Melbourne Capital Group Attends BMCC AGM and Welcomes New British High Commissioner

Melbourne Capital Group was pleased to be invited to the British Malaysia Chamber of Commerce (BMCC) Annual General Meeting and welcome reception for His Excellency Ajay Sharma CMG, the newly appointed British High Commissioner to Malaysia, held at EQ Hotel Kuala Lumpur.

Rob Atherton, Head of International Wealth at Melbourne Capital Group, represented the firm at both the afternoon AGM and evening reception. "I was pleased to attend the BMCC AGM yesterday afternoon on behalf of Melbourne Capital Group. The Chamber is in great shape and we are proud to be an active member," Atherton commented.

The evening's highlight was the welcome reception for H.E. Ajay Sharma, featuring a fireside chat led by BMCC Chairman Mak Joon Nien, Managing Director & CEO of Standard Chartered Malaysia, following a warm introduction by BMCC CEO Jennifer Lopez.

His Excellency brings three decades of diplomatic experience to his new role, including previous positions as British Ambassador to Qatar, Chargé d'affaires to Iran and Türkiye, Deputy Ambassador to France, and postings in Moscow and Paris. During the evening's discussion, he emphasised the critical importance of deep cultural and linguistic understanding in diplomatic relations.

"His Excellency spoke eloquently about the importance of deep cultural and linguistic understanding in his role and the fantastic relationship that already exists between Malaysia and the United Kingdom. A relationship he plans to build upon and strengthen even further in his new role," Atherton noted.

The reception revealed the High Commissioner's personal interests in cooking and travel, which Atherton highlighted as "a perfect match for life in Malaysia." This personal touch resonated with attendees as they considered how these interests would enhance his diplomatic effectiveness.

"It will be interesting to see which Malaysian dish becomes his go-to recommendation for friends, and which 'secret and special place' in Malaysia becomes his personal favourite. We've all got one!" Atherton observed, reflecting the warm, personal nature of UK-Malaysia business relationships.

The networking session provided Melbourne Capital Group with valuable opportunities to connect with both established contacts and new partners in the UK-Malaysia business community. Nicole Sue, Private Wealth Specialist at Melbourne Capital Group and Chair of the Association of British Women in Malaysia, joined Atherton in representing the firm during the evening reception.

"We also enjoyed many engaging conversations with both familiar faces and new connections. It was a great day of insights and meeting existing and new friends representing Melbourne Capital Group," Atherton concluded.

As proud corporate members of the BMCC, Melbourne Capital Group continues to support the strengthening of bilateral business ties between the UK and Malaysia. The firm looks forward to working alongside H.E. Ajay Sharma and the broader UK-Malaysia business community to deepen these important partnerships.

The evening concluded with attendees expressing optimism about the future of UK-Malaysia business relations under His Excellency's leadership, reinforcing the strong foundation of cooperation that already exists between the two nations.