltd (SGTraDex).
From 2016 to 2023, Mr. Tan held the position of the first Asia Pacific Chief Executive Officer of Trafigura Group, one of the largest global trading firms for energy and commodities. Prior to that, he established Apollo Global Management’s Singapore office to develop its Asia Business, ran Amaranth Advisors as the Managing Director and held senior executive positions in DBS Bank. Mr. Tan began his career at Keppel Corporation’s treasury division.
Mr. Tan also serves as a Member of the Climate Impact X Advisory Council, the Financial Centre Advisory Panel of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, and Nanyang Technological University’s (NTU) Board of Trustees. He is also a Council Member of the National Institute of Education and also sits on the board of Hwa Chong Institution. On 1 April 2024, he was appointed as board member to JTC Corporation’s Board (JTC).
Previously, he served in the Emerging Stronger Taskforce under the Future Economy Council, where he was involved in both the supply chain digitalisation and sustainability working groups. Chin Hwee graduated in 1995 from Nanyang Technological University and in 2003 obtained an MBA from Yale University. In 2011, he completed a postgraduate course at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst and Certified Public Accountant in Singapore and Australia. Chin Hwee has a wealth of expertise in FinTech and asset investment and is co-author of the 2014 bestselling book, Asian Financial Statement Analysis: Detecting Financial Irregularities. His most recent book, Values at the Core: How Human Values Contribute To The Rise Of Nations, co-authored with Thomas Grandjean, was published in December 2020.
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Ong Tun Kim
General Manager, IBM Manufacturing Solutions Pte Ltd
Tun Kim is the General Manager of IBM Manufacturing Solutions, mother of 2 young adults, shares her experiences as a speaker, mentor, coach and author of the book “The Art of Personal and People Mastery”.
She leads the IBM Supply Chain Control Tower based in Singapore and helps IBM creates a resilient, sustainable and AI enabled Supply Chain. Her team of thought leaders consistently delivers operational excellence, innovates and applies technologies to transform the Supply Chain globally for IBM and clients.
Tun Kim shapes a collaborative, inclusive, growth culture and aligns it with stellar business performance and employee experiences. Under her leadership, IBM Manufacturing Solutions received multiple industry awards as an organisation and as individuals. In 2024, Tun Kim is recognized as Female Executive of the Year – Asia Pacific in the Stevie Award for Women in Business.
With 30 years of global leadership experience, Tun Kim contributed to the development and growth of hundreds of business and technical leaders through her coaching, mentoring and training. She serves in the IBM Faculty Academy, Education and Research Practitioner Board in VCARE Academy and is a mentor in the Singapore Global Leaders Network (SGLN).
Tun Kim is an award-winning Mentor and Coach of the Year in the 2019 International Stevie Awards. She also champions lifelong learning. In 2021, she was honoured with the prestigious SkillsFuture Fellowship award presented by the President of Singapore as role model in mastering skills and mentor of future talents.
Key Moments
