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SBMA News

By Albert Cheng, CEO, SBMA

Published on January 17, 2019
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SBMA would like to wish everyone a wonderful festive season and thank all our contributors and sponsors for your continued support over the past year. We are looking forward to working together with you again in 2019. Here is an update of our activities in the past quarter:

September 11

SBMA and its management committee attends the closed-door briefing session on the proposed AML/CFT regulatory regime for the PSMD Sector.

September 12

DCE Gordon Cheung attends ABC Bullion’s dinner function at the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

From left, Kazuya Naoki (Managing Director, Head of Precious Metals Sales, Asia, ICBC Standard Bank), Gordon Cheung (Deputy Chief Executive, SBMA) and Damien Han (Senior Manager, Precious Metals Sales, ICBC Standard Bank) carrying the Melbourne Cup made by ABC Bullion for the derby race in Hong Kong.
September 18

DCE Gordon Cheung attends the half-day briefing session on the One Stop Service Centre (OSSC) on behalf of SBMA and its committee members. The OSSC will connect the Myanmar gold sector with the international gold market, and facilitate the import and export of gold and gold jewellery and accessories in Yangon. Gordon also attended the OSSC opening ceremony on September 24. Read about the OSSC on page 14.

October 3-4

CEO Albert Cheng represents SBMA at the 9th Precious Metals Investment Symposium (PMIS) as a keynote speaker. SBMA is proud to be the industry partner of PMIS2018, the largest and most comprehensive precious metals investment event in Australia.

SBMA CEO Albert Cheng delivering the Day 2 keynote at the 2018 Precious Metal Investment Symposium (PMIS).
October 5

CEO Albert Cheng and DCE Gordon Cheung represents SBMA at the Islamic Finance News (IFN) Forum Singapore. Albert moderated a panel on gold as an asset class in the Islamic finance market at the session “Gold – All that Glitters”. He was joined on the panel by SBMA member Andrew Naylor from the World Gold Council.

From left, Albert Cheng (CEO, SBMA), Andrew Naylor (Director, Central Banks & Public Policy, World Gold Council), Robin Lee (CEO, HelloGold), Robin Tsui (Vice President, ETF Gold Specialist, SSGA), at the panel session on “Gold – All that Glitters”.
October 12

DCE Gordon Cheung represents SBMA and at the Commodities Intelligence Platform launch ceremony at SGX.

October 16-18

SBMA organises the three-day workshop on Artificial Intelligence Application in Algorithmic Trading for traders to learn how data science can be applied to trading in the financial markets.

Participants in attendance at SBMA’s very first workshop – Artificial Intelligence Application in Algorithmic Trading.
October 28-30

CEO Albert Cheng represents SBMA at the LBMA Precious Metals Conference in Boston.

From left, Albert Cheng (CEO, SBMA), Robin Martin, (Head of Market Development, LME) and Terry Heymann (CFO, World Gold Council) at the LBMA’s annual conference in Boston.
November 14

DCE Gordon Cheung represents SBMA at the launch of the Skills Framework for Wholesale Trade and the opening of the inaugural Wholesale Trade Career Fair.

SBMA attends the launch of the Skills Framework for Wholesale Trade. The keynote speech was given by Dr Koh Poh Koon, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry.
November 27

DCE Gordon Cheung represents SBMA at the LME Singapore Gala, a half-day conference for market participants. The conference provided a forum for discussion around the state of metals market in the Asia-Pacific region, including economic analysis and debate.

Exploratory Meetings

During the quarter, SBMA held exploratory meetings with the following companies: Allen & Gledhill, AMC Asia, DIGIX, Dillon Gage, EIS Global Capital, Emergent Technologies/Responsible Gold Singapore, FBIL International Trading Pte Ltd/Foresight Bullion India Pvt Ltd, Generation X, GVS Asia, Ingenique Solution Pte Ltd, ITI@SMU, Jacaranda Commodity Partners, SMU Academy, the Ministry of Law, and 121 Group on membership and matters related to market development.

Membership

SBMA total membership consists of 46 companies, including three Category 1 members, 33 Local Associate Corporate members, eight Foreign Associate Corporate members, and two Affiliate members.

Two applications are pending approval by the Membership Committee.

UPCOMING EVENTS

14-15 January, 2019. Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Hong Kong.

12th Asian Financial Forum (AFF)

The AFF brings together some of the most influential members of the global financial and business community to discuss developments and trends in the dynamic markets of Asia. Find registration and details at http://info.hktdc.com/dm/aff/2019/itr156348/index_en.html.

4-7 February, 2019. Cape Town, South Africa.

Mining Indaba 2019

Investing in African Mining Indaba is the World’s Largest Mining Investment Conference and the Largest Mining Event in Africa. Find registration and details at https://www.miningindaba.com/ehome/index.php?eventid=283869&.

17-20 March, 2019. Royal Garden Hotel. Kensington, London, UK.

LBMA Assaying and Refining Conference 2019

The conference is designed to allow an exchange of views between technical staff of organisations interested in current issues relating to the assaying, refining and casting of precious metals, primarily covering gold and silver and also to provide them with information on the operation of the LBMA’s Good Delivery system. Find registration and details at https://www.assayingandrefiningconference2019.com/.

28 Feb-04 March 2019. Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Hong Kong.

HKTDC Hong Kong International Jewellery Show

The Hong Kong International Jewellery Show saw over 2,500 exhibitors and about 53,000 number of buyers last year. For registration and more details, you can visit: https://event.hktdc.com/fair/hkjewellery-en/HKTDC-Hong-Kong-International-Jewellery-Show/.

9-11 June 2019. PARKROYAL @ Beach Road. Singapore.

Asia Pacific Precious Metals Conference 2019

The Asia Pacific Precious Metals Conference (APPMC) is the SBMA and Enterprise Singapore’s flagship event that aims at developing and strengthening a unified body in Southeast Asia for the bullion market. Registration and information can be found at http://www.asiapacificpmc.com.

13-15 October 2019. Grand Hyatt. Shenzhen, China.

LBMA / LPPM Precious Metals Conference 2019

The LBMA’s annual conference feature leading experts who provide an insightful assessment of topical issues affecting the precious metals market. Find registration and details at http://www.lbma.org.uk/upcomingevents/lbma-lppm-precious-metals-conference-2019.

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Singapore Bullion Market Association Secretariat-Lee-Jia-Yi

Lee Jia Yi

OPERATIONS & ADMIN EXECUTIVE
Before joining SBMA, Jia Yi worked as an Admin & Reporting Officer in her previous role. She holds a Diploma in Business & Social Enterprise from Ngee Ann Polytechnic. Jia Yi is responsible for managing and maintaining physical and digital files in SBMA, supporting invoicing processes, reconciling receivables and payables, coordinating meetings and conferences. Additionally, she will provide support to the team and assist the Business Director in managing the Association’s office operations and general administrative activities.

SECRETARIAT SBMA-Emily-Oh

Emily Oh

OPERATIONS & ADMIN EXECUTIVE
Emily Oh is the Operations & Admin Executive, a seasoned professional who values teamwork and effective communication. She is skilled at adapting to new challenges and takes a proactive and resourceful approach to every task. Before joining SBMA, Emily had experience coordinating international travel arrangements and spearheading community initiatives. Her role at SBMA will be providing operational and administrative support for projects and other matters to the team.

SECRETARIAT SBMA Clara-Chang

Clara Chang

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS EXECUTIVE
Clara Chang joins SBMA as the Marketing & Communications Executive, enriching the team with her extensive experience in content creation, social media management, and digital marketing. Prior to joining SBMA, Clara held the position of Marketing Executive at her previous job. She holds two bachelor’s degrees from the University at Buffalo, one in International Trade and another in Geographical Information Science. Her core duties will include maintaining the SBMA website, managing the quarterly Crucible newsletter, among other responsibilities.

SBMA Committee-Photo-john-levin

Mr John Levin

Global Metals
TD Securities
John Levin is the Head of Metal Sales & Trading – APAC at the Toronto Dominion Bank’s Singapore office. Prior to this role, he devoted seven years to leading precious metal sales for the ANZ banking group in his home country, Australia. Notably, from 2009 to 2011, John played a significant role on the management committee of the London Bullion Market Association while serving as the Head of Precious Metals Sales for HSBC Global Banking and Markets in the UK.

SBMA Secretariat-Fabian-Lew

Fabian Lew

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

Fabian was a Business Development and Marketing Associate before joining SBMA. He graduated from Singapore Management University with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics.

He has joined SBMA since February, 2022.

SBMA-margare-secretariat

Margaret Wong

BUSINESS DIRECTOR

Margaret Wong, Business Director at SBMA (Singapore Bullion Market Association), brought valuable experience from her previous role at the World Gold Council (WGC). Her tenure at WGC provided her with extensive exposure to the gold community in Singapore and the broader region. This background has been instrumental in establishing strong working relationships within the industry.

Margaret’s role at SBMA encompasses a diverse range of responsibilities. She oversees office management, business support processes, finance, and administrative functions essential for the smooth operation of the team and management committee. Additionally, Margaret handles membership matters, member communications, and addresses public inquiries related to SBMA.

One of Margaret’s key responsibilities is coordinating with the Event Management Company for SBMA’s prestigious annual event, the Asia Pacific Precious Metals Conference. This flagship conference plays a crucial role in the industry, making her involvement pivotal in its success.

Described as resourceful and self-motivated, Margaret Wong brings a wealth of skills and experience to her role at SBMA, ensuring efficient operations and effective engagement within the precious metals community in Singapore and beyond.

SBMA-Albert-secretariat

Albert Cheng

Chief Executive Officer

Albert Cheng joined the World Gold Council in March 1993 as a Regional Manager, becoming Managing Director, Far East in 2003. He retired at the end of March 2015 and was subsequently named its Advisor. He has also been an International Advisor to the Shanghai Gold Exchange since 2002.

His marketing career began with Dentsu Young & Rubicam, Hong Kong in the early 80’s. He began gold marketing in July 1985 when he joined the Royal Canadian Mint as a Regional Manager for Southeast Asia.

He was appointed honorary CEO of SBMA in November 2015. He is responsible for the success and strategic development of SBMA, represents the interests of the Association, and is responsible for all the legal and regulatory aspects of the work of the Association. He is the primary contact for regulators and government bodies on bullion market development.

Ms Pawan Nawawattanasub

Ms Pawan Nawawattanasub

CEO
YLG Bullion Singapore Pte Ltd

Pawan is the CEO of YLG Bullion Singapore and founder of YLG Bullion International. She has almost 40 years of experience in the jewellery industry and established YLG in Thailand in 2003. In 2012, she brought YLG to Singapore. She sits on the Board of Directors of the Thailand Gold Traders Association, the Thailand Futures Exchange’s Arbitration Committee, and the Rotary Bangkok committee. She holds a master’s degree in Political Science.

SBMA-Shaokai-Fan

Mr Shaokai Fan

Head of Asia-Pacific (ex China) and Global Head of Central Banks
World Gold Council
Shaokai Fan is the Global Head of Central Banks at the World Gold Council, responsible for advising governments on gold matters, and enhancing the gold market through engagement, dialogue, and thought leadership. He works directly with central banks and sovereign wealth funds on investment considerations. Prior to this position, Shaokai held multiple roles at Standard Chartered Bank, including Director for Asia Strategic Initiatives and Associate-Director for Public Sector coverage. Shaokai holds a Masters of Public Administration from Columbia University and the London School of Economics, and an undergraduate degree in finance and economics from New York University.

SBMA-Committee-Alan-Liew

Mr Alan Liew

Head of Bullion & Commodities Trading
United Overseas Bank Limited
Alan is Head of Bullion and Commodities Trading for Group Trading in Global Markets, United Overseas Bank (UOB). Alan joined UOB and started the bank’s commodities trading business in 2014, previously he spent eight years in Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) trading both precious and base metals. During his tenure at SCB, he obtained the SGE gold trader licence and was part of the pioneering team for the SGE business and the FX quantitative trading team. Prior to trading, he worked for Monetary Authority of Singapore in the Financial Risk Management Division. He holds a BSc (Hon) in Computer Science at National University of Singapore and a MSc in Financial Engineering at Nanyang Technological University.

SBMA-Committee-Nikos

Mr Nikos Kavalis

Managing Director
Metals Focus Singapore Pte Ltd
Nikos Kavalis is a founding partner of Metals Focus. He has over 20 years of experience in precious metals, having previously worked for the Royal Bank of Scotland and GFMS. Since September 2019, Nikos has been based in Singapore, where he also runs the local subsidiary of Metals Focus.

SBMA-Committee-khun nuttapong

Mr Nuttapong Hirunyasiri

CEO
MTS Gold Global Trading Pte Ltd
Nuttapong Hirunyasiri is the CEO of MTS Gold Group, one of Thailand’s top 10 companies and top 3 bullion companies. He started MTS Gold Group’s first overseas office in Singapore and has been expanding the group business internationally. He focuses on product development and innovation for gold investment, with the aim of being a leader in providing the full suite of gold investment services in the ASEAN region.

SBMA Committee-Photo-Raman-Walia

Mr Raman Walia

Executive Director, Head of Commodities Sales – APAC
JP Morgan Chase Bank N.A.

Raman is Executive Director and Head of Commodities Sales, APAC, for J.P. Morgan. He joined JPMorgan in 2008 in New York, moved to Singapore in 2011, and helped expand the precious metals business in the region. Raman has an MBA from Cornell University, and likes to travel in his spare time.

SBMA Committee-Photo-Andrew-Clarke

Mr Andrew Clarke

Head of Brink’s Global Services
Brink’s Global Services Pte Ltd

Andrew Clarke is the Head of BGS (Brink’s Global Services) for Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. He has held various leadership positions throughout his career in secure logistics and risk management with Brink’s, which started in Hong Kong in 2010. Andrew relocated to Singapore in 2018 to expand the precious metals line of business along with Brink’s portfolio of services and industries.

SBMA Committee-Photo-Kazuya-Naoki

Mr Kazuya Naoki

Head of Metals, Asia
ICBC Standard Bank Plc, Singapore Branch

Kazuya (Kaz) Naoki is the Head of Metals, Asia of ICBC Standard Bank in Singapore and is responsible for the precious & base metals sales and trading in the region. He joined Standard Bank Plc Tokyo Branch in 2008 and was relocated to its Singapore Branch in 2013 whose controlling stake was acquired by the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China in 2015. Prior to joining Standard Bank, Kaz spent 11 years focusing on commodity trading and risk management with Mitsui & Co in Tokyo, Sydney and London. Kaz has been serving on the SBMA Management Committee since 2016.

SBMA Committee-Photo-Vinh-Nguyen

Mr Vinh Nguyen

Head of Precious Metals, Asia
StoneX APAC Pte Ltd

Vinh Nguyen joined StoneX Group in Singapore at the beginning of 2008 and responsible for its APAC precious metals activities since 2019 until now.

SBMA Committee-KL-Yap

Mr KL Yap

General Manager, Singapore Refining Business Unit
Metalor Technologies (Singapore) Pte Ltd
KL YAP is the General Manager of Metalor Technologies (Singapore) Pte Ltd’s Singapore Refining Business Unit. He joined Metalor in 2013, initially in Refining Sales. In 2014, he became Refining Business Unit Manager, leading the development of a new precious metal refinery. KL was Vice Chairman of SBMA from 2017 to 2021, now serving as Chairman. With a degree in business commerce, finance, and marketing, he brings prior experience from refinery and heavy industries.