With his wide network and deep understanding of policy and decision making in both the public and private sectors especially in Singapore, Viswa is increasingly engaged as a strategic consultant. He played a key role as Strategic Advisor in helping Las Vegas Sands Corp win the Marina Bay Integrated Resort bid in Singapore, providing strategic counsel for the entire duration of the bidding process stretching over 15 months. This is deemed one of the largest Integrated Resort & Casino developments in the world to be constructed at a cost of over SGD 6 billion. More recently, Viswa consulted for SingaporeGold, one of three consortia shortlisted to participate in Singapore’s Sports Hub tender submission.
Given his proficiency, experience and professional reputation in the corporate and media circuit, it was natural for Viswa to provide the impetus and concept for STRATEGIC MOVES’ media training and consultancy programmes, including its flagship Strategic Communications and Crisis Management courses.
To date, Viswa has conducted strategic communications training for the senior management of more than 100 organisations and close to 6,000 CEOs/Directors, from the regional operations of Fortune 500 companies to government and quasi-government agencies in Singapore.
Viswa also regularly conducts crisis management training and consultancy for MNCs and government bodies in Singapore and has been a key speaker at overseas conferences on the subject.
He was engaged by SIA in the aftermath of the SilkAir MI185 crash in 1997, to provide counsel on its positioning and messaging strategies; and by the Ministry of Transport in 2002 to develop its strategy and coach its top level officials in their roles as panellists in the SQ 006 Final Report press conference.
Prior to founding The Right Angle, Viswa was CEO of UTV International and was responsible for developing its operations in Singapore. Before this, he held the position of Senior Manager, Corporate Planning and Business Development at Singapore Press Holdings, and was instrumental in laying the groundwork for SPH’s venture into the television industry.
Given his experience and appreciation of public policy and ground sentiment, Viswa has been invited to be on several public sector Boards, such as Media Development Authority, Feedback Unit’s Supervisory Panel, Government Parliamentary Committee for Defence and Foreign Affairs (as Resource Panel member) and the Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA). He has also served on several major national committees, such as Singapore 21 Committee, Economic Review Committee and the Remaking Singapore Committee. Trained as an elite Guardsman, he was Commanding Officer of a national service army battalion which won the coveted Best Unit Award three times. He holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Viswa was also conferred the Spirit of Enterprise Award in September 2003, an award given in recognition of an individual’s perseverance in the face of adversity and his triumph through a spirit of enterprise.
He has a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the Kennedy School of Government and Administration, Harvard University, winning top honours in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution.
Viswa has been appointed as a Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) with effect from 18 July 2009.
