In a world that is being urbanized and digitized exponentially, there’s multiple challenges, but also opportunities.
Every year, Smart Cities Asia convenes a qualified crowd of industry executives, government leaders, investors and entrepreneurs to move cities towards a better future.
Discover the future of smart cities at the 11ᵗʰ Smart Cities Asia 2025.
Join industry leaders and innovators to accelerate collaborative implementation for sustainable urban development.
Managing Director & Smart Sustainable Cities Advisor, Communities Connect Cities (C3)
Laila is a visionary and global futurist leader with over 20 years of experience in the government and private sector. She is the Managing Director of Communities Connect Cities (C3), a leading advisory company in smart and sustainable cities that empowers organizations to achieve their goals and create positive impact. She is also the first appointed executive director in Oman IT Society. She is also a recognized expert and advisor in metaverse, digital transformation, innovation, and tourism, with multiple publications and awards in these fields. With a strong focus on the Middle East, Laila has been instrumental in shaping the smart cities agenda and strategy for various governments, UN organizations, and consulting firms. She is the founder of the Smart Cities Ambassadors program, a global initiative that nurtures and mentors individuals to become leaders in the field. She is also a sought-after global keynote speaker and author, who shares her insights and vision on the future of smart and sustainable cities, metaverse, and tourism. Laila is passionate about creating a better world for everyone through technology, collaboration, and innovation.
Head of Implementation (Southeast Asia) - Climate Action Implementation Programme, C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40 Cities)
Huey is Head of Implementation (Southeast Asia) for C40 Cities’ UCAP Climate Action Implementation Programme where she oversees climate action mainstreaming and implementation at Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta and Quezon City. Prior to joining C40, her experience includes leading the implementation of urban sustainability initiatives at the highly successful National Transformation Program (NTP) of Malaysian Government where systemic transformation has materialized through co-creation of solutions and disciplined implementation rigour. As an experienced management consultant, she has led numerous public policy and transformation projects in Asia and Africa – including the advocacy work with Government of Malaysia in accelerating EV adoption through 30 catalytic incentives, proposed to be financed through targeted fuel subsidy rationalization which saw a 300% increase in EV adoption as outcome. Huey completed her MSc Sustainable Cities in King’s College London on a UK Government Chevening Scholarship and holds a Bachelor of Science (Psychology and Genetics) from University of Melbourne, Australia. She is also a YSEALI Professional Fellow alumni and is fluent in 6 Asian & European languages, essential to cross-cultural understanding and crucial for team and stakeholder influence.
Partner, Ref.Team, Singapore
Michael is the Co-Founder of ReF.Team, bringing over 20 years of experience in multinational ventures. His expertise spans entrepreneurship, management, innovation, digital transformation, Agile processes, and software engineering. Michael has mentored more than 120 startups in Southeast Asia and has been involved in Smart City innovation research. Prior to co-founding ReF.Team, Michael worked as a lecturer and consultant in Southeast Asia. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Thammasat University in Thailand, focusing on Smart City innovation. Throughout his extensive career in technology consulting, he has been involved as a solutions architect with companies such as Pitney Bowes, Motorola, and Accenture.
Vice-president, Global Advisory Lead, Smart Cities Council, Australian-based, Global Organisation
As Smart Cities Council’s Vice-president and Global Advisory Lead, Tom Pennington is a highly regarded senior executive with extensive experience across a breadth of technologies and platforms, from start-ups and scale-ups to some of the world’s largest global enterprises. With a strong foundation in technology engineering, platforms, and systems, Tom brings a deep understanding of each key business lifecycle stage. His proven track record in creating and implementing growth, execution, and sales strategies, as well as operating models, positions him as a thought leader in the global Smart Cities ecosystem. Tom's breadth of industry experience, including Technology, Mining, Resources, Energy, Oil and Gas, Financial Services, Defence, Government, and Manufacturing, provides him with an unparalleled network and wealth of insights and networks not just across the globe.
Managing Director, Stanton Chase Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Malaysia
Ingo brings with him more than 25 years of Human Resource and Management experience in the Infrastructure-, Aviation-, Railway-, Communication- and Engineering-industries to Stanton Chase´s clients. He began his career as a Project Manager, then moved on to Finance and Controlling and has held Chief Financial Officer and General Manager positions with responsibility for Sales, Manufacturing, Purchasing, Finance, IT and HR. He came to Malaysia in 1995 as Commercial Project Manager for the construction and operation of the STAR LRT line. He joined Stanton Chase after several years with an accomplished Executive Search boutique firm, where he successfully supported SMEs and international groups. Born in Frankfurt/Main, he holds an MBA degree from Strathclyde University in Glasgow and worked for twelve years in Asia and North Africa. He is still a passionate Field Hockey player and is nominated to represent Malaysia in the 2024 Hockey-Veteran´s Worldcup in New Zealand.
Group Chief Strategy Officer, TalentCorp, Malaysia
Nazrul is currently the Group Chief Strategy Officer at TalentCorp where he oversees the strategy development and alignment of the organisation. He works collaboratively with key stakeholders across industry, academia & Government to develop and execute demand-driven talent solutions to meet the current and future talent needs of the country. Prior to TalentCorp, Nazrul spent 18 years in the public sector. Nazrul holds a Masters in Business Administration (Sustainable Development) from the University of Science Malaysia and Bachelor of Science (Business Computing) from Universiti Teknologi MARA.
Visiting Faculty, Indian School of Business, India
Dr. Avik Sarkar is currently associated with the Indian School of Business, working and teaching in Data, Emerging Technology, and Public Policy. At ISB, Dr Sarkar headed the development of the India Data Portal, a one-stop portal for analyzing and visualizing government data and working on the societal & policy aspects related to emerging technologies like artificial intelligence trustworthiness, ethics, data privacy, e-commerce policy, etc. Dr. Sarkar was the former Head of the Data Analytics Cell and Officer on Special Duty (OSD) at NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India Aayog), premier policy think-tank of the Government of India. At NITI Aayog, Dr. Sarkar helped in developing India's first AI Strategy and roadmap for the use of data, analytics and artificial intelligence for Governance and policymaking across various sectors for India's inclusive growth and led efforts towards setting up the first High-Performance Computing based Data Analytics Lab and Energy Modeling Unit at NITI Aayog. Dr. Sarkar is a multiple TEDx speaker and was nominated among the "Top 10 Data Scientists in India" in 2017 by Analytics India Magazine and nominated as "LinkedIn Influencer" in the Technology space in 2015 for contribution and engaging discussions on the LinkedIn platform in areas related of Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, etc. Dr. Sarkar actively participates in advisory and policymaking roles through various government/multilateral committees like the International Standards Organization (ISO) through the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) committee for setting standards for "Artificial Intelligence," United Nations Big Data & Data Science group enabling big data usage across nations, Expert member in the Global Partnership for AI (GPAI), Datasets for Artificial Intelligence committee as part of Indian AI of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY), Science & Policy advisory committee of the Ministry of Science & Technology and Punjab Good Governance Fellowship. In the past, Dr. Sarkar had served on the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) of Census 2021, and Analytics Advisory Committee for Government e-Marketplace (GeM) and was an Advisor for setting up Data Analytics Center of Excellence by the Government of Assam. Dr. Sarkar participates in academic advisor for Delhi Skills and Entrepreneurship University (DSUE), AISECT, Aegis School of Business, and as an Entrepreneurship advisory member of Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Delhi. Dr. Sarkar has over 20 years of experience across different aspects of artificial intelligence, data science, analytics, statistical modeling, text mining, and network analysis across companies like Accenture, IBM, Nokia, NASA, Persistent Systems, Zycus, etc. At Accenture Consulting in Singapore, he contributed to various data and analytics-related engagements with the Singapore Government related to efficient reporting and resolution of municipal issues, evaluation and monitoring of secondary school education, and improving operational efficiency in immigration and customs. While at IBM, Dr Sarkar contributed significantly to developing the Monte Carlo Simulation of SPSS and the Predictive Maintenance and Quality solution for the manufacturing sector. Dr. Sarkar holds a Ph.D. from The Open University, UK, a Master's from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, and a bachelor's from Calcutta University. Dr Sarkar has authored several technical publications and technology patents.
President, Malaysian Electric Vehicle Owners Club, Malaysia
Datuk Shahrol Halmi is the President and Co-Founder of the Malaysian EV Owners Club (MyEVOC). MyEVOC was formed in May 2019 with the intent of creating awareness, dispelling myths around electric vehicles and most of all, represent the users view to both industry and regulatory bodies. Shahrol himself has been an EV driver since 2017. Shahrol was formerly the President and CEO of the Malaysian Petroleum Resources Corporation (MPRC), a government agency under the Prime Minister’s Department. He was also a Director in the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (PEMANDU), looking after the Energy, Oil and Gas as well as Financial Services sectors for the Economic Transformation Program. Prior to his stint at a wealth management fund, Shahrol was a partner in Accenture, a Management Consulting firm in Kuala Lumpur. He graduated from Stanford University with a degree in Electrical Engineering.
Chief Executive Officer, Quantum Technology Foundation, Thailand
Dr. Jirawat Tangpanitanon is a leading quantum technology expert and the CEO of Quantum Technology Foundation (Thailand). Based in Bangkok, he works with leading STEM talent and corporations to develop innovative optimization solutions using quantum and digital technologies. With a PhD in quantum simulation and a Google Quantum Innovations award, Dr. Jirawat Tangpanitanon has a strong academic background and industry experience. At QTFT, he leads a team focused on delivering optimization solutions in various sectors, including air traffic management, finance, logistics, and energy. Dr. Jirawat Tangpanitanon believes that Thailand and Southeast Asia are well-positioned to become pioneers in quantum optimization and is passionate about driving innovation in the field.
Circular Economy, Chief Sustainability Officer, Waste & Environmental Management Expert Consultant, Chief Sustainability Officer, FIG Metal Industries Sdn Bhd, Malaysia
An expert in circular economy, sustainability, waste management, and environmental management. He serves as the Vice-Chairman of the MPMA Sustainability and Recycling Committees and is the Secretary-General of Koperasi Pengusaha Kitar Semula Selangor Bhd. He holds a PhD in Energy and Environment from Malaysia University of Science and Technology and is currently studying Environmental Law. He is an ELITE Fellow at University Malaya’s Faculty of Science, recognised for his experiential learning with industries. He holds certifications as an Advanced Open Water Diver, Marine Ecologist, and Naturalist from IANTD. He is a panel member of the National Circular Economy Council for Solid Waste and a Subject Matter Expert for the IFC of the World Bank Group, leading a circular economy program for durable plastics. He advises Malaysia’s Ministry of Local Government Development and contributes to UNEP and COBSEA's projects on plastic waste and marine litter in Southeast Asia. He is the Malaysian Delegate to UNEP’s Expert Group on Marine Litter and Microplastics. He has completed the JaIME project on plastics waste management and shares his sustainability expertise through articles, presentations and media appearances. He also serves on various government panels related to environmental sustainability.
Lead, Cities & Advisory, Arup Malaysia
Murali manages Arup Malaysia’s Cities & Advisory practice, and is the Country Facilitator for the Malaysia UK Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions (PACT) programme. He acts as a Sustainability Advisor to urban actors and is the lead author of the publication Creating Future-Proof Cities: How to Navigate the Climate Crisis. Murali has a wealth of experience in crafting urban strategies for social impact and seeing to their successful implementation. He holds a Master in Sustainable Development and has completed a CISL Programme on Shaping a Sustainable Future.
Manager, Strategy & Analytics, Think City, Malaysia
Nadia possesses a solid background in stakeholder management and strategic communications, having delivered these services across diverse industries such as healthcare, financial services, aviation, and philanthropy, among others. At Think City, she contributes to the development of strategic frameworks, actively supporting the organization's objectives of fostering livable and sustainable urban environments.
General Manager Smart City Development Sector, Selangor Industrial Corporation Sdn bhd, Malaysia
Md Fauzan Elham is a seasoned ICT professional with a degree in Electrical Engineering from Rutgers University, USA. His 30+ years of experience span telecommunications, industrial, enterprise, transportation, and government sectors, making him an invaluable asset. Currently leading one of PKNS subsidiary, Selangor Industrial Corporation's Smart City development, telecommunication, and green energy initiatives, he has spearheaded groundbreaking projects, including Selangor Cyber Valley's Smart Township City, the SELDEC e-marketplace, Broadband internet services and solar rooftop ventures. Beyond his corporate role, Fauzan actively mentors university startups and engages in community centric projects, leveraging smart technologies to uplift local communities.
Managing Director, TNBX Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia
Razif is the Managing Director of TNBX Sdn. Bhd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Tenaga Nasional Berhad. He holds Bachelors’ Degree in Mechanical Engineering and Masters’ Degree in Business Administration from Tenaga Nasional University. Razif is a registered professional engineer with Board of Engineers Malaysia and a registered member of Institute of Engineers Malaysia. He has served Tenaga Nasional for 22 years in various divisions and has vast experience in power plant projects, power and water desalination plant operation and maintenance, green field project biddings, O&M contract biddings and business developments in Malaysia, South East Asia, South Asia, Central Asia and GCC countries. Has worked as an expatriate in Saudi Arabia for 4 years.
CEO, Malaysia Green Building Council, Malaysia
Mitch Gelber brings a wealth of expertise in architectural design and sustainability to his role as CEO of the Malaysia Green Building Council [malaysiaGBC]. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Design from Columbia University in New York City and a Masters of Architecture from the University of British Columbia. He currently chairs malaysiaGBC’s CarbonScore initiative, a whole-life carbon assessment for existing buildings targeting the total decarbonisation of Malaysia’s building and construction sector. Gelber previously taught at the University of Malaya, School of Architecture and served for more than 10 years as a Green Building Index Certifier and member of the GBI Technical Committee.
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Qmed Asia, Malaysia
Dr. Kev Lim is the CEO & founder of Qmed Asia, a leading B2B Healthtech company in Malaysia, and a former Clinical AI Researcher for Babylon AI. With a strong foundation in both medicine and artificial intelligence, Dr. Kev has driven the development of cutting-edge AI solutions that transform healthcare. His work at Qmed Asia focuses on leveraging AI to enhance patient outcomes and streamline healthcare delivery, positioning the company as a pioneer in the AI-powered healthcare revolution.
Head of Customer Experience, Institut Jantung Negara, Malaysia
Dr. Rhema, a medical doctor by background is currently the Head of Customer Experience at Institut Jantung Negara (IJN), Malaysia. She brings a wealth of expertise in digital health technology and healthcare management. Graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) from Kasturba Medical College in Mangalore, India, Dr. Rhema is also a Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) and a fervent advocate for patient safety with substantial experience in healthcare quality. Her passion for hospital administration is evident in her pursuing a Masters’ in Healthcare Management (MBAHM). Her growing interest in health information technology, coupled with her clinical background has led her to play a key role in IJN’s digitalization projects aimed at enhancing the overall patient experience. These initiatives include the in-house development of IJN’s novel staff mobile application, IJNPulse and the patient mobile app, IJNCare. Dr. Rhema is also a driving force of IJN’s Electronic Medical Record Adoption Model (EMRAM) initiative.
Director of the Central Zone Project Office , PLANMalaysia
Education in Urban And Regional Planning from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and Kyushu University in Japan. Work experience includes the preparation of spatial plans, planning guidelines, local plans, planning information systems, and rural planning.
Senior Expert in Smart City Promotion, Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa) of Thailand
Dr. Non Arkara is an award-winning innovator, smart city expert, and global architect driven by a passion for creating more livable and sustainable urban environments. With a diverse background spanning architecture, urban design, anthropology, and public policy, Dr. Non brings a multidisciplinary perspective to addressing complex urban challenges. Currently serving as a Smart City Expert at Thailand's Digital Economy Promotion Agency, he has spearheaded numerous digital transformation and smart city initiatives nationally. This includes launching Thailand's first smart city program and delivering capacity building to 5000+ officials. Dr. Non's unique combination of design, research, and public sector experience enables him to develop human-centered solutions that leverage technology for better quality of life. He is a solutions-oriented visionary dedicated to shaping future cities. He holds a PhD from Harvard University and master's from Oxford University and MIT where he was a Fulbright Scholar.
Chief Digital Officer, IT Max Berhad
William Ong has a total of over 18 years of experience in the space of AI, software, and robotics. He has previously worked on projects pioneering new technologies involving AI in Fintech and Digital Twin on a Metropolis scale and is currently involved in AI R&D technologies to do with urban smart cities in creating a safer, cleaner, more efficient, and more resilient space. With a burning passion for all forms of emerging technologies, he aims to bring about a future where automation touches every aspect of life, creating an ecosystem where everyone can thrive.
Chief Technology Officer at Cybersolution Technologies Sdn Bhd
Arina is an experienced digital consultant and currently serves as CTO of Cybersolution Technologies, leading smart city initiatives through public-private partnerships with state governments. With over 15 years of experience in digital transformation, she has been pivotal in developing and overseeing the architecting and development of highly scalable and complex enterprise - level softwares in diverse sectors such as eGovernments, finance, manufacturing, and ERP. Leveraging multitude of technologies, Arina’s global expertise includes key roles at Microsoft Corporation in Washington and Vancouver Canada, where she focused on product development and software engineering. A committed industry advisor, she is also a certified trainer and consults for startups and incubators. She also serves on academic advisory panels at top universities in Malaysia, shaping future tech leaders through curriculum development and mentorship.
City Administrator, City Government of Malabon, Metro Manila
Dr. Alexander T. Rosete is a distinguished and seasoned professional in communication, public administration, and urban housing and development. His extensive background includes human resources, organization development, and humanitarian aid administration. Currently, he serves as the City Administrator of Malabon. He was the Director and Chief Administrative Officer of the Manila City Government-Urban Settlements Office. Before his appointment in Malabon City, he held directorial positions in the Philippine Red Cross, the Philippines’ premiere humanitarian organization. Dr. Rosete holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Management from De La Salle Araneta University (DLSAU), where his dissertation, "Management of Manila’s Land for the Landless Housing Services Program," earned the Best Dissertation award. In 2024, the De La Salle Araneta University Alumni Association honored him as an Outstanding Alumnus in the Government Sector. Throughout his career, Dr. Rosete has demonstrated a solid commitment to academia and professional development. His dedication is evident in his roles as a lecturer and resource person at various institutions, including the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication Graduate School and Professional Development Program, Holy Angel University Graduate School in the Communication Program City of Malabon University School of Graduate Studies. Dr. Rosete's contributions extend globally, evidenced by his extensive publication record and international conference presentations. His research work was presented at the International Conference on Urban Affairs in New York, USA, the Housing Studies Association Conference in Manchester, United Kingdom, and the Joint Asia Pacific Network for Housing Research (APNHR)-Australiasian Housing Research Conference (AHRC) Conference, University of South Australia, Adelaide. Dr. Rosete's extensive experience in consulting, training, and academic endeavors has left a lasting impact on the field. His wealth of experience and knowledge make him a respected figure in his profession, instilling confidence in his abilities.
City of Malabon, Manila, Philippines
Jeannie N. Sandoval currently serves as the Mayor of Malabon City, an exemplary public servant with a strong commitment to good governance. A graduate of St. Stephen's High School (1975-1981), she was recognized as an Outstanding Alumna for public service. She earned her Computer Science degree from De La Salle University-Manila in 1985. Before entering public service, she was a trailblazing businesswoman, leading Watercraft Venture (2001-2013) and Genesis Industrial Gases (2004-2013). Jeannie served as Vice Mayor of Malabon from 2013 to 2019, and was a director at DBP Service Corporation in 2021 and the Development Bank of the Philippines from 2020 to 2021. Beyond her government roles, she actively contributes as Chairperson of the Philippine Red Cross - Malabon Chapter (since 2019) and was President of Soroptimist International of Malabon (2008-2016). In 2022, she became Malabon’s first female mayor, leading projects like the Malabon Ahon Blue Card, recognized by the Development Academy of the Philippines, and the award-winning St. Gregory Homes Socialized Housing Project. She holds the highest mayoral rating in NCR according to RP-Mission and Development Foundation Inc.
Director, Driving the Shift, Scania, Southeast Asia, Malaysia
David joined Scania Southeast Asia in 2016, focusing in sustainability, internally lower Scania carbon footprint and, externally Scania customers footprint when drive Scania vehicles. David in his role as in charge of driving the shift towards a more sustainable transport system by developing partnerships to introduce Battery Electric and renewable fuelled vehicles to Southeast Asia with objective to green house gas emissions form the transport sector. Since he joined Scania Southeast Asia in 2016, he has explored renewable fuel projects together with transporters, transport buyers, fuel producers in and government agenises in Malaysia He also successfully introduced Scania’s battery electric trucks to Singapore, the first in Asia. He has been based in Malaysia since 2010 and prior to joining Scania, he worked for Business Sweden, the Swedish Trade and Invest Council where he as a Project Manager and Commercial Liaison to the Asian Development Bank, was in charge of sharing the combined experiences of the Swedish Transportation industry to growing cities in Southeast Asia covering areas such as integrated city planning, Bus Rapid Transit Systems and congestion charging.
Senior Expert in Smart City Promotion, Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa) of Thailand
Dr. Non Arkara is an award-winning innovator, smart city expert, and global architect driven by a passion for creating more livable and sustainable urban environments. With a diverse background spanning architecture, urban design, anthropology, and public policy, Dr. Non brings a multidisciplinary perspective to addressing complex urban challenges. Currently serving as a Smart City Expert at Thailand's Digital Economy Promotion Agency, he has spearheaded numerous digital transformation and smart city initiatives nationally. This includes launching Thailand's first smart city program and delivering capacity building to 5000+ officials. Dr. Non's unique combination of design, research, and public sector experience enables him to develop human-centered solutions that leverage technology for better quality of life. He is a solutions-oriented visionary dedicated to shaping future cities. He holds a PhD from Harvard University and master's from Oxford University and MIT where he was a Fulbright Scholar.
Chief Digital Officer, IT Max Berhad
William Ong has a total of over 18 years of experience in the space of AI, software, and robotics. He has previously worked on projects pioneering new technologies involving AI in Fintech and Digital Twin on a Metropolis scale and is currently involved in AI R&D technologies to do with urban smart cities in creating a safer, cleaner, more efficient, and more resilient space. With a burning passion for all forms of emerging technologies, he aims to bring about a future where automation touches every aspect of life, creating an ecosystem where everyone can thrive.
Chief Technology Officer at Cybersolution Technologies Sdn Bhd
Arina is an experienced digital consultant and currently serves as CTO of Cybersolution Technologies, leading smart city initiatives through public-private partnerships with state governments. With over 15 years of experience in digital transformation, she has been pivotal in developing and overseeing the architecting and development of highly scalable and complex enterprise - level softwares in diverse sectors such as eGovernments, finance, manufacturing, and ERP. Leveraging multitude of technologies, Arina’s global expertise includes key roles at Microsoft Corporation in Washington and Vancouver Canada, where she focused on product development and software engineering. A committed industry advisor, she is also a certified trainer and consults for startups and incubators. She also serves on academic advisory panels at top universities in Malaysia, shaping future tech leaders through curriculum development and mentorship.
City Administrator, City Government of Malabon, Metro Manila
Dr. Alexander T. Rosete is a distinguished and seasoned professional in communication, public administration, and urban housing and development. His extensive background includes human resources, organization development, and humanitarian aid administration. Currently, he serves as the City Administrator of Malabon. He was the Director and Chief Administrative Officer of the Manila City Government-Urban Settlements Office. Before his appointment in Malabon City, he held directorial positions in the Philippine Red Cross, the Philippines’ premiere humanitarian organization. Dr. Rosete holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Management from De La Salle Araneta University (DLSAU), where his dissertation, "Management of Manila’s Land for the Landless Housing Services Program," earned the Best Dissertation award. In 2024, the De La Salle Araneta University Alumni Association honored him as an Outstanding Alumnus in the Government Sector. Throughout his career, Dr. Rosete has demonstrated a solid commitment to academia and professional development. His dedication is evident in his roles as a lecturer and resource person at various institutions, including the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication Graduate School and Professional Development Program, Holy Angel University Graduate School in the Communication Program City of Malabon University School of Graduate Studies. Dr. Rosete's contributions extend globally, evidenced by his extensive publication record and international conference presentations. His research work was presented at the International Conference on Urban Affairs in New York, USA, the Housing Studies Association Conference in Manchester, United Kingdom, and the Joint Asia Pacific Network for Housing Research (APNHR)-Australiasian Housing Research Conference (AHRC) Conference, University of South Australia, Adelaide. Dr. Rosete's extensive experience in consulting, training, and academic endeavors has left a lasting impact on the field. His wealth of experience and knowledge make him a respected figure in his profession, instilling confidence in his abilities.
City of Malabon, Manila, Philippines
Jeannie N. Sandoval currently serves as the Mayor of Malabon City, an exemplary public servant with a strong commitment to good governance. A graduate of St. Stephen's High School (1975-1981), she was recognized as an Outstanding Alumna for public service. She earned her Computer Science degree from De La Salle University-Manila in 1985. Before entering public service, she was a trailblazing businesswoman, leading Watercraft Venture (2001-2013) and Genesis Industrial Gases (2004-2013). Jeannie served as Vice Mayor of Malabon from 2013 to 2019, and was a director at DBP Service Corporation in 2021 and the Development Bank of the Philippines from 2020 to 2021. Beyond her government roles, she actively contributes as Chairperson of the Philippine Red Cross - Malabon Chapter (since 2019) and was President of Soroptimist International of Malabon (2008-2016). In 2022, she became Malabon’s first female mayor, leading projects like the Malabon Ahon Blue Card, recognized by the Development Academy of the Philippines, and the award-winning St. Gregory Homes Socialized Housing Project. She holds the highest mayoral rating in NCR according to RP-Mission and Development Foundation Inc.
Director, Driving the Shift, Scania, Southeast Asia, Malaysia
David joined Scania Southeast Asia in 2016, focusing in sustainability, internally lower Scania carbon footprint and, externally Scania customers footprint when drive Scania vehicles. David in his role as in charge of driving the shift towards a more sustainable transport system by developing partnerships to introduce Battery Electric and renewable fuelled vehicles to Southeast Asia with objective to green house gas emissions form the transport sector. Since he joined Scania Southeast Asia in 2016, he has explored renewable fuel projects together with transporters, transport buyers, fuel producers in and government agenises in Malaysia He also successfully introduced Scania’s battery electric trucks to Singapore, the first in Asia. He has been based in Malaysia since 2010 and prior to joining Scania, he worked for Business Sweden, the Swedish Trade and Invest Council where he as a Project Manager and Commercial Liaison to the Asian Development Bank, was in charge of sharing the combined experiences of the Swedish Transportation industry to growing cities in Southeast Asia covering areas such as integrated city planning, Bus Rapid Transit Systems and congestion charging.
Deputy Director of Research, Khazanah Research Institute (KRI)
Dr. Rachel Gong is a Deputy Director of Research at Khazanah Research Institute (KRI). Her ongoing research focuses on digital policy, including digital inclusion, the digital economy, and digital governance. She led the team that produced KRI’s book on digital policy, "#NetworkedNation: Navigating Challenges, Realising Opportunities of Digital Transformation”. Rachel’s primary research interests lie in how digital technologies affect society, and her research has been published in peer-reviewed journals such as Sociological Perspectives, the Journal of Consumer Culture, and the Journal of Technology in Human Services. Her work on “Going Viral: Online Goal Emergence and Adaptation in the Anti-Human Trafficking Movement” appears as a chapter in Communicating for Social Change: Intersection of Theory and Praxis. Rachel graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University and received her PhD in sociology from Stanford University.
Director, Digital Services, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC)
Mohd Redzuan Affandi Abdul Rahim (Redzuan) is currently the Director of Digital Services Department with the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC). His key responsibility is to drive and facilitate adoption of digital technologies and digital solutions by the traditional businesses. He is also overseeing the development of Sharing Economy models in Malaysia, addressing key enablers which includes policy and regulations, standards development, and governance. On the governance part, he leads the Secretariat of the Sharing Economy Committee, a newly established, national-level governance structure involving multiple ministries and agencies to address challenges and opportunities relating to the Sharing Economy. His experience includes designing and development of the eRezeki programme, the programme that provides the foundation and catalysed the gig economy development in Malaysia. Via the Global Online Workforce (GLOW) programme, he worked to nurture ‘service-based digital entrepreneurs’, promoting the notion of ‘high-value gig’ as a self-employment model. He is involved in few coordination committees on MSME digitalization in Malaysia and is currently the Vice Chairman for the Technical Committee (TC/3/9) on Sharing Economy in Malaysia. He also represents Malaysia at the global ISO/TC 324 Committee on Sharing Economy. Redzuan holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Information System from the University of Salford, United Kingdom, and he is also ITIL certified. He has been active with professional bodies and is a member of the Internet Society since 2002 and was involved in formalizing the Internet Society – Malaysia Chapter where he became the Vice President (2019 – 2020). He is a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and previously served as an Executive Committee and Secretary of the IEEE Computer Society – Malaysia Chapter.
(CEO), Malaysian Green Technology And Climate Change Corporation (MGTC), Malaysia
With over 20 years of experience in the technology industry, Ir. Ts. Shamsul Bahar Mohd Nor has a deep understanding of the sector. He has played a vital role in developing and implementing strategies to integrate sustainable practices into business operations. His extensive leadership positions in sustainability-related organisations demonstrate his dedication to driving change and accelerating innovation to achieve sustainable development goals. He brings a wealth of industry knowledge and practical experience as an Adjunct Professor at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Council Member for the Professional Alliance for Circular Economy at Universiti Teknologi Petronas, and Country Representative in the ALP Steering Committee at the Asia LEDS Partnership. Ir. Ts. Shamsul Bahar Mohd Nor has held prominent leadership positions in organisations such as Sustainable Business Network Association Malaysia, Green Growth Asia Foundation, and Planters Industrial Cooperative and was an HRD Corp Industry Expert Committee member, providing expert guidance on capacity-building training courses. As the GCEO of MGTC, he has spearheaded numerous initiatives that have helped the company become a leader in the green technology space. Known for his inspirational leadership style, he works hard to foster a culture of collaboration, creativity, and inclusivity. He believes that with a collective commitment to change, we can create a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable world for generations.
Head of Sustainability Solutions and Inclusion, Group Corporate Office, TM Malaysia
Majidah Hashim is a certified sustainability practitioner with 17 years of experience in sustainability framework architecture, triple bottom line disclosures, theory of change, disruptive innovation, and transformations. She is also an international speaker and advocate of intersectional social and environmental issues, particularly in the areas of gender equality, human rights, circularity, biodiversity, green transitions, climate ethics and futurism.
Founder & CEO, GOLOG Malaysia
Ivan Chin is the Founder and CEO of Golog, an innovative cold chain logistics platform that is transforming traditional supply chains with data-driven solutions. With experience in procurement and logistics from his time at Samsung Manufacturing, along with managerial roles in the financial sector, Ivan brings a wealth of expertise across various industries. His visionary leadership has positioned Golog as a leader in Malaysia's logistics sector, effectively tackling key distributon challenges while promoting efficiency and sustainability.
Chief Marketing Officer & Co-Founder, DoctorOnCall, Malaysia
Hazwan Najib is the Co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer of DoctorOnCall. After spending years working and understanding how the digital revolution disrupted various industries, he decided to solve some of the biggest challenges in the healthcare space through digital innovation. He got first-hand experience in creating a digital proposition and innovation in an industry that will continue to evolve and improve the quality of our lives with the birth of DoctorOnCall. Since then, the platform has grown from strength to strength and now provides health information to more than two million users on a monthly basis and thousands of individuals who are looking for personalised medical advice from qualified doctors.
Chief Executive Officer, Melaka Green Technology Corporation
Born in Muar Johor, he is the first of seven siblings. He received his first degree in Electrical & Electronics Engineering with a major in Computer Engineering from the University of Science Malaysia in 2003. He received his Master of Science in Built Environment from International Islamic University Malaysia in 2022. He began his career as a Research Officer with University of Science Malaysia (USM) right after graduation. He then being offered to join with Melaka State Government in 2003. With the opening of the Melaka SME Service Center in 2006, he made his major contribution to the development of bumiputera small and medium enterprise (SME) entrepreneurs by providing technical, financing and grants assistance in collaboration with SMECorp Malaysia. In 2009, he became the secretariat of the Melaka Green Technology Council, which began his involvement in green technology. In 2013, he was directly involved in the transformation of Hang Tuah Jaya Corporation into Melaka Green Technology Corporation, establishing the agency as the state's foremost pioneer in green technology, both nationally and globally. He served for Melaka Green Technology Corporation as the Director of Development.
Vice President, Digital Cities & Health, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC)
As a national digital transformation leader, Dr Karl has been leading Malaysia’s effort in building a thriving digital economy and data ecosystem that leverage on the power of data for value creation, innovation and new sources of growth. As a self-starter and business Innovation leader, he has track record of more than 27 years’ experience in Government, ICT & Manufacturing sector driving numerous initiatives in areas of Innovation, business strategy, risk capital, startup accelerator, corporate innovation, capability development, R&D and digital transformation. Currently at MDEC, he is the Vice President of Digital Health & Digital Cities where he drives strategic national catalytic initiatives within Digital Malaysia. Dr Karl is instrumental in development of National Big Data Analytics Framework in 2014 and the development of the National Artificial Intelligence Framework resulting in the exponential growth of data professionals, data driven organisations in Malaysia. He also developed the National Data Sharing Policy and currently co-chairs the implementation Technical Committee. Dr Karl has developed and directed numerous programs on the use of data technology in different sectors including smart cities, transportation, agriculture and healthcare. The Malaysia City Brain pilot at Kuala Lumpur City Hall won an Excellence award from OpenGov. The agriculture tech adoption initiative, eLadang was announced as one of the programmes under the national PEMULIH recovery plan post-COVID-19 pandemic. Dr Karl holds a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from The University of Birmingham, United Kingdom, an MBA with Distinction and a Doctorate of Business Degrees from Charles Sturt University, Australia. He has also completed The Oxford AI Program from the Said Business School, University of Oxford. He has also attended executive programs from Harvard Business School and Carnegie Melon University. He is also a registered Professional Engineer. He sits in advisory boards of several universities & professional bodies in Malaysia. In 2022, he was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award by HELP University. He has served as a judge in international Entrepreneurship and Innovation awards including EY Entrepreneur of the Year Malaysia from 2012- 2016. Dr Karl speaks regularly in regional and international conferences on Digital Transformation & Data Driven innovation.
Vice Chairman II, Malaysia Smart Cities Association
Mohamed Shajahan bin Mohamed Iqbal is a distinguished leader in the telecommunications industry, serving as the Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Three-OPP (M) Sdn. Bhd. With over 20 years of experience, he has significantly advanced the local telecommunications landscape, notably pioneering FTTH technology in Malaysia. His leadership has led to successful projects in Sri Lanka and Indonesia, establishing his company as a key player in the region. Shajahan's contributions have been recognized through multiple industry awards, showcasing his commitment to innovation and excellence. Currently, Shajahan is actively involved with the Malaysia Smart City Alliance (MSCA) as Vice Chairman II, where he focuses on promoting smart city initiatives and facilitating collaboration among telecommunications stakeholders. He is also engaged with various standard committees and international organizations, contributing to the development of smart city infrastructure and IoT frameworks. His dedication to enhancing high-speed broadband connectivity and fostering industry partnerships highlights his role as a driving force for progress in the telecommunications sector.
CEO & Co-Founder, Asia Mobiliti
Ramachandran has technology development and entrepreneurial leadership experience in the fields of bioinformatics, artificial intelligence, computing infrastructure, big data and blockchain. One of his earliest start-ups successfully prototyped a real-time crowd-sourced road traffic prediction system, prior to real-time traffic data being available online in mapping apps. A Digerati50 of Digital News Asia, he also serves on the boards of several other innovative ventures.
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