Panelists:
Lawrence Yip, Senior Vice President, Planning and Business Development, Sembcorp Industrial Parks Ltd
Kristin Paulson, Director, Energy Policy for ASEAN, GE Energy
Rick Mayo-Smith III, Managing Director, IndoChina Capital
Joel Whitaker, Head of Research, Corporate Executive Board Asia

Moderator:
Christopher Muessel, International Attorney at Law, based in Singapore



Join AmCham’s panel of experts as they discuss on how Vietnam is doing economically in 2012 and the business trends, challenges and opportunities in the country.

AmCham members interested in doing business in Vietnam, do note that AmCham Singapore is also organizing a business mission to Vietnam on February 21 to 24. click here for more details.

About the Panelists:

Lawrence Yip, Senior Vice-President - Planning & Business Development and Chief Marketing Officer, Vietnam for Sembcorp Industrial Parks Limited. Lawrence has spent over 25 years in regional business development and marketing having worked for global companies - Reed Elsevier (USA), TOTAL Oil (France), Honeywell (USA), Yaohan Group (Japan) and Kerry Properties (HongKong). In 1987, he was in the pioneer team that developed and built the 60-ha China World Trade Center in Beijing and in 1991 helped to start-up the International Merchandise Mart (IMM) in Singapore.

Kristin Paulson is Director, Energy Policy for ASEAN, for GE Energy, based in Singapore.  In this role, Kristin leads and manages government relations across Southeast Asia for GE Energy. Her responsibilities include overseeing GE Energy efforts to influence energy policy, regulatory and government-related transactional issues in the region. Kristin was previously President for South Asia Pacific for United Technologies (UTC) International Operations from 2002-2009.

Kristin has experience in government and government relations, having worked within industry groups, private companies and government agencies devoted to international commerce. Kristin recently served as the chairperson of the Asia-Pacific Council of American Chambers of Commerce. Her professional experience also includes serving as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Congressional Affairs at the US Department of Commerce and Director of Congressional Affairs for the International Trade Administration. Kristin holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies from Miami University in Ohio and a JD from Georgetown University Law Center.

Joel Whitaker is the Head of Research for Corporate Executive Board Asia, based in Singapore. His research teams support CEB’s member executives throughout the Asia-Pacific region, including the APAC CEO Executive Board and the Asia HR Executive Board (AHREB). Joel returned to CEB in 2011 after founding the Center of Innovation for Science, Technology and Peacebuilding at the US Institute of Peace in Washington DC, which advises policy-makers, diplomats and NGO leaders on new tools for conflict management. Previously, he led CEB research programs for chief strategists, heads of R&D, CIOs, and enterprise architects.

About the Moderator:

Chris Muessel has been a partner in three international law firms, and has 20 years of experience advising clients on cross-border investments, private mergers & acquisitions, corporate/commercial law (incl. large real estate projects), project finance, international trade, compliance (incl. the FCPA) and maritime law.  He has in-country experience in Vietnam (6 years with Baker & McKenzie), Japan, Cambodia (seconded to the World Bank), Mongolia and his native country, the U.S.  Chris has previously served on several boards of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham), including the AmCham Vietnam (Chairman 2007) and AmCham Singapore (Governor 2008-2011).  Chris has been a recommended lawyer by Chambers Asia (Leading Overseas Counsel; Vietnam), Chambers Global (Global Leading Lawyer -- Corporate; Vietnam) and the Legal 500 (Leading Lawyer -- Corporate; Vietnam).  Chris holds a Juris Doctorate (JD) from the Georgetown University Law Center (Wash DC), and a BA in International Relations and Political Science from Colorado College (C. Springs, CO).  He is a member of the Wash DC and PA Bars, and has previously been registered as a foreign lawyer in Japan, Singapore and Vietnam.

Registration closes 2 days prior to the event date. Cancellation notice must be sent 2 days prior to the event date to Aisyah Ariffin at aariffin@amcham.org.sg to avoid any charges. An additional S$20.00 charge is applicable to registrations after registration has closed and at the door. No-shows will be billed. Only credit card payment is accepted for registration.