On 28 March 2022, the title of « Chevalier de l’Ordre national du Mérite » was conferred on Mr Andrew Lau, President of Alliance Française de Singapour, by His Excellency Mr Marc Abensour, Ambassador of France to Singapore, in presence of Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Mr Edwin Tong.
Born in Malaysia, raised in United Kingdom, Mr Andrew Lau has been having a profound attachment to France since very young. François de Quirielle, the last French delegate general in North Vietnam and former French ambassador to Malaysia, close friend from the Lau family, became his godfather. Many trips in France, numerous French language courses in Paris developed his attachment to France and his passion for French culture, “art de vivre” and gastronomy.
After graduating as an architect from the University of London, Mr Lau moved to Singapore to work for MRT before handling property development for a holding company. He then worked for JC Will & Associate and Blue Dots before becoming an art consultant for the company.
A few years later he joined the Board of the Alliance Française de Singapour. Since then, he has put his skills in the fields of arts and architecture at the service of the French cultural centre to enhance its influence and attractiveness. The building designed by the French architect Dominique Perrault still bears his imprint today with his addition of the colourful façade, which has become its real landmark in the urban landscape.
In 2020, Mr Lau was appointed President of the Alliance Française. He has contributed to the new “French Excellence” series to support the promotion of the French culture in all its forms and the values carried by France in Singapore.
Francophile and Francophone, Mr Andrew Lau is greatly representing the strong friendship ties between France and Singapore and beyond between Western Europe and South East Asia.