UN SDG 8: From the start of SPAN in May, we have selected one of the 17 UN SDGs to focus on as we network. On 17 October, we are acknowledging the relevance of SDG 8 covering Decent Work and Economic Growth, While this is important for every country and company operating in ASEAN, we are drilling down into the Goals' specific target 8.9 to Promote Beneficial and Sustainable Tourism. The stated goal is:"By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products".

Asian Ecotourism Network (AEN): We like to acknowledge when one of our founding SPANNERS get deserved recognition, so congratulations Kevin Phun for being appointed to the Board of Asian Ecotourism Network. Undoubtedly, it will add to your workload as you're already leading the Centre for Responsible Tourism Singapore. But we're sure you will get called on even more to advise on - and teach - responsible tourism in Singapore and the region.

Quality Education: This was the focal point for our September gathering - SDG 4 - when one of our SPAN founders Lekha Patmanathan - herself a very well qualified professional - took the stage to introduce key people present and to call on others to talk about their involvement in education projects. Lekha, in case you didn't know, is Assistant Training Manager at the Center for Sustainable Finance and Private Wealth Singapore (CSP SG), now she's got her latest qualification in the bag, MSc in Sustainable and Green Finance from NUS. Connect with Lekha on LinkedIn.

Eden Strategy & SUTD: Calvin Chu was introduced by Lekha to the SPAN crowd in September to tell us all about the partnership between his Eden Strategy Academy and SUTD - that's the Singapore University for Technology & Design - to offer a very professional Modular Master in Sustainability course, starting very soon. The assembled expertise of many professionals - even Ken Hickson! - is being lined up to teach and spread the word on sustainability. More on Calvin and Eden Strategy here.

Education for Sustainable Development: Kowabunga! Global - with its award-winning environment education programmes for children - has just completed an Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) first for Singapore. With the support of an NTUC CTC Grant, Ken Hickson's SASA developed and delivered a five module ESD course over six weeks for Kowabunga's 35 teachers. While built around the UNESCO ESD model, it also encompasses the 17 SDGs, the circular economy, biodiversity, climate change impacts and, of course, lots of relevant local and global case studies. Ken had the help of two experienced teachers (also SPANNERS) - Marla Lise and Kevin Phun - as well as Kowabunga's "educator in chief" Heikal Yusope. More on Kowabunga here.

Spanning the Media Landscape: We've seen quite a few media and communication friends attending our SPAN events and last month was no exception. Lauren Moffat from Argus Biofuels and Floyd Cowan from Asian Journeys, along with Jaya Prakash from Mediacomz/Petromin and Teymoor Nabili, News Anchor with CNBC and previously with ADB. PR Comms people included K.Bhavani, a former President of IPRS, who runs International PR Training and freelance writer/editor Gerardine Donough-Tan, an old friend from SIA days, who now spends a lot of her time teaching. Then we had four practitioners from Precious Comms - Daniel Tay, Ikram Zainy, Andrew Ho and Pauline Yoong.  We've been heard saying before that "communications and sustainability is a match made in heaven!" SPAN is living proof of that.   

Deep Tech @ Hello Tomorrow: SPAN was just one of many significant events last month, but another which stood out from the crowd was the Hello Tomorrow Summit. Among the many people present with innovative startups taking the stand to impress potential investors was one of SPAN's "Green Hydrogen Heroes" Joseph Maceda of 3G and S Technologies. Read more about it here.

Why "Spanner in the Works"? If you're wondering why we've now entitled our invitation and event epistle this way, then you obviously missed the launch of the cocktail of the same name at our August SPAN event at the very same Florette Bar. Then and there, the bar's creative cocktail maker came up with a green tequila with an agave base. We've also been reminded that the wonderful Rod Stewart had a hit a long time ago called "A spanner in the works". Music to my ears! So when you come along on the 17th to SPAN ask the bar manager for a Spanner in the works. See what they come up with. And read what Ken Hickson wrote about it, including the revealing recipe.