On 10th March, SMF organised an appreciation dinner at the Four Seasons Hotel Singapore for our immediate past Chairman, Mr Michael Chia, Managing Director (Marine & Technology) at Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd and past Board members, Mr Goh Teik Poh, Chairman of the Maritime Industry Advisory Council at Singapore Polytechnic, Mr Patrick Phoon, Deputy Managing Director of Evergreen Shipping (Singapore) Pte Ltd and Mr Wong Weng Sun, President & Chief Executive Officer of Sembcorp Marine Ltd who had stepped down from the SMF Board at the end of last year.

Mr Chia has served on the SMF Board as a member from 2005 to 2009, and thereafter as SMF Chairman from 2010 to 2015. Mr Goh had joined the Board in 2009, followed by Mr Phoon and Mr Wong in 2010. Mr Wong was unfortunately absent with apologies on event day as he had to attend to urgent business matters.

Mr Andreas Sohmen-Pao, Chairman of SMF, gave the opening address and highlighted the contributions of Mr Chia, Mr Goh, Mr Phoon and Mr Wong during their terms as a members of the SMF Board. Thereafter, Mr Chia, Mr Phoon and Mr Goh each took turns to share their most memorable moments during their time with SMF, and thanked the Secretariat, fellow Board members and industry partners for their continuous support and hard work for the maritime industry.

A photobook was also presented to Mr Michael Chia, which is a memorabilia that comprises pictures of him at various SMF and key industry events for the past decade. Guests for the evening included not only SMF’s past and present Board Members but also other key leaders from the maritime industry.