Singapore’s Former Foreign Minister George Yeo discussed making investments with a moral purpose at Flying Tiger event co-sponsored by Decode Group

By /

Date: 19 September 2023

BG (RET) George Yeo discussed making investments with a moral purpose and how family offices can navigate the current state of geopolitical tensions at The Last Parade of the Flying Tigers co-sponsored by Decode Group.

On 19 September 2023, Singapore’s former Minister for Foreign Affairs BG (RET) George Yeo paid tribute to 103-year-old Captain Ho Weng Toh, who he described “as a man with a strong sense of moral purpose”. Captain Ho is one of the last survivors of the “Flying Tigers”, which fought against the Japanese in World War II.

A Last Parade of the Flying Tigers was organised to honour Captain Ho Weng Toh. More than 100 guests attended the event to celebrate his accomplishments by discussing how his values are still very relevant to us today. It also marked the commencement of the production of a short film based on his life that will use advanced virtual production technology to meld cinematography and game development. The short film is co-sponsored by Decode Group and Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA).

Decode Group is honoured to sponsor this milestone event as Captain Ho is an exemplary figure and his spirit of resilience should be remembered for generations to come. “Sponsoring this event reflects Decode’s dedication to making a positive impact in our community. We believe that sponsoring the short film will allow the younger generation to reflect on Captain Ho’s values of resilience and hopefully inspire them to continue pursuing their dreams bravely and with pride. For Decode, we affirm our commitment to building a stronger financial future together with our partners and clients,” said Mr Ivan Lew, CEO of Decode Global Capital.

Captain (RET) Quay Chew Eng, former Senior Vice-President of Singapore Airlines Flight Operations commended that “Captain Ho’s accomplishment contributed immensely to the success of Singapore Airlines. His reputation as the Chief Pilot of the 737 fleet preceded him and he was deeply admired.”

The Flying Tigers are revered in China even today for their heroic efforts to defend China and fight against the Japanese air force. “I feel really honoured that Decode and the organisers are letting the people of Singapore know what we have achieved in the past,” acknowledged Captain Ho.

Captain Ho attributed his survival through the hardships of war to “tenacity in the face of adversity”. The Family Office Symposium discussed how this value of tenacity is especially relevant to small nations and the private wealth industry today, given the current existential threats. Mr George Yeo delivered a keynote speech, sharing his views about how the financial industry can navigate the future with resilience amidst heightened geopolitical tensions between nations such as US-China and Russia-Ukraine. Mr Yeo posed some thought-provoking considerations for family offices to weigh in when making investment decisions. “Does it lead to a positive sum? Does it add something real to the world? Does it make human life fuller and more abundant or does it take away from us?”

Speakers at the Family Office Symposium included a panel of international speakers including Mr Ivan Lew, CEO of Decode Global Capital, Mr Philip Von Wullfen, co-head of JAB Consumer Fund and Mr Shervin Pishevar, a super angel investor named by the FORBES Midas List.

The event is co-organised and supported by Decode Group, Grid Synergy, the Family Office Alliance and Singapore Airlines.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Eeling Chioh, PR Director, Decode Group at [email protected]

ANNEX A: ABOUT DECODE GROUP AND SPEAKERS

ANNEX B: PROGRAMME

Annex A

About Decode Global

Decode Global is a top-tier global financial services group, founded in 2004 with its headquarters based in Sydney, Australia. We offer a diversified range of financial products, to protect and grow the estates and capital of family offices. To date, Decode Global has served thousands of high-net-worth clients. In early 2023, the Singapore office was set up to better service clients in Asia and the Middle East.

About Ivan Lew

Decode Global Capital’s CEO, Mr Ivan Lew is a dynamic leader with a proven track record of driving innovation and achieving remarkable results. He joined Decode Global in July 2023. Prior to joining Decode Global Capital, Mr Lew was the CEO and Executive Director of Shaw Investment APAC Pte Ltd. Mr Lew has helped Shaw Investment to preserve and grow their family legacies. He has been instrumental in leading various acquisitions and turnarounds across sectors such as healthcare, fintech, aquaculture, agriculture, real estate, manufacturing, and power plants on numerous continents. Having been instrumental in raising over US$280 million since 2016, Mr Lew is experienced in Public Listing across various stock exchanges. Recognised as a Qualified Director by the Singapore Institute of Directors for Listed Entities, Ivan is a respected member of prestigious organisations, including the Rotary Club of Singapore, Worldwide Who’s Who, and the Singapore Think Tank. As a devoted advocate for financial literacy and education, Mr Lew is also a frequent guest speaker at events organised by various governments and international forums

About BG(RET) George Yeo

Mr Yeo is currently a Visiting Scholar at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy of the National University of Singapore and the Founding Patron of its Asia Competitiveness Institute. He was with Kerry Group in Hong Kong from 2012 to 2021 and was Chairman and Executive Director of Kerry Logistics Network from 2012 to 2019, prior to that, he served 23 years in the Government and was Minister for Information and the Arts, Minister for Health, Minister for Trade & Industry and Minister for Foreign Affairs.

About Mr Philip Von Wullfen

Mr Philip Von Wullfen is the Founder of Family Office Alliance, a network of Family Offices based in Europe and Asia. He is also Co-head of JAB Consumer Fund, a fund managed by JAB Holding Company. The history of JAB dates back to the early 19th Century when predecessors of the Reimann family established Benckiser. In 2012, JAB Holding Company was formed as a partner-led investment firm, with the consolidation of all business assets, and its portfolio has expanded to the present day. Its extensive portfolio of companies includes well-known brands such as Krispy Kreme and luxury brands including Gucci, Hugo Boss and Tiffany & Co.

About Mr Shervin Pishevar

Mr Shervin Pishevar is a super-angel investor, with more than 25 years of experience in the finance industry. He is a co-founder of Sofreh Capital, Manager of the Pishevar Family Office, and Managing Member of The Edison Companies, LLC. Mr Pishevar was the Managing Partner of Menlo Ventures. He has been named four times in Forbes’ Midas List, which recognises the Top 100 venture investors in the world. He is an active angel investor with investments in more than 100 privately held companies.

Annex B

A Last Parade of the Flying Tigers
19 Sept 2023, Tuesday
Venue: Wings Over Asia, Aviators’ Lounge. Level 3 66 Seletar Aerospace
View, Singapore 797509

TimeProgramDescription
10.00 amArrival of VIPsCaptain Ho Weng Toh arrives
10.05 amCaptain Ho’s StoryCNA Segment: Captain Ho recounts his experiences
10.15 amIntroductory remarks Philip WuPhilip explains the background of the Event
10.25 amTribute: Letter by Captain Halla (Military)Mission account written by Captain Halla Captain Halla, USAF/CACW, Flying Tigers
10.30 amTribute to Captain HoTribute by Captain (RET) Quay Chew Eng, Former Senior Vice President Flight Operations, Singapore Airlines
10.40amCaptain Ho’s Simulator Ride at 100th BirthdayCaptain Eric Oon, Vice President of Flight Operations and Chief Pilot Training, Singapore Airlines
10.45 amAuction of SIA Tickets2 x Business Class Tickets to Australia
10.50 amFamily Values: “Our commitment to preserve the remarkable spirit of Captain Ho”Ivan Lew, CEO, Decode Global Capital
11.00 am“Up we go into the wild blue yonder”US Airforce Song
11.05 amRibbon Cutting Ceremony | Presentation of Gladiolus heroes
flowers to Captain Ho		Flowers received by Fred Ho on behalf of Captain Ho.
11.10 amPhoto / Video takingSIA pilots | RSAF Pilots | Captain Ho’s friends
11.20 amA Song for Captain Ho, “Danny Boy”Sung by everyone on stage and on the floor
11.30 amLunch commences, Guests invited to leave video messages for Captain Ho
Family Office Symposium
12.00 pmOpening RemarksPhilip von Wulffen, Founder, Family Office Alliance
12.05 pmKeynote: Navigating the Future with Resilience
Our response to unexpected challenges often involves moral
choices		George Yeo, Former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Singapore
12.15 pmPanel : Navigating the Future with Resilience – George Yeo / Ivan Lew / Philip Von Wulffen / Shervin Pishervar | Moderator: Philip WuIvan to share his views on resilience and service for Asian Family Offices and Wealth Management (5 minutes) | Shervin to share his views on
resilience in the face of technology disruptions from AI and Climate (5 minutes)
12.40 pmPanel Discussion, Questions and Answers
1.00 pmNetworking Session
1.30 pmEnd of Symposium

Media Coverage

Scroll to Top