New chairman and directors appointed to the Mandai Park Holdings board
31 MAY 2024Ms Chong Siak Ching, who has been a Director of Mandai Park Holdings since August 2017 and served as Acting Board Chairman since 16 November 2023, will become the Board's Deputy Chairman with effect from the same date. Mr S Dhanabalan remains as Emeritus Chairman of Mandai Park Holdings, an appointment he has held since 16 November 2023.
In other Board changes, Ms Pek Siok Lan who joined the Board on 1 January 2022 as Alternate Director, was appointed as Director on 31 March 2024, while Mr Lim Beng Chee joined the Board on 8 April 2024.
The Board and Management would like to thank Ms Claire Chiang and Mr Dilhan Pillay Sandrasegara for their many years of contributions to the sustainability of the country’s zoological institution and the progressive transformation of the Mandai Precinct into an integrated wildlife and nature destination, as they relinquished their appointments as Directors on 15 March 2024 and 31 March 2024 respectively.
Mandai Park Holdings is the holding company of Mandai Wildlife Group which operates Singapore’s wildlife parks – Bird Paradise, Night Safari, River Wonders, and Singapore Zoo. Mandai Wildlife Group also oversees the rejuvenation of the Mandai Wildlife Reserve. When completed, the destination will be home to five wildlife parks, nature-themed indoor experiences, accommodation options, destination dining choices, and green public spaces.
The newly appointed Chairman and Board members bring a wealth of experience to the Mandai Wildlife Group, while growing its sustainability, education, and conservation contributions in Singapore and across the Southeast Asia region.
Mr Gupta said, "I believe that along with climate change, nature and biodiversity loss are among the most pressing challenges for the planet. The Mandai Wildlife Group seeks to help find solutions to these problems, while also burnishing Singapore's reputation as a "city in nature" and creating edutainment and recreational opportunities for residents and tourists alike. Being deeply committed to these causes, I am delighted to accept this appointment and to journey with the Group in amplifying its influence as a bastion of good for nature.”
Mandai Park Holdings Board of Directors (as at 1 June 2024):
· Chairman
Mr Piyush GUPTA - Chief Executive Officer and Director of DBS Group
· Deputy Chairman
Ms CHONG Siak Ching - Non-Resident Ambassador to the Republic of Chile
· Emeritus Chairman
Mr SUPPIAH Dhanabalan - Member of Presidential Council for Minority Rights and Chairman Emeritus, Temasek Trust
· Executive Director
Mr Mike BARCLAY - Group CEO, Mandai Wildlife Group
· Director
Mr Stephen FORSHAW - Chief Representative, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, Airbus
· Director
Mr KEE Teck Koon - Chairman, Executive Committee, NTUC Enterprise
· Director
Dr LEE Bee Wah - Board Director of Amcorp Global Limited, Building & Construction Authority, Heeton Holdings, HLH Group Limited, Koh Brothers Group Limited
· Director
Mr LIM Beng Chee - Chairman and Executive Director, China World Trade Centre Co. Ltd
· Director
Mr NG Lang - CEO, Land Transport Authority
· Director
Ms PEK Siok Lan - Head, Investment Stewardship, Temasek
· Director
Mr SIM Hwee Cher - Chairman, Asia Capital Reinsurance Group Pte Ltd
· Director
Mr Keith TAN - Deputy Secretary (Industry), Ministry of Trade & Industry
· Director
Professor Leo TAN - Advisor, Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum
Please refer to Annex A for write-ups of the new Board members.
Mr Piyush Gupta
Mr Piyush Gupta has served as Chief Executive Officer and Director of DBS Group since 2009. Additionally, he holds key leadership roles, serving as Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Singapore Management University, Vice-Chairman of the Institute of International Finance in Washington, and Vice-Chairman of the Executive Committee for the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). Furthermore, he contributes to Singapore’s Advisory Council on the Ethical Use of AI and Data, and serves on the boards of both Singapore’s National Research Foundation and the Council for Board Diversity. Mr Gupta is also a term trustee of the Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA). In his personal capacity, he takes a keen interest in nature and is a Co-Chairman of the Birdlife International Advisory Group.
Ms Pek Siok Lan
Ms Pek Siok Lan is the Head of Investment Stewardship at Temasek International, responsible for the development and implementation of corporate governance and stewardship frameworks. Prior to this, Ms Pek was General Counsel of Temasek for a decade, leading its global legal, regulatory and compliance function. She was also a Global Executive Council member, serving on Temasek’s investment, strategy and management committees. Before joining Temasek, Ms Pek was General Counsel for more than 20 years at the Singapore Technologies Group and ST Telemedia Group, with responsibilities spanning governance, mergers & acquisitions, corporate restructuring, litigation and compliance.
She serves on the investment committee of Temasek Trust Asset Management Pte Ltd, a firm dedicated to impact investing and is a board member of BSR, a sustainable business consultancy.
Mr Lim Beng Chee
Mr Lim Beng Chee is a seasoned senior executive with over 25 years of expertise in real estate investment, development, and operations. He was previously Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Shangri-La Asia Limited and retired from this role at the end of 2022, but continues to contribute as a Board Director of Shangri-La Asia Limited. Additionally, he serves as the Chairman and Board Director for China World Trade Centre. Mr Lim also held positions such as the Chief Executive Officer of CapitaMalls Asia Limited (CMA), now CapitaLand Mall Asia Limited, from 2008 to 2014.
