Regional Council
Mr David Walker, CFA (Trustee)
Managing Director
Macquarie Capital Advisers, Singapore
Mr Walker was educated in New Zealand and completed a BCA (Hons) in Finance and Accounting at Victoria University of Wellington. He then moved to Finland and began working in investment banking, focusing on the forestry and pulp and paper sectors. He joined a specialist consulting and engineering group, Poyry, and worked there from 1989-2007 focused on strategic consulting and was responsible for the Asian business.
He moved to Singapore in 1996 where he presently lives with his wife, Jaana, where his children were educated, and where he is part of the IB Regional Council.
He initially got involved with IB through his two children, both of whom took the IB programme (PYP-DP) in Singapore at the Overseas Family School. His daughter is currently studying at Imperial College London. His son will do complete the DP in May 2010.
In what ways can the IB tap into your expertise/experience?
I feel I have a very global perspective on life and business and hopefully these perspectives are useful. I am very business and financed focused and want to ensure that the IB keeps business goals in mind, in parallel with its primary educational objectives. The educational mission is and always will be primary, but these services need to be delivered efficiently and cost competitively. Hopefully I can contribute to this debate in Asia and globally.
What do you think are the strategic imperatives and challenges for IB in this region and how do you think it can meet them?
- increase "market" share for IB programmes in key Asian markets - China, India and Indonesia.
- deliver a first class broad educational experience to students (via school partners) cost effectively
- bring the Asian views and experience of the IB programmes to the global IB organization.
What are the two lessons you learned in your career that you would pass on to others?
I think two lessons I have learned over time would be:
- "Think and Act Globally" - realise that we live in a globally connected work and there is a massive amount we can learn which was "not invented here".
- "Be open and respect others" - realise the diversity, breadth and depth of culture that exists in the world and how much we do not know and therefore by being open to others we can learn.
What is the last book that you read?
I often read a number of books at a time - two recent novels - The Shadow of the Wind and The Angels Wing by Carlos Ruiz Zafon - the first book compelled me to read the second, and then - The Match King, about the life of Ivan Kreuger - owner of Swedish Match.
Contact
IB Asia Pacific Regional office
IB Asia-Pacific
15 Hoe Chiang Road
# 11-04/06 Tower Fifteen
Singapore 089316
REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE
Phone: +65 6776 0249
Fax: +65 6776 4369
Email: ibap@ibo.org
