On 4 November 2025, SNEF marked its 45th anniversary with the SNEF45 Employers’ Summit at the InterContinental Singapore. Themed Forging the Future of Work Together, the summit brought together over 300 business leaders, senior HR practitioners, tripartite partners, and representatives from trade associations and chambers. It was both a celebration of SNEF’s legacy as the voice of employers in Singapore and a forward-looking dialogue on how employers can prepare for the future of work and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI).
For members, the Summit was more than a commemoration. It was an opportunity to network with fellow C-suite executives, exchange perspectives with thought leaders, and gain insights into how organisations can harness AI to thrive in a rapidly evolving business environment.
Setting the Stage
The morning began with welcome remarks by SNEF President Mr Tan Hee Teck, followed by an opening address by Guest of Honour, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade & Industry Mr Gan Kim Yong. Both leaders emphasised the importance of tripartism in navigating economic transitions and reaffirmed SNEF’s role in helping employers adapt in a rapidly evolving business environment.
A key highlight of the opening segment was the announcement of two strategic initiatives:
- Advisory, Resource, and Consultancy Centre (ARCC@SNEF): A one-stop hub to help employers navigate workforce and workplace challenges, offering advisory, consultancy, and resource services. The ARCC@SNEF will also leverage new digital tools such as an AI chatbot, to streamline advisory services and empower employers with self-help resources.
- SNEF Research Advisory Panel (RAP): Comprising five distinguished academics, the RAP will guide SNEF’s research agenda with independent, data-driven insights. This ensures that employers’ perspectives are represented in national policy discussions and strengthens evidence-based advocacy.
These initiatives signalled SNEF’s commitment to equipping members with practical solutions and credible insights, especially at a time when employers face tighter labour markets and rising expectations for workforce transformation.
Keynote Address: Rethink the Future of Artificial Generative Intelligence
Dr He Zhengyu, Chief Technology Officer and Vice President of Ant Group, spoke about AI and the future of work during his keynote speech. Dr He described how AI is reshaping productivity and intelligence itself, highlighting breakthroughs in mathematics, reasoning, and science.
He emphasised that while progress in AI is real, it remains uneven across domains. Employers should see technology not as a threat but as a collaborator. He likened the best relationship between humans and machines to that of teacher and student, where organisations must guide technology with human wisdom, values, ethics, and reasoning.
Dr He highlighted that AI improves organisational efficiency and it is also a tool for flexible and inclusive employment. By automating routine tasks and enabling remote digital platforms, AI allows employees to contribute regardless of physical constraints or location. He cited the example of Lai Xiaojuan, a Paralympic champion who now works as an Ant Group AI cloud customer service staff member. With AI systems supporting customer interactions, Lai can work from home, select her preferred hours, and participate meaningfully in the workforce. This demonstrates how AI can expand opportunities to groups previously excluded, such as persons with disabilities, caregivers, or those needing flexible schedules. His message to employers was clear: embrace change boldly, invest in capability, and explore new opportunities rather than simply applying tools to existing problems.
Key Takeaways
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Fireside Chat: Practical Lessons for Employers
Following the keynote, SNEF President Mr Tan moderated a fireside chat with Dr He. The conversation offered practical lessons for employers, particularly SMEs. Dr He recounted how Ant Group initially underestimated the pace of change, but quickly realised AI’s potential to unify tasks across customer recommendations, fraud detection, and credit assessment. He explained that instead of having an AI model for each task, Ant Group could use a single unified model to handle all three tasks.
Dr He also shared anecdotes showing how smaller firms can adopt new technology in practical ways. He cited an example of a local retailer which began using digital tools to manage customer enquiries and inventory. The result — reduced overhead costs and improved efficiency. Dr He’s advice for organisations was to start using AI as soon as possible and build confidence through practical use cases.
On workforce implications, Dr He acknowledged fears of job displacement but argued that technology should be seen as an augmentation tool. He pointed to opportunities in healthcare where robotics could complement manpower shortages in “dirty, dull, and dangerous” tasks. He advised leaders to help teams see innovation as an opportunity, not a threat, by demonstrating its ability to boost productivity and free employees for higher value work.
Key Takeaways
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Panel Discussion: Better Jobs or End of Jobs?
The summit’s panel discussion, moderated by Mr Marcus Lam, Executive Chairman of PwC Singapore and SNEF’s Honorary Treasurer, tackled the intentionally provocative question of whether AI would result in better jobs or the end of jobs.
The panel featured Ms Rowena Yeo, Global Chief Technology Officer & Senior Vice President, Technology Services, Johnson & Johnson, Mr Ranjiv Ramanathan, Senior Vice President, SG Hub Transformation and Development, SATS Ltd and Dr Ivan Png, Distinguished Professor, NUS Business School and member of the SNEF RAP.
During the discussion, Dr Png reminded participants that while some applications of AI represented incremental shifts, others, such as autonomous vehicles, are transformative. Transitions must therefore be managed carefully to mitigate the impact of AI adoption on jobs and livelihoods. Ms Yeo emphasised the importance of building learning organisations in making sure that AI adoption leads to better jobs, where leaders model continuous learning and employees develop digital literacy as a core competency, supported by strong data governance and ethical guardrails.
Mr Ramanathan shared SATS’ experience in leveraging AI to design better jobs, noting that new positions such as safety drivers and remote operations controllers are emerging alongside productivity gains. The panel agreed that successful adoption requires investment in infrastructure and workforce readiness, guided by clear business cases and prioritisation of high‑value use cases. Transformation, they stressed, is a journey that must balance productivity with workforce well‑being.
| Key Takeaways
1. With ageing populations and tight labour markets, AI can supplement workforce gaps, especially in healthcare and eldercare. 2. As organisations adopt AI and automation, they must invest in both the technology and in training their employees. 3. Leaders must model continuous learning and build cultures where digital literacy and AI fluency are core competencies. |
The SNEF45 Employers’ Summit marked a milestone in our journey and a springboard for the future. As the voice of employers in Singapore, SNEF looks forward to continued partnership with our members and the broader employer community to achieve its vision of responsible employers, sustainable business.
