“Always turn a negative situation into a positive situation.” - Michael Jordan.

The NUS Economics Alumni did just that during the COVID-19 circuit breaker period by holding their first Virtual Networking Event on the evening of 13 May. This was a milestone as it was the group's first virtual event since its inception 13 years ago. Instead of waiting for a better time to host a physical event, they decided to run a Zoom-networking event.

It was a great turnout of 30 people with Prof Satoru Takahashi, Head of the NUS Department of Economics joining too. For a majority of attendees, it was their 1st time networking online!

There was a good mix of alumni from the 1980s to those who graduated more recently, and some even called in from Shanghai and Tokyo. The alumni were from a diverse of industries, ranging from Finance, Recovery Services, Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, Facebook, ByteDance (Tik Tok) to Law Services, Consulting, and Government Services, showing how Economics graduates are able to make their mark in a myriad of fields. They also conducted a poll that night, which revealed that the common goal among attendees was to strengthen their connections to other Economics alumni.

Many attendees sang praises of the event:

“It was great meeting Economics Alumni members and Faculty too. Looking forward to more of such events!” - Vikrum Trehan ('04)

“Fully enjoyed the networking sessions organised by the NUS Economics Alumni group. It was my first time attending the session via Zoom during the COVID-19 period and I'd say it was very well organised!” - KC Ho ('12)

“Thanks to the committee who made it possible to connect with Economics graduates of different age groups, from peers to mentors and industry veterans. Looking forward to the next meeting; hopefully in a physical setting post-Covid-19.” Evan Loh ('19)

"It was great to connect, and reconnect, with fellow Economics alumni virtually in these times!" - Naomi Tay ('13)

The NUS Economics Alumni Committee was happy to see such a successful experience for their first virtual event. Overall, it was a great evening spent connecting with Economics alumni.

Submitted by Ms Valerie Chow ('97), President, NUS Economics Alumni 

On 2 May, more than 40 Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) alumni across the world got together at the 'Physically Distant, Socially Connected – LKYSPP Alumni Virtual Get-Together', where 7 alumni shared their personal experiences of managing the Covid-19 pandemic. Johannes Loh ('10 Exchange) initiated the meet-up and chaired the panel. He is based in Abu Dhabi, UAE, as Senior Manager (Government and Public Sector advisory) at Ernst & Young.

Speakers included Louise Beehag ('18), Chief Engagement and Operations Officer at the Sydney Policy Lab in Australia. She shared that there was “a real sense of community” in her neighbourhood as people felt solidarity with each other and interacted more – though from a safe distance. Zainab Kyari ('17) heads to work daily at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency in Lagos, crossing five to six police checkpoints which are in place due to the lockdown regulations in Lagos State. Her role as Chief Officer (Personnel and Records) includes ensuring that staff identified for enforcement activities have the appropriate passes for movement, which are essential to the continued working of the ports.

Naila Maya Shofia ('11) said restrictions on gatherings in Italy have more than doubled the workload for educators like her at the Bocconi University in Milan. As a PhD candidate at the Department of Social and Political Sciences, she found the shift of all academic activities into online platforms an interesting experiment for the higher education system. Virtual interactions also form a major part of the day for alumnus Cui Fuqiang ('15), currently in Geneva, Switzerland, as Technical Officer with the WHO. He is also a professor in the School of Public Health at Peking University. In his personal capacity, he spoke on the importance of research-driven policymaking. Information on the virus and its spread has been made available to all countries at the same time but many things are yet unknown in this evolving situation, leading to uncertainty.

Singapore-based alumnus Allen Lai ('08), Regional Director for Medical Affairs and Market Access at Ferring Pharmaceuticals, agreed on the need for constant and clear communication as part of crisis management. Such communication must factor in how different parts of the community get their information. The need for clear and reliable messaging from the leadership was underscored by alumni like Minnesota-based Corey Christianson ('10), owner of KC’s Country Market. His grocery stores serve communities that are coping with disruptions in food supply as workers in meat-processing plants have tested positive. His stores have implemented regular disinfection procedures, mask-wearing and also curbside deliveries for the elderly.

Alumni on the chat also discussed the long-term implications of the pandemic, such as concerns about economic recovery and the likelihood of migrant work becoming more limited. The virtual get-together proved that although travelling in the near future seems unlikely, connections can still be forged and strengthened despite distance.