ASIA BUSINESS OUTLOOK9DECEMBERSEEK APPOINTS ESTHER LEE AS NEW JOBSTREET SINGAPORE HEADSeek has appointed Esther Lee as the new managing director of Jobstreet Singapore, strengthening its leadership across the Asia-Pacific online employment market.Seek operates major platforms including Jobstreet and Jobsdb, serving millions of jobseekers and employers across the region.Lee transitions into this role after serving as Seek's head of APAC commercial growth, where she led large-scale initiatives such as SmartHire in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malaysia. Since joining Seek in 2014, she has worked across Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Jakarta, and Melbourne, taking on roles including acting managing director of Jobstreet Indonesia and head of growth for Seek's Asian employer marketplace.Her appointment comes amid a 14.5 percent YoY decline in job postings in Singapore in September 2025, though demand remains 36 percent above pre-pandemic levels, signaling a shift toward more selective hiring. Lee's experience with SmartHire, an automated screening and AI-driven talent-matching tool powered by SEEK Asia's data, positions her to strengthen product differentiation against platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed.The leadership change follows Seek's unification of Jobstreet and Jobsdb on a single platform, enabling faster product releases and integrated services. Lee will also support the expansion of SEEK Pass, a digital identity and credential wallet now entering Singapore after verifying six million credentials across APAC.With 1.5 million applicants moving through Seek's platforms monthly and employers receiving 83 percent more applications per ad in 2024, opportunities open for ATS providers and recruitment software firms to build API integrations and leverage Seek's growing verification ecosystem. NEWSROOMN&E INNOVATIONS WINS TIA 2025 WITH NATURAL ANTIMICROBIAL TECHRecent research has revealed that toxic substances approved for food contact in packaging, kitchenware, and processing equipment are now being detected in human hair, blood, and breast milk.Many of these chemicals are associated with cancer, hormone disruption, and other severe health risks. Although humans may be exposed through multiple channels, it remains alarming that consumers may unknowingly ingest toxins daily.Eliminating exposure is challenging and would require large-scale regulatory, financial, and industry reforms. Addressing this urgent challenge, N&E Innovations, a Singapore-based startup, is pioneering a breakthrough solution. The company has developed a patented antimicrobial formula that can replace toxic chemicals in food packaging, cleaning supplies, and other hygiene-related products.Competing at Tech in Asia's Startup Arena Pitch Battle 2025 in Jakarta, the company emerged champion, impressing judges and audiences with its innovative and impactful approach.N&E Innovations converts agricultural waste into food-grade, edible, 100 percent natural antimicrobial powder, replacing synthetic chemicals across the cleaning, hygiene, and food sectors. Their technology, called ViKang, addresses two global challenges: the overuse of toxic chemicals and the food waste crisis. The company, led by a biomedical engineering expert and food-waste researcher Jaslyn Lee, has already commercialized its technology across three sectors and expanded into five countries.Founded by Didi Gan and Jaslyn Lee, the company has expanded its technology into three sectors across five countries. Despite challenges in convincing manufacturers to transition from cheap synthetics to natural alternatives, N&E Innovations has achieved global patents, Europe certifications, and successful pilots with major partners such as Sodexo Group and RWS Genting."Our technology, ViKang, powers our two-in-one sustainable and antibacterial food packaging products like clingwraps and vacuum bags. It naturally kills bacteria and extends food shelf life by up to three times without using toxic silver metals, chemicals or harsh preservatives," States Didi Gan, N&E Innovations' Co-founder and CEO.Despite early struggles to bridge the gap between scientific innovation and market adoption, N&E Innovations has secured global patents and European certifications, proving the commercial viability of natural alternatives in an industry dominated by cheap synthetic chemicals.
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