Initiated by the Singapore Maritime Foundation, the Maritime Youth Forum creates a platform to connect the talent pool and the industry

 Student leaders from the maritime societies of the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Management University, Singapore Institute of Technology and Singapore Maritime Academy organised the 2nd Maritime Youth Forum on 26 January 2024. Initiated by the Singapore Maritime Foundation  in 2023, the event creates a platform to foster cohesiveness among students across the different educational institutions, and to connect the tertiary talent pool with the industry.

Mr. Baey Yam Keng, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Transport & Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, graced the 2nd Maritime Youth Forum as Guest-of- Honour. The event was attended by more than 200 students and industry executives.

At the forum, Mr. Jeremy Nixon, CEO, Ocean Network Express delivered a keynote on the topic “Decarbonising Shipping: A Corporate’s Perspective”.

Another highlight was a student-moderated panel discussion themed “Opportunities for Maritime Industry”, which spanned topics across maritime business, sustainable shipping, and career opportunities for the Generation-Z workforce. The panellists were:

▪ Mr. Baey Yam Keng, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Transport & Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment

▪ Mr. Hor Weng Yew, Chairman, SMF and MD & CEO, Pacific Carriers Limited

▪ Mr. Jeremy Nixon, CEO, Ocean Network Express
▪ Mr. Jonathan Fancher, CEO, Petredec Global
▪ (Moderator) Ms. Sarah Long, 3rd-Year Maritime Studies Student, Nanyang

Technological University

The event ended with a dinner reception where industry leaders and human resources professionals from 20 companies across the maritime ecosystem networked with the talent pool from Singapore’s institutions of higher learning.

“The Singapore Maritime Foundation is proud to initiate and support the Maritime Youth Forum in partnership with the student leaders from Singapore’s institutions of higher learning. The forum is a meaningful way to hone the leadership skills of maritime students, foster cohesiveness among the student societies, and connect the tertiary talent pool with the industry. SMF will continue to create such platforms in line with our mission to nurture a talent pipeline to meet the evolving needs of the sector,” said Mr. Hor Weng Yew, Chairman, Singapore Maritime Foundation.