Episodes

  • Ep45: Open Source, AI and the Skills That Still Matter | Christopher Warren | Head of Business Strategy and Chief of Staff (Asia Pacific) | Red Hat
    Feb 12 2026

    Is AI wiping out entry-level jobs? How is it changing businesses? How can we stay relevant? Join Christopher Warren, Head of Business Strategy and Chief of Staff for the Asia Pacific region at Red Hat as he shares about the impact of AI on careers, academia, why AI probably won’t replace us, and more.


    This episode’s host: Lance DuBos, Lecturer at James Cook University (Singapore Campus).


    Connect with Christoper Warren.

    Show More Show Less
    26 mins
  • Ep44: Data Science is Not Just Numbers | Dr Lijuan Shen | Senior Lecturer, Data Science | JCU Singapore
    Jan 21 2026

    How do smart cities use data science to improve daily lives? Our Senior Lecturer in Data Science, Dr Lijuan Shen, shares how data science and AI shape the world around us – from the smart infrastructure systems around us, to technologies behind the scenes that keep cities running safely and efficiently.


    This episode’s host: Dr Randy Zhu, Lecturer in Information Technology at James Cook University (Singapore Campus).


    Connect with Dr Lijuan Shen.

    Show More Show Less
    18 mins
  • Ep43: Aquaculture – More Than Just Fish | Distinguished Professor in Aquaculture and Director of the Tropical Futures Institute at JCU in Singapore
    Dec 10 2025

    In this episode, our resident aquaculture expert comes on board to take us beneath the surface of one of the world’s youngest yet fastest-growing food sectors. Listen as Distinguished Professor Dean Jerry – Distinguished Professor in Aquaculture and Director of the Tropical Futures Institute at James Cook University (Singapore Campus) – shares how his passion for aquaculture has grown alongside the sector’s rapid expansion over the past two decades.


    This episode’s host: Dr Fanny Yasumaru, Senior Lecturer in Aquaculture at James Cook University (Singapore Campus).


    Connect with Distinguished Professor Dean Jerry.

    Show More Show Less
    19 mins
  • Ep42: Men Cry Too — And Other Mental Health Truths | Dr Victor Wong | Lecturer in Clinical Psychology and Manager of the Psychology Clinic | JCU Singapore
    Nov 27 2025

    How has the perception of mental health changed over the years? Are we more ready to speak up about mental health today? What’s stopping men from asking for help? In this episode, Dr Victor Wong, Lecturer in Clinical Psychology and Manager of the Psychology Clinic at James Cook University (Singapore Campus), shares his observations.


    This episode’s host: Dr Lucy Tan, Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology at the James Cook University (Singapore Campus).


    Connect with Dr Victor Wong.

    Show More Show Less
    24 mins
  • Ep41: What Counsellors See That Parents Often Miss | Dr Frederick Low | Associate Professor, Counselling | JCU Singapore
    Oct 30 2025

    In this episode, Dr Frederick Low, Associate Professor in Counselling at James Cook University (Singapore Campus), speaks about parenting and mental health. He shares about how parents can better understand and support their children’s emotional well-being, manage academic stress, and create safe spaces for resilience to grow – while also taking care of themselves along the way.

    This episode’s host: Dr Ng Da Xuan, Lecturer in Counselling at the James Cook University (Singapore Campus).

    Connect with Dr Frederick Low.

    Show More Show Less
    27 mins
  • Ep40: The Fast-Growing Travel Market Nobody’s Talking About | Fazal Bahardeen | Founder and CEO of CrescentRating, CEO of HalalTrip
    Sep 24 2025

    Our guest for this episode is Fazal Bahardeen, Founder and CEO of CrescentRating, a global authority on halal-friendly travel; and CEO of HalalTrip, a platform and app that seeks to inspire and enable Muslim travel planning and on-trip support. Mr Bahardeen shares about his career journey, the evolution of halal tourism, and what lies ahead for this growing sector.


    This episode’s host: Dr Nurhafihz Noor, Lecturer in Marketing at the James Cook University (Singapore Campus).


    Connect with Fazal Bahardeen.

    Show More Show Less
    22 mins
  • Ep39: CapitaLand’s Quah Ley Hoon: Leadership Lessons from Sea to Strategy
    Aug 7 2025

    In this episode of JCU Conversations, Ms Quah Ley Hoon – Group Chief Corporate Officer at CapitaLand Investment – shares her views on adapting to change, staying curious, and leading through uncertainty. From her transition out of public service to embracing innovation in the private sector, she talks about learning new ways of working, building and sustaining a strong organisational culture, and what AI means for the future of the workforce.


    This episode’s host: Cindy Tan, Chief People Officer at the James Cook University (Singapore Campus).


    Connect with Quah Ley Hoon.

    Show More Show Less
    24 mins
  • Ep38: 60 Years of Singapore–Australia Ties: AustCham’s Role in a Changing Region | Chris Coburn & Scott Speedie | Australia Chamber of Commerce, Singapore
    Jul 3 2025

    The Australian Chamber of Commerce, Singapore has stood the test of time, even in the face of global disruptions. How did the organisation adapt during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and what lessons has it carried into a new business era? In this episode, we speak with Scott Speedie and Chris Coburn, two of AustCham’s longest-serving Board members who recently concluded their leadership tenures. They reflect on the Chamber’s evolution, the importance of cross-border cooperation, what it takes to stay relevant in a rapidly changing region and more.


    This episode’s host: Wang Pengji, Acting Academic Head, JCU Business School


    Connect with Scott Speedie and Chris Coburn.

    Show More Show Less
    32 mins