Page 16 - WAD Beyond Global May 2021

“Bond” – a relationship
I was blessed to join WAD in 1983 at the Annual
between people or groups Conference in Hawaii. I remember nervously
based on shared feelings, passing by the glass windows of the room
interests, and experiences. several times where the Board was meeting.
In those days the Board discussed and voted
on every applicant just twice a year. Looking
Bob Heales back, I have often said that joining WAD was
Executive Director
the best business decision I made as a young
investigator. I met many wonderful people at
Our Beyond Global Editor and Past that first meeting, and over the past 38 years I
President Siti Naidu asked me to write have met many more.
something for this newsletter, something
positive to encourage and motivate our I have traveled to 44 countries around the
members during these difficult times world, and in most cases it was for a WAD
during a global pandemic. I thought for meeting. I only missed three. I cherish the
a moment, and I wondered who is really friendships I have made, and I remember many
more qualified than Siti to write such an times when we lifted each other up during the
article?
highs and lows of our business experiences.
Little did I know when I met Norman Sloan in
Many of us met Siti at the 1986 Annual Hawaii, that 38 years later I would have held his
Conference in Singapore. She was same position as Executive Director for a total
assisting her cousin Ponno Kalastree as of 14 years.
he hosted us in this beautiful city. Time
went by and Siti met and married Adil On these pages are some photos of my
Naidu, they had two beautiful children, experiences in WAD. There isn’t enough room to
and both Adil and Siti served as officers show everyone, but a handful of my many dear
in WAD eventually both becoming friends are shown here in different parts of the
Presidents. They hosted us at the 2000 world. I hope you have had the opportunity to
Annual Conference in Malaysia. Sadly, attend some of our meetings and are making
Adil was one of our Past Presidents plans to join us in a post pandemic world. There
who passed away all too soon. Now is a special bond many of us have enjoyed,
that’s a pretty quick summary of a years and my wish is that you too have a chance to
long relationship between Siti, Adil, and experience this bond. My life has been blessed
WAD. Part of the WAD family just as all by WAD membership and all of you.
of you are.