2022 marked 10 years since establishing our Singapore office. We took the opportunity to celebrate the contributions made, the relationships forged and the individuals that have been by our side on this journey.

Singapore is one of the most connected countries globally; strategically located along the world’s major trade, shipping and aviation routes. For the past decade, it has also been home to many of our Marketing teams, who have a key role to play in providing high quality products and best-in-class service to some of the most critical industries globally.

Our presence and profile in the country has evolved considerably over the years, symbolic of the Marketing business’ expanding scope, scale, remit and contribution to the wider Anglo American Group. The Singapore office is now a global commercial hub – one that supports our customers and partners across the Asia Pacific region and beyond – and an office home to more than 400 colleagues. Growing our presence also sees us contributing to the community around us through a range of business, education and society-led initiatives.

“Employee number one” in Singapore was Salima Shariff; now Anglo American’s Head of HR Service Delivery. She was part of a small team tasked with setting-up the Singapore office from the ground up and supporting the organisation’s early commercial coordination efforts. An employee of 14 years and counting, after packing up the family home in London, she relocated with her husband and two young children, landing in Singapore on 1 January 2012, in the role of HR Business Partner.

Salima said: “In 2011, it had quite quickly become apparent that the concept of commercial coordination had grown significantly, and that this was a big opportunity, for the business and for our customers. After looking at the potential to set-up a commercial organisation, we established that a footprint in Asia would be needed and, after looking at it further, decided Singapore was where we wanted to be.”

Initially working from a serviced office on the 40th floor of Ocean Financial Centre, Salima vividly remembers the day the fledgling team found their new, more permanent home – just a stone’s throw away. She said: “I remember going down in the lift to the 38th floor, walking out to an expansive view – bearing in mind it was a brand new building with no fit-out – and having what I can only describe as an emotional reaction. We just had to have it.”

While another group concluded the lease negotiations, Salima continued to focus onrecruiting and onboarding new colleagues, and working to develop the culture the business wanted to establish in Singapore; which underpins how Marketing operates today.

She said: “The Singapore office is quite unique; in its people, and in its cultural and diversity mix. We were bringing in employees from across the Anglo American world, as well as recruiting local talent. We wanted to establish a collective feel of ‘we are in this together’, and a spirit that was pioneering and entrepreneurial. There is something around being part of a business like Marketing and what it is trying to achieve; there is a level of authenticity, of restlessness, of wanting to push the boundaries in a positive way. It hasn't stayed still. It is still growing and it is still evolving, and will continue to do so. Every single role in Singapore has a purpose, with a lovely blend of individuals working together who are passionate about moving the business forward.”

One of those individuals is Peter Lye, Anglo American’s Global Head of Shipping and Marketing’s first external hire in Singapore. Hired in March 2012, he was tasked with establishing the organisation’s shipping desk. In the 10 years since, the team’s offering has scaled significantly, and now spans a wide range of trade routes and cargoes, with the Shipping team also playing a key role in influencing the wider maritime industry on safety and sustainability matters.

Peter said: “The first six months were particularly interesting for early starters like me. We were navigating the challenges that come hand-in-hand with setting up a new office, but there was also a really positive feel around what we were trying to do. Everyone was pulling together, we had support from the wider business, there was real substance behind our efforts and we were making good progress; the ‘little engine that could’, if you like.”

Keen to build on the excellent performance achieved thus far, Peter’s number one priority – supplying product in a way that is safe, sustainable and reliable – remains unchanged and he is excited about what the future holds in that regard.

He said: “We can be very proud of the past 10 years. There is a lot to celebrate. Our ability to bring in high standards of quality and safety on the vessels is key, as are the investments we are making in pursuit of a lower carbon footprint – a benefit to our customers and our own business – and I think we have shown ourselves to be a leader in certain aspects.

“We don't necessarily have to be right at the front of the queue, but with our influence and privileged position, we can certainly be a catalyst for change. Decarbonisation is the obvious one. The maritime industry can sometimes be a bit of a slow mover, so it is imperative for companies like ours to have that ambition and to bring people along with us.”

Anushika Bhana, Manager, Commercial Strategy, also joined the business more than 10 years ago, first working with the Platinum Group Metals Marketing team, before a move into Commercial Services. Her first trip to Singapore was for the opening of the (then) new office, the location from which she now plays an integral role in the business’ continued evolution; more specifically, its journey to becoming a leading provider of materials solutions and to connecting customers with the resources they need as safely, efficiently and sustainably as possible.

She said: “Our Marketing business has changed significantly. We have grown in size as well as in sophistication, strengthening our reputation by delivering value directly to our customers. It’s important that we continue to hold a mirror up to ourselves to ensure we are making strides in the right direction.

“I’m excited about the conversations we are now having around providing solutions to customers and using our expertise, experience, and product portfolio to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to be part of a change for good, which goes beyond mining to support global sustainability challenges.”

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Anglo American in Singapore, key customers, partners, and stakeholders were invited to a special celebration and networking event, hosted onboard the luxury tall ship, The Royal Albatross, on 16 November. 

The evening began with opening remarks from Debra Drake, Chief Financial Officer of Anglo American’s Marketing business, followed by an address from the High Commissioner of the Republic South Africa to Singapore, H.E. Madiepetsane Charlotte (MC) Lobe.

After the hoisting of the sail and a safety briefing from the Captain of the Royal Albatross, the vessel departed for a sunset dinner cruise, with guests enjoying the view of Singapore’s coastline as day transitioned to night.

Thank you to everyone that joined us for the event, and to all those that have partnered with us across the past 10 years and been integral to our success in Singapore. We are excited to see what the next decade has in store for us all.