SPEECH BY SMS SUN XUELING AT THE ASSOCIATION OF PROPERTY AND FACILITY MANAGERS (APFM) 30TH ANNIVERSARY DINNER

A very good evening.

I am honoured to join you this evening to celebrate your 30th anniversary.

When the Association of Property and Facility Managers (APFM) was established in 1995, it was founded with a clear vision - to promote high standards and best practices in property and facility management, enhance professional recognition, and build a community that serves the interests of both the industry and the public.

Over three decades, APFM has grown and it has evolved.

We have witnessed the evolution from manual, paper-based processes to digital platforms and smart building technologies that enhance operational efficiency.

We have also seen sustainability become an increasingly important consideration, alongside the growing integration of artificial intelligence and advanced analytics in building management.

Throughout this evolution, APFM has played an active role in advancing professional standards and practices in the property and facility management sector.

APFM members have participated in initiatives such as Design for Maintainability, Smart Facilities Management, and Integrated and Aggregated Facilities Management.

We have no shortage of examples in the sector. Just highlighting one, CBRE exemplifies this transformation journey. It demonstrates how the industry is embracing innovation to create smarter, more sustainable built environments.

By using sensors to monitor energy usage and maintenance needs, and feeding this data into integrated dashboards, CBRE is then able to support more data-driven decision-making in building operations.

The Government will continue its efforts to spur such innovations in the FM sector.

Embracing Contemporary Challenges and Opportunities

Today's property and facility managers operate in an increasingly complex environment, shaped by an expanding building stock, evolving regulatory requirements, and advances in building technologies.

These developments have increased demand for professional services while placing greater emphasis on workforce capability and skills development.

The industry and government will continue to work together to raise professionalism in the managing agent sector.

For example, accreditation schemes administered by APFM and the Association of Strata Managers This provides structured training for managing agents, covering areas such as the application of the Building (Strata Management) Act (BSMA), building services, and estate management.

In fact, a recent pilot study conducted by BCA found encouraging satisfaction levels among MCSTs regarding the performance of accredited managing agents.

Accredited individuals received an average service performance score of 4 out of 5, compared to 3.7 for non-accredited agents and this underscores the value of continued investment in professional development.

We will continue to work together on initiatives like the BuildSG Marketing Campaign, to highlight the vital role of FM professionals and to inspire new talent to join this dynamic sector.

We feature smart facilities management as one of the key career tracks, to show how FM professionals use technology and data driven tools..

And we also use compelling campaign visuals and real-life stories to bring our narrative to life, and inspire a new generation of talent to join our sector.

I want to particularly acknowledge the dedication of property and facility managers who work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure our buildings are safe, efficient, and comfortable.

Your hard work may not always be visible to the public, but it is essential to the functioning of our city and to the wellbeing of its residents.

We value what you do, and we are committed to supporting the profession as it continues to grow.

BSMA Review and Public Consultation

Earlier, Dr Lim had talked about the BSMA review. There are many parts to this review and we are in the midst of receiving comments from the public. So if any of you are interested to join in and provide your inputs to the online public consultation – this is currently ongoing until 8 April 2026 on the REACH platform.

I would like to encourage everyone here to provide your feedback because you are in the industry and you know the industry very well.). So, the review focuses on four key areas:

One, helping MCSTs work towards having adequate sinking funds for essential maintenance, repairs, or upgrades;

Lowering levels of resolutions to facilitate essential upgrades;

The third area, to strengthen self-governance frameworks to promote fair and efficient management of estates; and

And finally, to clarify the responsibilities of strata-titled stakeholders.

The ongoing public consultation will be until 8 April and after that the Bill will be debated in Parliament, and we expect quite an active discussion. This review will strengthen our strata management framework, to ensure that private residential developments remain well-maintained, accessible, and liveable.

Envisioning the Future

Looking ahead, APFM will continue to play an important role in Singapore's built environment development.

There will be new opportunities and challenges in the years ahead, including the integration of artificial intelligence and robotics in building management, and the development of net-zero carbon buildings.

I’m very sure that APFM will continue to evolve, and that APFM will embrace these developments with the same professionalism and collaborative approach that have characterised your thirty-year journey.

Closing

With that, I congratulate APFM again on achieving this significant milestone of 30 years and your achievements reflect both individual excellence and the collective strength of Singapore's property and facility management profession.

Thank you, and I wish you a wonderful evening ahead.