The early part in the month of May 2026 was a busy one for the OARsome team as they brought a little piece of home across Australia through vibrant alumni gatherings in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane.
Led by Florence Neo (Assoc Alum), alumni from across cities came together to reconnect, exchange ideas, and celebrate the strength of our global SMU network, always with plenty of laughter, warmth, and that unmistakable SMU spirit.
On 1 May 2026 in Melbourne, we celebrated the launch of the SMU Melbourne Alumni Chapter at Ming Dining, led by Geraldine Goh (BBM 2004), Van Phan (BBM 2010), Mindy B. (BAcc 2021), and Neel C. (MITB 2022). The evening featured an engaging alumni panel on “The AI Pivot: Next Social Contract in Work, Leadership, and Technology in Australia and Asia-Pacific”, with thoughtful perspectives shared by alumni including Malay Trivedi (BSc Econ 2009), Zin Ko Hlaing (BBM 2012), and Neel C. from across tech and industry. Beyond the conversations on stage, the gathering also sparked joyful reunions, including classmates and former drinking buddies who had no idea they were both based in Melbourne until the event brought them together again. We were also heartened to see SMOOchies attending together, turning the evening into both a professional and personal reunion of sorts.
Over at Sydney on 4 May 2026, alumni gathered for a lively evening of networking and reconnection, led by Alumni Leader T. An (BSc IS 2014). Conversations flowed as easily as the familiar SG favourites on the table i.e. chicken rice, laksa, and sambal kangkong, bringing a true taste of home abroad. At one point, discussions even turned passionately towards where to find good sambal stingray in Sydney, proving once again that no SMU gathering is complete without spirited food debates.
Our alumni in Brisbane had the privilege of an intimate President’s Table: Brisbane Edition with SMU President, Lily Kong, BBM, PBM, FBA Kong, who was in the city to receive the 2026 CASE Asia-Pacific Leadership Award at the CASE Asia-Pacific Advancement Conference. The evening on 8 May 2026 featured meaningful dialogue, university updates, and heartfelt exchanges in a warm, close-knit setting. One alumnus shared that he made it a point to attend despite having just welcomed a newborn days earlier, jokingly seeking advice from fellow alumni on whether investing in a dishwasher was now essential. Alumni also expressed appreciation that SMU made the effort to gather the Brisbane community, affectionately referring to themselves as “the forgotten child” compared to the larger alumni hubs. Moments like these reminded us that every part of the SMU alumni community matters, no matter where they are in the world.
Across all three cities, the SMU community came together through shared experiences, familiar flavours, unexpected reunions, and meaningful conversations, reflecting not just the reach, but also the heart, of our global alumni network.
