Ready for a morning of big ideas and bigger conversations at the Food Services Forum.
37. Emcee for Food Services Forum 2025| Melvin Ho
Emceeing the Food Services Forum 2025: From Insights to Action
I had the pleasure of emceeing the Food Services Forum: From Insights to Action, It was a half-day forum organised by the Singapore Productivity Centre (SGPC) in partnership with Enterprise Singapore, held at the Wilmar International headquarters on Biopolis Road.
This was a room full of F&B operators, trade association leaders, industry partners, and government representatives; all gathered to tackle one big question: how do we turn insights into real, measurable action for Singapore's food services sector?
A Strong Start with Senior Minister of State Low Yen Ling
The forum's Guest of Honour was Miss Low Yen Ling, Senior Minister of State for the Ministry of Culture, Community & Youth and the Ministry of Trade & Industry. Before her Opening Address, Mr Pua Seck Guan, Chief Operating Officer of Wilmar International, kicked things off with a welcome to the venue.
My job for the morning? Keep a packed programme running on time, introduce every speaker with the right context, and make sure the energy stayed up from 10.30am right through to lunch. Government forums require a measured tone, but that doesn't mean the room has to feel stiff. I made it a point to keep transitions warm and the pace brisk.
Organised by the Singapore Productivity Centre in partnership with Enterprise Singapore.
Keynotes That Got the Room Thinking
Mr Michael Tan, CEO of the Singapore Productivity Centre, presented findings from their latest Food Services Productivity Report, benchmarking performance across the sector and highlighting practical strategies for improvement. The data was sharp, and the audience was engaged.
The keynotes sparked real conversation about where the F&B industry is heading.
Then Mr Rajat Maheshwari, Senior Vice President of Strategic Growth, Asia Pacific at Mastercard, took the stage. Rajat shared perspectives on digital trust, AI-enabled solutions, and consumer protection, grounded by his experience leading Mastercard's Cyber & Intelligence Solutions in the region. The man holds more than 50 patents in AI and biometrics!
MOU Signing: Enterprise Singapore x UOB
One of the highlights of the morning was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Enterprise Singapore and United Overseas Bank (UOB) — formalising a partnership to accelerate the adoption of digital and AI-enabled solutions across F&B companies in Singapore.
The signatories were Miss Jeannie Lim, Assistant Managing Director of Enterprise Singapore, and Mr Paul Khan, Country Head of Business Banking Singapore at UOB, with SMS Low Yen Ling witnessing the signing.
I guided the ceremony step by step, from the signing itself to the folder exchange and the photo opportunities. MOU signings have their own rhythm: you need to keep the audience informed about what's happening, manage the pacing between each photo setup, and make sure the signatories feel comfortable throughout. No room for awkward silences or confusion.
Panel Discussion: Productivity Playbook
Five industry voices, one goal: helping Singapore's F&B sector become more resilient and productive.
The forum closed with a panel discussion titled "Productivity Playbook: Pathways to Resilience & Growth," moderated by Dr Lee Kuan-Huei from the Singapore Institute of Technology and SGPC.
The panellists brought seriously diverse perspectives:
• Mr Andrew Chan, Managing Director of The Soup Spoon and Vice President of the Restaurant Association of Singapore.
• Miss Hoh Loyi, founder of The Platform Collective (behind Champion Bolo Bun, Dickson Nasi Lemak, and Don't Runaway).
• Mr Joseph Ong, Founder and Managing Director of 1-Group, Singapore's largest independent lifestyle F&B collective.
• And Mr Alan Tan, CEO of HarriAnn's Nonya Table, a third-generation leader who grew a hawker stall into a beloved chain of Peranakan cafés.
The discussion covered digitalisation, workforce transformation, and what it takes to build a sustainable F&B business in Singapore today. Practical, honest, and exactly the kind of conversation this industry needs.
Wrapping Up and Looking Forward
A big thank you to the entire organising team for a well-run morning!
After the panel, I wrapped up the programme with a reminder to scan the QR codes for the event survey and the full Food Services Productivity Report, then sent everyone off to lunch and networking in the lobby.
Always a pleasure working with a team that makes everything run smoothly.
Events like this remind me why I love emceeing conferences and forums. The content is meaningful, the stakes are real, and the audience genuinely wants to be there. My role is to keep the energy focused, the transitions tight, and the speakers set up for success — from the first welcome all the way to the final applause.
If you're planning a conference, forum, or government event and want an emcee who prepares thoroughly and keeps things running smoothly — I'd love to hear about your event. Check out my testimonials, watch my showreels, or get in touch. Please let me know :)