SUMMIT

SPEAKERS

Esther An

Chief Sustainability Officer
City Developments Limited, Singapore
TNFD Global Taskforce Member | TIME100 Climate Leader 2023

Esther An is a sustainability practitioner for 3 decades, and has been instrumental in building up the Sustainability leadership for CDL, which has been ranked Top amongst real estate companies on the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World, released at World Economic Forum at Davos.

Esther published the first sustainability report in Singapore in 2008 and issued the first green bond by a Singapore company in 2017. Conferred the 2018 SDG Pioneer for Green Infrastructure and A Low Carbon Economy by the UN Global Compact, and named amongst 25 Trailblazing Women against Climate Change by Reuters in 2023 as well as the inaugural TIME100 Climate Leaders in Business 2023 list, Esther sits on the boards or advisory platforms of international organizations including:

  1. World Green Building Council Corporate Advisory Board Chairperson
  2. UN PRI Real Estate Advisory Committee
  3. UN ESCAP Sustainable Business Network Executive Council
  4. Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures, TNFD Taskforce Member
  5. Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Supervisory Board
  6. IFRS Corporate Reporting Best Practice Group APAC – Chair
  7. Urban Land Institute (ULI) Randall Lewis Center Advisory Board for Sustainability in Real Estate and ULI Asia Pacific Net Zero Council
  8. Asia Pacific Real Estate Assets Association (APREA) Board of Directors and Chair of ESG Committee
  9. GRESB Foundation Board
  10. MITSolve Climate Advisory
  11. World Economic Forum Nature-Positive Cities Global Commission (2022 – 2024)
  12. Nanyang Technological University, Industry Advisory Council for the Centre for Professional and Continuing Education (PACE)’s, Sustainability & ESG Reporting Sub-committee Advisor

In 2017, she founded Women4Green and Youth4Climate networks to empower women and youths to champion climate action and sustainable development.

Dr. Allinnettes Go Adigue

Director, ASEAN Regional Network
Global Reporting Initiative, Singapore

Dr. Allinnettes Go Adigue is the Head of the ASEAN Regional Hub of the Global Reporting Initiative. As Head of GRI’s ASEAN Hub, Ally is tasked to promote the practice of sustainability reporting across Southeast Asia by working with relevant stakeholders to create a conducive policy environment for sustainable business practices, promote wider adoption of sustainability reporting and build the capacity of organizations in sustainability reporting. A lifelong learner and a global citizen, Ally has lived in 3 continents in the past 19 years.

Prior to GRI, Ally has previously worked for the academe, and both the public and private sectors. While working on her PhD, she worked as a graduate research assistant in the field of Climate Change Policy and Economics. She also worked in a retail electricity company in Singapore and for the Office of the President of the Philippines.

Ally earned her PhD on Public Policy from the Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian National University in 2017. She has two Masters degrees: one in Development Studies from the Institute of Social Studies, Erasmus University, The Netherlands; and another in Public Administration from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore. She also has Bachelor’s degrees in Law and Political Science.

Dennis Akkerman

Managing Director
Orbis Business School, Malaysia

Dennis Akkerman, MBA is the founder and managing director of Orbis Business School and a globally recognised Top 25 Thought Leader in Transformational Leadership, keynote speaker, best-selling author and certified coach.

With over two decades of leading international corporate transformations and a profound personal transformation shaped by a rollercoaster of life events, Dennis has inspired audiences across more than 30 countries. Born and raised in The Netherlands, Dennis has lived in five countries and has called Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, home for the past 12 years.

Dennis’s core belief is that leaders are catalysts for positive change. His mission is to help leaders realising their fullest potential, transforming their business and increase their impact.

He has built an impressive portfolio of high-impact engagements with renowned clients, including Alcon, BAT, Citi Bank, HSBC, amongst many others.

His vibrant personality radiates energy and enthusiasm, combined with a down-to-earth approach. Dennis blends visionary thought leadership with the practical aspects of transformation in a relatable manner.

Associate Professor Dr. Chen Jit Ern

Associate Prof, Director
Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable Development, Malaysia

TPr. Ts. Norliza Hashim

Board Member
Urbanice Malaysia

Norliza Hashim is the Chief Executive of URBANICE Malaysia, where she spearheads national and regional efforts in sustainable urban development, climate resilience, and inclusive city governance. A recognised thought leader in sustainability, she drives the Malaysia SDG Cities Programme, pioneering frameworks that integrate evidence-based planning, low-carbon strategies, and community-centred innovation. Her work strengthens the localisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and New Urban Agenda across ASEAN cities and regions through cross-sector partnerships and applied policy innovation.

A professional Town Planner and founder of AJM Planning and Urban Design Group (APUDG), Norliza has over three decades of multidisciplinary experience shaping Malaysia’s national spatial and master plans. Her expertise spans sustainable urban policy, low-carbon transitions, climate adaptation, and resilient infrastructure planning. She was involved in the Master Planning of Putrajaya, KLIA International Airports, Kuala Lumpur City Plan and responsible for navigating the growth of the Comprehensive Development Plans of Iskandar Malaysia. She also led the development of Malaysia’s Low Carbon Cities Assessment Framework for the Ministry of Environment and Water and serves as Adviser to the Malaysian Institute of Planners’ Low Carbon Cities and Sustainability Centre.

She is Chairman of the Asia-Pacific Localisation Partnerships for Sustainable Cities (APLP-Cities), supporting governments in advancing sustainable and inclusive urban futures, and serves on the Leadership Council of SDSN Malaysia.

A passionate sustainability educator, Norliza serves as Adjunct Professor at the International Islamic University Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi MARA, and is the Reading University Real Estate Programe Advisor, guiding academic and institutional directions in sustainable planning and built environment futures.

In recognition of her leadership, she was named Planner of the Year 2018, Top 10 National Women Entrepreneur 2014, Low Carbon City Champion 2022, and conferred Senior Technologist (MBOT) in 2024.

Wong Seng Kee

Council Member
Climate Governance Malaysia

Wong Seng Kee is a Council Member of Climate Governance Malaysia and an advisor to Carbon GPT. He retired from ERM Country Managing Partner’s role (Malaysia & Brunei) in Sept’25. He helps clients to accelerate low carbon economy and energy transition, and all matters related to ESG from terrestrial and marine surveys, impact assessments to sustainability advisory and capacity building for C-suites and Boards.

Seng Kee’s career demonstrates a consistent trajectory of leadership in the energy and sustainability sectors. Seng Kee began his career as a financial auditor in Arthur Andersen (1991); before joining Shell Malaysia. He spent 24 years in Shell Group, held increasing senior roles in finance, commercial, and leadership positions. He was posted to Bangkok, London and Singapore before retuning to KL to lead LNG and Business Development and member of Shell Malaysia Leadership Team in 2009. From 2009-2012, Seng Kee sat on the Board of MLNG Dua and Tiga, Shell Timur Sdn Bhd and was the Vice President of Malaysia Gas Association. He was subsequently posted to Houston as General Manager, New Business Development, LNG Americas and member of Shell Americas and Shell Global LNG Leadership team. Seng Kee was the President of Shell US Gas & Power and Board member of Centre of LNG (Industry lobby group to promote US LNG export). After leaving Shell Group at end 2015, Seng Kee held leadership positions in Bumi Armada, GLX Digital (digital start-up, operates LNG/commodity trading platform) and his own consulting firm before joining ERM in early 2022.

Post retirement from ERM, Seng Kee remains active in the sustainability arena through advisory and mentorship positions. Seng Kee builds international expertise and defined by his passion for people and culture, having worked and lived in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, US and UK; and conducted business extensively across China/North Asia, ASEAN and US/Latin Americas. He is passionate about sustainability, building inclusive culture, mentoring and business transformation.

Professor Dr. Sarva Mangala Praveena

Professor
Universiti Putra Malaysia

Associate Professor Dr. Sarva Mangala Praveena is a globally recognized environmental health scientist specializing in microplastics, emerging pollutants, and human health risks. Her pioneering work has significantly advanced scientific understanding of microplastics in tropical environments, and her leadership in both community and scientific initiatives positions her at the forefront of environmental health in Malaysia and beyond. She has authored over 230 publications, trained numerous postgraduate students, contributed to national policy dialogues, and received multiple international recognitions including the Top 2% Scientist designation by Stanford University for five consecutive years.

Her academic journey is rooted in a deep conviction that science must serve society, especially in confronting the invisible threats that compromise environmental and human health. Formative experience shaped her enduring focus on environmental pollutants and their human health implications where she advanced as a senior lecturer, and now Associate Professor at Universiti Putra Malaysia.

Her research aligns closely with UPM’s True North values of excellence, impact, and sustainability, and supports the global objectives outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3 on good health and well-being, SDG 6 on clean water and sanitation, and SDG 13 on climate action. Through her translational approach, she has developed community-deployable innovations such as low-cost water filtration devices and field-based microplastics detection methods. These innovations are applied directly in schools and underserved communities, reflecting her deep commitment to socially relevant and inclusive research.

A central of her research philosophy is translational relevance that the belief that scientific research should not only contribute to scholarly knowledge but also shape policy, empower communities, and inform public behavior. Her work has contributed to national policy development and has been showcased through international collaborations, including her involvement with the International Science Council and the United Nations University Regional Centre of Expertise.

Dr. Balamurugan Ratha Krishnan

Chief Executive
Green Growth Asia Foundation, Malaysia

Balamurugan Ratha Krishnan is one of ASEAN’s foremost regional development experts, bringing over 19 years of senior-level experience in advancing green growth, ESG governance frameworks, and sustainable urban development across the Indonesia–Malaysia–Thailand subregion and beyond. As Chief Executive of Green Growth Asia Foundation (GGAF), he designs and implements credible ESG governance structures, environmental data verification systems, and green financing mechanisms that align national policies with global sustainability standards.

A recognised senior leader in Malaysia’s sustainability ecosystem, Balamurugan served in critical roles within the Economic Planning Unit, Prime Minister’s Department and as Deputy Director of the Centre for IMT-GT Subregional Cooperation (CIMT) — providing him with rare, authoritative expertise at the intersection of institutional governance, environmental compliance, and cross-border economic integration across three nations.

Pioneer of Malaysia’s first UN-certified Carbon Inventory for Melaka and architect of the IMT-GT Sustainable Urban Development Framework (SUDF) — endorsed by IMT-GT Leaders at the 12th Summit — Balamurugan has set the standard for city-level ESG data assurance and green project governance across ASEAN. He has successfully convinced national leaders and international agencies including the World Bank, ADB, UNDP, UNEP, GEF, ICLEI, WWF, UNHABITAT, and UNESCO to engage with and invest in ASEAN’s green development agenda.

He leads Malaysia’s implementation of the UN Greening Education Partnership (GEP) roadmap for 2030 under UNESCO, institutionalising sustainability within national education systems as a foundation for long-term ESG culture change. He holds a Professional Doctorate in Business Administration and is currently completing a PhD in Sustainable Development at Sunway University, grounding his practice in rigorous academic inquiry.

Jayasilen Sivapragrasam

Marketing Manager
MM Century Sdn. Bhd, Malaysia

Jayasilen Sivapragasam is a Marketing Manager at MM Century Sdn. Bhd., where he leads the company’s ESG strategy, digital transformation, and circular economy positioning. With over sixteen years of cross-industry experience spanning industrial waste management, IT asset disposition, consumer intelligence, and enterprise digital transformation, he operates at the intersection of sustainability, technology, and commercial strategy.

Since 2021, Jayasilen has driven MM Century’s evolution from a conventional industrial waste collector into a sustainability-driven service provider. Under his strategic direction, the company secured the Gold Award for Waste Management at The Star ESG Positive Impact Awards 2023 and the Silver Award in the same category at the 2024 awards.

He played a pivotal role in conceptualising and shaping Daxtium, MM Century’s data destruction and IT asset disposition arm. Daxtium specialises in secure decommissioning of end-of-life IT hardware — servers, storage media, and data centre equipment. Notably, Daxtium leverages blockchain technology in its certificate issuance and verification processes, providing clients with tamper-proof, independently auditable records of data destruction and the asset chain of custody. This positions Daxtium as a practical enabler of industrial symbiosis, ensuring recovered materials re-enter manufacturing supply chains with full traceability.

Jayasilen holds an MBA and a BSc in Biotechnology from Universiti Putra Malaysia and is a GRI-Certified Sustainability Professional. He is also a 6th Degree Black Belt and an International Umpire with the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF).

Dr. Arisman

Executive Director
Center for Southeast Asian Studies(CSEAS), Indonesia

Dr. Arisman is the Executive Director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS), Indonesia. He has over 25 years of experience in teaching and research supervision at universities in Indonesia. Currently, he is an Associate Professor at the Department of Development Economics, Faculty of Economics and Business, UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta.Visiting Professor at Western Sydney University, Australia, and Universiti Malaya (UM).

Arisman has been involved in various research projects and consultancies to ASEAN, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the European Union (EU), the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), the German Development Agency (GIZ), the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES). His research interests are environmental Issues in ASEAN, Sustainable Cities, Marine Environment, Waste Management, Circular Economy, Sustainable Business and Environment, Social & Governance (ESG).

Dr. Vimi Ramasamy CSSCP

Founder & CEO
STRAVIK, Malaysia

Dr. Vimaleswari K. Ramasamy (Dr. Vimi) is the Founder and CEO of STRAVIK, an ESG transformation firm that architects sustainable, scalable ecosystems. With a background in engineering and global leadership roles at Intel and IHS Markit, she brings a systems-driven approach to sustainability, focusing on how organizations can move from fragmented initiatives to measurable, long-term impact.

Through STRAVIK, she has led 18 strategic transformation projects across five countries and six industries, delivering over RM50 million in value creation through improved resource efficiency, energy optimization, and sustainable supply chain design. Her work integrates data, AI, and ESG principles to help organizations embed sustainability into core operations, shifting from compliance-driven efforts to value-driven outcomes.

Dr. Vimi also contributes to Malaysia’s ESG and talent development priorities through advisory and fellowship roles, and serves as an Adjunct Professor at UNITAR International. She is recognized for translating complex sustainability challenges into practical, scalable solutions that enable cross-industry collaboration and ecosystem-level impact.

Joel Khaw

Head, Group Sustainability Strategic Management and Governance
RHB Banking Group, Malaysia

In this leadership role at RHB, Joel Khaw spearheads the Group Sustainability Strategic Management and Governance, encompassing the formulation of the Group’s sustainability strategy, oversight of key sustainability initiatives, coordination of cross-functional sustainability programs and alignment of policies and disclosures with regulatory and stakeholder expectations.

Prior to joining RHB, he was responsible for the development and implementation of a local Development Financial Institutions’s sustainability and climate strategies. Joel was instrumental in developing and spearheading the impact measurement framework, ensuring all financing activities of the bank were aligned to national development priorities and sustainable development goals. Joel’s expertise and commitment to sustainability development will contribute towards strengthening RHB’s net zero journey.

John Teoh

Chief Sustainability Officer
GDEX BHD, Malaysia

John Teoh joined GDEX in 2019 in the Strategy & Business, Advisory Division, assisting the Group CEO in setting and driving the organisation’s vision, mission, and group strategies, as well as developing the group’s strategic plan in line with the direction set by the GCEO and Board of Directors. He communicates, develops, executes and sustains strategic initiatives in collaboration with the GCEO and other executive-level leaders of the group.

He was promoted to the position of Chief Strategy Officer in October 2021 and was later appointed as the Chief Sustainability Officer in June 2023. On 1 September 2024, he assumed the role of Executive Director. He is currently responsible for driving the adoption of sustainability within the organisation in all activities by formulating, implementing, monitoring, and communicating sustainability initiatives, policies, framework as well as processes. Backed by his vast experience and exposure in fund management and research analysis, he is tasked to collaborate and work with the GCEO to optimise investment plans and opportunities to achieve the desired investment objectives of the Group. His other role is to supervise Learning & Development, and Accreditation Department.

Prior to joining GDEX, he was a Senior Fund Manager at Eastspring Investments Bhd, managing RM2.0bn of insurance funds. John has been in research analysis and fund management for 18 years with experience in the unit trust and insurance industries. He started his fund management career as a research analyst at TA Asset Management in 2001, and later moved on to become a fund manager at Alliance Investment Management and Hong Leong Assurance. John graduated with a Bachelor of Economics (Hons) Degree from the University of Malaya in 1999.

Nor Azah Masrom

Head, Operational Sustainability
Cypark Resources Berhad, Malaysia

Highly experienced HSE and ESG leader (20+ years) driving operational sustainability and financial profitability both in public and private sector. Well versed in environmental policy, strategic planning, risk management and stakeholder engagement. Proven track record in implementing cost savings and process digitalization while ensuring deep legislative and technical compliance.

Pravin Periasamy

Executive Director
Malaysian Philosophy Society, Malaysia

Pravin Periasamy is the Executive Director of the Malaysian Philosophy Society, where he works on advancing public discourse, civic education, and youth-led intellectual engagement in Malaysia. He is also a columnist and published writer, with over 100 articles on foreign investment policy, trade liberalisation, sustainable development, and economic reform published in platforms including The Star, Malaysiakini, and Business Today.

Dr. Ian Chew

Chief Executive
Greenie Web, Singapore

Ian Chew is the sole Founder of Greenie Web – an award-winning Singapore ClimateTech that creates low-carbon computer code. A pioneer in the decarbonization of the digital world, he is the first in Asia to have carried out such work. For his contributions to the field of climate change, Ian received the Forbes 30 under 30 (Asia) honour for Social Impact, recognition as a Thought Leader by American luxury magazine Robb Report and the Global Digital Sustainability Leadership Award at Wiki Finance Expo.

His thought leadership has been recognized through invitations to speak at events by the United Nations, European Union, Arab League and The Economist. His insights on digital sustainability have been sought after by top government officials from Hungary to Palau. Ian’s deep knowledge in the field was also recognized by the Asian Development Bank where he was appointed a subject matter expert for a project on digitalization for green and inclusive growth.

He is the Enterprise Chair (Digital Sustainability) for Global Sustainable Futures Network where he champions sustainable digitization — helping enterprises integrate low-carbon computing and green digital strategies. In addition, he is the Chair for ASEAN Smart Cities Network’s Sustainability Working Group where he fosters regional collaboration for innovative solutions in low-carbon technologies and smart infrastructure. Ian also serves a three year term (2025 – 2028) as part of the Executive Committee (Sustainability) for the 62nd Council of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Ian is also the founding chairperson of the Global Alliance for Sustainable Digitization (GASD), where he launched the 29 by 29 Global Digital Sustainability Initiative. The program has benefited more than 7500 government officials, academics, corporates and students across 40 countries. Into its 2nd year, the program has already secured UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) support.

Ian has been a guest lecturer for digital sustainability for post-graduate and professional courses at Singapore Management University. He has provided mentorship to students from the National University of Singapore and Essec Business School on digital sustainability.

Notable media coverage of Ian includes Forbes (USA), The Star (Malaysia), The National (United Arab Emirates – Abu Dhabi), Green IO Podcast (France), Times of India (India), The Hindu (India), The Straits Times (Singapore), e27 (Singapore), Radio Republik Indonesia (Indonesia), Laotian Times and Vientiane Times (Laos).

Professor Ong Kian Ming

Executive Director
RGE Malaysia

Dr. Ong Kian Ming is currently the Executive Director of RGE Malaysia. RGE is a diversified resources-based manufacturing and management group, headquartered in Singapore.

He is also an Adjunct Professor at Taylor’s University, Malaysia. He was previously the Pro ViceChancellor (Pro VC) for External Engagement at Taylor’s University and the Program Director for Philosophy Politics & Economics (PPE), at Taylor’s University, Malaysia.

He was Senior Adviser to Global Counsel, an international advisory firm with offices in five countries.

He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA). He was appointed in August 2023 for a two-year term. He is an adviser for the Malaysia China Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) since 2023. He is an adviser for the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM), starting a two-year term from Jan 2024 to Dec 2025. He is a member of the Danish Chamber of Commerce (DANCHAM) since 2023.

He was appointed as a member of the CEREBRUM council, a think tank started by Johor Corporation (JCORP). He was a Senior Visiting Senior Fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute from March 2023 to September 2023 and an Associate Fellow from October to December 2023.

Sri Themudu Bully Baboo

Founder
Green Shoots Sdn Bhd, Malaysia

Sri Themudu is the Founder and CEO of Green Shoots Sdn Bhd, a Malaysian social enterprise focused on sustainable gifting, circular packaging, and impact-driven product innovation. Through Green Shoots, he works with corporate and hospitality partners to redesign conventional gifting and in-room snack experiences into more responsible, low-waste, and community-linked solutions.

One of Green Shoots’ key hospitality collaborations is with The Datai Langkawi, where the company supports a waste-to-wealth approach through sustainable snack packaging, responsible sourcing, and the use of recyclable EnviroGrade canisters as an alternative to conventional single-use packaging. This partnership demonstrates how circular economy principles can be applied within premium hospitality while also creating value for local suppliers, communities, students, elderly workers, women, and persons with disabilities.

Sri is also actively involved in environmental education and Education for Sustainable Development initiatives, working across schools, communities, and corporate partners to turn sustainability awareness into practical, measurable action.

His background in entrepreneurship, sustainability education, corporate partnerships, and communitybased programme implementation enables him to speak from both business and impact perspectives on how cross-industry partnerships can support effective waste-to-wealth ecosystems.

Edison Choong Wan Sern

Founder impakHUB / Head of Trade Publications
impakHUB and MATRADE, Malaysia

Edison Choong is a strategic leader, impact advocate, and Founding Member of impakHUB—a voluntary initiative dedicated to building partnerships for good through design thinking, sustainability practices, and impact creation. Through impakHUB, he convenes cross-sector leaders to co-create solutions that address complex societal and economic challenges, with a strong emphasis on purpose-driven innovation and sustainable development.

With over two decades of leadership experience at MATRADE, Edison has played a pivotal role in advancing Malaysia’s global trade agenda, driving ESG adoption, and shaping strategic communications at the national level. His career reflects a rare combination of policy insight and execution excellence, spanning international markets across Asia, Latin America, and Europe.

A defining highlight of his professional journey includes his role as a key officer in the ideation and development of a CEO’s 100-day strategic blueprint and National Export Council. In this capacity, he contributed to establishing foundational frameworks that guided organisational priorities, enabled transformational initiatives, and translated leadership vision into structured, actionable outcomes. His work laid the groundwork for high-impact execution and long-term institutional alignment.

Beyond trade and policy, Edison is deeply committed to social impact and community wellbeing. Through his involvement with the Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation, he champions initiatives that emphasise mental and physical wellness as critical pathways to addressing crime prevention among youth. His approach underscores the importance of holistic development, resilience-building, and positive engagement in shaping safer, more inclusive communities.

Edison brings to every platform a forward-looking perspective that bridges strategy, sustainability, and societal impact. His insights resonate with leaders seeking to drive transformation, foster collaboration, and create meaningful change in an increasingly complex world.

Alan Puah

Group Managing Director
Rentalworks Sdn Bhd, Malaysia

Alan Puah is the Group Managing Director of Rentalworks Group, a leading IT lifecycle management and circular economy solutions provider in Southeast Asia. With over two decades of experience in technology leadership and enterprise transformation, Alan is widely recognised for driving the shift from traditional ownership models towards circular, service-based solutions that deliver both business value and environmental impact.

Under his leadership, Rentalworks has built strategic partnerships with governments, financial institutions, and enterprises across Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia to accelerate sustainable digital transformation. Through innovations such as Device-as-a-Service (DaaS), asset recovery, and end-to-end circularity programmes, the company enables organisations to reduce Scope 3 emissions, minimise ewaste, strengthen ESG performance, and improve long-term financial resilience.

Alan is a passionate advocate for embedding sustainability into core business strategy — not as a compliance obligation, but as a powerful driver of competitiveness, growth, and future-ready leadership.

Dr. Hezri Adnan

Senior Advisor on Sustainable Development
United Nations Development Programme Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei

Dr. Hezri Adnan is a sustainability practitioner and advisor with expertise spanning policy research, public administration, and the corporate sector. He currently serves as Senior Advisor on Sustainable Development at the United Nations Development Programme Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. He previously held leadership positions, including Chief Executive Officer of the Langkawi Development Authority (LADA), Executive Director of the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER), Director of Group Sustainability at Bursa Malaysia Berhad, and Independent Advisor to Petronas Chemicals Group Berhad.

He also served as Cleared Advisor to the Malaysian Ministry of International Trade and Industry and sat on the Techno-Economics Committee of the Malaysian Palm Oil Board. Specialising in sustainable development since 1997, Hezri focuses on green economy policies and natural resource management. He earned his PhD in Public Policy from the Australian National University in 2006. From 2015 to 2018, he served on the United Nations International Resource Panel, addressing global resource scarcity and efficiency.

He is currently a Trustee of WWF Malaysia. Dr. Hezri’s academic contributions include appointments as Distinguished Fellow at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia, Adjunct Professor at Universiti Tenaga Nasional and Universiti Malaya, and Visiting Scholar at Kyoto University.

Nophol Techaphangam

Founder & CEO
nornnorn, Thailand

Nophol “Naps” Techaphangam is the founder and CEO of nornnorn, a circular economy product-as-aservice platform combining product subscriptions with end-of-life take-back and recycling.

Rooted in his family’s near-century heritage in the mattress industry, nornnorn pioneers a model that makes access to high-value, long-life products – such as premium mattresses – financially viable for a wider range of businesses and consumers while reducing waste and preventing greenhouse gas emissions.

nornnorn has been recognised as a circular economy case study by PwC, the ASEAN Secretariat, EU SWITCH-Asia, and the ASEAN CSR Network, and has received R&D grants from the UK Royal Academy of Engineering and the Thai government.

Previously, Naps spent over a decade in growth strategy roles at his family’s SPB Group, active across Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

He holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Economics from the University of Cambridge and a First-Class BSc in Physics with Theoretical Physics from the University of Manchester.