Director of government relations and public policy for regional Southeast Asia, Visa
Information Technology and Services
In this Covid-19 era, digital payments are not just a form of convenience. It is essential as people try to minimise contact to limit the spread of the virus. To help small and medium-sized enterprises get access to digital payments, Visa is working with governments in Southeast Asia to roll out different programs focused on this, with the goal of facilitating economic recovery in the wake of the pandemic.
These programs usually arise from constructive engagement and discussions between Visa and governments. Leading the engagement with governments is the job of Ms Do Nhu Quynh, Director of Government Engagement for Southeast Asia at Visa. An alumnus of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP), she graduated in 2009 with a Master in Public Policy (MPP).
She joined LKYSPP after two years as a program officer with UNESCO and from 2009 to 2011, she was a project officer at the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF). At ASEF, she conceptualised and implemented projects and platforms to promote intellectual exchange and advocate higher education policy reforms in Asia Pacific and Europe.
She joined Visa in 2011. Her current role includes strategising and engaging with governments, international organisations, business councils and think-tanks across markets in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, Myanmar and Laos. She also represents Visa’s policy interests at international forums such as APEC, ASEAN and the World Economic Forum in ASEAN.
She says: “I am always passionate about the development of policies, which bring tangible benefits to individuals, societies and nations.” It was the LKYSPP vision of transforming the world through good governance and leadership excellence that drew her to the public policy school in Singapore.
Her role at Visa aligns with her values and commitment to serve people and the public good. “Visa is a global payments technology company with a mission to connect the world through the most innovative, reliable and secure payment networks - enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. Tech companies like Visa have a significant role in shaping a new generation of regulations for digital economy and thus plays a key role in eCommerce, trade and in the investment landscape in Asia Pacific and globally,” she says.
“I have a strong conviction that if tech companies like Visa work closely in consultation with governments to promote citizen welfare, we can be a key stakeholder in shaping a free, fair and equitable digital future.”
“I am always passionate about the development of policies, which bring tangible benefits to individuals, societies and nations.”
She notes that enabling digital payments is a mutual goal for Visa and governments in Southeast Asia. Digital payments have shown to improve financial inclusion and enable multiple Smart City features that make life easier for citizens. Apart from Smart Businesses, digital payments can transform how a government delivers its services by increasing efficiency and accountability, expanding inclusion and minimising shadow economy (Smart Government). Digital payments can also enhance a city’s public transport experience by making it faster, easier and safer for citizens to pay and in turn save cost for cities (Smart Transit).
“A recent study suggested that digitising the largest cities in ASEAN would yield benefits of more than US$22 billion per annum,” she says. “Over the past few years, we have collaborated with governments across Southeast Asia including Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, the Phillipines and Singapore to enable Smart Transit, a key pillar of the Smart Cities envisaged by the governments.”
She and her team also advocate for regulations that will help governments enable digital economy and initiate projects to accelerate digital payments in the region.
As director of Government Engagement for Southeast Asia at Visa, this LKYSPP alumnus is currently involved in discussions with tourism ministries in Southeast Asia, such as Vietnam where tourism is a key contributor to GDP and a major job creator. Naturally, the pandemic has hit the sector hard and recovery plans are essential.
Amidst worldwide uncertainty, she keeps focused on her long-term commitment to serve people and the public good – “purpose, patience, perspective and persistence” are her keywords. She says: “I believe students from LKYSPP all share a same passion and dream to serve something greater than themselves. That is the most important ingredient to be successful in policy advocacy.”
Do Nhu Quynh’s advice for LKYSPP students:
1. Purpose: Know your purpose in what you choose to advocate. Choose to work for an organisation whose mandate is aligned with your values. That would help you to achieve both professional goals and fulfil your personal happiness.
2. Patience: Real change takes time. So be patient and never lose faith in the good cause that’s what you are fighting for.
3. Perspective: Understand your stakeholders and their priorities. Align your assets with their priorities to achieve win-win solutions.
4. Persistence: Successful government engagement requires understanding and trust. It is not rocket science work. Rather, it requires a lot of hard work.