Since taking up the role of President, Felicia Foong, Regional Treasurer of Nestlé Treasury Centre in Asia Pacific, made history by being the first female President since its inception. She has been inspired both by the quality of treasury talent within the association, and by the generosity of the treasury community. “Where talent is concerned, we have a good mix of senior leaders, regional and global treasurers, managers and treasury analysts,” she observes. “Each group has different aspirations, challenges and expectations.”

She is grateful for the community’s efforts to contribute time, energy and resources to ACTS events and activities. “We also have a mentoring programme, where experienced professionals are willing to mentor younger members, share their experiences and contribute their time to developing the profession,” she says.

“That spirit of collaboration is one of ACTS’ greatest strengths, and something I am committed to preserving and growing in Singapore.”

Providing a platform

Today, says Felicia, the role of the ACTS has never been more important. She notes that treasury is no longer just about managing financial risks, liquidity, funding and investments. In addition, “Treasurers today are strategic business partners who can help companies navigate geopolitical uncertainty, supply chain disruptions, digital transformation, sustainability expectations and the rapid emergence of AI.”

Against this backdrop, the ACTS aims to serve several key purposes. “First, we provide a platform for professional networking – we called it ‘a place where the best minds meet,’” Felicia explains. “We aim to foster a strong treasury community where members can share experiences, learn from one another and build lasting professional networks.”

In addition, the ACTS has a role to play in strengthening Singapore’s position as a leading treasury hub in Asia. “ACTS brings together some of the best treasury minds in the region and creates opportunities for learning, collaboration and build capabilities for the future,” she comments.

Celebrating members and promoting young talent

The ACTS’ theme for this year is ‘Celebrate Members’, which is being realised through a series of initiatives to share the success stories of award winners during networking events and year-end gatherings.

“We also connect our members through more member recognition and fireside chats where we aim to strengthen engagement and showcase their achievements,” Felicia says. “Last year we had an event where some members shared their career journeys and it was an enlightening session. We are doing it again this year .”

In addition, a personal goal of Felicia’s is to develop the next generation of treasury leaders by creating opportunities for young talent to learn and contribute to the treasury profession.

“We want younger members to know that their voices matter, and that ACTS is a platform where they can shape the future of treasury,” she notes. “We have started a subcommittee under the ExCo [Executive Committee], where SubCoM members can contribute fresh ideas and help us to organise events that cater to their needs”

Meanwhile, the association continues to organise thought leadership events, workshops and forums covering topics such as treasury transformation, FX and liquidity risk management, and supply chain resilience. “These initiatives help members stay current in an increasingly complex environment,” Felicia explains.

Priorities and goals

Today, says Felicia, ACTS members are focusing on a number of different challenges, goals and opportunities. Digital transformation and automation is a major theme, with treasury teams looking to automate manual processes, improve visibility, enhance forecasting capabilities and use AI to make better decisions. “Many treasury professionals are exploring how technology can help them move from operational activities to more strategic work,” she remarks.

Managing uncertainty and risk is another important topic. Against a backdrop of volatile interest rates, foreign exchange fluctuations, geopolitical tensions and global economic uncertainty, resilience and agility have become critical priorities for treasury teams.

Meanwhile, Felicia notes that many leaders are thinking about succession planning – a topic which includes attracting younger talent into treasury, as well as ensuring that teams have the skills needed in an increasingly digital world. “They want to retain strong talent, while creating meaningful career pathways for the next generation,” she says.

Aspirations for the future

Looking forward, Felicia sees the ACTS deepening its focus on future-oriented topics such as AI, digital treasury, data analytics, cybersecurity and treasury transformation.

“At the same time, we will strengthen our partnerships with academia, industry practitioners, technology providers and other treasury associations to broaden learning opportunities for members,” she adds.

On another note, Felicia would like to see the ACTS becoming increasingly intergenerational. “We will continue to benefit from the experience and wisdom of established treasury leaders, while creating more opportunities for younger professionals to participate, contribute ideas and ultimately become the future leaders of our profession,” she explains.

“My aspiration is for ACTS to be known not only as the place where the best treasury minds meet, but also where treasury talent is nurtured, innovation is encouraged and the future of the profession is shaped together.”

Unprecedented change

In closing, Felicia says she is “incredibly optimistic” about the future of treasury and the profession as a whole. “We are living through a period of unprecedented change, driven by digital transformation, artificial intelligence, evolving business models and increasing global uncertainty,” she notes.

“Yet with these challenges come tremendous opportunities for treasury professionals to create greater value, influence strategic decisions and help shape the future of their organisations.”

Felicia explains that the ACTS’ mission is to “bring the treasury community together, foster continuous learning, support one another’s growth, and create opportunities for the next generation of treasury leaders to thrive.” As such, she believes the community’s greatest strength does not lie in technology alone, but in the collective experience, wisdom and generosity of the association’s members.

“I would like to thank all our members, partners, volunteers and the ACTS Executive Committee for their unwavering support and commitment to the profession,” she concludes. “Together, we will continue to strengthen Singapore’s position as a leading treasury hub, inspiring excellence within our community.”