MCYS MEDIA RELEASE NO: 17/2007

DATE OF ISSUE: 08/03/2007

PROFESSIONALISATION OF LOCAL DATING INDUSTRY GETS A BOOST WITH APPOINTMENT OF

ACCREDITATION COUNCIL

1. An Accreditation Council has been set up to ensure that impartiality and high levels of integrity are
observed by players in the local dating industry. The Council will advise on accreditation standards
and processes in the industry and approve accreditation applications from dating agencies and
practitioners.

2. This move is one of the key initiatives to raise standards in the local dating industry.

3. The Council is chaired by Associate Professor Paulin Straughan, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Arts and
Social Sciences and Associate Professor of the Department of Sociology of the National University of
Singapore.

4. The other members of the Council are:

Mr Richard Lim
President
Psychotherapy Association of Singapore

Mrs Tan-Huang Shuo Mei

Director, Corporate Communications
Singapore General Hospital
(former Director, Social Development Unit)

5. Associate Professor Paulin Straughan said, "We are happy that both industry players and singles
have responded positively to the introduction of an accreditation scheme. SDU is currently finalising
the details for a comprehensive framework that will address the professional needs of both dating
agencies and dating practitioners. We are excited that singles will soon be able to rely on the mark of
accreditation and rest assured that they are signing up for a service or event of quality and standard"

6. Details of an accreditation framework will be announced in mid-2007.

Keen industry response to Partner Connection Fund

7. To foster greater growth in the local dating industry, The Partner Connection Fund was set up to
provide seed funding to companies embarking on new services or activities that provide gender-
balanced social interaction opportunities for singles.

8. Since the Fund was announced in November 2006, response has been encouraging. Over 50 queries
were received and 17 proposals have been submitted to-date, with creative dating ideas ranging from
online speed dating portals to dating on-the-move. Of these, thus far, three proposals amounting to
some $137,000 have been approved by the Partner Connection Fund Evaluation Panel co-chaired by
Ms Claire Chiang, Senior Vice President, Retail, Banyan Tree Holdings Limited and Mrs Tan Hwee
Seh, Co-ordinating Director of the Family Development Group, MCYS.

9. Details of the successful applicants will be announced at a press conference cum signing ceremony
on 29 March 2007.
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ISSUED BY

MINISTRY OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, YOUTH AND SPORTS

ANNEX 1 – Accreditation Council Information

ANNEX 2 – Partner Connection Fund Evaluation Panel
ANNEX 3 – Preliminary Information On Initiatives Funded By The
Partner Connection Fund
 Annex 1

Profile of Accreditation Council Members

1. Associate Professor Paulin Straughan - Vice Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and
Associate Professor of the Department of Sociology, National University of Singapore.

Associate Professor Straughan’s research interests lie in medical sociology (with emphasis on preventive
health behaviour and mental illness); gerontology; work and family; and organizational behaviour. Her
publications include declining fertility, family and health care in Singapore.

2. Mr Richard Lim - President of the Psychotherapy Association of Singapore

Mr Lim is a relationship expert. He is a professional Psychotherapist in private practice, the Managing

Director of Motivation Resources and a Training Consultant with more than 15 years of related work
experience. He specializes in Psychodynamic and Relationship Psychology for application in clinical work
with individuals and couples, and in business communication and relations.

Mr Lim is sought after extensively for his specialty in organizational learning, specifically in Leadership
Skills Development focusing on Group Process and Dynamics Training, Cognitive and Emotional Quotient
(EQ) Enhancement and Motivation Communication. He lectures at Nanyang Technological University
(NTU) on change management, group dynamics and human relationship

3. Mrs Tan-Huang Shuo Mei

Mrs Tan-Huang is presently the Director of the Corporate Communications Department at the Singapore
General Hospital. She was the previous Director for Social Development Unit (2000 - 2004).
 Annex 2

The Partner Connection Fund Evaluation Panel

Adviser
1. Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon
Minister of State
Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports

Co-Chairpersons
2. Ms Claire Chiang
Senior Vice President, Retail
Banyan Tree Holdings Ltd

3. Mrs Tan Hwee Seh

Coordinating Director, Family Development Group
Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports

Members
4. Mr Kelvin Chan
Senior Vice-President
Private Equity Investment Management
Partners Group (Alternative Investments Asia Pacific) Pte Ltd

5. Mr Victor Lye
Executive Director/Head, Wealth Management Group
CIMB-GK Securities Pte Ltd

6. Mr Edwin Lye
Chairperson, Young NTUC
Deputy General Secretary, Singapore Teachers’ Union

7. Ms Eunice Olsen
Nominated Member of Parliament
 Annex 3

PRELIMINARY INFORMATION ON
INITIATIVES FUNDED BY THE PARTNER CONNECTION FUND

1. The Partner Connection Fund Evaluation Panel received 17 proposals. So far, three have been
approved for funding, amounting to $137,000. These three proposals provide novel ideas to enhance
the dating experience for singles:

2. For singles who are shy and would hesitate to participate in a typical dating activity like speed dating,
they will soon have the opportunity to experience this popular dating concept online.

3. Another dating experience would allow singles who work late or on shift duty to meet up with other
singles who may share the same working hours around their working vicinity. They can meet at
preferred partner venues including F&B outlets where personalized services will be provided.

4. For a complete dating experience, singles can very soon not only invite a date to a movie, but also
send flowers or order chocolates for their date, all from one portal.

5. Details of the three proposals will be announced at a signing ceremony on 29 March 2007.

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