What does it really take to build a career across six countries? What are employers really looking for, beyond CVs? In this episode of JCU Conversations, we speak to Joyce Bijl, Business Development Director Asia Pacific & Middle East at ManpowerGroup. Based in Singapore today, Joyce has lived and worked in Luxembourg, the Netherlands, China, Hong Kong, Dubai, the UAE, and Singapore. She shares advice to students who are looking to work abroad, her thoughts on the future of work and more.

This episode’s host: Dr Tan Kim Lim, Senior Lecturer at James Cook University (Singapore Campus).

Connect with Joyce Bijl.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.