Modern Australian
Men's Weekly

.

ISCA partners Council for Board Diversity and industry leaders to spearhead new board stewardship and governance efforts

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 7 May 2024 - The Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Council for Board Diversity (CBD) to strengthen support for directors and organisations who recognise the importance of good corporate governance and stewardship, and the role board diversity plays in enhancing organisational resilience.

ISCA and CBD will work together to advance board diversity — skills, perspectives, experience, gender and backgrounds — for the creation of enterprise value.

The partnership comes at a time when Singapore is witnessing growth in the pool of board talent in the market. According to CBD data, nearly half of all board appointments at the 100 largest companies listed on the Singapore Exchange (SGX) made in 2022 went to directors without prior directorship experience at SGX-listed issuers. At the same time, CBD data shows that while women's participation on the boards of these 100 largest listed companies reached 22.7% as at June 2023, up from 15.2% at end-2018, there is still a long road ahead towards achieving gender balance on boards.

Together, ISCA and CBD will champion effective board governance and diversity through a multifaceted approach, including events for first-time directors, women directors, and aspiring directors, and on joint articles and publications.

As part of the mentoring pillar of ISCA's new Board of Directors (BOD) Masterclass Programme, ISCA will leverage industry leaders' experiences and insights to benefit the programme's participants. A signature of the BOD Masterclass Programme is its new Mentoring Programme, led by Mr Boon Swan Foo, ISCA Distinguished Lifetime Member and Fellow Chartered Accountant of Singapore. Mr Boon is rallying experienced leaders and board practitioners to contribute their time by mentoring participants of the programme, which has been developed to offer an experiential learning journey.

Besides Mr Boon, the list of mentors includes ISCA Distinguished Lifetime Members Mrs Fang Ai Lian and Ms Euleen Goh, as well as Ms Goh Swee Chen and Dr Neo Boon Siong. Mrs Fang chairs the Singapore Business Federation Board of Trustees. Ms Euleen Goh is Chairman of SATS Ltd. Ms Goh Swee Chen is Chairman of Nanyang Technological University Board of Trustees. Dr Neo is a Non-Executive Director at Chip Eng Seng Corporation Ltd.

Aside from the Mentoring Programme, the ISCA's BOD Masterclass Programme includes training programmes recognised by the Singapore Exchange Regulation that will help directors stay updated on industry trends, regulatory changes and best practices through its bite-sized online courses as well as facilitated in-person learning. ISCA members and BOD Masterclass Programme participants will also be able to leverage ISCA's board appointment services. Through this complimentary board referral scheme, they will be matched to board appointment opportunities based on their profile, expertise and track record.

Commenting on the partnership, ISCA President Mr Teo Ser Luck said: "We are pleased to embark on this collaborative journey with CBD to bolster support for directors and organisations committed to advancing board diversity in Singapore. This partnership signifies a pivotal step forward towards raising awareness of the importance of board diversity and increasing the representation of women on boards. Embracing diverse perspectives fosters enriched discussions and ultimately leads to better board decisions."

Mrs Mildred Tan, Co-Chair, Council for Board Diversity, said: "Board directors play a crucial role in guiding their firms towards a sustainable and successful future. At the heart of CBD's partnership with ISCA is the shared belief that diverse experiences and skills combine to elevate decision-making and drive innovation. We hope our commitment to empowering the growing pool of directors for the demands of good corporate governance paves the way for a more inclusive and resilient business landscape that benefits all stakeholders."

Mr Boon Swan Foo said: "I am delighted to lead the Board Mentors in providing aspiring Board members with knowledge and skills for director roles, enabling peer-level contributions in boardrooms. Through the BOD Mentoring Programme, participants will be able to glean insights into a director's unique value propositions, get advice related to board roles and challenges as well as receive guidance from each other's experiences. I look forward to creating a strong network of mentors where we can exchange our insights and experiences to nurture present and future leaders."

Hashtag: #ISCA #Accountancy #Accounting #DifferenceMakers #CBD #MOU #Diversity

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants

The Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) is the national accountancy body of Singapore with over 36,000 ISCA members making their stride in businesses across industries in Singapore and around the world. ISCA members can be found in over 40 countries and members based out of Singapore are supported through 12 overseas chapters in 10 countries.

Established in 1963, ISCA is an advocate of the interests of the profession. Complementing its global mindset with Asian insights, ISCA leverages its regional expertise, knowledge, and networks with diverse stakeholders to contribute towards the advancement of the accountancy profession.

ISCA administers the Singapore Chartered Accountant Qualification programme and is the Designated Entity to confer the Chartered Accountant of Singapore – CA (Singapore) – designation.

ISCA is a member of Chartered Accountants Worldwide, a global family that brings together the members of leading institutes to create a community of over 1.8 million Chartered Accountants and students in more than 190 countries.

For more information, visit .

Council for Board Diversity

Established by the Ministry of Social and Family Development in 2019, and with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam as Patron, CBD spearheads efforts to encourage organisations across the private, public and people sectors on their journey of leveraging board diversity for business value. CBD believes having a range of diversities best suited to an organisation's needs and ambitions provides a broad-based judgement of risks and opportunities and access to fresh perspectives for better decision-making; in turn, building strong boards and resilient organisations. Recognising the contribution of women – the most visible and measurable aspect of diversity – as a powerful lead-in to the consideration of other diversities, CBD's ambition in the long-term is for organisations in Singapore to achieve equal proportion of men and women directors on boards.

For more information, visit .

Private Booze Cruisers – The New Must-Have Toy for Cashed Up Millennials

Did you hear that your 30s are the new 20s? We’ve finally rocked up that adult money and now it’s time to play with it. I was going for a walk ...

Grinding & Jaw Soreness: Signs You Might Need Night Guards and How We Protect Enamel

Waking with a tight jaw, tender muscles, or a dull temple headache is more than a bad night’s sleep. Many Australians grind or clench their teeth ...

Circular Interior Design: Furnishing with Salvaged & Reclaimed Materials

Circular interior design is gradually making its way from niche circles into mainstream Australian homes. At its core, this approach revolves around...

Invisible Braces vs Traditional Braces: Which Is Best for Adults?

Straightening teeth as an adult is common in Australia, and the options are better than ever. The two main choices are clear aligners, also called i...

Smoking, Vaping, and Healing: How Nicotine Affects Sockets and What you can do About it

Nicotine and oral surgery are a poor mix. After an wisdom teeth removal in Sydney, your body needs a stable blood clot and steady blood flow to rebu...

Titanium and Bone: How Dental Implants Become Part of the Jaw

Dental implants replace missing teeth by anchoring a metal fixture in the jaw and fitting a crown on top. Their success rests on a biological event ...

Do Wisdom Teeth Really Make You Wiser? Debunking Old Beliefs

Wisdom teeth are among the most discussed teeth in dentistry, not because of their function but because of the myths that surround them. The name it...

How Long Do Dental Implants Really Last? The Facts Dentists Won’t Skip

Australians often ask one simple question before green-lighting treatment: how long will a dental implant actually last? The short answer is that th...

The Confidence Curve: Why Implants Change the Way You Carry Yourself

Losing a tooth is not just a physical change; it alters the way people see themselves and how they believe others perceive them. While dentistry has...

Why Reliable Air Conditioning Services Are Essential for Year-Round Comfort

Melbourne’s climate is known for its unpredictable swings—from scorching summers to chilly winters. This variability makes it crucial for homes ...

Expert Plumbing Solutions in Perth: From Hot Water Systems to Leak Detection

Plumbing is one of those things we often take for granted—until something goes wrong. From stepping into an unexpectedly cold shower to discovering ...

Eco-smart Car Removal in Sydney: Practical Steps That Cut Waste and Return Value

Sydney’s ageing cars add up to a serious waste stream, and choosing the right removal service makes a measurable difference. Your decision sends m...

Measuring the Success of Your Bus Advertising Campaign

Bus ads turn everyday travel into high-reach media. They move through busy corridors, sit in traffic where people can read them, and keep working af...

Partner Visa Pathways: Onshore vs Offshore Applications Explained

Choosing between Australia’s onshore and offshore partner visa routes affects timing, travel, work rights and budget. This guide explains the stru...

Serving Styles Compared: Buffet, Grazing, or Plated for the Office

Choosing how to serve food at a work function shapes the pace of the event, how people mingle and how smoothly the agenda runs. The right format dep...

5 Essential Tips for Hiring Gold Coast Plumbers

Finding the best plumber on the Gold Coast can be as complex as navigating a network of pipes, requiring an expert who is capable, reliable, and s...

Hidden Costs of Moving You Need to Budget For (And How to Avoid Them)

Moving house ranks among life's most busy experiences, and discovering unexpected expenses along the way certainly doesn't help with stress levels. Wh...

Understanding Australian Building Regulations: What Every Mornington Builder Wants You to Know

If you live on the Mornington Peninsula, you likely already feel the risk of bushfires,hot, dry summers, nearby bushland, and epic wind events. That...