The morning's most important moment, our Guest of Honour DPM Gan Kim Yong delivering the opening address at APPMC 2026.
42. Emcee at APPMC,
Asia Pacific Precious Metals Conference
Emceeing APPMC 2026: A Morning Built Around the Guest of Honour
Some mornings ask you to do one thing exceptionally well. On 15 June 2026, that one thing was holding a packed Island Ballroom steady for the arrival, address and departure of our Guest of Honour.
I had the honour of being the conference emcee for the 2026 Asia Pacific Precious Metals Conference (APPMC), 9th Edition, at Shangri-La Hotel Singapore. The conference is organised by the Singapore Bullion Market Association (SBMA). I was engaged through Variety Communications, who I'll come back to, because none of this runs without a strong production team behind the microphone.
The Guest of Honour Sets the Tone
The centrepiece of the morning was our Guest of Honour, Mr Gan Kim Yong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry, and Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).
When a Guest of Honour of his seniority is in the room for a fixed window, the emcee's job is quiet but exacting. Read the room, hold the pacing, welcome him in cleanly, and make sure every cue lands without fuss. The opening address was the anchor everything else was timed around, and getting that right mattered more than anything else I did all day.
Welcome display for the 2026 Asia Pacific Precious Metals Conference 9th Edition at Shangri-La Hotel Singapore
A Landmark MOU on Stage
The other headline moment was a genuine milestone for Singapore's bullion market: the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding among Singapore Exchange (SGX) and six clearing banks, namely:
- DBS
- Deutsche Bank
- ICBC Standard Bank
- J.P. Morgan
- OCBC
- UOB
a step towards Singapore's first dedicated precious metals clearing corporation.
Seven signatories, a witnessing party including DPM Gan and MAS representatives, a precise seating order, and a series of group photographs, all to be guided from the podium without breaking the flow. This is the kind of high-protocol sequencing that sits close to government and statutory-board work, and I enjoy the discipline of it. Announce the order, trust the ushers, keep the room with you.
The MOU signing among SGX and the clearing banks, witnessed on the main stage.
Four Panels, One Clean Run
After the inaugural ceremony and the morning coffee break, sponsored by MKS PAMP, the programme moved into its working heart. I introduced a keynote from UOB, a presentation from SBMA, and then introduced four panel sessions across the day, covering:
- ASEAN market architecture,
- Platinum group metals with the World Platinum Investment Council (WPIC),
- The China-via-Hong Kong corridor with the World Gold Council,
- and the major pools connecting China, India and the Middle East.
That format is unforgiving on timing, so the emcee and the stage manager have to move as one. Introduce, hand over cleanly, watch the clock, thank, photograph, reset.
The morning addresses from the World Gold Council, the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) and WPIC rounded out a full schedule.
A full Island Ballroom for the inaugural session.
The Team Behind the Mic
A conference like this is a relay, not a solo run. SBMA's secretariat, the protocol team, the ushers and the AV crew all made the hard parts look easy.
And a sincere thank-you to Variety Communications for bringing me on board for this one. SBMA engaged me through Variety, and it's always good to be back on their setup. The lunch later in the day was sponsored by LBMA, with the evening gala at Gardens by the Bay supported by Rand Refinery, a full day from first announcement to last.
Looking Ahead
Hosting at this level is about reading a room of senior industry leaders and keeping the energy purposeful without ever overpowering the occasion. APPMC 2026 was a reminder of why I love the formal, high-stakes end of this work.
If you're planning a conference, a high-protocol ceremony or a panel that needs a steady hand, you can see more on my videos page, read what past clients have said on my testimonials page, or get in touch. Tell me about your event, and please let me know :)