Meridium at the British High Commission's fireside chat with Dame Barbara Woodward

Meridium’s Managing Director, David Stepat, joined members of Singapore’s international business community at the British High Commission at 100 Tanglin Road on the afternoon of Thursday 8 October 2026 for a fireside chat with Dame Barbara Woodward, the UK’s Deputy National Security Adviser. His Excellency Nik Mehta OBE, British High Commissioner to Singapore, hosted the event and moderated the conversation with her.

The session was held under the Chatham House Rule, so we do not report on what was said. The theme matters a great deal to the companies Meridium works with.

Why geopolitics matters for companies in Singapore

For international businesses, geopolitics now shapes day-to-day decisions. Tariffs, export controls, sanctions screening and shifting supply chains affect where companies set up, how they structure their regional operations and which compliance obligations they carry. For many of them, Singapore is the base from which they manage all of this across Southeast Asia and beyond.

“In a more contested world, the qualities Singapore is known for become even more valuable: stability, the rule of law and openness to trade. The companies I speak with are asking very practical questions. Where should the regional entity sit? How do we keep banking relationships and supply chains resilient? How do we stay compliant as the rules keep changing? Getting the structure right at the start is what makes a business resilient later. My thanks to His Excellency Nik Mehta and the team at the British High Commission for a thought-provoking afternoon.”

David Stepat, Managing Director, Meridium

Supporting UK companies in Singapore

Meridium works alongside the Department for Business and Trade team at the British High Commission. Together we support UK companies entering Singapore and the wider region, including technology firms, manufacturers, food and beverage brands and higher education institutions. UK businesses exploring Singapore can book a free initial consultation with a director.

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