Seven committees assist the Board in the proper conduct of affairs.
The Advocacy Committee is directed to be a proactive thought leader by addressing the issues of integrity and ethics in the financial services industry and in the behaviour of investment professionals in Singapore.
- Promote professional standards and ethical investment industry practices for members;
- Improve information flows to investors;
- Advise policy makers on investors’ views;
- Speak out for members on key market issues;
- Provide research and thought leadership.
To achieve the above mission, the means and role of the local society are as follows:
- Liaise with CFA Institute on advocacy issues;
- Update society board and members;
- Gather local feedback and develop a key contact list of decision makers;
- Promote the CFA brand and CFA Institute Codes, Standards and positions;
- Develop and implement a local advocacy plan; and
- Collaborate with public awareness on media outreach.
In deciding whether to undertake any particular initiative, the Advocacy Committee will consider the following characteristics to produce the greatest benefits to CFA Society Singapore and CFA Institute Centre for Financial Market Integrity, its membership, the capital markets, and the investment community:
- Level of importance to our membership;
- Ability to promote high standards of ethical and professional conduct in the investment industry consistent with the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct, and other relevant standards; potential implications for the investment profession;
- Opportunity to address issues of investor protection or transparency of disclosure and to lead and engage in public debate on current and emerging policy issues and to significantly and positively influence the outcome;
- Recognized as an important source for providing the views of investment professional practitioners; and
- Importance of issues in light of current and developing market conditions, legislation, regulations, or actions by standard-setting bodies.
The Advocacy Committee will selectively focus on initiatives falling within the above criteria and selectively support requests for opinion from local regulators or affiliated societies within the scope of the above.
The Career Development Committee runs activities to help members consider their long term career plans while expanding their network of contacts in the industry. The activities are selectively open to CFA candidates, students of partner universities and other industry partners.
- The Committee seeks to provide various career resources to members and encourage investment professionals in the financial services industry in Singapore to continue developing themselves in order to succeed in a highly competitive environment. Where external communications are required to be undertaken on behalf of CFA Society Singapore, the Co-Chairs of the committee will have the authority to do so.
In carrying out its objectives, the Committee has structured itself into 3 pillars:
- Mentorship / Coaching / Career Events
- Organise Career Development events with industry practitioners and recruiters
- Provide a Mentorship Programme for members
- Organise Coaching programmes for senior members
- Organise soft skills programmes for members
- Job Portal
- Develop a job portal in collaboration with the Career Center Project of CFA Institute
- Enhance the career website to provide resources for members
- Engaging with Employers
- Identify industry partners and employers to support the Committee’s initiatives
- Establishing and enhancing industry and employer partnership with CFA Society Singapore and CFA Institute
- Understanding employers perspective of CFA Charter and CFA Institute portfolio of educational programmes: CFA Program, CIPM program and Investment Foundation
The Education & Content Committee is directed to promote thought leadership and enhance the Society’s professional learning journey with the broad finance community. The committee, made up of practitioners, academia and CFA Society Singapore members will also work closely with regulators in shaping the industry and nurturing future leaders through content development.
- Advocate and enhance the profile of CFA Charter’s gold standards;
- Advise on the Society’s professional learning initiatives and provide expertise in alignment with regulatory and industry needs through preparatory and executive programmes;
- Provide guidance on educational content by CFA Institute’s curriculum and Training Partners’ programmes to identify the knowledge gaps and make recommendations on the relevant and emerging skills required by the industry;
- Provide direction on curated content for institutions based on their business objectives and learning outcomes; and
- Contribute IBF assessment questions and be updated on IBF Review Committee’s guidance on assessment structure and questions for preparatory programmes, to meet industry and CFA Institute’s standards.
The Industry Partnership Committee aims to foster collaboration between the Society and industry stakeholders. The primary purpose of the IPC is to enable the Society to strengthen its capacity, broaden its impact, and create sustainable, long-term relationships that advance the shared goals of both the Society and industry stakeholders. These partnerships are expected to contribute to the Society’s mission by aligning industry resources, expertise, and networks with the needs and objectives of the Society, enhance professional standards, and promote knowledge exchange.
Industry stakeholders may include, but not limited to, industry regulators; financial institutions; tertiary institutions; institute of higher learning.
- Advocate the mission of the Society “To lead the investment profession by promoting the highest standards of ethics, education and professional excellence for the ultimate benefit of the society”.
- Develop and continuously refine a partnership strategy that outlines clear criteria for selecting industry partners aligned with the organization’s mission and vision.
- Position the Society as a thought leader in its sector, working with industry leaders to advocate for policies, practices, or changes that align with the Society’s values and objectives.
- To develop IPC’s overall strategic direction and priorities.
- Develop partnership models, strategies and policies to embed a culture of partnership and behaviours that promote collaboration between the Society and industry stakeholders.
- Cultivate and maintain a robust network of industry contacts, including potential sponsors, service providers and collaborators.
- Assist in securing a range of resources, both financial (e.g., sponsorships) and non-financial (e.g., volunteer time, skills-based volunteering, product donations), from industry partners.
- Oversee the implementation and evaluation of partnership activities, ensuring they are achieving the intended results, both for the Society and the industry partner.
The Networking Committee was established to serve as a platform for members to interact and expand their network of contacts in the financial industry. This is achieved through social events and theme-based activities organised for members and industry practitioners.
- To serve as a platform for members to interact and expand their network of contacts in the financial industry;
- To promote spirit de corps among members;
- To promote the CFA brand.
To achieve its mission, the Networking Committee would:
- Organise social and recreational events that promote interactions among members;
- Organise events that promote the health and wellness of members;
- Organise events that promote and enhance the soft skills of members.
The Professional Development Committee is directed to promote and encourage investment professionals in the financial services industry in Singapore to continue developing themselves in order to succeed in a highly competitive environment that appreciates and values trustworthiness by providing ample opportunities to further their knowledge, skills and abilities. The committee organises events to meet its objectives. Events organised generally take the form of expert speaker and forum / panel events.
- Promote professional learning, development and well-being for members;
- Encourage investment professionals to stay updated with relevant skills;
- Improve information flow to investors;
- Speak out for members on key market issues; and
- Provide development and sound leadership.
To achieve the above mission, the means and role of the local society are as follows:
- Liaise with CFA Institute on the coordination of potential speakers;
- Liaise with industry experts and practitioners for speaking engagements;
- Update society board and members;
- Gather members’ feedback;
- Promote continuing education, professional development and skills based well-being for investment professionals; and
- Promote the CFA Institute Codes, Standards and positions.
The Professional Development Committee will focus on initiatives falling within the above criteria and in line with the following broader principles of:
- Relevance to our membership base;
- Aligned to our values of continuous and incremental learning, development, and promoting members’ well-being;
- Preparing our members’ for the investment industry of tomorrow; and
- Promoting CFA Society Singapore as a leading body of investment and professional development and skills enhancement.
The University Outreach Committee was established by CFA Society Singapore in 2007. Its role, as its name implies, is to reach out to Singapore’s academic institutions of higher learning and act as a bridge for the set of next generation of leaders in the financial industry and facilitate their entry into the CFA programme and the industry.
- To raise the level of awareness and interest in the CFA charter and programmes through active and regular engagements via career talks and CFA information sessions;
- To actively promote and organise the Investment Research Challenge with local universities, especially with universities under the CFA Program Partners or University Recognition Program;
- To administer the Society’s bursary, gold medal/book prize and scholarship programmes;
- To be one of the liaisons between the Society and Academia; and
- To improve understanding of the financial industry and share practical knowledge with members and university students through organising industry talks by leading financial professionals.
The Committee will focus on initiatives falling within the above criteria and arrange events and opportunities for members to participate as guest speakers, panellists, mentors, and judges.
The Committee may invite individuals as working group members as needed, independent of Committee membership.
