ANZA Executive Committee 2023

Meet the ANZA Executive Committee, a diverse group of Australian and New Zealand expats who oversee the strategic direction of the association.

President: Megan Kinder

Current Employment: Real Estate Agent and Relocation Consultant, Voiceover Artist
Years in SG: 20
Years on the EC: 7
Why you wanted to join the EC: Having been on the Cycling Committee since 2010 in both a membership role and then as President, I thought it would be good to have more crossover and integration between the sub-groups, sporting groups and ‘Big ANZA’ (as we at Cycling refer to the association as a whole).
Favourite EC memory: I loved spinning the great wheel of mystery for holiday prizes at our last ANZA Ball in 2019! This event has always been incredibly fun and such a huge highlight of the yearly calendar.
Skills you bring: As a relocation consultant, long-term SG resident, long term ANZA member and experienced committee member, I bring a deep understanding of our community – who it comprises, how to build and grow it, and how to provide our members with what they’d like. 

Vice President: Mark Neo

Current employment: Group General Counsel, Interflour Group
Years in SG: 8
Years on the EC: 6
Why you wanted to join the EC: ANZA contributes so much to the community and its members, mostly on the effort and time so generously given by volunteers. As part of the committee, I hope my small contribution will help ANZA to continue to flourish.
Favourite EC memory: Seeing ANZA thank all of its dedicated volunteers at the Volunteer of the Year Awards (VOYA).
Skills you bring: My legal and secretary background aligned well with my previous role as Association Secretary. Going forward, I’ll support the President, Committee and General Manager as best I can through the forthcoming stages of the pandemic and onto a bigger and brighter future.

Treasurer: Tristan Perry

Current employment: Head of Tax – Australia, Select Investors
Years in SG: 7
Years on the EC: 6
Why you wanted to join the EC: To be part of the expatriate community and to also give back to it. I’ve always been grateful to ANZA for such a wonderful network and the members and staff who are continually ready to help and befriend you.
Favourite EC memory: All the face-to-face events and the people involved. I’m looking forward to getting back to it very soon!
Skills you bring:  Accounting skills and knowledge about how ANZA runs. I’m a proud Australian Chartered Accountant and assist ANZA with its accounting alongside ANZA’s internal accounting rockstar Ellie, which is important for both the day-to-day operations and future planning. We need to make sure ANZA can continue to function as well as it has been for at least another 75 years! 

 Secretary: MaryScot Thom

Current employment: Registered nurse and mum to two young daughters
Years in SG: 8.5
Why you wanted to join the EC: To give back to the Australian and New Zealand Community. I also hope to positively affect change in the Singapore community by being more directly involved with ANZA’s fundraising efforts and supporting local charities.
Skills you bring: I’m incredibly passionate about giving back to different communities, highly organised, motivated, and I absolutely love being a part of a team.

 

Community Services Coordinator: Debra de Reeper

Current employment: Volunteer Executive Coordinator for Singapore charity LOVE, NILS
Years in SG: 4.5
Years on the EC: 1
Why you wanted to join the EC: I enjoy giving back to an organisation that provides an important service in the community I live in.
Skills you bring: I’ve worked in HR and Events Management so I thrive on organisation and communication. I hope to be able to highlight the community spirit in Singapore and encourage others to enjoy the benefits I do by volunteering.

 

Sports Coordinator: James Lindsay

Current employment: Commercial Director,
Boston Consulting Group
Years in SG: 15
Why you wanted to join the EC: I’ve always been enthusiastic about giving back to the community. We have a strong pedigree of new and old (and our friends) here. I think it’s important that we maintain close ties back to our home countries by offering alumni a platform from which to connect and give back.
Skills you bring: Fresh ideas and a commitment to building on what has already been achieved by so many dedicated and passionate people before me.

 

Sports Coordinator: Melanie Speet

Current employment: Head of Marketing & Digital at NBCUniversal
Years in SG: 7
Why you wanted to join the EC: As Vice President of ANZA Cycling, I saw this as an opportunity to bring my experience to ‘Big ANZA’ and also see how the sporting groups might be able to work more together.
Skills you bring:  As a marketer, running campaigns and events are my bread and butter. Beyond that, I’m always looking for new and better ways of working that will benefit the communities I serve. I’ve also played sport my whole life and now I’m a successful triathlete, so I’m excited to connect with like-minded sportspeople across the ANZA community.

Committee member: Don Northey

Current employment: Sole Practitioner Chartered Accountant specialising in SMB’s
Years in SG: 17
Years on the EC: 14
Why you wanted to join the EC: I was volunteered as they needed a treasurer at the time.
Favourite EC memory: Doing the photography for the big ANZA events such as the Ball, AFL Grand Final and Melbourne Cup.
Skills you bring: Financial knowledge of Singapore rules and regulations and dry humour (too dry for most!).

 

Committee member: Phillip Simmonds

Current employment: Director at ExpertsDirect
Years in SG: 13
Years on the EC: 5
Why you wanted to join the EC: In my early years in Singapore, I attended many ANZA events, joined the activities, and met loads of great people from all over the world. I joined the EC so I can help make a difference and connect newbies, and not-so-newbies, here in Singapore to all the things that ANZA has to offer.
Skills you bring: I come from a marketing background, so I look forward to injecting new ideas to stimulate interest and awareness of our growing community.

 

Committee member: Christo Fangupo

Current employment: General Manager, SongDivision Asia
Years in SG: 7
Years on the EC: 3
Why you wanted to join the EC: To get more involved with the work ANZA does.
Favourite memory of being on the EC: It has been quiet for me as my skill set hasn’t been utilised to its fullest due to Covid restrictions. Actually, I did run a virtual event for the ANZA members back in 2020 which was really fun. We ended up writing an ANZA-inspired song on the call!
Skills you bring: As I’m in the events industry, I want to bring my expertise to help enhance the already awesome ANZA events (and perhaps bring in something new!).

Committee Member: Kylie Barry

Current employment: NatWest Markets
Years in SG: 18
Why you wanted to join the EC: This is my second time on the EC. It’s great to be a part of a group of like-minded people who love volunteering and helping the ANZA community to thrive. Having being actively involved in ANZA for 18 years, I felt it was time to get back onto the EC to welcome newbies, and to help with volunteering and annual events, namely the Melbourne Cup.
Skills you bring: My HR knowledge and expertise, interpersonal skills, team work and collaboration, and my extensive experience in event organising.

 

Committee Member: Shaun McEwan

Current employment: Founder of Eagle Eye SG, we run charity auctions at events
Years in SG: 13
Years on the EC: 1
Why you wanted to join the EC: It’s all about giving back what I have received in abundance, not only from ANZA and the expat community but the wider community of Singapore.
Skills you bring: Living in Singapore for over a decade brings a lot of life experiences to the table. On top of that I have a good working knowledge of live events and fundraising. Also running your own business exposes you to a broad range of business skills from sales to marketing to accounting. 

 

Committee Member: Megan Scott

Current employment: Talent Management & Development
Years in SG: 11
Why you wanted to join the EC: As someone who arrived in Singapore without a partner or children, I was especially appreciative of the social safety net provided by ANZA.
What excites you about ANZA: Though I’m proud of what we achieved and delivered to our community during ‘the covid years’, I’m really excited to see what the future holds now we can return to some more large, live, loud events. I want to be close to the action!
Skills you bring: My background in managing talent and learning projects..