UQ Singapore Alumni Fund

The UQ Singapore Alumni Fund was established by Mr Loh Hoon Sun in 2017. The purpose of this Fund is to:

• Help Singapore students in UQ who have financial difficulties; and
• Provide prizes to encourage good academic performance.

Not many current UQ students and fellow UQ alumni are aware of the UQ Singapore Alumni Fund.  I’m sure many would support the Fund if there was better understanding of its purpose.  Let’s take this opportunity to learn more about UQ Singapore Alumni Fund from the founder himself.

GH: I reckon not many of us, both current UQ students or UQ alumni know about this UQ Singapore Fund, would you kindly share more about how did this fund get started, what is the story behind it? 

Mr Loh: This is a small fund and is just a token of my appreciation to UQ, for the valuable education I received, which has helped me greatly in my career advancement.

In one of his visits to Singapore, Mr Ted Wynn, Director of Advancement, UQ BEL Faculty, suggested that I contribute to start a fund to help Singapore students at UQ who need financial help. I agreed and committed to a fixed yearly contribution  for 5 years from 2017.  When the first 5 years ended in 2021, I pledged to continue for another 5 years till 2026.  

My total contribution will be A$50,000.  Mr Ted Wynn wanted to name the fund as Loh Hoon Sun Fund. I persuaded him to use a common name so that other people will also contribute to this Fund, making it a bigger fund to benefit more Singapore students at UQ. It was then named The UQ Singapore Alumni Excellence Prize. 

With the recommendation of Ms Suyin Lee, Chair of UQ BEL Singapore Alumni Ambassadors Council, and approval of UQ, the Fund has just been renamed UQ Singapore Alumni Fund, which is more appropriate.

GH: The fund that you started is getting a rebranding to UQ Singapore Alumni Fund, how do you feel about this change?

Mr Loh: I think this is a more appropriate name, than the previous UQ Singapore Alumni Excellence Prize. The main purpose of this Fund is to help Singapore students at UQ, who unexpectedly face financial difficulties, eg, during the recent Covid-19 years, some of their parents could be out of work or their businesses not doing well.

The second objective is to encourage good academic performance.

GH: For those UQ students that received your blessings from your UQ Singapore Alumni Fund, what would be your well wishes and advice for them?

Mr Loh: I hope after graduation, they will do well in their careers, become an active member of the UQ Singapore Alumni community, and contribute when able, big or small,  to this Fund to help others in need.

GH: Moving forward with the UQ Singapore Alumni Fund over the next decade and beyond, what are thoughts and plans for this Fund? What do you hope to achieve further?

Mr Loh: When this Fund grows to substantial size, we can consider providing scholarships in addition to financial help and prizes.

Last but not least – Words of wisdom by Mr Loh Hoon Sun

As I began to wrap up this two parts special feature and interview with Mr Loh Hoon Sun, I have asked Mr Loh to kindly share with us his words of wisdom from his decades of corporate work and executive experiences, his UQ alumni networking stories and advice for the current UQ students and the UQ Singapore alumni community at large.

GH: You have been very active and supportive of UQ Singapore alumni networking, events and activities over the decades, how do you feel about this and how can the UQ Singapore alumni community improve and expand further?  

Mr Loh: I hope UQAAS will organise more frequent events for alumni to network. It will also be interesting to organise group visits to UQ and revisit places of interest in Brisbane where we frequented during our student days. 

GH: After exiting from a global pandemic crisis 2020 to 2022, the world is facing a new set of economic, regional and political uncertainties in 2023 and beyond. From decades of experiencing and navigating through various types of crises, what advice would you give to our current UQ students as well as our UQ Singapore alumni community?

Mr Loh: In this world, change is the only constant. Even without the Covid pandemic, the world has been changing rapidly. We have the Online Sales that affect the retail business, Green Economy that effects many commodities, Computer and Hand Phone that allow us to work from anywhere and affecting office rental, these are just a few examples.  Thus it is very important for us to keep up with new technologies and innovation, which affect our life, work and business. UQAAS can play a part in this area by organising relevant talks.

GH: For those current students studying in UQ, what advice would you give them, on studying in UQ or living in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia? 

Mr Loh: This will depend on each person’s profession, area of interest, employment opportunities and personal interest. I think most graduates like to return and work in Singapore, to be with their family and friends.

GH: In your personal opinion, what do you see are the key areas that the world needs to look at in the next decade? Technology developments in AI? Sustainability and renewable energy? Or other sectors that we might have not given too much thought about?

Mr Loh: Technology whether AI or others, and green economy including climate change, will be the most important.

I would like to Pay-It-Forward and support the UQ Singapore Alumni Fund, how should I go about doing it?

If you would like to Pay-It-Forward and support the UQ Singapore Alumni Fund, the UQ BEL Singapore Ex-Co and UQAAS sincerely thank you and welcome you onboard this noble and meaningful journey with fellow UQ Singapore alumni community members. 

You can donate to the UQ Singapore Alumni Fund during UQ Giving Day, more information would be shared closer to the UQ Giving Day 2023. Meanwhile, please help to Pay-It-Forward and Pass-It-On, the story behind the UQ Singapore Alumni Fund with your fellow mates from UQ.

UQ Singapore Alumni Fund – https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/singapore-alumni-fund

Keep in Touch with UQ Singapore Alumni Community!

To the UQ Singapore alumni community here in Singapore, let’s continue to keep in touch with each other through social media platforms and alumni events, gatherings and networking events. 

Join us here on 

• The University of Queensland Alumni Association Singapore (UQAAS) on LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4581295/ 
• UQ Alumni Association Singapore (UQAAS) Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/6213862715 

Get your fellow UQ mates in Singapore back in action too! Spread the word!

A Writer’s Personal Heartfelt Note

On a personal note, this has been a great honour for me to interview Mr Loh Hoon Sun, a legendary and remarkable UQ alumnus, one of the first UQ alumni community folks that I first met when I went for my first UQ Singapore alumni event back after graduating in 2002. 

More than just a distinguished UQ alumnus, he’s a mentor, adviser, an alumni senior, yet down to earth, a friend that is full of humility and kindness, shown to the UQ Singapore alumni community. I sincerely appreciate his support and advice for my fellow UQAAS Ex-Co members and myself during our two terms of office as UQAAS Ex-Co office bearers. 

Through this two-part special edition story and interview, I hope that I have given you a more in-depth insights into Mr Loh Hoon Sun, more than just a distinguished UQ alumnus, the things he has done for UQ Singapore alumni, the philanthropy work and legacy he is creating for the UQ Singapore alumni and its future with the UQ Singapore Alumni Fund. 

Thank you Mr Loh, from all of us here in the UQ Singapore alumni community, for your service and dedication. 

By: GengHui Tan (UQ BEL Singapore Alumni Ambassador)

The post Part 2 – The history and story behind UQ Singapore Alumni Fund appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

From that time onwards till today, I had many opportunities to meet Mr Loh on various occasions, at UQ alumni networking events when I served in the University of Queensland Association Singapore (UQAAS) Ex-Co for two terms in the mid 2000s, and now as a UQ BEL Singapore Alumni Ambassador.

To commemorate Mr Loh’s contribution to the Singapore Council and the alumni community, we are embarking on a two-part special feature to share his life story, UQ journey, work experience, his philanthropy work and the UQ Singapore Alumni Fund that he founded. 

In Part One, we will get to know Loh Hoon Sun – his UQ journey, work and corporate executive experiences and UQ alumni involvements over the decades. 

In the second part of this feature, we will learn more about Mr Loh’s philanthropy work for UQ Singapore alumni, the history and story behind UQ Singapore Alumni Fund and some words of wisdom from Mr Loh to the UQ Singapore alumni community.  

A brief introduction

Loh Hoon Sun was born in Fujian China, educated in Penang, Malaysia, studied in Brisbane, Australia at the University of Queensland (UQ) and is now residing in Singapore. He returned from Australia in early 1965, landed his first job in Singapore and became part of Singapore’s Pioneer Generation.

Currently working as a Senior Advisor with Phillip Securities Pte Ltd in Singapore since 1990, he was their Managing Director till 2017. His prior diverse work experiences spread across Australia, Malaysia and Singapore, in various industries that include auditing, investment, plantation, mining, timber, property, oil, banking and stockbroking. 

Prior to his current role at Phillip Securities, he was Executive Vice President and Head of Overseas Union Bank Treasury and Investment Banking and Chairman of OUB Investment Management Ltd.

Mr Loh graduated with a First Class Honours Degree in Economics (Accountancy) from UQ. Beyond all that, he has served in various organisations, held numerous professional memberships and received numerous awards for his achievements and work.

Now, let us get to know Mr Loh better from both a professional and personal perspective!

GH: Mr Loh, thank you for taking your precious time to share with us more about yourself, UQ experiences, and life experiences. What was studying in UQ like back in the 1960s? 

Mr Loh: Thank you, GengHui for writing this article and your kind words on me. You have also contributed greatly to the UQ alumni community in Singapore. 

I was at UQ 1960 to 63, studying Economics majoring in Accountancy. In  those days, there were only a handful  of students from both Singapore and Malaysia. So we knew each other very well, although we were in different courses and at different campuses. I served as the Honorary Treasurer of the Malaysia-Singapore Students Association at UQ. President was Ms Selena Lam who passed away 2 years ago in Singapore. I still keep in touch in Singapore, with 3 other UQ alumni of my time, Dr Phua Kong Boo, Senior Consultant at KK Hospital, Mr Kenneth Chew Keng Seng, Chief Financial Officer of Prima Flour, and Mr Lee Hoong Seun, retired Accountant. I very much enjoyed my student days at UQ, whose academic and other staff were very friendly and helpful.

GH: I read your CV, you have a very impressive various work and executive level experiences, as well as professional memberships. How has your degree from UQ help you in your career advancement over the decades?  

Mr Loh: In  those days, graduates  were not many, and honors graduates were even fewer. I owe my good career advancement to my UQ education, especially my first class honors degree.

GH: When and how did you start to get involved in UQ Singapore alumni networking events, activities and gatherings?

Mr Loh: I joined the UQAAS upon my return from Australia in  1965. I also joined Australian Alumni Singapore, of which I am a Past President. Both have been good platforms for fellowship and networking.

GH: What advice would you give to current UQ students and recent UQ graduates on networking at alumni events?

Mr Loh: Alumni events are  excellent opportunities to catch up with old friends and meet new ones. Contacts are important for our work and business. To be successful in life, we must have more friends and less enemies.

GH: Of all the many UQ alumni networking events, activities and gatherings that you attended, which UQ Singapore alumni or UQ alumni networking events are the most memorable to you? Which event was that? Would you kindly share more about that event?

Mr Loh: I was very impressed with the initial few events I participated. That attracted me to continue to attend its events.

The dinner talk held on 9 June 2022 was great and had a good turnout of 50 UQ alumni. It was a sponsored event and alumni attended free, with dinner, talk and networking. I hope we will have more of these events.

GH: How many times have you visited UQ campus in Brisbane after your graduation? How are the changes like, as compared to your undergraduate days? 

Mr Loh: I have been back to UQ about 10 times, including the 100 Years Anniversary of UQ and 75 Years Anniversary of Department of Economics. In my first visit some years after graduation, I got lost at St Lucia campus and could not find my way to the Department of Accountancy to visit my professor, the late Prof Reg Gynther, as there were so many new buildings after I left UQ

GH: The recently graduated UQ graduates are young and energetic, they are probably in the same age band as your grandchildren! How do you manage to keep in touch and engaged with those young and energetic UQ Singapore alumni?  

Mr Loh: The young alumni are really energetic and up to date.  I enjoyed meeting and talking with them. They are more up to date on new technologies. I do learn new ideas and happenings from them. 

GH: What are your favourite hobbies, leisure and recreational activities? 

Mr Loh: I spend much time in attending events, both work related and social. I also play golf, card game and do gardening. 

GH: What is life like for you right now? Actively working as a Senior Adviser or having a nice balance of work and retirement lifestyle? 

Mr Loh: At 84, I am still working full time and enjoying it.  This keeps me healthy and alert. I will continue to work as long as I am healthy, able to contribute to my employer and work is interesting.

GH: The UQ Singapore alumni community has started to hear and know more about your philanthropy work that you have started – UQ Singapore Alumni Fund. Would you mind sharing a brief introduction into this?

Mr Loh: This is a small fund and is just a token of my appreciation to UQ, for the valuable education I received, which has helped me greatly in my career advancement. 

In one of his visits to Singapore, Mr Ted Wynn, Director of Advancement, UQ BEL Faculty, suggested that I contribute to start a fund to help Singapore students at UQ who need financial help. I agreed and committed to a fixed yearly contribution for 5 years from 2017.  

When the first 5 years ended in 2021, I pledged to continue to continue for another 5 years till 2026.  My total contribution will be A$50,000.  Mr Ted Wynn wanted to name the fund as Loh Hoon Sun Fund. I persuaded him to use a common name so that other people will also contribute to this Fund, making it a bigger fund to benefit more Singapore students at UQ. 

It was then named The UQ Singapore Alumni Excellence Prize. With the recommendation of Ms Suyin Lee, Chair of UQ BEL Singapore Alumni Ambassadors Council, and approval of UQ, the Fund has just been renamed UQ Singapore Alumni Fund, which is more appropriate.

Coming soon in Part Two  

We will learn more about Mr Loh’s philanthropy work, the history and story behind UQ Singapore Alumni Fund and purpose of the Fund – https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/singapore-alumni-fund

By: Genghui Tan (UQ BEL Singapore Alumni Ambassador)

The post Part 1 – An interview with Mr Loh Hoon Sun, distinguished UQ BEL alumnus appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Going back in time to 2021, there was a period during Q3 when I was at a very low point, I wasn’t in a good shape, my mental health and well-being was probably at the bottom of that rabbit hole that I spiralled myself downwards into. 

The above photo was shot on 24th September 2021 by fellow photographer friend Ryan Cheng. A picture speaks a thousand words, on the state of my mental health and well-being during that period. My article on World Mental Health Day 2021 translates them into a pretty lengthy article if you like to know more.

A year has passed, my situation has definitely improved from that dark and down period in 2021, putting aside the normal routine high stress and pressure in running my own photography business in a swinging up and down economic cycle. I am not writing as much in this article (I try to not write as much), as compared to my 2021 article whereby my photography and visual story telling allowed me to unleash (rant) a lot of my thoughts, feelings and emotions at that point in time.

In a period of crisis, there are lessons to be learnt, for you to take note, be mindful and improve on. There is light at the end of the tunnel, there is a beautiful rainbow at the end of this storm. One of the bright sparks/rainbow omen that appear for me, is that my second photography zine (publishing soon) is based on my photography therapy journeys that I embarked during my route to recovery. 

Today on 10th October 2022, World Mental Health Day 2022, I am continuing to spread the message on taking care of your personal mental health and well-being. Please visit and check out this article my alma mater University of Queensland (UQ). “What the health: How do we maintain a healthy headspace”, published by UQ Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, is a good read.    

Be aware and mindful of your personal mental health and well-being. Take good care and be safe as we rebuild a new future of living and work in a post global pandemic world. 

The post World Mental Health Day 2022 appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

First and foremost, let me start on the business aspect for my photography:

1. Slow and small growth, not exponential, in this current economic climate, it’s still pretty difficult on the ground level.
2. Photography business portfolio is expanding, need to upload and showcase more diversification when the opportunity arises.
3. A partial travel familiarisation trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand during end January to early February 2018, a golden opportunity to add on to my travel portfolio and hopefully gain more traction for future travel opportunites in the near future.
4. Phootgraphy and travel blog/website is back working again, my content still needs repairing and tweaking, this would take some time. At the same time, I am looking at making changes and improvements to my blog/website. A change of template is coming soon!
5. Not chasing “numbers” anymore, I am chasing quality content over other benchmarks.
6. Photography business can be cyclical, I must always be prepared, continue my marketing, content creation, awareness, engagements, collaborations, slow and steady growth is my motto.
7. During Q1 2018, there had been hits and misses, all these are part of running any business and life. Learn from the life lessons and carry on moving forward.
8. Always learning and improving my photography knowledge and skills, constant reminder to myself.
9. Avoiding negative people and those people who “put me down” in my life, whether in business or personal life.
10. Partnerships and collabroations: The foundations had been laid and built since last year, looking to grow and expand this segment even bigger, wider and further. Check out Hpility SG, The Epiphany Duplet and also Love At Second Sight project.
11. During the most recent UQ alumni networking event in Singapore, I had the opportunity to catch up with my alumni seniors who holds management/executive level positions in their organisations, it was humbling to chat with them, listening to their advice on the difficulities in running a business (no matter how big or small). They were encouraging and helpful to share their work experiences, invaluable and priceless to me.

Next, let me share and reflect on my personal aspect of my photography:

1. Less time for leisure/personal photography: when I am not doing commerical/work photography, majority of time were spent on planning, marketing, pitching, discussion, content creation etc etc
2. Spend quality time on quality personal projects: Returning to my inner most photography self, taking on photography works/projects close to my heart.
3. Commit to fewer organisations: Some organisations don’t deserve my precious time and photography. It’s time to reduce my commitment to just a few organisations.
4. Not chasing “numbers” anymore, I am chasing quality content over other benchmarks.
5. Always learning and improving my photography knowledge and skills, constant reminder to myself.
6. Avoiding negative people and those people who “put me down” in my life, whether in business or personal life.

As Q1 2018 draws to a close, Q2 2018 opens, I am currently reading this book “The Little Book of Ikigai: The Essential Japanese way to finding your purpose in Life”. 生き甲斐 a.k.a Ikigai, has been my guiding principles for my photography, in both personal and business aspects.

Here are the 5 pillars of Ikigai (I brought this book along when I traveled to Chiang Mai, Thailand)

That’s me, reading “The Little Book of Ikigai” in Chiang Mai, Thailand; Peps Goh took this photo.

My journey continues, a big thank you from the bottom of my heart to those who have followed and supported this journey of mine that I embarked on. It has been very very tough and difficult journey, no words can describe it. There were times when a small pat in the back, or even pulling me up when I am down, small achievements and recognition lifted me up and kept me striving onward.

The post Reflecting Q1 2018 (Photography only) appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.