Jiehui Kia has moved on from Forum for the Future after seven years with the sustainability non-profit.
Kia joined Forum as the first local hire for its then-new Singapore office in 2013 as a futures strategist. Latterly, she led the organisation’s circular economy practice. Among her key projects was the launch of Circular Leap Asia, an innovation programme for Asian apparel manufacturers to fast-track circular economy solutions.
Kia has joined Ichi Seiki, a family engineering firm run by her father, in a new role as a “next-generation business leader” in sales and marketing. She said she wanted to bring “the best of Forum” to the role, adding that “it would be impossible to drop the ‘sustainability, futures, system change’ hats” she has worn while at Forum.
Over her career, Kia has worked for the Economic Development Board of Singapore in communications and sustainability roles, and for Sustainable Living Lab, where she led retail and event sales of iBam, an electricity-free bamboo speaker for smart phones.
She also co-founded Save That Pen, a non-profit that collects unwanted pens, refurbishes them and donates them to underprivileged students.
Her move to Ichi Seiki marks a return to the company where she was previously marketing manager before joining Forum for the Future. Ichi Seiki provides engineering solutions for industries including aerospace, defence, shipping and oil and gas.