Adel has worked across corporate, brand, public affairs and government communications, and has successfully managed and built strong teams throughout her two-decade career at some of the top communications agencies and newsrooms. She is currently the General Manager at Allison+Partners Singapore, overseeing the agency’s Singapore presence, building the team’s capabilities and client roster while driving ongoing growth in the market.
Adel is the former MD (Sectors) at Edelman Singapore and had oversight of some of the agency’s largest clients in Technology and Health, including Microsoft in Asia Pacific and Singapore. She was also previously the regional lead for corporate, public affairs and government communications at BursonCohn & Wolfe as well as Bell Pottinger Singapore (now KlarecoCommunications), where she was in charge of the agency’s largest practice, and developed a diverse client base, from unicorn start-ups and Singapore Inc companies to multinationals and Government accounts. She spent eight years at Ketchum Singapore, formerly known as ICON International Communications, which was acquired by the international communications agency in November 2013, and was part of the core team which grew the start-up agency.
She started her career as an editor and journalist at two of Singapore’s most-read English dailies The Straits Times and MediaCorp TODAY newspaper, and was also a former corporate communications head at one of the leading government-funded R&D institutes in Singapore (Institute of Bioengineering & Nanotechnology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research).
Our Singapore office opened in 2014 and currently serves as Allison+Partners’ regional hub in Asia Pacific. Results-driven and client-focused, our team has a solid track record of exceeding client expectations and driving successful communications programs in the region. We serve a wide range of clients across the consumer, corporate, technology, hospitality, education, retail and ecommerce sectors, and are well-versed in content creation, integrated communications, media and influencer engagement, social media, issues and crisis management. As an international PR agency, our one P+L model enables us to harness the best talent and thinking from around the globe, adding even greater value to our clients’ businesses.
Even though Singapore is not a big place (50km from east to west), it offers plenty to see and do. If you only have 24 hours to spare, start your day with a visit to the Singapore Zoo. There, you can enjoy breakfast with orangutans and watch up to 2,800 animals, including elephants, white tigers and tapirs, roam in open and naturalistic habitats.
After your wildlife adventure, take a taxi to the Maxwell Road Food Center for an authentic local lunch. At the Food Centre, you’ll be able to sample some of the best hawker food in town, such as Chicken Rice, Fried Oyster Omelet and local desserts. Then, make a quick stop at Sri Mariamman temple, Singapore’s oldest Hindu temple. Dating back to 1827, the temple is located in the heart of Chinatown, one of the many examples of multiculturalism you will find in the city. As you enjoy the cultural, religious and tourist sites around you, stop by the Chinatown Heritage Center to trace the lives and times of early Chinese immigrants in Singapore. Take a break at one of the many coffee shops you’ll pass by along the way, and impress the locals by ordering your coffee the local way – kopi o (black coffee), kopi (coffee with milk) or kopi c (coffee with condensed milk).
To escape from the heat, spend the rest of your afternoon at the National Museum, which is housed in a beautiful building built in 1887. Custodian to 11 national treasures dating back to the 13th century and showcasing Singapore and Southeast Asian history, this should be on every museum junkie’s hit list whilst in Singapore. As you leave, don’t forget to grab some souvenirs from the Museum Shop located on the first floor.
For dinner, tuck into the famous Chili Crabs at Clarke Quay, while absorbing breathtaking views of the brilliant sunset by the Singapore River. Post dinner, take a walk down the picturesque riverside before you hop on to a river taxi, where you will discover the rich history of Singapore and various historical landmarks such as the Merlion, the Esplanade and the Raffles Landing Site. Complete your Singapore discovery with a “Singapore Sling” at Raffles Hotel’s Long Bar, birth place of this legendary cocktail.
While the night is still young, put on your dancing shoes and up to Cé La Vie, one of the most popular nightclubs, soaring 57 levels above the city. If you’ve forgotten to buy something and need to grab some last minute items, make your way to Mustafa Shopping Center, a popular 24-hour department store located in Little India. End your night with a hot pot of frog leg porridge at Geylang Road, a popular supper place for the locals.