William John Castellas

Head of Private Banking

Industry:

Banking, Commonwealth Private Bank

Country:

Australia

Been in Singapore for six years
Currently a Singapore Permanent Resident

William, 38, arrived in 2004 with two suitcases, his golf clubs, and a big appetite for everything Singapore has to offer - especially the food. The highlight of William’s stay in Singapore has been meeting his fiancée and enjoying her mother’s sensational Peranakan cuisine. He likes his Sunday dinners with the future in-laws very much.

Click here to watch the video of William’s life in Singapore.

A day in my life

1. 7.30 am

   Breakfast at Simply Sandwiches. I have my usual toasted turkish bread with butter and vegemite (you can’t take the Australian out of me!), orange juice and double macchiato.

2. 9.00 am

   Work is challenging as usual, but I’m fortunate to be working with and amongst some very talented people. Singapore is perfectly positioned and structured to take full advantage of the emergence of the growing middle class in Asia. It’s also encouraging to see the Singapore government moving in the same direction as the finance industry, in urging Singaporeans to take more responsibility for their financial future. It’s a plus for me both professionally and personally to be a part of that and learning from the experience.

3. 12.30 pm

   Lunch today is at Imperial Treasure at Marina Square for xiao long bao - the dumpling with an unexpected soup centre. It’s a real treat. Just don’t wear a white shirt in case you get hit in the cross-fire !

4. 3.30 pm

   The team and I grab a coffee (mine is kopi siew dai - that’s coffee with less sugar, for the uninitiated) and head back to the office. More meetings. Being in this line has exposed me to a great variety of businesses in Singapore, and that has inspired many new perspectives. That’s always useful in any work environment.

5. 5.00 pm

   A business acquaintance calls up and I arrange to bring him out for lunch next week, for Hainanese chicken rice.

6. 6.30 pm

   I leave the office and get down to the Patio Bar at the Singapore Cricket Club. My mates and I reckon it’s probably the best place to have that after-work drink in the city area. I plan to check out one of the live music venues around soon. There’s a pretty decent local scene so I reckon that’ll be something I’ll get more into.

7. 7.30 pm

   Time to eat... again. I’m addicted to wanton mee and mee pok (minced meat noodles) and carrot cake with black sauce. The East Coast has a lot of eating places so we’re spoilt for choice. If you’d asked me six years ago whether I’d wait 30 minutes for a bowl of noodles and soupy dumplings, I would have told you you’re mad. But now it’s true. I’d happily line up for my special treat as long as I’ve got my kopi siew dai and otah – which is a grilled curried fish cake - to help me wait it out.

8. 9.00 pm

   I take a run through the East Coast neighbourhood. This is one of the older districts in Singapore and home to many conservation houses – one of which mine . Some of the prettiest shophouses in the country are here, along with the best restaurants! Better burn off some of those calories.

9. 10.30 pm

   I keep in touch with the big games via Australian Network and the Golf Channel or ESPN. There’s usually a lot of sport on the tele. It gets me in the mood for when I hit the links at the Marina Bay Golf Club on Saturday morning!