The first year at SCMA. The learnings

Today is exactly a year since I took over as the Executive Director of Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration and what a year it has been! It has been a tough year but also a year that offered opportunities to grow, connect & learn. Here are some of the lessons that my first year has taught or reaffirmed.

1.      Passion is infectious.

I came into SCMA with a task of building a brand-new team and with a huge amount of passion to really make a difference. Passion is never enough but without it, you cannot get anywhere. I am so glad that I have been able to infect that passion in rest of my team – Michelle Lim, Winne Chew and Damien Yeo. All of them have the same passion as me to unlock the true value of SCMA. What can passion achieve? Just look at the SCMA Year in Review and you will find plenty of examples.

2.      Lifelong learning is a reality.

While COVID-19 severely restricted travel and face to face meetings, it threw up amazing opportunities to participate and learn from experts and professionals around the world. An example is a learning that simply agreeing “Arbitration in Singapore” in a charter party does not automatically bring you to SCMA, but only provides an ad-hoc arbitration. Therefore, incorporating the right and complete clause in the contract is crucial and you can find the latest updated SCMA Model Clauses here.

3.      The magic of an Ecosystem & the living example of Maritime Singapore

I have always been a believer in the value of an ecosystem and during my time as a board member of Singapore Maritime Foundation, I found the true value of Maritime Singapore and the way each of the component of this ecosystem truly contribute to each other’s success. This belief was further strengthened in the last year at SCMA. I feel grateful for all the voluntary and active contributions from shipping professionals, lawyers, arbitrators, insurers, and regulators across the world with one aim – to add value to the global maritime ecosystem. The SCMA Local Users Council is a living example of these efforts.

4.      Every organization has a niche area and value to add to the eco-system.

The year has also taught me the importance of identifying and enhancing unique value propositions of SCMA. In one way, we are competing with other arbitration centres around the world and in another, we have aspects which are unique to us. SCMA’s proximity to Asia and the diversity and cultural understanding of our arbitrators are unique along with procedures such as Singapore Bunker Claims and SEADOCC, expeditiously dealing with Collision claims. Every arbitration centre is positively contributing to the global arbitration ecosystem and we need to find our own place within the giants.

5.      Digitalization is not about doing big things but small things in a big way.

I am extremely thankful to Torvald Klaveness for providing me with experience on Digital Transformation and I have tried to bring that experience to fruit at SCMA as well. Through data analytics and experience, we realised that most of the arbitration cases end up in settlement between the parties. The arbitration is simply a way to bring the non-responsive party to the table. With no case filing and administrative fees, commencing an SCMA Arbitration was already costless. We created a digital tool to make it easy as well – a simple e-form to submit online and kick-start the arbitration process, which is also available in QR Code sticker form. Small things like this go a big way in solving pain points. That is what digitalization is all about.

6.      Vaulting the knowledge is a reality, thanks to technology.

I strongly believe that knowledge must be vaulted and stored in a smart way so that it can be used and spread far and wide. This is crucial in an industry where there are no mandatory entry qualifications and no continuous professional development (CPD) opportunities. This prompted us to launch the SCMA You Tube Channel to capture all our webinars and other knowledge resources. This will be a resource that will only become better with time, benefiting not just SCMA but the entire community.

7.      The belief that all the activities you do, happens to you, connects you to a unified purpose.

My first year could have been the “usual” marketing year with multiple events and trips. Instead, it was a year where I got the chance to plan, build a strong team, strengthen my own as well as SCMA’s foundation. This reinforces what my dad has always said to me, “Everything that happens to you has a purpose behind it, you just cannot see it at the time it happens. Look back and you will find the evidence of this in every action.” As I reflect on my first year in SCMA, I find that evidence.

8.      The goal is your own self-development.

Finally, as I look back at the year with the lens of “loss and gain”, the biggest gain for me has been my own self-development. I have been able to grow as an individual and contribute to causes, which I am passionate about. I have been able to reconnect with old friends and make new ones. I have been able to learn new things and use my previous experience and knowledge in a refreshed manner. I have taken one more step on my own self-development journey and for that I am thankful to God, my family and all those who have helped me.

The task is far from over and the future steps and years ahead will bring in fresh challenges and adventures. If they are anything like the past year, I truly look forward to them.