It’s lunchtime in Singapore, and the lifts in Raffles City Tower, one of the country’s tallest buildings, are working overtime.
About a thousand staff from Singapore’s global stockbroking house, Phillip Securities, are squeezing in headed for food some 40 floors below.
Loh Hoon Sun, the man who’s spent the last 15 years expanding Phillip now into 11 countries, including Australia, with 2500 staff, waves his hand, “come, come”.
The University of Queensland (UQ)-trained accountant who is now Phillip’s Managing Director was presented with UQ`s 2005 International Alumnus of the Year Award at the University`s Singapore graduation celebration in September.
The 67-year-old was nominated for his services to accounting in Singapore and Australia and for being a UQ advocate.
Mr Loh is a fellow and life member of CPA Australia, the sixth largest accounting body in the world.
He is the first international member to receive the life membership award of CPA Australia.
He has also been an active UQ Alumni member in Singapore and has helped the university extend its footprint in Asia through UQ’s Master of Commerce, Master of Business Administration and Master of Applied Law in Singapore.
In his speech to graduants, he drew on the words of UQ’s Vice-Chancellor Sir Fred Schonell from his graduation 41 years ago in Brisbane City Hall.
“Don’t pretend to be what you are not,” Mr Loh said.
“This important principle in life is still valid and equally applicable today despite the tremendous changes in the world.
“I attribute the progress in my career to a good education and continuing education, honesty in life, a good work attitude, getting along well with people, working hard and planning ahead.”
Mr Loh was born in China and schooled in Malaysia.
While studying at UQ for his Associate in Accountancy in 1960, he worked odd jobs and travelled to Melbourne for summer holiday work.
“The first time was as a tram conductor and second time was with Ford Motor Company in its Melbourne finance office in a more comfortable job,” he said in his contagious chuckle.
After graduating as UQ’s second first class honours (Accountancy) Bachelor of Economics student, he worked at his first full-time job with Brisbane account auditors Grant Bullock and Co.
Before computers and slick accounting software he said he quickly learnt the importance of accurate filing and initialling duplicate copy letters.
He then returned home and climbed up the corporate ladder going from accountant, office manager, to company secretary, group financial controller, general manager and executive vice president in different industries in Malaysia and Singapore, such as rubber, oil palm and tea plantations, logging, mining, petroleum and banking.
He said he should be considering retirement but he was still healthy, happy and contributing to Phillip Securities.
Away from work, he enjoys the company of his four grandchildren, playing a round of golf and tending to his small garden and fishpond.
UQ based in Brisbane, Australia, is Queensland`s oldest and largest university which consistently ranks as one of Australia`s most outstanding research and teaching and learning universities.
Media: Mr Loh (+65 6534 5321, lohhoonsun@phillip.com.sg) or Miguel Holland at UQ Communications (+61 7 3365 2619, m.holland@uq.edu.au)
