Five Minutes of Fame with Hafidz Basri

Hafidz Basri is the Venues Manager at Dulwich College (Singapore) and has been at the College for the last two years. In this article, he tells us a little more about his family, his previous life working in the Singapore prison system and his favourite holiday destinations. 

Where else in the world have you lived?

I was born in Singapore and I have lived here all my life. I sometimes hope that I will have the chance to work overseas one day. 

Tell us about your family.

My grandparents were immigrants from the island of Bawean, in Indonesia, and made Singapore their home before the start of World War II. My wife Zohra happened to be my schoolmate during our pre-university days at Jurong Institute. The school has been renamed Millenia Institute which is opposite Dulwich College (Singapore). Some of my old teachers still teach there and it is nice to bump into them once in a while. Zohra works as a civil servant and together we have a beautiful baby boy, Omar, who is eight months old. As a family, we love to go on road trips and drive up north into Malaysia and Thailand for our holidays. 

What’s your favourite weekend activity in Singapore?

I like to ride my motorcycle on the weekends and hang out with my friends who also ride. I currently own a Kawasaki Versys 1000 LT. 

Did you always want to work in venue management?

I didn’t know what I wanted to be when I left school and my first job was as an armed security and protection officer. Over the seven years I worked as one, my roles included escorting inmates and standing guard at prison watchtowers, to name just a few. I realised over time that my passion had always been in the performing arts and I decided to take a leap and change career. My first job in the performance technical line was as an entertainment technician at Universal Studios Singapore and I have not looked back since.

What is your favourite book and who is your favourite author?

True Singapore Ghost Stories by Russell Lee. This was a very popular book series in the 90s in Singapore. 

Tell us about a hidden talent or a top secret that no-one would know about you.

I used to be a freelance professional photographer, shooting mainly portraits and weddings. I can also do video work and editing but I am a bit rusty as I have not practiced this art for quite a few years.

Which five people would you invite to a dinner party, dead or alive?

I would like to invite only one person instead of five. I would love to spend a few hours with my paternal grandma. I miss her a lot, as she was an important person in my childhood. My parents divorced when I was young and my grandma stepped up to care for me and my siblings during our difficult years. 

What does a typical day at the College look like for you?

I start the day by checking venue bookings and logistics orders to ensure everything is in order. I then have meetings with various teams and co-ordinate upcoming events. This takes place alongside other tasks like maintenance schedules, manpower allocation and discussions with external hires just to name a few. There is never a dull day at Dulwich College (Singapore) for me! 

Do you have a motto or saying that really resonates with you?

“It is sometimes better to regret something you did, rather than something that you didn’t do”. 

Do you have a most memorable Dulwich moment?

My most memorable moment was when colleagues from various departments showered my wife and I with congratulations and gifts when she gave birth to Omar. We did not have an easy journey and I appreciate all the things that my bosses and colleagues did to assist me during Zohra’s pregnancy and the birth of our son. 

Thank you, Hafidz! Tune in next month when we will be talking to Sam Hallam, Head of Year 6 at Dulwich College (Singapore).