SINGAPORE, Sept. 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2026 MDRT Executive Committee welcomes John F. Nichols, MSM, CLU, as the 100th MDRT President, and Simon D. Lister, Dip PFS, as Secretary on September 1. The newly installed Executive Committee will spend the next 12 months advancing MDRT's mission to help top-performing financial services professionals to serve their clients with the highest standards of ethics, knowledge, service and productivity.
Nichols succeeds Carol Kheng, ChFC, the first Singaporean to hold the MDRT presidency. She now becomes MDRT's Immediate Past President. Singapore has one of the largest MDRT member bases in Asia, and Kheng's leadership highlights the country's influence within MDRT's global community. Clay Gillespie, CFP, CLU, and Aurora L. Tancock, CFP, FLMI, assume new roles as First Vice President and Second Vice President, respectively.
The 2026 MDRT Executive Committee is focused on strengthening the resources available to members, advancing the digital library of MDRT content to function as a go-to guide for members to use at any time. The group will also strengthen the impact of MDRT's Membership Communications Committee (MCC) by focusing on deepening the alignment between local MCCs and the global organisation, while also investing in leadership development to empower these member-led communities to thrive and deliver consistent, high-quality regional experiences.
In-person events remain a priority for the new leadership team, which understands the importance of developing meaningful connections with colleagues and dedicated time for personal and professional growth. The 2026 MDRT Annual Meeting, which will be held in June in Anaheim, California, USA, and the 2026 MDRT Global Conference, slated for August in Sydney, Australia, will provide members with valuable opportunities to explore the evolving digital landscape and discuss the ethical use of AI. For members from Singapore and across Asia, the Sydney conference offers convenient access to expanded regional networking. These events exemplify the ongoing commitment of MDRT leadership to fostering expertise within its global community, empowering members to reach new levels of success in their careers.
"As AI further integrates into our personal and professional lives, it's crucial for financial professionals to expand their horizons and learn from one another," Nichols said. "MDRT will continue to provide resources that aid members in understanding new trends as they occur, leaning on the experiences of top-performing professionals and up-to-date research data to ensure members feel prepared to provide premier service to their clients."
The Executive Committee will champion the MDRT Family of Brands, showcasing the value for financial professionals at all career stages to gain new insights and expand their potential. The MDRT Academy supports advisors seeking MDRT-level production and the MDRT Center for Field Leadership empowers field and home office leaders to pursue lifelong learning and build an MDRT culture of excellence in their teams.
A 25-year MDRT member, Nichols assumes the presidency with 20 Court of the Table and 18 Top of the Table qualifications. He served as Global Council Member of MDRT's Membership Division in 2020 and Chair of its Bylaws and Ethics Committee in 2019. In 2022, he served as President of the MDRT Foundation, for which he is a Royal Order Excalibur Knight and a member of its Inner Circle Society.
An 18-year MDRT member, Lister joins the Executive Committee with 18 Court of the Table and 15 Top of the Table qualifications. He served as Global Council Member of the 2025 MDRT Annual Meeting Program Development Division. He previously served as Chair of the Main Platform Committee for the 2024 MDRT Annual Meeting, Chair of the Focus Sessions Committee for the 2023 MDRT Annual Meeting, and as Global Council Member and Advisory Board Chair of the Top of the Table Division in 2021. Lister is also a Platinum Knight of the MDRT Foundation and a member of its Inner Circle Society.
About MDRT
Founded in 1927, MDRT (Million Dollar Round Table), The Premier Association of Financial Professionals®, is a global, independent association of the world's leading life insurance and financial services professionals from more than 80 nations and territories and nearly 700 companies. MDRT members demonstrate exceptional professional knowledge, strict ethical conduct and outstanding client service. MDRT membership is recognised internationally as the standard of excellence in the life insurance and financial services business. For more information, please visit mdrt.org.
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2026 MDRT Executive Committee promises enhanced member resources and connections
HONG KONG, Aug. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Singapore Good Soil Foundation successfully concluded the third edition of its Next Generation Philanthropy Leadership Program at The University of Hong Kong, marking the program's first international edition since its launch.
Centered on the theme "Art + AI for Social Good," the five-day immersive program brought together 58 in-person Student Fellows and 45 online participants from Singapore, Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, the United States, the United Kingdom, Thailand, and Kenya. Through interdisciplinary learning in artificial intelligence, leadership, social innovation, and the arts, Student Fellows explored how technology and creativity can be harnessed to address real-world challenges and create lasting social impact.
Following two successful editions at the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University, the program continues to grow into an international platform connecting young people who aspire to lead with purpose and create positive change in their communities.
The Singapore Good Soil Foundation believes that education is not simply about transferring knowledge. It is about empowering young people to use knowledge, technology, and creativity in service of humanity. Philanthropy is not merely about giving. It is about expanding human possibility.
A Classroom Without Borders
This year's program welcomed three scholarship recipients from remote rural communities in China.
Coming from under-resourced communities, they received full scholarships covering travel, accommodation, and program expenses, enabling them to learn alongside outstanding students from around the world.
Beyond learning about artificial intelligence, leadership, and social innovation, the Next Generation Philanthropy Leadership Program aims to equip Student Fellows to become future philanthropic leaders who will one day return to their communities and create opportunities for others.
For the Singapore Good Soil Foundation, philanthropy is about more than transforming individual lives. It is about empowering individuals to become catalysts for positive change within their communities and beyond.
Young People Inspiring Young People
Nine alumni from previous cohorts returned as Teaching Assistants, mentoring student teams throughout the program.
Outstanding university students from Nanyang Technological University, Yale University, and Xiamen University also returned to share their experiences of university life, leadership, and community engagement.
The Singapore Good Soil Foundation believes that some of the most meaningful learning happens when young people inspire one another.
Education Beyond the Classroom
The program featured speakers from the fields of philanthropy, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, design, and communication.
Participants also visited the Hong Kong Jockey Club, the Hong Kong Sikh community, M+ Museum, and The University of Hong Kong, gaining first-hand insight into Hong Kong's multicultural society, religious inclusivity, and the role of civic institutions in building a more compassionate and connected community.
One of the most highly praised sessions of the Next Generation Philanthropy Leadership Program was the Improvisational Speaking Masterclass.
After the session, a first-year Yale University undergraduate shared, "I wish I had taken this class in high school."
For the Singapore Good Soil Foundation, that reflection was more meaningful than any accolade. It affirmed a belief at the heart of the program: education is not only about acquiring knowledge, but about cultivating independent thinking, authentic communication, meaningful collaboration, and the confidence to navigate an uncertain future.
Technology Should Always Serve Humanity
The Charity Pitch Challenge remained the centerpiece of the program.
Working in interdisciplinary teams, Student Fellows designed innovative solutions to real social challenges by integrating artificial intelligence, art, and human-centered design.
Throughout the program, students were reminded of one simple belief:
AI is not the goal. It is a tool.
The future will not be shaped by technology alone, but by the values of the people who choose how to use it.
Five Days. Leadership in Action.
The program also celebrated the continued impact of Silver Sayang, a student-led initiative launched during the Singapore Good Soil Foundation's inaugural Next Generation Philanthropy Leadership Program.
Today, its members continue organizing visits to nursing homes, bringing companionship and care to elderly residents.
Their journey is a reminder that meaningful education does not end when the program concludes. Sometimes, one conversation, one project, or one act of kindness can shape a lifetime.
Looking Ahead
As artificial intelligence continues to reshape the world, the Singapore Good Soil Foundation believes one question has become more important than ever:
What does it truly mean to be human?
The answer is not found in technological progress alone, but in the choices we make, the compassion we show, and the responsibility we take for one another.
This belief is the foundation of the Next Generation Philanthropy Leadership Program: to equip young people not only with the skills to innovate, but also with the character to lead with integrity, empathy, and purpose.
At the heart of the Singapore Good Soil Foundation's mission is a conviction often expressed by its Founder, Ms Faye Lo:
"Our goal is not simply to help young people succeed. It is to help them become people who expand human possibility."
The Singapore Good Soil Foundation aspires to cultivate a generation of entrepreneurs, scientists, and AI innovators who are equally defined by their compassion, integrity, global outlook, and commitment to the common good. Ultimately, the future will not be shaped by technology alone, but by those who choose to wield it with wisdom and purpose.
For more information about the Singapore Good Soil Foundation, you can follow them on :
Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/nextgenprogram/
Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/@nextgenphilanthropist
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569021872399
Tiktok : https://www.tiktok.com/@nextgen.program
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Singapore Good Soil Foundation Hosts Third Next Generation Philanthropy Leadership Program at the University of Hong Kong, Empowering the Next Generation of Global Changemakers
Singapore Good Soil Foundation Hosts Third Next Generation Philanthropy Leadership Program at the University of Hong Kong, Empowering the Next Generation of Global Changemakers
Singapore Good Soil Foundation Hosts Third Next Generation Philanthropy Leadership Program at the University of Hong Kong, Empowering the Next Generation of Global Changemakers
Singapore Good Soil Foundation Hosts Third Next Generation Philanthropy Leadership Program at the University of Hong Kong, Empowering the Next Generation of Global Changemakers
