Dated: 29 December 2006
Thirteen new members from academia, media and the business consulting industries have been appointed to the board of the Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) with effect from 1 January 2007.
Comprising individuals from the public and private sectors, the new MDA board members are appointed by the Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts for a two-year term until 31 December 2008.
The new board members are:
1. Mr Charles Ormiston
Partner, Bain &Company SE Asia, Inc
2. Prof Chong Tow Chong
Executive Director, Science &Engineering Research Council, Agency for Science, Technology and Research
3. Mr Christopher Thompson
Vice President &General Manager, Electronic Arts Asia Pacific
4. Mr Eric Khoo
Film Director, Zhao Wei Films Pte Ltd
5. Mr Goh Eck Kheng
Publisher and Managing Director, Landmark Books Pte Ltd
6. Mr Gong Wee Lik
Deputy Managing Director (Cluster Development and Corporate Services Group), Economic Development Board
7. Mr Hri Kumar Nair
Director, Drew &Napier LLC
8. Mr Ian Macdonald
President, Hong Leong Finance Ltd
9. Prof Isaac Kerlow
Dean, School of Art, Design and Media, Nanyang Technological University
10. Ms Kelly Chew
Senior Vice President, Global Marketing, Asia Pacific Region, Sony BMG Singapore
11. BG Lim U Yang Hugh-Reginald
Commander, Army Training and Doctrine Command
12. Dr Suzaina Bte Abdul Kadir
Assistant Professor, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore
13. Mr Thomas Keaveny
Executive Vice President and Managing Director, Discovery Networks Asia Pacific
Dr Tan Chin Nam, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts has been re-appointed Chairman of MDA, along with three other board members who have also been re-appointed for a two-year term - Dr Finian Tan, Chairman, Vickers Financial Group (S) Pte Ltd, Mr Chan Yeng Kit, Chief Executive Director, Infocomms Development Authority of Singapore and Dr Christopher Chia, Chief Executive Officer, Media Development Authority.
Dr Tan Chin Nam, Chairman, MDA said: “Amidst a dynamic landscape characterised by convergence and constantly evolving technologies, the newly-formed MDA board will help guide and set directions for MDA in its pursuit to realise the Media 21 Vision and transform Singapore into a global media city.”
“At the same time, I would like to thank the current board for their invaluable counsel and sterling service to MDA. In the last couple of years, the works and capabilities of our media industry have been gaining recognition at international markets and festivals, contributing to increased demand for made-by-Singapore content,” added Dr Tan.
MDA has achieved key milestones in the progress of realising the Media 21 vision through its efforts in industry development and policy refinements under the guidance of the existing board.
The media industry has witnessed encouraging progress with local content developers steadily making their mark at international markets. Efforts to nurture exportable made-by-Singapore content have been complemented with initiatives to groom and attract creative talent for the media industry. In addition, a multi-agency IDM R&D Programme Office has been set up within MDA to propel the growth of the nascent but fast-growing Interactive and Digital Media sector.
On the home front, MDA led the launch of High-Definition Television (HDTV) trials with commercial rollout of HDTV services expected in early 2007.
MDA has also made strides in positioning Singapore as a business exchange for media products and services. The two key trade media events that Singapore hosts –Broadcast Asia and Asia Media Festival –have grown in participation and deal size, while recent initiatives including the establishment of a loan guarantee fund have injected private capital into the media industry and encouraged the development of media specialist services in Singapore.
MDA continued to foster a pro-business environment by encouraging experimentation with new formats of video and audio broadcasting through digital platforms and technologies. New services such as IPTV and video-on-demand have helped provide more choices for consumers, as have classification guidelines for various media content.
MDA would like to express its deepest appreciation to the outgoing board members for their significant contributions during the early years of its development. They are:
1. Dr Abdul Razakjr Omar
Consultant Cardiologist, Department of Cardiology, National University Hospital
2. Mr Frank Brown
Director, Colourzip SEA Pte Ltd
3. Ms Jennie Chua
Chairman &CEO, Raffles Holdings Ltd
4. BG (Retired) Jek Kian Yee
former Director, (Military Security Department), Ministry of Defence
5. Mr Jonathan Hallett
Senior Vice President, Leisure Ventures Pte Ltd
6. Mr K Shanmugam
Senior Counsel, Partner &Head Litigation Department, Allen &Gledhill
7. Prof Lawrence Wong
Executive Director, ECE Department
National University of Singapore
8. Mr Peter Davison
Director of Corporate Affairs, Cambridge University Press, UK
9. Mr Phoon Chiong Kit
Managing Director, Golden Harvest Entertainment (Holdings) Ltd
10. Mr Quek Swee Kuan
Director, Infocomms &Media Cluster, Economic Development Board
11. Mr Stephen Richard Wyatt
Vice President, Monitor Group
12. Mr Stephen Yeo Siew Chye
President, Southeast Asia, EDS International (S) Pte Ltd
13. Mr Viswa Sadasivan
Chairman, The Right Angle Group Pte Ltd
For more information, please contact:
Ms Jasmine Wong
Assistant Manager
Communications
Tel: 6837 9364
Email: Jasmine_Wong@imda.gov.sg
Ms Chia Pei Siang
Manager
Communications
Tel: 6837 9010
Email: chia_pei_siang@imda.gov.sg
Media Development Authority of Singapore
The Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) was formed on 1 January 2003 to champion Media 21, a blueprint to transform Singapore into a global media city. Media 21 seeks to create a vibrant media environment by establishing Singapore as a media exchange, exporting Made-by-Singapore content, internationalising local media companies, nurturing local media talent and developing digital media. More information on MDA can be found on www.mda.gov.sg.
Singapore Media Fusion
The Singapore Media Fusion (SMF) strategic positioning encapsulates the attributes of the media industry in showcasing Singapore as a global media city. It is a mark of the quality of our products and services and the collective richness and diversity of the media industry. The positioning not only lends consistency in the manner to which the Singapore media industry is represented and promoted, it is also intended to enhance the image of Singapore media at an international level, in a compelling and coherent manner. More information on SMF can be found on www.smf.sg.
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