Berita BMCC - November / December 2014 by British Malaysian Chamber of Commerce

November-December 2014

Issue 98 PP 11826/07/2013 (032918)

All About Innovation

PLUS:

Inspired Ideas: Pushing The Boundaries & Transforming The World Around Us

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SMEs Inspired

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November-December 2014 2015 Launched Sarawak Here We Come! ■ JPA

November-December 2014

First Lines

he fourth quarter is always busy and for BMCC, 2014 is no exception. One of the most important events on the diplomatic scene in recent weeks has been the arrival of the new British

High Commissioner [Designate] to Malaysia, HE Victoria [Vicki] Treadell, CMG, MVO. Since taking up her post in midOctober, she has been meeting with key stakeholders in the business community including of course BMCC [Page 14]. I am delighted to report that following a briefing with Andrew Sill, Nik Tasha and myself, Vicki has graciously agreed to become our Patron, following in the footsteps of Simon. We look forward to continuing the close relationship that has been established with the High Commission in recent years and to working with her as part of our business network. As the delivery partner of the UK’s Overseas Business Network Initiative, we are currently working towards accreditation through the British Chambers Of Commerce (BCC) in the UK. Being accredited will represent a hallmark of the quality we can deliver and serve as an indicator to companies that we are the go-to organisation for anyone looking to do business in Malaysia. It will also help raise our profile significantly alongside our sister chambers in the international arena. The accreditation assessment, which includes an evaluation of our business processes and interviews with our Executive team and Board Directors, is almost complete and we hope to report the outcome in due course. Our events calendar has seen a flurry of activity recently and included the special delegation visit to Sarawak where we met with senior representatives of the public and private sectors [Page 10]. These visits are an important part of our network expansion as we reach out into business communities outside of the capital. Companies looking to cement lasting relationships with Government should consider participation in the 2015 BMCC-JPA Programme which is now open for registration. Another avenue for extending your reach is to become a BMCC sponsor. It is an excellent platform to raise your profile. If your company would like the exposure that being a BMCC sponsor brings, please get in touch with Nik Tasha. The preparations for an upcoming special VIP trade delegation from Britain are well underway and of course we are putting the finishing touches to our grand finale event of the year – our Christmas Luncheon! I hope to see you there. In the meantime, from all of us at BMCC, we extend our very best wishes for a prosperous year ahead. We look forward to welcoming you to BMCC – it’s the place for business.

BMCC 2014 Annual Sponsors & Partners PLATINUM SPONSORS:

GOLD SPONSORS:

BMCC Executive Ofﬁce 4th Floor, East Block, Wisma Selangor Dredging, 142B Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: Fax: Email: Web:

+60 3 2163 1784/2163 1786 +60 3 2163 1781 membership@bmcc.org.my www.bmcc.org.my

AIRLINE AIRLINE PARTNER: PARTNER:

BMCCMALAYSIA November-December 2014

The Chamber

The British Malaysian Chamber of Commerce is the leading business networking organisation in Malaysia with over 350 top member companies with an outreach of over 75,000 employees. Since 1963, the BMCC has been a catalyst in providing businesses in Malaysia with support, networking, knowledge exchange and bilateral trading assistance. We serve as a dynamic hub for enterprise to thrive and businesses to connect with each other, helping to promote and foster trade and investment between Britain and Malaysia. BMCC is proud to be part of British Chambers in South East Asia or BiSEA, enabling our members to enjoy similar Chamber beneÀts in seven other countries including Vietnam, Thailand, Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Singapore.

BMCC Patrons: HE Victoria Treadell, CMG, MVO British High Commissioner [Designate] YBhg Tun Musa Hitam

Chairman: Dato’ Larry Gan, Rev Asia Bhd

Deputy Chairman: Andrew Sill, The Royal Bank of Scotland Bhd

Directors: Soo Kim Wai, Amcorp Properties Bhd Bob Olivier, Aspac Executive Search Sdn Bhd Andrew Diamond, Bubblegum Sdn Bhd David Ng, International SOS Sdn Bhd Datuk Seri Michael Yam, InvestKL Amanda Powell, KL Kudos Design Sdn Bhd Michael McIver, Plus Three Consultants Sdn Bhd Osman Morad, Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia Bhd Bill Addington, TechSol Sdn Bhd Datuk Peter Wentworth, OBE, Weir Minerals Malaysia

Ex-OfÀcio: Gavin Anderson, British Council Tony Collingridge, OBE, UK Trade & Investment Dr Zainal Abidin Majid, Advisor To The Board

BMCC Executive Ofﬁce Nik Tasha Nik Kamaruddin: Executive Director Stephanie Ho: Director of Events Louis Arokianathan: Finance Manager Andre Nasution: Operations Executive Jamal Lea: OBNI Project Manager Anna Leusder: OBNI Project Manager Agnes Elizabeth: Executive PA/Events AÀq Sahidi: OfÀce Executive

BMCC Magazine Editor: Amanda Powell Editorial Committee: • George Aveling • Marcus Osborne • Nik Tasha Nik Kamaruddin • Bill Addington Production: KL Kudos Design Sdn Bhd Printing: Tinggi Press Sdn Bhd Lot 6, Jalan Kuang Bulan, Taman Kepong, 52100 Kuala Lumpur. Berita BMCC is published bi-monthly for distribution to BMCC members and other organisations in the business community. The views expressed or implied herein are those of the authors or contributors and do not necessarily reÁect those of the Chamber.

November-December 2014

In This Issue All About Innovation: Innovation is all around us. It’s

Cover Story

the engine of growth, pushing the boundaries to bring new ideas from concept to reality, Companies like McLaren are constantly deploying innovation to improve performance on and off track. Others are creating ways to communicate with outer space. Our feature section has more.

■ First Lines ................................................. 3

November-December 2014

■ Hot Happenings ........................................ 6 ■ Trade Talk ................................................... 8 >

New British High Commissioner Arrives

BMCC At International Trade Conference

4-Chamber Luncheon: Economic Brieﬁng

Open Dialogue on Combatting Corruption

Sarawak Here We Come: BMCC Trade Visit

■ Report Back............................................. 14 >

BMCC Power Lunch: Inspiring SMEs

ESD: Expediting Expatriate Services

■ Cover Story ............................................. 17 INNOVATION: Transforming Our World

■ Meet Our New Members ....................... 30 ■ News From Our Members ..................... 31 ■ Health File: Breathe Easy ......................... 36 ■ On The Social Scene ................................ 38

BMCC Magazine 2015 Reach Your Target Market, Raise Your Proﬁle With BMCC

BMCC Magazine is a powerful platform to reach your target audience. We offer editorial and customised sponsorship packages as well as advertising at very competitive rates. Does your company have a good story to tell? Get in touch! We want to hear from you!

Sponsorship and advertisement opportunities available! Deadlines Imminent: Contact: 03 2163 1784 or editor@bmcc.org.my

November-December 2014

Hot Happenings

Join us for our year end celebrations!

November-December 2014

Hot Happenings

BMCC Coffe e Table Boo k

Get Your Copy Now! A unique compilation, spanning 120 pages, of bilateral stories, historical images, interesting anecdotes and quirky customs. A celebration of the achievements that have come about as a result of the long, established relationship between Britain and Malaysia. Published in conjunction with our 50th Anniversary celebrations.

Toast The New Year!

Price: RM180 (w/o slipcase) RM210 (with Limited Edition slipcase) Discounts available for bulk purchases. Contact Andre at BMCC to order your copies! Tel: +603 2163 1784 Email: andre@bmcc.org.my

Hot Pilates - the latest form of exercise for a complete body work-out. By combining Pilates principles with heat, this class covers it all – stretch, cardio and toning for a strong and sculpted body. A series of mat-based exercises performed in a studio kept perfectly heated at 38 to 40 C helps to warm up muscles, allows for a deeper stretch and detoxiÀes the body through the release of toxins in sweat. An effective detox method, Hot Pilates is popular in cities with strong wellness and healthy living attitudes like Los Angeles, Sydney and New York. Available at Urban Spring in Bangsar, a boutique studio with timber Áooring, full-length mirrors, subtle and silent state-of-the art heating system resulting in even heat distribution throughout the room and optimal comfort. Conducted by Urban Spring’s highly qualiÀed instructors, sessions are limited to 16 clients ensuring a personable and focused experience every class. www.urban-spring.com

November-December 2014

Trade Talk

Welcome BACK! Sri Lanka - she spent the Àrst eight years of her life living in Ipoh, Perak, giving her an inborn afÀnity with all things Asian. Her career with the Foreign & Commonwealth OfÀce has spanned a wide range of postings in locations as diverse as Islamabad to Mumbai to New Zealand and now Malaysia. She also spent four years as UK Trade & Investment’s Director for the North West of England covering Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester & Merseyside and Cheshire, living in Liverpool during this time. Her role was to drive the international trade & investment agenda as a key pillar of regional economic development.

MCC is delighted to welcome Her Excellency Victoria Treadell CMG MVO – or Vicki as she likes to be known - to her new role as British High Commissioner [Designate] to Malaysia.

Since arriving in mid-October, her feet have hardly touched the ground with ofÀcial appointments, meeting business leaders and attending events. The Remembrance Day Service, dinner with BMCC Chairman Dato’ Larry Gan, the Shopping is GREAT campaign and KL Fashion Weekend have been high on the agenda so far along with many other commitments. A Malaysian-born Brit – she is the daughter of a Singapore Chinese mother and French/ Dutch father via the Burgher community of

Working with companies to help them internationalise, she learned what makes a business tick and the importance of international trade in a globalised world, an understanding which has given her a special insight into trade at the grassroots level. She was made a Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) in 1989 and a Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in 2010. In 2009 she won the Public Sector Award in the UK’s prestigious Asian Women of Achievement Awards. We look forward to speaking with her in more detail as she settles into her role. In the meantime, follow this digital diplomat as she posts on Twitter @VickiTreadell

Exclusive G2B Opportunity

MCC member companies have the exclusive opportunity to participate in the bi-annual BMCC-JPA Management Programme. A joint initiative between the Chamber and the Malaysian Public Services Department (JPA), the Programme places senior government ofÀcers on secondment into the private sector, giving them a unique insight into British business. This year’s cohort of candidates is of exceptionally high calibre, with all of them holding hold senior positions in a variety of Malaysian Government Departments. Components: 3-month total duration: • Attachment modules with host companies in Malaysia • One-week offsite business management module conducted by leading British business school • 3-week overseas assignment • Production of in-depth project paper based on the interest of the host company. Email: events@bmcc.org.my as soon as possible to register your interest.

TRADE: Making It Happen gathered together to listen, learn and move forward with the Overseas Business Network Initiative Project (OBNI). The central theme of the event was EXPORT, in line with the UK Government’s ambitious target of doubling exports to GBP1 trillion pounds by 2020.

MCC Executive Director Nik Tasha represented the Chamber at the recent International Trade Conference in London which delivered a strong message to companies about the value of exporting. “Onward and Upwards. That was the overarching message of the recent International Trade Conference hosted by the British Chambers of Commerce in London. This is the second year running where different British chambers from around the world

This message was conveyed through a series of engaging talks, sharing of experiences and lively discussions on the successes and challenges of this journey. There was emphasis too on how the various Chambers need to accelerate their activity and value proposition in becoming competent and relevant in this scenario.

by Prime Ministers Najib and Cameron, and the fact that Malaysia is one the largest investors into the UK, the message is clear: We need to make this happen. Encouragement and support was visible throughout the event with, among others, big names such as Anya Hindmarch MBE, Theo Paphitis, former star of Dragon’s Den, and Neil Kuschel, VP of Sales for DHL Express.

It was pleasing to note that Malaysia sits prominently among the high growth markets, particularly where the OBNI has been rolled out.

Since the OBNI was Àrst launched nearly two years ago, there has been a whirlwind of positive movement. The various chambers across the globe, including BMCC in Malaysia, are working hard to drive the level of conÀdence needed to support this initiative and so cementing the Chambers of Commerce in their rightful role – as drivers of business opportunities across international networks.”

That said, with the Bilateral Trade Agreement between Malaysian and the UK signed

Contact anna@bmcc.org.my or jamal@ bmcc.org.my for more on OBNI

November-December 2014

Trade Talk

Economic A OUTLOOK

new initiative by four of the business chambers in Malaysia was kicked off recently with an inaugural VIP Luncheon. Designed to bring together members across networks for sharing of knowledge and understanding of the current business landscape, the initiative is a joint cooperation between the BMCC, MGCC [German Chamber], MFCCI [French Chamber] and MDBC [Dutch Business Council.

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Representatives from each Chamber gathered to hear from guest speaker YB Senator Dato’ Sri Wahid Omar, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, on Malaysia’s Economic Outlook.

Economic Transformation Programme on-track to achieve

Among the points highlighted, he shared with the audience how Sustainability is consolidated into the Malaysian 2015 Budget and gave details of future economic policies that will contribute to Malaysia becoming a high-income nation by 2020. He also outlined speciÀc expectations of the Malaysian Government from the European private sector in the country.

US$444 billion investments and create 3.3 million jobs by 2020 •

Progressing towards GNI of US$600 billion and GNI per capita target US$$18,000 by 2020

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Favourable global rankings in terms of ease of Doing Business and and competitiveness helps to attract FDI and mobilise domestic investors

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Sustainability of natural resource management and Àscal position by reducing overdependence on oil revenues, and continued reduction in budget deÀcit, with balanced budget targeted by 2020

COMBAT Corruption

he subject of corruption is high on the agenda in local business circles so it was timely that BMCC was invited to participate in the recent roundtable discussion event organised the The Expat Group and government body NKRA Against Corruption. Moderated by The Expat Group CEO Andrew Davison, the discussion was led by a panel of key government ofÀcials comprising YB Senator Datuk Paul Low Seng Kuan, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Mustafar bin Ali, Deputy Chief Commissioner (Prevention), MACC and Datuk Hisham bin Nordin, Director, NKRA Against Corruption. Held at The Majestic Hotel, the event was attended by business leaders and dignitaries keen to learn more about the progress in Àghting corruption and take part in a frank and open dialogue with the people tasked with this crusade. Corruption in any country seriously hampers foreign investment and ultimately keeps the country from progressing. Malaysians, while largely sceptical of any real change taking place, are increasingly speaking out about corruption. “Political will has to be there,” Datuk Paul explained, “but social demand drives that will. The Government is now feeling the pressure to address corruption in a very real way, from top down.”

The panellists explained that in order for this evolution to take place, and to shift Malaysia from welfare politics to principle politics, the Àrst order of business is to strengthen the institutions tasked with identifying, enforcing and prosecuting corruption. The MACC, the Royal Malaysian Police, the Auditor General, the judiciary, even the laws themselves – all must be fortiÀed to give the Àght against graft the best chance for long-term success. Input from the Áoor highlighted that there is a serious perception problem when it comes to the anti-corruption effort in Malaysia, and that this perception disconnect actually informs reality. “People don’t see the effort or the results coming from that effort,” one attendee said, “so they don’t think anything is changing.” “Government needs to be more responsive,” Datuk Paul agreed. “It needs to put forth a better face and deliver a stronger message.” As the two other panellists added, “Malaysia is quite good when it comes to having good intentions and crafting policies, but disappointingly poor when it comes to execution and communication.” The session was deemed constructive and fruitful, giving the MACC and NKRA the opportunity to share its many positive accomplishments while genuinely listening to frank concerns and suggestions from the international business community.

November-December 2014

Trade Talk

Sarawak:

Here We Come! A

s part of its mission to reach out to a wider network, BMCC recently organised a delegation tour to Sarawak. An action-packed programme saw the group from BMCC arrive in Bintulu to start with a briefing on the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy [SCORE] Project. Led by Tan Sri Datuk Amar Wilson, CEO of RECODA, the brieÀng gave the delegation the chance to hear Àrst-hand some of the eye-popping statistics of this economic corridor. In terms of land area, SCORE is the second largest of the Àve national corridors, with an area of more than 70,000sq km and a population of more than 600,000. In terms of resources, a long coastline of over 1,000km, over 8 million hectares of forests, plus almost 5 million hectares of arable land and peat land suitable for agriculture are complemented by 1.2 billion barrels of known oil reserves, over 80 million tonnes of Silica sand and over 22 million tonnes of Kaolin of China clay, a key component of cosmetics, ceramics and, most recent, for combat area medical equipment.

10 8

Armed with this background, the group headed next to Samalaju, the vast Industrial Zone that is being developed as part of SCORE, including a deepwater draught port. Visits to Tokuyama Polycrystalline Silicon Project and Press Metal Bintulu were also part of the itinerary. Tokuyama has built two plants at Samalaju for the production of polycrystalline silicon, a key component in the production of solar cells while Press Metal, is the leading aluminium extruder in Malaysia. Then it was over to Kuching for a networking session with the Dayak Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) and a friendly golf game with members of the Sarawak business community followed by lunch hosted by Cahya Mata Sarawak.

November-December 2014

Trade Talk

The Ă&#x20AC;nale of the trip was the Gala Dinner to mark the 63rd Anniversary of the Sarawak Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) in the presence of Guest of Honour Chief Minister of Sarawak Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem. Feedback from participants indicated that the delegation tour provided invaluable insights into the signiĂ&#x20AC;cant opportunities in the State.

November-December 2014

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Report Back

Inspiring SMEs

Top Right: Osman Morad CEO of Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia with Pat Liew, BritishIndia and Ana Garcia de Baranano, Archer Bahari Right: Xavier Mah, Founder of XALF Design and Xavier Mah Consultancy Below: Eddie Hu of Standard Chartered Bank Bottom: Malaysian design icon Dato’ Tom Abang SauÀ

nspired SMEs are the future, but in order to excel, it is essential to provide them with the correct support and guidance. That was the message that came across loud and clear during the recent BMCC Power Lunch organised in collaboration with Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia and Prestige Malaysia. Held at the Grand Millennium Kuala Lumpur, the event was attended by a sizeable crowd of members and guests who arrived to hear from the panel of speakers, each from different backgrounds.

Osman Morad, Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia CEO introduced the session by highlighting that with the tranche of SME incentives announced in the 2015 Budget, the next step was how to leverage this for the beneÀt of the SMEs in Malaysia, which represent some 90 percent of registered businesses in the country. Andrew Tan, Founder of Andrew’s Models and organiser of KL Fashion Week, said in trying to create a platform for local designers to raise their proÀle in international markets, it becomes very challenging because there is no one-stop agency. “It’s a slow process and while many of the individual government bodies are supportive, there is a lack of cohesion so it becomes very time-consuming to lobby each one and then obtain the right level of support in a timely manner.” He added that it is important for local designers trying to break into the international market to travel and build their conÀdence in that way. “People can still shop local but it needs to look global.” Top Malaysian Designer Dato’ Tom Abang SauÀ said that while it may be relatively easy to obtain capital, knowing how to utilise that capital and having a proper business plan are fundamental. “You have to create something that delivers value to your customers. Whether it’s well-made, comfortable clothing or a business service, you need to identify what your customers are looking for.” Xavier Mah, Founder of XALF Design and Xavier Mah Consultancy explained how he had learned to be iindependent from a very young age and this had sserved him well in business. “Tapping into a niche market, any market, requires tenacity and a belief m in your brand.

November-December 2014

Report Back

“But you must remain practical and realistic. Yes have dreams and visions but make sure they can be implemented.” Rhoda Yap, CEO of iconic Malaysian brand BritishIndia, said, “Retail is all about detail. Getting those collections to the stores on time every time requires meticulous planning and attention to detail with rigourous processes and quality controls every step of the way. “It is also important to be able to articulate and communicate your idea well. As for banks, they are only m iinterested in one thing: Risk. Credit risk: what is your credit history? Capacity risk: how reliable is your business? Collateral risk: what do you have? “When it comes to moving a brand abroad, it is vital to ensure that you can maintain consistency. If you are working with partners, it is essential that they share the same values and ethics as you.” Eddie Hu, Executive Director & Head, Commercial Clients at Standard Chartered Bank echoed these sentiments and went on to outline the key factors for success in taking a brand across borders. “There’s no denying taking a brand across borders takes guts and sheer perseverance. It needs a sstrong tro ron ro on brand and good management team. But it’s also important to have the right banking partner, one that understands your business and has the right infrastructure in the market you are intending to expand to.”

Above: Rhoda Yap (right), CEO of BritishIndia Right: Andrew Tan (far right), Founder Andrew’s Models & KL Fashion Week Organiser

November-December N emb Nov emberer-Dec Decemb ember er 2014 2 4 201

Report Back

HI-LEVEL Networking N

etworking doesn’t get much higher than this! Not only was the venue the sky high Marini’s on Level 57 of KLCC’s Tower 3, but the business leaders that attended were from the top echelons of their respective Àelds. The occasion? A special networking session hosted by the BMCC for members to meet the newly arrived British High Commissioner [Designate] HE Vicki Treadell [above right, second from left]. The breathtaking views of the city skyline were accompanied by chilled bubbles and delicious canapes, all of which helped provide a stylish setting for the informal meet-and-greet session with Her Excellency.

November-December 2014

Report Back

Expediting SERVICE expatriate i talent, l especially i ll those h with expertise needed by priority sectors spearheading Malaysia’s economic transformation.

MCC teamed up recently with TalentCorp and The Expat Group to present the latest updates on the Expatriate Services Division (ESD). The ESD is part of the Immigration Department of Malaysia and was launched to meet the aspirations of the Economic Transformation Programme to attract more highly skilled expatriates to the country.

The transformation of the ESD was executed through a joint cooperation between the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration Department and TalentCorp, marking another milestone in the enhancement of public service delivery in immigrarvice tion services. It offers an integrated service covering expatriate needs for Employment Pass, Dependent Pass, Social Visit Pass, Professional Visit Pass and Resident Pass-

ESD Assistant Director Syamil Chelvam Shah gave a comprehensive brieÀng on the services offered by the Division and changes in the Immigration Department. ESD is set up to act as an centralised service delivery channel, offering efÀcient, seamless services to expatriates and their dependants. The ESD is aimed at streamlining and enhancing immigration service delivery for

November-December 2014

Talent. Acting as a one-stop centre for expatriates, the ESD provides a single channel for expatriates or companies to submit all expatriate-related immigration matters via an integrated data platform which enables online applications. Held at Aloft Kuala Lumpur Sentral and attended by 60 BMCC members and guests, the event included a Q&A with Mr Shah and Siva Kumaren, Head of Foreign Talent Facilitation Division of TalentCorp.

Cover Story

The world is full of people thinking up new ideas, inventing new ways to do things, coming up with smarter solutions for life’s challenges. Some of them are so far ahead of their time, it’s often hard for us to understand how they can possibly work. Remember when the internet was ﬁrst born for example? Now it’s the lifeblood of virtually everything we are and do. Other innovations can be a simple twist on an established idea, one that brings a complete step change. Innovation is vital for the world to become a better, smarter place. Whether in medicine, energy, automotive, education, outer space even. Turn the page to learn more.

n o i t a v o n In n o i t a r i p s In

November-December November-December2014 2014

Cover Story

INNOVATION In Action BT Global Services represents a formidable force when it comes to innovation. The numbers are huge, in terms of people, investment in R&D and value of the solutions deilvered. We talk to Steve Masters, VP of BT Customer Innovation & Solution Design to Ànd out more. What’s the role of Customer Innovation & Design? The world is absolutely jam-packed with new ideas and innovations; our job is to Àlter out the innovations that are relevant to our customers’ businesses and put these to practical use today. We are a global team of approximately 900 innovation specialists, directly and indirectly responsible for approximately £7 billion in contractual revenue.

How does your work Àt within BT’s wider innovation capabilities? BT currently employs approximately 14,000 scientists and technologists around the globe. Some work from BT hubs – one of which is in Malaysia - others from universities with whom we have association agreements. The most important innovation hub is Adastral Park in Suffolk, UK, where around 4,000 people are based. Alongside BT, there are another 50 or so technology companies located there with whom we do joint development. These include companies like Microsoft and Cisco but also smaller niche players. This kind of R&D work is obviously an important source of innovation that we can put to use for customers. We also have a team of innovation scouts located at the world’s hottest innovation spots, such as Silicon Valley and around Asia. They keep track of the most exciting technology trends and startups so that we can assess what is relevant for our customers.

What is ‘Open Innovation’? The innovation process is part and parcel of our work with customers. We work with them to explore relevant ideas and technologies and subsequently design a solution that is customised to their needs. If that innovation turns out to be relevant to other customers then we industrialise that offering and make it a part of our global product portfolio. For example, BT Trace is a supply chain and logistics service that originally came out of a project with a logistics customer. We built it as a solution for an individual customer and subsequently turned it into a product that is available to all customers globally.

What trends are having the biggest impact? Trends in end-user computing such as IT consumerisation are hugely signiÀcant and relevant for every customer we have. They have an impact on organisations that deal with consumers but

November-December 2014

Cover Story

Worldwide portfolio of over 4,300 patents and applications with 69 ideas and inventions Àled in 2012-13 alone also on B2B companies because employees also want to interact with different tools today. Most companies today are confronted by employees who have their own bewildering array of smartphones and tablets that they want to use for work purposes, which ushers in the whole BYOD question. For example 84 percent of business execs want mobile access securely to the corporate network. Letting employees use their own devices at work can also have cost beneÀts with savings of between $300 to $1300 per employee per year. There is a massive shift going on in the Cloud Space with total spend on cloud solutions expected to top $210 billion by 2016, nearly double the $110 billion spent in 2012. Cloud covers consumerbased content and applications such as the Amazons of the world, and enterprise-level business applications/data. Large businesses are all reassessing how they best organise and deliver their core business applications. And on the supplier side, companies like Microsoft, Cisco and BT are also increasingly delivering their services from the cloud. The other dimension here is the green initiative where cloud has the potential to deliver signiÀcant reductions in carbon footprint. Virtualised servers means reduced cooling requirements and therefore reduced energy consumption. The Ànal area is connectivity, the connective tissue between the user and the cloud. This covers networks but also collaboration tools and security measures. Ultimately everything relies on the network. To that end, we are working to attract more young people to the world of science and technology. BT is at the heart of pretty much everything that goes on in business life. And that makes it a very exciting place to be.

www.globalservices.bt.com

Digital PRIORITY I

n a prime example of how innovation can be used by organisations to help them stay ahead in the game, Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia has set a global benchmark with the launch of its Àrst ever Priority Banking App. The team at Standard Chartered Malaysia was behind the development of the solution and Malaysia is the Àrst country in the Bank’s global network to roll out the App. Alina Tan, Acting Head of Priority & International Clients, says the rationale behind the App is to provide a differentiated experience to customers. “The majority of our Priority Banking customers are business owners and many of them travel a great deal. As a result, they may have been missing out on investment opportunities, the latest Ànancial updates or a particular event.” With the Priority App, these busy individuals now have instant access to the latest market news and updates, as well as promotions and exclusive events – the App also includes an RSVP option for customers to sign up on the spot for events that they wish to attend with details being automatically transferred into their Calendar. “A key feature of the App is the ability for these customers to directly connect now with their Relationship Manager [RM] while on the go. We all know the challenges of trying to reach people by phone sometimes, especially when travelling. As such the App becomes a real-time communications platform and enables a new level of customised interaction between the customer and the RM,” says Alina. For the Relationship Managers, who are each serving large numbers of Priority Banking customers, the App will provide them with a valuable tool for managing their client portfolio. Appointments can be scheduled more easily, speciÀc customer interests can be managed more effectively and tailored updates can be provided to customers. “Going digital is an important part of our strategy in the Retail sector. The Priority Banking App helps elevate the on-boarding experience for our customers with their RM.” The App is available for download from the App Store and Google Play. A version is also available for non-Standard Chartered customers.

www.sc.com

Real-Time Scheduler Freedom to view and manage appointments with Relationship Manager in real-time. Market Watch Latest updates about the market and investments regardless of location Promotions & Privileges Updates on on-going campaigns and promotions offered Invitations To Exclusive Events PLUS: • News and announcements from the Bank • Info on other Standard Chartered mobile apps like Breeze or The Good Life • Branch directory

November-December 2014

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Cover Story

Rosetta Probe To Ground Control Getting a constant signal on our mobile phones is sometimes a challenge even in the city. Imagine then the complexities involved in sending images and data over a distance of millions of miles. This, among many others, was the challenge for the team behind the Rosetta Probe mission.

uman kind made history recently when the Àrst ever landing on a comet was carried out. The landing was made by Philae, a component of the Rosetta space probe, which is about the size of a domestic washing machine but with a wingspan of over 100 feet. Rosetta was built and launched by the European Space Agency and designed to perform the Àrst ever study of a comet - in this case the 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. Launched over ten years ago on 2 March 2004 on an Ariane 5 rocket, Rosetta reached the comet on 6 August this year, becoming the Àrst spacecraft ever to orbit a comet. The mission is controlled from the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC), in Darmstadt, Germany.

Making It All Possible A key component of the cutting-edge technology behind the ground-breaking mission was revealed recently. Developed by BAE Systems at its Advanced Technology Centre in Essex, UK, it is in essence an incredibly

powerful ‘smartphone’-like system to enable the European Space Agency to communicate with and control the movements of the probe. All this while moving at speeds of up to 55,000 kilometres an hour, more than 500 million kilometres away. The BAE Systems' technology was also responsible for enabling the simply breathtaking imagery of the comet and scientiÀc data captured by Rosetta to be received back on Earth. The system, known as the Intermediate Frequency Modem System (or IFMS), is capable of measuring Rosetta’s speed to within fractions of a millimetre per second and its distance to within a metre anywhere in the Solar System. Bearing in mind the comet in question is Àve times the distance that Earth is from the Sun. IFMS also features a highly sensitive receiver that can pick-up the incredibly weak signals sent back to Earth from the probe, converting them into data that can be used to communicate the probe’s Àndings.

November-December 2014

Nick James, BAE Systems' lead engineer for the project, said: “Approaching, orbiting, and landing on a comet requires delicate and supremely accurate manoeuvres. The target comet is a relatively small object about 4 kilometres in diameter, moving at incredible speeds through the solar system. ”To help make any of this possible, what we have done, in layman’s terms, is create a ‘smart phone’ for inter-planetary communication that gives ESA the capability to communicate with and control the Rosetta probe throughout its 10-year mission as it travels more than Àve times Earth’s distance from the Sun. “Launched in 2004, Rosetta has spent a decade chasing 67P. In an age where high-tech can often mean ‘short life’, for example renewing your smartphone every 18 months, IFMS was designed to provide cutting-edge performance for decades.” Deployed in European Space Agency ground stations around the globe, IFMS has supported some of the most successful European enterprises in space including Herschel (the ESA space telescope), Mars Express, and Venus Express. The BAE Systems’ team is now working on the next generation of IFMS, the Telemetry Telecommand and Control Processor (TTCP) to take the system into future decades.

www.baesystems.com

Cover Story

Innovation PROTECTION It all began about 750 years ago, with bread, when the English parliament passed legislation that required all bakers to use a distinctive mark on their bread, so that a customer could determine the origin of the product they purchased. This eventually evolved into trade mark law, which today is used to protect brands all over the world. Chris Hemingway explains.

ut is brand protection important? As a CEO of Coca-Cola® once said: ‘All our factories and facilities could burn down tomorrow but you’d hardly touch the value of the company; all that lies in the goodwill of our brand franchise and the collective knowledge in the company’. Coca-Cola® is recognised as one of the most valuable brands in the world, and has a current estimated worth of around US$100 billion! If it did not have trademarks to protect its brand, the value would be far lower. It can be quite difÀcult to prove the value of a brand. Take Panadol® for example, a registered trade mark owned by GSK® for the well-known drug paracetamol. Each Panadol® tablet costs around 70 cents. ‘Generic’ unbranded paracetamol however can be purchased for a signiÀcantly lower price. The difference (around 90 percent of the cost) is largely due to the marketing power of the brand, giving the consumer conÀdence in the product due to the reputation of the company. So what can be done to protect brands and products from being copied. Let’s go back a few centuries to Ànd out. From the early 1400’s, monopolies were being granted by the English Crown to workers to produce or provide particular goods or services. This system was regularly abused by the Crown however since it was used to raise money. Following a public outcry, new legislation was passed - the Statute of Monopolies in 1624 - which revoked all existing monopolies, and only allowed new inventions to be protected. This stimulated innovation, led to the industrial revolution, and became the foundation for patent laws around the world.

In modern times, patents are generally considered to be the most important intellectual property right for protecting innovation, as they typically provide the broadest scope of protection for inventions. The main criteria for obtaining a patent is that the concept has to be ‘novel’ - not publicly disclosed anywhere in the world - and ‘inventive’ - not obvious to a skilled person. If there is a disclosure by the inventor himself then Malaysian law allows for a one-year grace period to Àle a patent application before it is considered not novel. In addition to patents, Malaysian law also provides for a similar type of right known as a Utility Innovation, whereby the innovation only has to be novel, but not inventive, which means that it is usually easier to obtain grant. Both rights give the owner a monopoly for up to 20 years. Patents can become very valuable to a company. Consider for example the US legal action in recent years between Apple® and Samsung®, where the jury awarded over US$1billion against Samsung for its wilful infringement of several of Apple’s patents. It is also noticeable that when a pharmaceutical patent expires, the original drug owner tends to reduce prices of its products in order to compete with the generic drug manufacturers who can make the same product at a fraction of the cost – unless of course their branding has become so powerful that it can support the higher price. But while the patent is in force, the owner has a monopoly for its product and can charge a higher price accordingly. So does every innovator need a patent? No. Coca Cola® does not hold any patents on its secret formula because it prefers to

maintain this as a trade secret – remember, patents provide a monopoly in exchange for sharing the knowledge through publication. In addition, some may say that it takes so long to obtain grant of a patent - typically 4-5 years - that it is not worth protecting the invention in fast-moving industries such as software. Nevertheless, if Larry Page and Sergy Brin had not patented the search algorithm they invented, they would not have received venture-capital funding for their start-up company, and the world would be without Google®. So how do you work out what to do? Simple - get advice early on. Most professional intellectual property advisors will provide preliminary advice for free. This will help to ensure that your innovations are appropriately protected and minimise the risks to your business.

Dr Chris Hemingway is a Director of Marks & Clerk (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, and holds a PhD in Microbiology from the University of Warwick. He is qualiÀed as a Chartered UK Patent Attorney, a European Patent Attorney, a European Trade Mark & Design Attorney, and a Malaysian Patent, Trade Mark & Design Agent. He is also a fellow of the UK Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA), represents Malaysia on the Patents Committee for the Asian Patent Attorneys Association (APAA), is listed as an expert for Malaysia on the ASEAN IPR SME Helpdesk, and has been named as an IP Star in the World IP Survey 2014 conducted by Managing Intellectual Property. Marks & Clerk is one of the largest intellectual property Àrms in the world, providing advice on patents, trade marks, designs and copyright several jurisdictions including Malaysia. Chris is available for initial consultations on intellectual property at no charge. Tel: +603 2162 8986 Email: chemingway@marks-clerk.com.my

November-December 2014

Cover Story

Designing DEVICES M

ultiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic debilitating inÁammatory disease of the central nervous system. It currently affects 2.5 million people worldwide. Patients often have to live with symptoms such as blurred vision, cognitive impairment and poor co-ordination. Presently there is no curative treatment; instead there are several disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) that aim to control the disease course, including preventing relapse, and slowing disease as well as disability progression.1 Due to the chronic nature of MS, people may live with the disease for several decades.2 One particular treatment (interferon beta-1b) has shown impressive results by reducing all-cause mortality by 47 percent at 21 years in patients who received the treatment within their Àrst two years of therapy, when compared with placebo.3 But despite the beneÀts of this promising form of MS therapy, it still faces one major issue – adherence. Poor patient adherence to interferon beta1b is often the result of adverse events relating to injectable therapies, like anxiety of injecting,1 injection site pain and injection site reactions. These occur more often if patients inject into the skin rather than the muscle, and because interferon beta-1b is injected into the skin this can greatly affect how patients adhere to their treatment schedule. MS patients have to follow their treatment protocol to prevent relapse, or risk further endangering their health.3 Owen Mumford, a global specialist in the design, development and manufacture of medical devices, has come up with a solution that is changing all this. It has created an original injection device for Extavia®, an interferon beta-1b from Novartis, based on its clinically robust and successful auto-injector platform: the Autoject®2. This platform not only helps minimise pain and site reactions, but also makes injecting easier and reduces patient anxiety.

Feedback from MS patients was clear: convenience and ease of use were rated as the most important factors for an auto-injector. This information led to the development of the new device, still based on the Autoject®2 platform technology, but further reÀned for MS patients®.

Engineering Design The new device - ExtaviPro® 30G - is more ergonomically designed, assisting onehanded use and boosting patient conÀdence when injecting.4 As needle diameter is associated with greater pain and site reactions, the ExtaviPro® 30G retains the use of a 30 gauge needle, the thinnest in the market.3,5 Constant force spring technology was also included to enhance ease of use. In spite of all the prior research however there was one vital element still missing that could make or break the product: how did the new ExtaviPro® 30G compare to its competitors, and more crucially what did patients think?

Patient Response When comparing the ExtaviPro® 30G with a competitor device, 86 percent of patients said they preferred the ExtaviPro® 30G. The most common reasons for this were the ergonomic shape of the device, easy operation, reach and being able to inject one-handed. Other areas where the ExtaviPro® 30G outperformed included intuitive use and ability to read the display. All these attributes are associated with convenience, which is an important factor that increases adherence and can shift patient preference from one auto-injector to another.4

Findings It is clear that the problem of low adherence can be minimised by designing devices

November-December 2014

Multiple Sclerosis currently affects

2.5 million

people worldwide

that not only push boundaries in terms of their technology, but keep in mind patient needs. The ExtaviPro® 30G has been shown to solve some aspects of low adherence, and as a result increases drug administration. With greater adherence, there are not only better health outcomes for patients, but also better revenue outcomes for pharmaceutical companies.

Regional Presence Owen Mumford is now expanding its regional footprint in APAC with the opening of new operations in Kuala Lumpur. The new facility will streamline the supply of specialist medical devices for capillary blood testing and drug delivery to healthcare organisations across the ASEAN region. The company provides a range of innovative solutions and branded products including auto-injectors, insulin pens, lancets and pen needles designed to make it easier to treat chronic diseases such as diabetes. It also provides a custom design and manufacturing solution where it works with some of the world’s largest pharmaceutical and medical device companies to develop effective devices to deliver their drug formulations. Paula Staples, Project Director – APAC Tel: +6012 202 3158 Email: Paula.staples@ owenmumford.co.uk; Billy Chuah, Regional Manager – APAC Tel: +6012 478 9009 Email: Billy.chuah@owenmumford.co.uk Footnotes: 1. Menzin J, Caon C, Nichols C, White L, Friedman M, Pill MW. Narrative Review of the Literature on Adherence to Disease-Modifying Therapies among Patients with MS. Supplement to JMCP 2013; 19(1-a):S24–33. 2. DH Long-term Conditions NSF Team. National Service Framework for Long-term Conditions. Gateway Reference 4377, 2005. 3. Boeru G et al. ExtaciJect®30G device for subcutaneous self-injection of interferon beta 1-b for MS: Prospective European Study. Medical Devices: Evidence and Research. 2013; 6:175–184. 4. Thakur K, Manuel L, Tomlinson M. Autoinjectors for administration of interferon beta-1b in MS: patient preferences, ExtaviPro™30G and Betacomfort® devices. Pragmatic & Observational Research. 2013; 4:19–26. 5. Kozubski W. Autoinjector Improves Injection-related Tolerability Issues in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis – Exploring the New ExtaviJect™ 30G system for the injection of Interferon Beta-1b. European Neurological Review. 2010; 5(2):77–81.

Cover Story

Going DEEP The harsh demands placed on offshore vessels and on board equipment continue to increase as oil & gas exploration and production moves into deeper and deeper waters.

he number of wells in waters of more than 1,500 metres water depth [1.5km!] will increase substantially in coming years, creating a need for a number of offshore construction and installation vessels capable of operating in deep seas. Establishing new ways of working safely at even greater depths while maximising operating efÀciency and productivity are just two of the many challenges facing operators today. With this in mind, engineering and development teams at Rolls-Royce are constantly striving to harness innovation in order to partner with clients and so enhance their operations. For example, its multi-purpose aft deck systems for offshore vessels can be integrated into uniÀed solutions that meet speciÀc operating requirements. Equipment that uses Àbre rope and active heave compensation enables vessels to execute operations in deep waters, even in harsh weather conditions, extending the time they can remain on station and their operational area.

In one example, Rolls-Royce has recently signed a major contract to supply a complete module handling system to the subsea construction vessel Aker Wayfarer. Valued at £24million, the contract marks the largest single subsea vessel project ever undertaken by Rolls-Royce. The contract is with Ocean Yield ASA, and the vessel is under long term charter with AKOFS Offshore. The 157m long, 16,000t Aker Wayfarer will be modiÀed to allow for the deepwater installation and retrieval of subsea equipment; subsea trees and modules, including subsea structures and manifolds. Built in 2010 by Vard Søviknes, the vessel will undergo project modiÀcation work at Kleven's Myklebust Verft yard in Norway. The Rolls-Royce automated handling system consists of a complete tower structure, skid system, deepwater lifting system as well as power units and controls. The deepwater lifting system is a Fibre Rope Deployment System, based on its patented Cable Traction Control Unit technology. The equipment is due for a delivery in early 2016.

John Knudsen, Rolls-Royce President Commercial Marine, said: "This a very important contract for Rolls-Royce and it shows that the offshore industry has taken yet another step in accepting the superior performance of synthetic Àbre rope for lifting operations in deep and ultra-deep waters." A similar system was installed by Rolls-Royce in 2009 onboard the AKOFS-operated subsea equipment support vessel Skandi Santos, which has now been on contract with Petrobras for nearly Àve years. The vessel has successfully installed and retrieved subsea trees and modules in water depths up to 2,300 metres – more than 2km below the surface!

www.rolls-royce.com

Rolls-Royce is constantly striving to harness innovation to help customers work safely at even greater depths while maximising operating efÀciency and productivity.

November-December November-December2014 2014

Cover Story

POWER To The People By Qusai Sarraf CEO of Global Multi-Channel Expert IVIS Group

hen talking about innovation, there’s a tendency to focus on technology. But it’s people that make it happen so it’s a combination of both that will ultimately decide whether new business models and initiatives work. Nurturing relationships on every level within the business team and with the customer is key for the transition from single to multi-channel. Retailers will go from bricks and mortar operations to selling across multiple channels through education, strategic consulting, services and technology.

Framework For Change This is crucial in the changing retail landscape. The customer is in control because they now have the ability to take their business elsewhere. They hold the power, which means retailers must now approach everything they do from a customer-centric point of view. In order to build customer relationships successfully, a business needs to be fully aligned. The lynchpin is complete collaboration; different cultures between online and ofÁine teams should cease to exist as retailing is a continuous cycle of activity - it will never again be about one transaction. IVIS Group has developed a framework for retailers called AACCI, covering alignment, agility, customer centricity, collaboration and innovation. The Àve steps help businesses engender a culture of change, enable successful communication and achieve their goal of understanding, serving and adapting to customer requirements more effectively. How customers search online has an impact on how retailers merchandise products, enabling them to enrich and transform product information in line with customer language and expectations. For example, searching for a wedding outÀt will have a myriad of associated terms that could lead a consumer to their desired products. By harnessing customer browsing habits, retailers can use previously unsuccessful online searches to their advantage - dy-

The need to differentiate, innovate and propagate your business is crucial to survive in today’s retail market. The game has changed. Multichannel in Malaysia will happen - it’s not a question of if, but when. namically adjusting product information to make it easy and intuitive for customers to Ànd what they want. IVIS Group’s Sonnetto platform incorporates a sophisticated and innovative business rules solution as it learns from customer behaviour.

onds. All contactless payment NFC terminals are set to £3 – the customer can pay with a card or previously downloaded mobile banking app, then get on with their day. The process is quick and offers customers a genuine feeling of satisfaction.

However they choose to shop, consumers will research, complete their transaction then share their experience. The retailer needs to be present at all stages of the shopping journey.

The British fashion industry is also known as a great innovator. Alongside the government, it sees education as key to long-term growth and success. To this end, the British Fashion Council is working with well-known brands and retailers in the UK to generate

Synchronisation Is Key Promotions, for example, need to be available across all channels. Research shows that 25-30 percent of all products are purchased on promotion. Synchronisation instore and online is vital and to ensure no customer feels neglected, depending on the shopping platform they are using. Synchronising promotions, and at the same time targeting segments and drilling down into one-to-one marketing will help retailers build Ànely-tuned, relationships with customers and allow businesses to innovate. The promotions management module of Sonetto enables promotions to be rolled out easily and effectively across multiple channels.

Innovation In Retail Innovative business models need to be devised from the customers’ perspective. Malaysia’s largest national grocery retailer Mydin has recently adopted click and collect, implementing the service instore and at Light Rail Transit stations for maximum convenience. Tesco has a special research team (Tesco Labs) to explore innovative ideas to further customer experience. Aware of how valuable time is for those buying Tesco’s set price lunchtime meal deal in the UK, it has looked at eliminating checkouts completely to cut transaction time down to Àve sec-

November-December 2014

“Synchronising promotions and drilling down to oneto-one marketing will help retailers build relationships with customers and allow businesses to innovate.” investment in talented individuals studying in the fashion industry, while UK fashion retailers are pioneers in the use of innovative technology that supports the shopping experience. Brands such as Burberry, Tesco’s clothing brand F&F and ASOS have used an array of customer-enhancing technology such as facial recognition, RFID-triggered store video and window-based purchasing. Creating good experiences is key to survival in today’s market. Clarity for the customer is vital - retailers need to work towards presenting a clear business model and an unconfused brand. People, processes and technology will all play a part in the innovation required to succeed in multi-channel retailing.

www.ivisgroup.com

Cover Story

Driving INNOVATION C

ompeting in the most technologically advanced racing series in the world requires dedication, creativity and a microscopic attention to detail. In Formula 1, if you’re not innovating you’re going backwards. This philosophy resides at the heart of the McLaren Group. For example, McLaren Racing formulates and delivers an upgrade to the McLaren Mercedes MP4-29 every 17 minutes, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and analyses 6.5 billion pieces of data from both cars over a race to work out where further improvements may lie. The relentless rate of development needed to remain at the pinnacle of motorsport has become second nature to a company that has been competing for over 50 years. Today that instinct is now seeded into every McLaren activity. Indeed, pioneering discovery and honing applications - the dayto-day stock-in-trade of the Group - are also delivering real-world beneÀts outside of motor racing.

Innovating Off The Track McLaren Applied Technologies (MAT) harnesses the signiÀcant R&D, technical expertise and innovative spirit borne out of Formula 1, and applies its intellect and ap-

proach to improve the performance and product development of blue chip companies in other industries. For example, a long-standing partnership with GSK sees MAT providing biotelemetry systems for clinical trial, while also improving the efÀciency of their global manufacturing operations. MAT is also contributing expertise in data management and simulation techniques, developed in Formula 1, to improve the efÀciency of some of the world’s busiest airports, while a partnership with Stowhealth, which draws on MAT’s expertise in data collection and analysis, is helping to tackle the problem of obesity.

The car’s electric motor, developed under the aegis of MAT, cuts fuel consumption in urban areas, while also providing instant torque. It is the very same motor that will soon power every car in the new Formula E racing series, and will no doubt inÁuence the design of future electric vehicles.

McLaren Automotive, meanwhile, is similarly committed to innovation. The McLaren P1™, which has been described as the most technologically advanced car in the world, exploits the company’s proven capabilities in aerodynamics and lightweight carbon Àbre to offer groundbreaking levels of performance combined with high levels of efÀciency.

The McLaren 650S, the latest addition to the portfolio, takes that extreme level of performance to a larger scale of production. It offers the most technologically advanced car of its kind to drivers who demand an exacting level of luxury and performance. It has been designed and developed to provide the ultimate in driver engagement both on the road and on the race track.

www.mclaren.com

November-December November-December2014 2014

Cover Story

Science Is The FUTURE

Digital DISSECT

cience has come along since the 17th century but it was Sir Isaac Newton, renowned English physicist and mathematician, who was one of the pioneers in revealing a deep understanding of the physical world across several dimensions. In optics, his discovery of the composition of white light integrated the phenomena of colours into the science of light and laid the foundation for modern physical optics. In mechanics, his three laws of motion, the basic principles of modern physics, resulted in the formulation of the law of universal gravitation. In mathematics, he was responsible for the discovery of inÀnitesimal calculus. Three and a half centuries later, scientists and mathematicians continue to expound new theories and come up with innovations that are changing the world we live in.

“For the Àrst year of its Àve year duration, the Fund has allocated up to RM41.6 million to help strengthen links between higher education, research institutions and businesses.” Now, thanks to a new initiative jointly funded by the UK and Malaysian governments, researchers in Malaysia are set to beneÀt from a wave of grants that will help foster innovation in science. The Newton-Ungku Omar Fund aims to strengthen research and innovation partnerships. Particular focus will be on research that tackles global challenges like urbanisation; food and energy security; and meeting the social and economic needs of a growing and ageing population. For the Àrst year of its Àve year duration, the Fund has allocated up to RM41.6 million (£8 million) to help strengthen links between higher education and research institutions and businesses. The Àrst round will be delivered by the British Council Malaysia.

Deputy British High Commissioner Paul Rennie said, “Discovering the laws of motion and gravity made Sir Isaac Newton one of the most inÁuential scientists in history. Professor Dato' Ungku Omar bin Ahmad also made great contributions to the advancement of medical science. “The Newton-Ungku Omar Fund will create new opportunities to enhance our bilateral relationship and for UK and Malaysian scientists to work together on potentially life-changing research and innovation initiatives.” The Newton–Ungku Omar programme is intended to make a substantial impact to the overarching theme of climate change and sustainability. It will support building skills and knowledge among scientists and researchers through study tours and exchanges, collaborative research programmes and the application of research into the market. The Fund is expected to advance the Science to Action initiative undertaken by the Government of Malaysia, intensifying the application of science and technology for development, people's well-being and governance of science, technology and industry. Director of the British Council Malaysia Gavin Anderson added, ‘We are delighted to be one of the key delivery partners supporting this new world-class collaboration. We are conÀdent that the NewtonUngku Omar Fund will become a major new platform for sustainable and mutually beneÀcial collaboration.” The Newton Fund is administered by the UK’s Department for Business, Innovation & Skills and contributes to the UK’s OfÀcial Development Assistance (ODA) commitment. The fund allows the UK to use its strength in research and innovation to promote the economic development and social welfare of partner countries. The Malaysia element, the Newton-Ungku Omar Fund, is coordinated by the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT) and the British High Commission on behalf of the UK Government and delivery partners.

www.britishcouncil.my/newton-ungku-omar-fund

November-December 2014

Malaysian company is behind groundbreaking technology that is revolutionising the way autopsies are carried out. And the UK is the Àrst country in the world to set up state-of-the art noninvasive Digital Autopsy Facilities using the technology.

The facilities offer a signiÀcant step forward in establishing the cause of unnatural death using sophisticated visualisation software and a scanner rather than a scalpel. Two facilities have been opened so far, the Àrst in ShefÀeld and the second in Bradford, with a plan to roll out further 16 across England and Wales within the next 18 months. The technology was created by advanced medical visualisation company iGene, part of the Malaysian Infovalley Group. A scan of the body is performed using a GE CT scanner before iGene’s revolutionary, proprietary software INFOPSY creates a 3D reconstruction of the body. The process can be completed in as little as 12 minutes. This enables the pathologist to conduct a full, non-invasive digital post-mortem without so much as lifting a scalpel. All is done using a large touch screen computer. Findings or evidence generated from the digital autopsy procedure can be stored in a highly secured server system for future query and retrieval. The binary data and 3D images can be remotely accessed by Courts of Law, hospitals and Forensic Medicine Centres using a Visual Area Network. Matt Chandran, founder and CEO of iGene, says: “"Digital Autopsy is more than just a technological innovation; it represents a tremendous compassionate step forward in establishing the cause of an unnatural death.” iGene believes Digital Autopsies will become the Àrst line intervention in post-mortem investigation with more than 70 percent of cases able to be concluded with Digital Autopsy alone. The system goes a long way to easing the emotional burden on families at a time of intense stress with a digniÀed and noninvasive investigation. Speed of examination, investigation and subsequent autopsy results help minimise delays in releasing the body for burial or cremation.

www.infovalley.net

Cover Story

3D Vision G

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is revolutionising manufacturing. Instead of cutting out products from blocks of material, it builds them up in layers. Companies are already using this approach to produce rocket engine components, jet engine parts and more.

lobal energy major Shell is using 3D printing to make unique parts and causing instrument makers to change the way they think.

nance. Once a design is Ànalised, the Ànished product item only takes a matter of hours to print whereas conventional methods can take many weeks.

Thinking In Slices

Cost-Effective

3D printing, also known as selective laser melting, is a type of additive manufacturing. Conventionally, instrument makers start with a piece of metal or plastic and drill or cut material away. But this new approach builds up an object. The printer uses a powerful laser beam to fuse powdered metal and make instruments, layer by layer, in microscopic slices of around just 0.03 mm each – tens of times thinner than a human hair.

3D printing has many other advantages. There is no waste because the unused metal powder can be Àltered and reused. This gives a signiÀcant cost saving, especially in the use of expensive high-alloy metal powders.

With 3D printing, complex and innovative instruments can be produced, ones that are impossible to make with other manufacturing technologies. The challenge for engineers is to think in terms of layers or slices, not in terms of taking material away. This methodology is far more time efÀcient and minimises time-consuming mainte-

It also has the potential to speed up delivery times. A reÀnery can wait several months for a specialised valve to be delivered, but this approach can manufacture it on site within hours. For a petrochemicals complex that keeps thousands of different spare parts in stock or a remote offshore production facility, the ability to make instruments and parts on demand would be a huge beneÀt.

www.shell.com/global/

Collaborate To INNOVATE

he latest Technology Radar survey conducted by Lloyds Register Energy has revealed that innovation in the oil and gas sector is likely to increase but will be driven largely by collaboration. Investment drivers will be safety improvements (45%), improving operational efÀciency (44%) and reducing costs (43%), while increasing asset lifespan (27%) and accessing new reserves (29%) will also play a key role. The Technology Radar survey is one of the largest polls on technology and innovation in the industry. Lead participants in the survey include the UK Onshore Operations Group, Woodside Energy, Enertech, Maersk Drilling, TouGas OilÀeld Solutions, Horton Wison Deepwater, Royal Dutch Shell, GE Oil & Gas, and also DouglasWestwood, National Energy Technology Laboratory (US), and the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security. John Wishart, Director of Lloyd’s Register Energy said, “Initiatives that nurture

technical innovation can no longer be an afterthought for business or government; they must be central to any organisation’s strategy for sustainable growth. “They are central to our growth too. We are driving the development of new concepts and technologies through collaborative R&D, and our focus is Àrmly on innovation.”

The Questions: • Which technologies are likely to have the biggest impact in the next decade? • How are technical developments addressing the challenges the sector faces? • What are the drivers and barriers to innovation? • What patterns of innovation adoption can be identiÀed? • Which types of organisations are leading the way?

Key Findings:

73%

believe the rate of innovation is increasing Innovation is drawing on a range of technologies, rather than any single breakthrough Range of technologies will have a high impact on extending the life of existing assets - enhanced oil and gas recovery

68% of respondents intend to increase R&D budgets in the next 2 years

58%

agree that future breakthroughs involve ‘bits and bytes’, rather than physical hardware

25%

Only of oil & gas companies consider themselves to be early adopters. Continued risk aversion in the sector, especially in the deployment of new technologies, is a major brake on innovation.

www.lr.org/technologyradar November-December 2014

Cover Story

TAPPING Into Healthcare Mobile smart phone technology has been deployed recently by Prudential Assurance Malaysia (PAMB) to develop two apps that are helping customers access what they need when it comes to healthcare and agency personnel to improve their knowledge and professionalism. PRUaccess: A one-stop solution for existing and potential customers to access the company’s full listing of panel hospitals complete with navigation details to their preferred hospital. Customers can also view a list of doctors at a particular hospital including details of their specialisations and facilities available. According to Aman Chowla, Chief Operations OfÀcer at PAMB, “PRUaccess was created in response to the changing needs of our customers. We realised that with customers always on the move, we needed to come up with a mobile application that encompasses mobility, convenience and userfriendliess in line with our digital strategy. Now with a tap or swipe, customers will be able to obtain navigation details to their preferred hospital or doctor from their current location.”

Other features include a one touch call to emergency numbers, room and board rates for each hospital, and important information regarding the hospital admission and discharge process.

PRUproduct: A feature-rich iPad app that helps agents make more impactful presentations to potential clients with a few screen taps. The app also provides on-thego learning modules with clear information portrayed using images and simpliÀed descriptions of beneÀts and claim scenarios. The application is also aimed at boosting consumers’ understanding of the products offered such as key features, risks and claims scenarios, helping them make an informed decision before committing to a particular product.

Philip Seah, CEO of PAMB says, “As a company, we place high importance on the development of our agents. Besides providing them with opportunities for continuous learning, we also equip them with the technology and tools to ensure that they are able to meet the demands of increasingly savvy customers.”

www.prudential.com.my

Smart BUILDING were invite to pitch for the opportunity to road-test their ideas on one of 2,500 retail and commercial buildings in the UK belonging to the RBS estate.

hree years ago RBS set a target to reduce energy and water consumption by 15 percent. As a way to achieve this, while nurturing innovative ideas and helping local innovators accelerate their ideas to market, the bank went one step further and launched the RBS Innovation Gateway earlier this year. Inventors with paper-based, garage-tested or market-ready solutions for water and energy consumption and waste production

In one example, RBS already trialled energy efÀciency pilots in Àve of its car parks with the highest energy consumption. Working with Morgan Hope Lighting and MITIE Facilities Management, annual savings of almost GBP75,000 and nearly 300 tonnes of CO2 were achieved simply by installing 3-stage dimmable Àttings with microwave sensors. Marcela Navarro, head of Customer Innovation at RBS, “We know small businesses and innovators can struggle to get the opportunity to pitch their ideas to larger corporates, which means their brilliant ideas often don’t get to be seen. Trials and test beds such as we are offering are crucial for innovators to accelerate their access to market. That’s what the Gateway is about and what makes it so valuable.”

November-December 2014

The Gateway project attracted more than 140 submissions in just 40 days, from brand new concepts through to market-ready products and services. The ideas came from innovators and SMEs across the world, including UK, the US, Australia and Europe. After a rigorous selection process, the successful energy-saving products and services have been announced. They include a solution to power down PCs when not in use, ceiling tiles that absorb, store and release excess heat, magnetic secondary glazing to improve draughty windows, and a toilet that saves water - from 9 litres to 1.5 litres per Áush. Market-ready innovators such as HSG, Alquist, Raise Energy Solutions, Sunamp, Senselogix, Chalmor, Propelair, Datum Phase Change, Certero and Glaze will all get the opportunity to test their products in RBS properties.

www.rbs.com/news

Cover Story

Lights, Camera, ACTION! World-class movie making has arrived in Malaysia with the opening of Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia Studios. A JV between Pinewood Studios Group and Malaysian Government investment arm Khazanah Nasional Berhad, the integrated media production facilities are state-of-the-art and will be a big draw for local and international Àlm-makers. • 100,000 sq ft of Àlm stages: 5 stages from 15,000 sq ft to 33,000 sq ft, all with interior water tanks, including Asia’s largest at Stage 5 • Two 12,000 sq ft High DeÀnition equipped TV studios with audience capacity of 1,260 and adjacent audience holding facilities for both studios • 3 backlots including a forest backlot of 30 acres • Exterior water Àlming tanks for deep water and green screen capability • Resident Team with over 70 years’ experience in local and international Àlm and television industry • 30% ‘Film In Malaysia Incentive’ for qualifying Malaysian production expenditure, available for domestic and foreign production, for production and postproduction approved activities. • 72,000 sq ft of digital post production facilities all under one roof along with fully serviced production accommodation including modern ofÀces, dressing rooms and make-up/hair studios

www.pinewoodgroup.com

DAME Of Creation W

ith her bright pink hair, theatrical make-up and art jewellery, Dame Zandra Rhodes has stamped her identity on the international world of fashion. She was one of the new wave of British designers who put London at the forefront of the international fashion scene in the 1970's. Her unique use of bold prints, Àercely feminine patterns and theatrical use of colour has given her garments a timeless quality that makes them unmistakably a Rhodes creation. Back then, some 50 years ago, her early textile designs were considered too outrageous by the traditional British manufacturers so she decided to make dresses from her own fabrics. She pioneered the very special use of printed textiles as an intrinsic part of the garments she created. In the late 60’s and early 70’s, she ran her own shops in London and also sold her clothes through mainstream retailers in the US. In 1977, she introduced the pink and black jersey collection with holes and beaded safety pins that earned her the name of “Princess of Punk”. Now based in San Diego, she has designed for clients as diverse as Diana, Princess of Wales, Jackie Onassis, Elizabeth Taylor and Freddie Mercury and Joan Rivers. She continues to clothe and design for high proÀle clients from royalty to rock stars including: HRH Princess Michael of Kent, Debbie Harry, Bianca Jagger, Kylie Minogue, Anastasia and Paris Hilton. Zandra’s work does not just stop with dresses and printed textiles but encompasses various licences including jewellery, wrapping paper and china for Royal Doulton. She has also collaborated with MAC to produce a limited edition make-up range. Her talents have also been deployed into designing sets and costumes for opera including

The Magic Flute, Bizet’s Pearl Fishers and more recently, Egyptian-inspired designs for Verdi’s ‘Aida’. Recently, she set up the Fashion & Textile Museum in London which is dedicated to showing the work of fashion and textile designers from the 1950s onwards. This museum has created several notable exhibitions: “My Favorite Dress”, “The Little Black Dress”, and Zandra’s very own “Zandra Rhodes: A Lifelong Love Affair with Textiles”, a major monographic exhibition exploring the 40-year career of this iconic British Designer. This exhibition has since toured to several cities cross the world, including The Franz Meyer Museum, Mexico City, RMIT in Melbourne, Australia, Corso Como in Milan, the Mingei Museum in San Diego, and most recently the National Textile Museum of KL. Last year, Dame Zandra came to Malaysia as part of KL Fashion Weekend and fell in love with the fabrics and designs of Malaysian textiles. So inspired was she that this year has seen a unique collaboration between this icon of innovation and Malaysia’s Karyaneka. Several pieces of silk batik fabric and batik canting were sent to Rhodes’ studio in San Diego for her to work on a collection to be showcased at this year’s event. The result was a stunning, stylish yet edgy catwalk with all the hallmarks of a truly innovative Rhodes collection. At 70+ years, Dame Zandra still Ànds inspiration for creating innovative textiles and designs, innovation that will hopefully inspire a generation of designers to follow in her footsteps, or at least bring their own brand of innovation to fashion design.

www.zandrarhodes.com

November-December 2014

13 21 11 29

New Members Axis-REIT - Axis Reit Managers Bhd Investment, primarily in commercial, ofÀce and industrial real estate in Malaysia, with asset portfolio spanning 30 single- and multi-tenant properties located in strategic commercial hubs across various states, with spaces catered for compact SME ofÀces, large Áoor plates for corporate headquarters, buildto-suit facilities and multi-acre distribution centres. Over 100 local and MNC tenants from industries spanning business process outsourcing, logistics, aerospace & aviation, IT, electronics and medical & pharmaceutical research. Managed by Axis-REIT Managers Berhad to provide stable income distribution to Unitholders and long-term growth in NAV. Listed in 2005 on Main Board of Bursa Malaysia (AXREIT) and reclassiÀed in 2008 from conventional REIT to world’s Àrst OfÀce/Industrial Islamic REIT. Penthouse, Menara Axis, 2, Jalan 51A/223, 46100 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Tel: +603 7958 4882 Fax: +603 7957 6881 Email: tzewee@axis-reit.com.my www.axis-reit.com.my Dato’ George Stewart LaBrooy - Chief Executive OfÀcer/Executive Director

Repucom Leading global research and consulting agency working across sports, events and TV content. With over 25 ofÀces worldwide, works with rights holders to help maximize their assets, with brands to make the most effective decisions in these areas, with agencies to support their business, and media distribution outlets to value their content. Products and services include: syndicated and customised research; sponsorship and rights consulting; media evaluation across TV, print and online platforms; social media intelligence; and independent valuation. Solutions-focused approach enables each project to be customised to meet clients’ needs and provide information to act as foundation to informed decision-making. Level 20, Menara Standard Chartered, 30 Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur. Tel: +603 2117 5284 Email: kmccleary@repucom.net www.repucom.net New all-business class Doha to London Kate McCleary - Director of Business Development, Malaysia

Part of LSE-listed Management Consultancy Group, providing consultancy in operational optimisation and implementation. In operation for over 60 years, with track record of delivery of thousands of projects, across all sectors and facets of business. Focusing on process optimisation, management operating systems and behaviours, as well as disciplined implementation, providing demonstrable, sustainable beneÀts and ROI. Portfolio of over 130 projects executed in SE Asia, predominantly in Natural Resources, Banking, Finance & Insurance, Transport/Logistics and Manufacturing with scope ranging from holistic, ‘sales to cash’, to functionally speciÀc projects in areas such as sales effectiveness, procurement, supply chain, working capital and maintenance. Level 16, 1 Sentral, Jalan Stesen Sentral 5, KL Sentral, 50470 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: +603 2092 9324 Fax: +603 2092 9201 Email: sfarahar@alexanderproudfoot.com www.alexanderproudfoot.com

Simon Farahar Executive Vice President South East Asia

Thirty Nine Essex Street Multi-discipline barristers’ chambers offering substantial expertise in commercial law, with over 120 barristers, 40 of whom are Queen’s Counsel. Newly opened ofÀce at Kuala Lumpur Centre for Regional Arbitration, as well as ofÀces in Singapore and London. Barristers are regularly instructed in Malaysia and the region as advocates, arbitrators, adjudicators and mediators on international disputes. In-depth strength to handle extensive range of legal issues across commercial, construction & engineering, commercial fraud, Ànancial services, banking, insurance, alternative dispute resolution, energy, oil & gas, planning, environmental and public law. ‘International Arbitration Chambers of the Year’, Legal 500 UK Awards 2014. Room 9, A&L OfÀces, Level 2, Bangunan Sulaiman, Jalan Damansara, 50676 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: +603 2271 1085 Email: kualalumpur@39essex.com Rod Noble - Director - Asian Business

UK Global Logistics Based in the UK with ofÀces in London and Ripon offering a full range of freight forwarding services (sea & air) including handling import and export logistics. Whether full or part container loads or air freight, UK GL offers a door-to-door service for all types of goods to and from Malaysia and the rest of the world. Specialists in handling high value motor vehicles to Malaysia via air freight. Sole agent to one of Malaysia’s biggest car importers with weekly console services from the UK with excellent transit times. VAT funding service for buyers exporting goods from the UK. Serving a broad cross-section of customers whether a family moving back home or a multi-national company moving products. Member of The International Air Transport Association. BBM: 75968EC1 Fisher Green, Ripon HG4 1NN, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom. Tel:+44 1765 602141 Email: info@uk-gl.com www.uk-gl.com James Boyce

November-December 2014

New Members

A warm welcome to our new members! AIR FRANCE KLM Major player in air transport industry, operating leading long-haul network on departure from Europe. Main areas of activity are air transport of passengers, cargo and aircraft maintenance. In 2013, carried 77.3 million passengers to 231 destinations in 103 countries. From Malaysia, offering 17 weekly Áights including 7 Áights with KLM codeshare partner Malaysia Airlines from Kuala Lumpur to Paris or Amsterdam. For companies, providing a range of tailor-made travel solutions. Frequent Áyer programme Flying Blue offers a variety of ways to earn miles for future redemption of air tickets and other products and services. Members of SkyTeam alliance which comprises 20 member airlines, offering access to a global network.

Aude-Lise Combier

Corporate Helpdesk: Unit 106, 1st Floor Parkroyal Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Sultan Ismail, 50250 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: +603 2203 2000 Fax: +603 2203 2003 Email: corporate.malaysia@klm.com www.airfrance.my / www.klm.my

PennWell Corporation International multi-media organisation, owners and producers of publications and events around the world, class including Power New all-business DohaASEAN to London Week which comprises POWER-GEN Asia, Renewable Energy World Asia and POWER-GEN Asia Financial Forum. ASEAN Power Week is the industry’s premier conference and exhibition dedicated to power generation, renewable and alternative energy and transmission & distribution industries, attracting 7,500 delegates and attendees from over 70 countries across SE Asia and the world. ASEAN POWER WEEK: Bangkok, Thailand: 1-3 September 2015 Visit www.aseanpowerweek.com for details The Water Tower, Gunpowder Mill, Powdermill Lane, Waltham Abbey, Essex, EN9 1BN, UK. Tel: +44 (0) 1992 656 600 Fax: +44 (0) 1992 656 700 Email: leec@pennwell.com www.pennwell.com Lee Catania – Senior Marketing Manager

Not a member yet? Visit www.bmcc.org.my or email us at membership@bmcc.org.my to Ànd out more details. BMCC - it’s the place to be for business! Member News Plus Three & TechSol Team Up To Win Weir Contract

BA Is Back! With Direct Flights Between London & KL After a 14-year gap, British Airways is to resume direct daily Áights between Kuala Lumpur and London starting from May 27, 2015. BA will be the only airline to offer premium economy seating on the London-KL route. The daily service will be operated by a four-cabin Boeing 777-200ER, featuring 12 seats in First, 48 in Club World business class, 32 in World Traveller Plus premium economy and a further 127 in World Traveller economy. The service will operate out of London Heathrow’s Terminal 5, which is used exclusively by BA and its sister airline Iberia.

In a prime example of how the BMCC network brings its members together for business, Plus Three Consultants is working with Weir Minerals Malaysia to provide Engineering and Client Agent Services for Weir’s proposed new production facility. The facility is to be located on a 54.5 acre greenÀeld site at the Sendayan Techvalley Industrial Park near Seremban. The consultancy contract involves Plus Three providing design of the factory buildings, ofÀces, ancillary and support buildings and utilities, while all associated site infrastructure is being undertaken by another BMCC member company, TechSol Sdn Bhd. The combined Plus 3/TechSol team has already completed submissions to the local authority for Building Plan Approval and tender documents for construction of the new state-of-the-art facility are nearing completion. Construction on site is expected to being before the end of 2014 in time for completion of machinery installation by mid-2016.

The early morning arrival in London allows passengers a full day in the city or easy connection to other destinations in UK and Europe. The early evening return departure provides passengers with a full day in Europe and a practical late afternoon arrival time here in Malaysia. Tickets are already on sale at www.ba.com

November-December 2014

Members News Big Wins For Mongoose At Magazine Industry Awards Mongoose Publishing has scored big with a string of 17 wins at the 2014 Magazine Publishers Association (MPA) Awards. Contributing to these wins were Esquire Malaysia, Time Out Kuala Lumpur and Expatriate Lifestyle, for Best Front Cover, Best Magazine Design and Best Feature Article categories.

Milestone Scoops Gold At Prestigious Marketing Awards The Broadway phenomenon, Jersey Boys the Musical has delivered gold to Milestone Production with big wins for the Àrm in the recently announced Marketing Excellence Awards 2014. The success of the show secured two golds for production and event management company Milestone: Excellence in Experiential/Event Marketing and Excellence in Integrated Marketing (B2B) for organising and promoting Jersey Boys the Musical. The multi-award winning sensation was a hit among musical enthusiasts in the region, garnering rave reviews from patrons, media and local bloggers when it was performed at Istana Budaya, Kuala Lumpur earlier this year. The full-scale Broadway musical took audiences behind the music to tell the true-life story and remarkable rise to stardom of one of the most successful bands in American pop music history – Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons.

Now in its eighth year, the MPA Awards is the highlight industry event where talents and creative minds behind the works of magazines are celebrated. A total of 68 awards were conferred on publishers of magazines categorised by language and across various genres: Women, Home & Décor, Current Affairs & Business, Special Interest & Niche, Entertainment & Music, Beauty & Fashion, Lifestyle & Men.

This section is all about YOU! As BMCC Members, you too can have your news featured here! Send us the details of key appointments, an interesting employee initiative, a new contract, an industry award we will help spread the word!

ISOS Releases Free App To Share Medical Updates on Ebola

Best Of Malaysia’s Experiences Revealed At 2014 Expatriate Lifestyle Awards A number of prominent companies in the hospitality industry, many of them BMCC members, have been recognised in the 2014 Best of Malaysia Awards across 18 categories. Organised by Expatriate Lifestyle magazine, this year’s Awards saw over 30,000 votes cast by the expatriate and business community, comprising well-travelled expatriates living in Malaysia. Now in its ninth year, Best of Malaysia is the biggest travel and hospitality awards in the country. Among the top winners are Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre in the MICE Experience segment and Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur which scooped the winning accolade in the Best Hotel Experience category. DoubleTree byHilton and Grand Hyatt received Excellence CertiÀcates in the category. Winner in the Boutique Hotel category was The Majestic Hotel. Best Romantic Stay went to Shangri-La Rasa Ria with Excellence CertiÀcates going to The Andaman, Four Seasons and The Datai, all on Langkawi Island.

November-December 2014

International SOS has released a new mobile app designed to help share its medical and travel information on Ebola. The free app is now available on iOS and Android devices and provides online, instant access to key sections from International SOS’ dedicated Ebola website. Public awareness broadcastss p are available and the app includes access to the video: ‘Ebola – What business travellers need to know’. It also includes news on the latest developments of the outbreak and maps of affected areas. The International SOS dedicated Ebola website has been made freely available to all, removing the normal requirement for membership sos com/ebola access. www.Internationalsos.com/ebola

Members News New Head For ACCA

French Sole Rides On British Heritage

Visit By Global President

For Autumn Winter Collection

ACCA (Association of Chartered CertiÀed Accountants) has announced the appointment of David Chin as its new Country Head for Malaysia. David takes over from Jennifer Lopez with immediate effect, who has left after ten years with ACCA Malaysia to pursue personal interests.

As part of its 25th Anniversary celebrations, luxury footwear designer French Sole has focused on its British heritage for its new AW14 Collection but with the introduction of additional styles with a fresh, modern feel.

Born in Malaysia, David migrated to Australia at a young age, beginning his career in the insurance industry. He then worked in the retail sector, before joining Western Union Financial Services, where he spent 15 years in a broad spectrum of management positions, covering HR, training, marketing, business development and operations. Moving back to KL in 2009 as Director of Operations, South Asia/SE Asia for Western Union, he then went on to become country director for Indonesia in 2013. In his new role, David will be directly responsible for sustaining ACCA’s reputation and market leadership in one of ACCA’s most important and competitive markets. In other news, newly elected global president of ACCA Anthony Harbinson (above centre) met with over 170 Malaysian business leaders and top executives at a reception held during his maiden visit to Malaysia. Some 22 organisations were also recognised with ACCA Approved Employer (AE) certiÀcates, for their achievements in staff training, accountancy resources and professional development. www.accaglobal.com/employers

Hitchcock Heroines: a range which effortlessly makes the transition from daytime to evening, featuring the elegant, timeless style of Hitchcock leading ladies with clean lines and feminine colour palette. Sleek lines, attractive pastels and metallic tones with velvet bow details. The classic Henrietta ballet Áat has been updated to work as a transitional style in inky navy, grey and black suede with metallic stud detailing as accents including the stand-out Layla in black suede with an oversized bow. Warhol Darlings: Inspired by the pop-art of this iconic artist and by Mondrian for his crisp colourblocking, there is a strong 1960’s, geometric feel to this part of the collection. Bi-colour Penelope pointed Áats with slick, clean-cut lines are a true homage to the 60’s era. Primary colours feature heavily in this collection with black piping and bound edges to enhance the bright tones. Lot C-103, Level 1, Suria KLCC Tel: +603 2382 0807

ISP Embraces Pink October Launches Sports Enrichment Programme International School @ Park City turned pink this October in conjunction with its annual Cancer Awareness Month. Events included a health talk for parents by Dr Evelyn Ho, who highlighted the importance of breast cancer awareness and screening. ‘Pink Friday’ saw all students, parents and staff decked out in pink to mark the occasion. A bake sale organised by Year 10 and 11 students raised an impressive RM7,000 for MAKNA, the National Cancer Council of Malaysia. In other news Nigel Redman, former Rugby Union British Lion and mentor to many top coaches in the UK, launched the school’s Sports Enrichment@ ISP recently, leading practical sessions with the students, teachers and coaches. Designed to enhance the supporting experience of every student, the Sports Enrichment programme starts with high quality PE lessons supported by school sports teams, inter-school competitions, an extensive Co-Curricular Activity (CCA) programme and student leadership opportunities. www.ISP.edu.my

November-December 2014

Members News

Fitness First & GREAT British Brands Inspire Audiences To Get Fit For Fashion Fitness First has used a Àrst-of-its-kind reality TV series as a platform for its relaunched brand, providing the ability to reach a panAsian audience. The show, Fit for Fashion, charts the transformational journey of 12 multi-national contestants from all walks of life in their bid to become ‘Fit for Fashion’ and win the USS100,000 top prize. The contestants undergo a range of Àtness and fashion challenges that push them to their limits over the course of the show’s 10 episodes. Judging and motivating them throughout their journey are Louise Roe (Host), Christine Bullock (Trainer), Mitch Chilson (Trainer) and Todd Anthony Tyler (Photographer). The Ànal episode airs in December on StarWorld.

The series concept was devised to help inspire audiences Ànd their own motivation and exercise their right to go further in life through Àtness. Fitness First’s training principles and innovative training programmes are used in the show to help the contestants get Àtter and go further than they (and the audience) thought possible. “Fitness is becoming a fashion statement in its own right and it gives people the conÀdence, energy and self-esteem to improve their lives – something the show will try to convey in a fun and entertaining way,” says Simon Flint, CEO of Fitness First Asia [above right]. The UK’s GREAT campaign and its “Shopping is GREAT” pillar are sponsoring the fashion element of the show to showcase a vari-

ety of leading British brands including Clarks, Debenhams, Ted Baker, Fred Perry, T.M. Lewin, Laura Ashley, STORM London, Reebok, Boots, TONI&GUY, Kenwood, MINI and British Airways, among others. Fit for Fashion is produced by Imagine Group in partnership with Fitness First and in collaboration with Fox International Channels (FIC), and is broadcast on StarWorld. http://Àtforfashion.tv/ www.ÀtnessÀrst.com

Latest Tune Hotels Property

Driving Engagement Through Social Media

Opens In Newcastle City Centre

The Ice Bucket Challenge Phenomenon

International value hotel group Tune Hotels continues to boost its presence within the UK market with the opening of its latest property, this time in the north eastern city of Newcastle. The global chain already has four hotels in London and another on the way in Canary Wharf, as well as one in Edinburgh, Scotland.

A few months back, a craze began that saw millions of people across the world having buckets of ice cold water poured over their heads. The Ice Bucket Challenge had taken the world by storm and its success was due largely to social media.

Situated in the heart of the city centre, the 104-room hotel is located in Proctor House, a listed building with the original mosaic tiling restored and preserved in the corridors and stairwells. Close to Newcastle Central railway station, it is conveniently situated for those visiting St. James' Park, Angel of the North or the Newcastle University campus. Tune Hotels Group CEO Mark Lankester said, "Newcastle is a vibrant city and full of eclectic people and places, perfect for our newest location. Our aim is to have a further 25 hotels across the UK in the next Àve years, representing a signiÀcant investment of over £200 million.” www.tunehotels.com

November-December 2014

Market research Àrm Repucom monitored the social media buzz around the Challenge and its analysis shows how rapidly a viral campaign develops and how critical simple messages and high engagement are vital for its success. However, while the craze has captured the imagination of people all over the world, it has been celebrities who really drove up the number of shares and follows. Celebrities were the engine behind the campaign as they helped to both announce it and to motivate their numerous fans and followers to participate and donate themselves. The campaign to raise money and awareness for the little known condition kicked off at the beginning of August.

Then on the 11th of that month, Mark Zuckerberg posted a challenge on Twitter. In the next 6 days, the number of tweets shot up by 1200 percent from under 90,000 to over 1 million posts. Since then millions of people have become aware of the ALS disease through the videos posted on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. More importantly, besides the enhanced awareness for ALS, the ALS Association has raised over US$100 million for this crippling condition. There are certain aspects of the Ice Bucket Challenge that were key for its success that can also be applied to a social media strategy for other campaigns and organisations. These include: fan engagement; celebrtities and athletes as multipliers; good cause; and multi-platform-strategy. For more on maximising value with social media visit www.repucom.net

November-December 2014

Health File

Breathe EASY

“WHO predicts that COPD will become the third leading cause of death worldwide by 2030.”

What is COPD? COPD - or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder - is an irreversible disease caused by damage of the airways and lungs. People feel as though they can never catch their breath, as if they are breathing through a straw. Most COPD is due to cigarette smoke.

COPD cannot be cured but early diagnosis and management can prevent further deterioration.

There are two groups of COPD:

The damage is irreversible, so early detection of COPD is paramount. COPD symptoms can be managed to varying degrees with treatment. It is largely preventable. It is NOT possible to catch COPD from another person.

Bronchitis: occurs when the air passages (bronchial tubes) are inÁamed, or when the airway is clogged by inÁammation and mucus. Emphysema: occurs when the small air sacs in the lung (alveoli) are destroyed and can no longer absorb or release air.

Symptoms Symptoms of COPD can start gradually and develop over time: •

Continual productive cough (brings up mucus or phlegm)

•

DifÀculty breathing in or exhaling (shortness of breath)

•

Gets harder to exercise, climb stairs or walk without resting to catch one’s breath

•

Wheezing, tightness in the chest

People often ignore symptoms, assuming they are part of getting older and/or being a smoker. If you know or work with someone that is displaying such symptoms, encourage them to talk to a doctor, before the condition advances further.

Outcomes

Prevention Four steps to prevent COPD: 1. Stop smoking, and avoid second-hand smoke. Tobacco use is the number one risk factor. 2. Keep the air in your house as clean and free of pollutants as you can (eliminate the source of pollution, improve ventilation and consider an air cleaner). 3. Try to minimise the amount of polluted outdoor air you breathe. 4. Take Áu shots every year. Ask your doctor about pneumonia vaccination. Take the Àrst step: Ask your doctor about a simple breathing test called spirometry

COPD erodes the quality of life of its victims: •

You cannot be as active as you would like nor can you enjoy recreational activities. Simple things can become difÀcult: you may take hours to dress and shower due to frequent “breath breaks”.

International SOS provides healthcare services that range from setting up healthcare provider networks, administering medical beneÀts, helping organisations set up healthcare infrastructures and managing occupational health.

•

You become more susceptible to frequent colds, Áu and pneumonia.

•

You become vulnerable to heart problems.

•

You may require medication, oxygen treatment or surgery.

This includes running health programmes, conducting health risk assessments and occupational health audit, providing health compliance and policy consulting and data analysis and reporting. ISOS also conducts Àt-for-work programmes, vaccinations, wellness programmes, community health and education, health/pandemic awareness programmes and malaria control programmes. Kuala Lumpur Assistance Centre: +603 2787 3126

COPD is deadly. Currently the fourth leading cause of death worldwide, the World Health Organisation predicts COPD will be the third leading cause of death by 2030.

November-December 2014

www.internationalsos.com

A BRIGHTER START WITH THE BEST KUALA LUMPUR CAMPUS

603 9200 9898 admissions@kl.tis.edu.my

PUCHONG CAMPUS (Opening in Jan 2015)

603 5879 5000 admissions@pc.tis.edu.my

November-December 2014

On The Social Scene

GREAT British Bash

ver 800 people turned out in their best Ànery to strut their stuff at the 2014 Great British Ball. Jointly organised by BMCC, the Association of British Women Malaysia, and the three loyal societies of St George, St Andrew’s and St David’s, the event this year was held at the Shangri-la Hotel Kuala Lumpur. Pre-dinner mingling, a traditional grand entrance by the dignitaries plus some fabulous food and plenty of refreshments set the tone beautifully for the rest of the evening.

Then it was time for Big Vern N The Shootahs, who Áew in from Glasgow especially for the event, to take to the stage to entertain the crowd. Almost as soon as they struck up the Àrst chord, the majority of the room hit the dance Áoor and kept moving until the small hours. The general verdict? A great time was had by all - plus the event also raised a substantiall sum for charity!

November-December 2014

Holiday Villa Arosa is a 4-star ski resort located 2 hours drive from Zurich. It offers a panoramic mountain view of the Swiss Alps with bountiful snow during Winter and thrilling attractions like Weisshorn gondola, ski lifts, cable cars and shopping. For Summer, indulge in many leisure activities including golfing at the highest golf course (18-hole) in Europe located 2,000 above sea level. You will be fascinated by the endless charm, fine accommodation, wellness services and great dining options at the Grillrestaurant Post, Chinese cuisines at the Peking, pasta and pizza at the Trattoria â&#x20AC;&#x153;da Giacomoâ&#x20AC;?. For entertainment, a night club with live music is available to enjoy Arosaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s night life.

November-December 2014