FOUNDER & CEO, DEAFTAWK

Passionate about leveraging technology for social impact, Ali leads DeafTawk, an all-in-one sign language interpretation services provider on a mission to uplift the 466 million global deaf community. Through their comprehensive mobile app, content interpretation, online/onsite services and innovative AI products, they aim to break communication barriers and help businesses reach a wider customer base.

Ali is humbled by their growth rate over the years; Starting from a single market and product - their strategic outlook has helped DeafTawk to launch multiple products and scale its operations across 5 markets impacting the lives of hundreds of thousands deaf users.

Being a person with visual impairment, Ali intimately understands the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities. That's why, in addition to DeafTawk’s core business; they have supported and launched a program - "Innovation Challenge Futuremakers" – the first-of-its-kind acceleration program for entrepreneurs with disabilities. Their goal is to inspire like-minded individuals, foster innovation, and create a profound social and economic impact.

CO-FOUNDER & CTO, MAXY ACADEMY

Andy Bintoro, based in Surabaya, ID, is currently a Co-Founder, CTO at MAXY Academy.

Andy Bintoro brings experience from his previous role at Toro Developer Universal, where he remains Founder and CEO since 2012. 

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, BRAXTON CAPITAL

Angela specialises in private equity, venture capital, corporate restructuring, distressed and special situations. She helps companies in distressed situations recover liquidity and restore positive cashflow positions within 3 to 6 months. Additionally, she also provides private credit, asset-backed lending, 1st lien, 2nd lien solutions.

She effectively understands complex corporate issues and demonstrated proven and successful implementation of strategic solutions to turn around the most pressing operational and financial restructurings. She developed resilience and adaptability by being hands-on, agile, and purpose-driven on the ground dealing with unpredictable environments.

FOUNDER & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, AGAPE - CONNECTING PEOPLE

Anil David is the Founder and Business Development Director of Agape, Connecting People Pte Ltd, an award-winning social enterprise dedicated to building meaningful employment pathways for marginalised communities.

From his own transformative journey as a former offender, Anil shaped Agape on the values of compassion, redemption, and empowerment. His vision has created opportunities for ex-offenders, single mothers, persons with disabilities, and seniors to regain dignity and thrive in the workforce.

Under his leadership, Agape pioneered Singapore’s first in-prison contact centre, redefining how rehabilitation and reintegration can be achieved through purposeful employment. Today, Agape has grown into a trusted ecosystem that includes a Learning Academy, Employment Agency, and Contact Centre services, partnering with leading corporations, government agencies, and institutions.

With an unwavering commitment to professional excellence and social impact, Anil continues to demonstrate how business can be a force for good. His story is not only one of redemption but also of vision and leadership, inspiring individuals and organisations alike. As a respected voice in social entrepreneurship and inclusive employment, he champions a future where every individual is given the opportunity to contribute and succeed.

DIRECTOR, NUS ENTERPRISE

Brian is the Director of NUS Enterprise (a cluster of the National University of Singapore - NUS). An “Eco-system Builder”, he has built several eco-system platforms that support Innovation and Entrepreneurship. He was involved in building up the eco-system supporting startups and entrepreneurs both on-campus and off-campus; establishing the infrastructure, programs and networks for the eco-system. He has also successfully established overseas launchpad centres – US (Silicon Valley), China (Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou & Guangzhou), Indonesia (Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta), and Vietnam (HCMC).  Brian has also established industry vertical ecosystem namely in Maritime, Cybersecurity, Social Impact & Sustainability, FinTech and Food Security.

He has more than 25 years of experience in the Information Technology industry. Prior to NUS, Brian together with some friends were involved in pioneering Adroit Innovations from a start-up company to be a publicly listed company on the main board of the Singapore Stock Exchange in 2000. His last held position with Adroit Innovations was Director, Regional Business Development in which he managed, grew and established the Malaysian subsidiary; turning it into a profitable entity within one year.

Brian started his career with United Overseas Bank. As Assistant Vice President with United Overseas Bank Group, Information Technology Sector, he was involved in various bank-wide strategic re-engineering projects which include UOB's Business Information Technology Strategy and Commercial Lending Re-engineering Project.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WEALTH MANAGEMENT, SCHRODERS

Caroline has over 30 years of wealth management experience looking after wealthy families, entrepreneurs and high net worth individuals across South East Asia. Her career experience spans the world's largest global financial institutions firms such as Merrill Lynch, Lehman Brothers, Prudential and Schroders.

She has guided guiding multi-generational families through complex legacy planning. She joined Schroders Wealth Management in 2009 and is a champion for planet and people believing in generating returns with purpose.

She also co-founded an NGO in Cambodia supporting children in urban slums and remain actively engaged in volunteering initiatives for underprivileged communities in Singapore, Cambodia, Lebanon, and the wider Southeast Asian region.

She also sits on the board of GAIN, (The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition) a Swiss-based foundation launched at the United Nations in 2002 to tackle the human suffering caused by malnutrition.

FOUNDER, SKYSURFER CONSULTING & FOUNDING IC CHAIRMAN OF ASIA IMPACT FIRST FUND

Wai Chiew has over 25 years of experience in global investment management and strategic business development, having served in public, non-profit, and private institutions including EDB, A*STAR, World Economic Forum, Temasek and various funds. In his previous role as CEO of Heritas Capital, Wai Chiew has designed and launched multiple impact funds including private equity, venture capital, fund-of-funds to back category leaders in healthcare, education, sustainability, agriculture-food, and technology sectors globally while integrating sustainability and impact investment considerations effectively. Wai Chiew further advanced impact-first investing for Asia by successfully raising and deploying the Asia Impact First Fund in collaboration with like-minded corporates, foundations, family offices and HNWI to scale the impact of social enterprises, and served as its founding Chairman of its Investment Committee as well as Advisory Committee.

Wai Chiew holds a BA in Economics from University of Cambridge, UK; MA from Yale University, USA; and completed his EMBA (conducted in Mandarin) from Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business, China. He has served as SVCA’s Honorary Treasurer and a member of its ESG / Impact Committee. As a Senior Accredited Director (accredited by the Singapore Institute of Directors), Wai Chiew also actively serves on multiple boards and advisory roles to advocate sustainable growth and sound governance.

FOUNDER & CEO, GLOBAL GREEN CONNECT & GLOBAL GREEN ECONOMIC FOUNDATION

Christina Lee is a seasoned media professional turned impact and social entrepreneur. Since 2012, she has been at the forefront of sustainability, education, and purpose-driven business. She leads Global Green Connect (GGC), a B Corp certified sustainability consultancy that partners with corporations and universities to deliver impactful training and advisory services. 

She also founded GGEF (Global Green Economic Foundation), a social enterprise dedicated to empowering youth and women through sustainability education and entrepreneurship. Before her entrepreneurial journey, Christina was the Asia Managing Director at Bloomberg Media and held leadership roles at the Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA), including Vice-Chair and Chairman of its China chapter.

Christina is a passionate advocate for shifting business paradigms from profit maximization to mutual value creation. She has served as an advisor and mentor to numerous organizations, including Tsinghua x-lab, University of Geneva’s O17 programme, TBNAsia, SDG Olympiad in Geneva, 500 Global, and The Chinese Foundation Secondary School’s International Mentorship Programme. She is also a Women4Green Asia Ambassador and a frequent speaker at international conferences and media platforms.

Her contributions have earned her recognition as one of Asia’s Top 30 ‘Eco Warriors’ (2019), TBLI HERO (2020), and recipient of the Achiever Award for Responsible Corporate Leadership at the Asia Futurist Leadership Summit (2020). She was also a nominee for the Yidan Prize (2022) through her work with SDG Open Hack.

FOUNDER & CEO, NEWPORT TECHNOLOGIES SDN. BHD.

Collin is a recent past President of the Entrepreneurs Organisation Malaysia, a global 'by invitation' peer-to-peer entrepreneur organisation. He began his career as a lawyer in the legal practice of Messrs. Shook, Lin and Bok, and transitioned into the entrepreneurship sector in 1995, where he witnessed the burgeoning and rapid growth of the ports and logistics supply chain industry in Malaysia and South East Asia. Riding on this wave of opportunity, he initiated a 'transfer of technology' enterprise by inviting the multinational corporation Cargotec OY of Finland (previously Partek OY) to set up a joint venture in Malaysia. Collin helmed Cargotec Malaysia as Managing Director from 2001 to 2016, growing the business into an operation which breached the RM100 Million turnover threshold and employing more than 150 multinational staff. This also led to Collin being promoted to a regional position as a Director in the Cargotec Regional Executive Management Team overseeing the Asia Pacific Region in 2013. 

Collin is also passionate about social impact and nation building. Inspired by his peers in EO, Collin co-founded Projek57, an award winning social enterprise based in Malaysia. Projek57 is a 'Movement of Hope', to inspire unity between the different races and faiths in communities, and to empower youths to be involved in creating a better future for the Nation.

CEO, OLIVE TREE ESTATES

Daniel is deeply committed to social impact and making the world a better place for all. A big believer in social equity and the power of social capital to nurture sustainable communities, he is a strong advocate for business-as-mission/business-for-good as a redemptive and restorative channel to uplift the under-served.

Daniel is a Corporate and Securities lawyer by training. Having obtained his Bachelor of Laws in the United Kingdom, he obtained his post-graduate qualifications from the National University of Singapore. He later joined an investment bank and advised on initial public offerings, private-equity fund raisings, mergers and acquisitions etc.

In 2007, Daniel co-founded Providence Capital Management Pte Ltd (PCM), and remains its Co-Managing Partner until today. PCM currently manages and advises a number of umbrella funds and multiple special purpose investment vehicles across a range of asset classes. PCM’s clients and stakeholders include financial institutions, family trusts and high-net worth individuals. Daniel is concurrently CEO of Olive Tree Estates Limited (OTE), Singapore’s first B Corp-certified publicly listed enterprise. OTE provides affordable housing as the cornerstone of a holistic community impact solution in emerging markets.

Daniel is also part of the founding team that established agathos.be, a decentralized technology-based crowdsourcing platform that rallies donors to meet the needs of the least, last and lost in society.

HEAD, TT FOUNDATION ADVISORS

Dickson heads TT Foundation Advisors, Temasek Trust’s philanthropy advisory services arm. TT Foundation Advisors provides philanthropy advisory, professional management, and other essential services to charitable foundations, family offices, business corporations, philanthropists, and charities across Asia. He is a seasoned and trusted Senior Philanthropy Advisor to prominent philanthropists across Asia, contributing high-impact strategies and initiatives to establish their philanthropic legacies.

Dickson spent more than 20 years serving in senior positions of, and thereafter advising leading nonprofit organisations in the healthcare, education, social services, and environmental sectors. Critical to their success are systemic solutions designed for strategic and innovative efficacy. He regularly mentors the next generation of family successors and their foundations to invest in sustainable and scalable philanthropic programmes, to maximise impact at local, national, and regional levels.

Prior to joining Temasek Trust, Dickson was Executive Director and Head of Philanthropy & Community Impact, Singapore at UBS, where he spearheaded the development and implementation of its regional philanthropy and social responsibility initiatives. Before that, he worked at BNP Paribas Singapore as the Head of Individual Philanthropy Services for Southeast Asia.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, COVENANT CAPITAL

Edwin leads the firm’s strategic direction and drives business growth. He started his career with Salomon Smith Barney (SSB) in 2000, providing comprehensive investment advice to individual and institutional clients over the course of 12 years. As the key manager for the team’s discretionary multi-asset class portfolios, he oversaw the team’s portfolio decisions, including the use of options to hedge and generate income.

Following the stint at SSB, he spent two years with DBS as a private banker, advising both high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families. Before co-founding Covenant Capital, he was with Swaen Capital, an independent asset manager based in Singapore, leading the global asset allocation portfolio management team.

Edwin graduated from the Nanyang Technological University’s Nanyang Business School in 2000 with a Bachelor of Business Studies, majoring in Financial Analysis. He obtained the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation in 2003 and Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation in 2007. He currently serves on the Association of Independent Wealth Managers, Singapore, as the committee member overseeing Education, and is also the chairman of the board of a local church.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, SUNWAY EDUCATION GROUP

Elizabeth is CEO of the Sunway Education Group, owned and governed by the not-for-profit Jeffrey Cheah Foundation. Under Elizabeth’s leadership since 1992, it has grown from just one institution into a dynamic group of over 20, encompassing kindergarten all the way up to university, and alternative education pathways.

As a respected thought-leader in education and leadership, she serves as trustee of MERCY Malaysia (a world-renowned humanitarian organisation), and the 30% Club (promoting women leadership in public company boards). Internationally she is a member of the British Council’s Going Global Partners Group and the High-Level Advisory Council of the UN SDG Academy.

Elizabeth holds a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Education from Cambridge University. She is a past-president of the Oxford and Cambridge Alumni Society of Malaysia. Her many awards and accolades include three honorary doctorates from the University of Nottingham and Lancaster University, United Kingdom, and Victoria University, Australia, respectively. For her lifelong dedication and commitment in the field of education, she was appointed as Professor at Sunway University in February 2021 and bestowed the state title of Dato’ by His Royal Highness Sultan Nazrin Shah, the Sultan of Perak in 2022.

CHAIRMAN, TBN MALAYSIA

Eric Ku has been in the business of revolutionizing talent development in the Asian region for over two decades. A serial entrepreneur with several flagship businesses under his belt, Eric is the co-founder of iTrain Asia, a regional Digital Tech Certification Body that is currently rolling out its industry-validated certification trainings to individuals, corporates and academic institutions throughout 26 countries in Asia. 

In recent years, Eric Ku is working with many organizations with workforce up to 40,000 staffs in creating the culture of Digital Transformation to enhance the digital quotient in all job roles and, to build an agile, innovative and tech-savvy workforce. Eric Ku is also the judge for the Asia Pacific ICT Alliance Awards (APICTA Awards) for the last 3 years. 

He also co-founded Asia Developer Academy (ADA), which aims to harness the finest coding talent in Asia to serve the ongoing digital revolution. ADA adopted extreme employability concept that ensure all its graduates get high value job via its train-and-place model.

Beyond developing professional digital talents, Eric Ku believes in the longer-term vision of building digital literacy skills from young; having set up a coding tech playground for kids called iTrain Kids which teaches students ages 7 to 16 the basics of programming and how to bring their creative ideas to life.

CHAIRMAN, TBN AMERICAS

Gary has lived on four continents and worked in over 40 countries, building businesses in fast-moving economic and technological environments. He thrives at the intersection of innovation, strategy, and global development.

While working at United Parcel Service (UPS), Gary earned a graduate business degree from Northwestern University. Over his 18-year career with UPS, he was part of expanding its international reach from 16 to 200 countries, led the development of global operational and marketing systems, and spearheaded strategic planning initiatives—including the creation of a new business model for UPS's Supply Chain Logistics division.

In 2004, Gary relocated to Mainland China, where he founded two for-profit social enterprises. By 2016, he had sold one company and transferred ownership of the other to his Chinese business partner; both enterprises are now fully owned and operated by Chinese entrepreneurs.

Gary returned to the U.S., settling in Colorado where he served seven years as Chief Global Officer for David C Cook and Executive Director of the David Caleb Cook Foundation.

Today, he chairs the board of the Transformational Business Network - Americas, and serves on the Advisory Board of Wheaton College’s Center for Leadership Development. Gary and his wife, Lissa, now live in Nashville, Tennessee. Married 40 plus years, they are proud parents of three adult children and grandparents to four.

OFFICER IN CHARGE & CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, UEM SUNRISE

With over 20 years of expertise spanning Strategic Planning, Venture Capital, Equities, Capital Markets, and Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Hafizuddin Sulaiman has built a distinguished career marked by leadership and impactful contributions. Currently serving as the Chief Financial Officer at UEM Sunrise, Hafiz plays a pivotal role in driving financial strategies, ensuring business sustainability, and upholding corporate governance excellence.

Before joining UEM Sunrise, Hafiz was the Group Head of Strategy at QSR Brands (M) Holdings Bhd. His extensive experience includes a 14-year tenure at Khazanah Nasional Berhad as Director of Finance, where he led financial reporting, systems, fundraising, and liquidity management. Hafiz has also held key senior roles, such as Chief Treasury Officer at Berjaya Corporation Berhad and Head of Treasury at Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB), showcasing his deep expertise in financial and liquidity management.

Hafiz began his career in audit and accounting with Ernst & Young (EY) Malaysia, progressing to influential roles in Malaysia's leading public and private organizations. His leadership portfolio reflects a commitment to innovation, financial discipline, and strategic execution.

As the CFO, Hafiz oversees critical areas including financial control, strategic procurement, legal, strategy, and stakeholder engagement, all while steering UEM Sunrise towards sustainable growth. A dedicated leader, he combines technical expertise with a storyteller’s vision, ensuring that every financial narrative aligns with the company’s aspirations.

GROUP GM, BUNGA GROUP

Isaac Lee is the COO of Bunga Group of Companies, with a core business in oil palm plantations and a fully integrated palm oil milling complex. Since returning to Malaysia to join the family business in 2010, he spearheaded the company to develop 10 downstream products towards their zero waste goal. He is also the Co-founder of Seri Jubli Education group with a vision to provide alternative private education outside the major cities. Through this model, they have created value for over 100 public schools in Peninsular and East Malaysia by bridging the gap between the rural and urban access to education. Isaac also has impact driven business interests in Education, F&B and Renewable energy sectors. He works to build practical frameworks for businesses to not just thrive, but for people development and to enable sustainable impact in helping the poor (financially, mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually).

CO-FOUNDER & CEO, MAXY ACADEMY

Isaac Munandar is the CEO & Co-Founder of MAXY Academy, an AI-driven EdTech company dedicated to upskilling Indonesia’s Gen Z to combat skill mismatches in the job market. Through digital career bootcamps, certifications, and talent placement, MAXY Academy equips young professionals with in-demand digital skills, preparing them for the future of work.

With over 15 years of experience in the education sector, Isaac is on a mission to foster human flourishing by empowering students with the skills and opportunities they need to succeed. Currently, MAXY Academy collaborates with more than 250 universities and 100 companies in Indonesia, working to bridge the gap between education and employment.

His dream is to see young people live their fullest lives—understanding who they are and having the courage to dream big. Passionate about leveraging technology to democratize learning, Isaac is committed to driving human capital development in Southeast Asia.

CEO MALAYSIA, PERMIAN GLOBAL

Ivy currently leads the work in Malaysia for Permian Global,  a private entity in the business of conservation to develop and protect threatened tropical rainforest using private sector capital. Permian’s current project in Sabah,  is the first verified nature based carbon project in Malaysia and generating verified carbon units (VCU) in the Voluntary Carbon Market. The project is a collaboration between the state government of Sabah via Sabah Forestry Department and Yayasan Sabah.  

Ivy Wong was a 2020 AVPN Impact Investing Fellow, 2016 Asia Fellow of Low Emissions Development Strategy (LEDS) Global Partnership Program and a 2016 Alumni of Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) on Climate and Energy.

She was formerly part of the pioneer team at Yayasan Hasanah, the CSR Foundation of Khazanah Nasional Berhad and grew the Environment Impact Pillar to 47 partners with projects worth more than RM32 million as end of 2023 on areas of nature conservation including mitigating plastic waste management. Ivy has over 20 years of work experience on topics of biodiversity and forestry management from local to international non-government organization, state government to regional government and private sector in Malaysia.

MANAGING DIRECTOR, RAO FAMILY OFFICE

James believes in the power of enterprise, creativity, and service to shape a better future. His journey has been shaped by a deep commitment to building lasting value — not only in business, but also in the lives of people and communities.

Overseeing a family office portfolio has given him broad experience across investment management, finance, and governance. Along the way, entrepreneurship has remained a constant driving force. Founding FriedRice Entertainment was a way to bring creativity and community together — using entertainment as a platform to connect, uplift, and inspire positive change.

Philanthropy has always been a natural extension of this belief. James is deeply committed to supporting initiatives that strengthen communities, promote inclusion, and create sustainable impact. To him, real change happens through thoughtful action, collaboration, and a long-term view.

Sharing knowledge and empowering others is another part of this mission. As an adjunct lecturer, James has the privilege of mentoring finance professionals across Singapore and the region, encouraging a spirit of leadership grounded in service and integrity.

Looking ahead, James am excited to contribute more broadly — working alongside others to help shape a future where creativity, compassion, and opportunity meet.

VICE PRESIDENT FOR STRATEGY & INNOVATION, BELMONT INNOVATION LABS

Josh's career weaves together over two decades of academic research, community development practice, and social entrepreneurship to advance the cause of evidence-based social innovation to help communities thrive.

As a scholar, Josh's work has focused on understanding the social and cultural conditions that enable or thwart the ability of people and communities to thrive. His research has focused recently on the role that different institutional sectors play. In 2019, he published the first of its kind "Field Guide for University-Community Partnerships," examining the role that universities and colleges play in advancing the wellbeing of their home communities. In 2022, he published "The Enterprise Solutions to Poverty Field Guide," mapping the evolving field of faith-based impact investing and enterprise solutions to poverty.

In 2017, Josh launched the Thriving Cities Group (TCG), a social enterprise that equips mission-minded people & organizations to work together for more effective, equitable, & enduring social impact. TCG has worked in over 15 states, and in 2021, TCG entered a partnership with UN's Habitat to host the SDG Cities Taskforce.

Josh's prior positions include: Director the Ormond Center for Thriving Congregations and Communities at Duke University; Faculty Fellow at the Banff Center for Arts and Creativity, and Director of the Thriving Cities Lab at the University of Virginia’s Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture.

FOUNDER & CHIEF FARMER, THE LOCAL FARM (TLF)

Kenny Eng is a fourth-generation horticulture farmer who believes farmers shouldn’t just survive — they should thrive. As the founder of The Local Farm (TLF) in Singapore, he leads a purpose-driven movement that addresses the agricultural challenges faced by cities. TLF doesn’t grow crops — it builds ecosystems that connect local farmers directly with businesses and communities through fair-trade partnerships, farm-to-table programs, and social impact initiatives.

Under Kenny’s leadership, The Local Farm has grown into a full ecosystem — designed to make supporting local farmers practical, visible, and sustainable. Through pillars like Farmpack for Good, Ready-to-Eat products, the Local Farm Festival, and educational outreach via books and workshops, TLF empowers urban communities to engage directly with local agriculture while strengthening food security.

While Farmpack for Good is one of its most visible efforts, it’s just one piece of a bigger model — proving that doing good can also be good business.

Kenny is also the creator of Gardenasia’s Eat-Work-Play experiences, and has held national roles such as President of the Kranji Countryside Association, alongside appointments with the Entrepreneurs’ Organisation (Singapore), Southwest CDC, Singapore Youth Olympic Games and the National Youth Council.

FOUNDER, TBN

Dato Kim Tan is Chairman of SpringHill Management, a private fund management company specialising in biotech and social venture capital investments. He has been a pioneer of social impact investing for over 20 years and is a partner of several social impact funds including Inqo Investments (South Africa), Novastar Ventures (Kenya) and Garden Impact Investment (Singapore). He is an advisor to Johnson & Johnson Impact Ventures.

He is the co-founder of the Transformational Business Network and a trustee of the John Templeton Foundation, Templeton Religion Trust and the Centre for Enterprise, Markets & Ethics (Oxford). He was the founder chairman of NCI Cancer Hospital (Malaysia) and the inventor of the sheep monoclonal antibodies. He developed the first rapid tests for Salmonella in chickens and for atrazine pesticide in drinking water.

He is a Pro-Chancellor of Surrey University (UK) and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine (UK). He was the former Chairman of the Surrey & Hants Innovation Growth Team, former board member of the APEC Life Science Innovation Forum and the Saracens Rugby Club.

He has a PhD in Biochemistry and 3 post-doctoral fellowships from the Medical Research Council (UK). He was the recipient of the Guildford Roll of Honour (2014) and the UK Beacon Award for Impact Investment (2017).

CHAIRMAN, NGUYEN-PHUONG FAMILY

In 2018, Nguyễn Phương Lam retired as Co-founder and Co-head of the Private Equity business of Capital Group, and CEO of Capital International's Singapore branch. In that position, he travelled to over 130 countries spanning the globe, which taught him the value of diversity and the importance of seeing life from the viewpoint of other people.

A native of Vietnam, Lam graduated from high school in Brasil, university in France, and received an MBA from the Stanford Business School. Lam is involved (as an advocate, donor, or mentor) with numerous local civil society organisations and global NGO’s, including Acumen.org, Ashoka.org, Endeavor.org, and TeachForAll.org. The service activities of Lam’s family aim primarily at promoting Inner Transformation for Systems Change, in pursuit of consciousness evolution, and dignity and justice for all of Life. Lam believes deeply in Interspirituality and the Perennial Wisdom, and follows the teachings of the Ascended Masters.

GROUP CEO AT CONSULUS, MD AT DESIGNFUTURES VENTURE, & CONSULTOR IN VATICAN DICASTERY FOR INTERFAITH

Lawrence is a two-time TEDx speaker and global keynote speaker on creative change. He has spoken at international conferences in 30 cities such as Sao Paolo and Melbourne on innovation, business design, and the Economy of Communion. Since 2020 he was appointed by Pope Francis to serve on the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue. He is also a 2024 King Husein Global Business and Intercultural Peace Awardee.

Consulus is a global creative change firm serving persons, companies, and cities in their transfiguration for an Economy of Communion. Founded in Singapore in 2004, Consulus is in 23 nations from the Americas, Asia, and Europe. DesignFutures Venture is an investment holdings firm based out of Singapore with book-end presence in both Singapore and Sarawak. 

His quotes appear in regional media such as Nikkei Asian Review, Fortune and his thoughts on innovation and strategy are widely followed on LinkedIn with over 300,000 followers. He serves as the Distinguished Fellow for Global Economy at the Washington Institute for Business, Government, and Society. He teaches a leadership course about Holistic Leadership at Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. He is the Co-convenor of the Economy of Communion Asia Pacific. He is also a member of the Presidential Advisory Council at Design Business Chamber Singapore. 

CHAIRMAN, DAMSON CAPITAL

Leon Toh is an impact investor and social entrepreneur with over nine years of experience in supporting purpose-driven startups in Asia. He was the Managing Partner of Damson Capital, an impact investment holding company and business advisory that focuses on developing social enterprises that can deliver strong financial returns and scalable social impact.

He also co-founded EDEN + ELIE, a design-led, socially conscious jewellery brand that empowers and supports individuals from communities in need. Additionally, he serves as the Chairman of Westbike Messenger Service, a zero-emission bicycle courier that employs marginalized youth in Indonesia's inner cities.

FOUNDER & CEO, PLUSVIBES

Madiha Fuad (Maddy) is a renowned speaker and entrepreneur. She has been awarded several International and National Social Entrepreneur Awards and has been recognised as the Global 50 Rising Stars in ESG for her impactful initiatives in healthtech. 

As the Founder and CEO of PlusVibes Group, she embarks on a unique approach to mental healthtech, creating a holistic platform for mental health solutions. PlusVibes has over 60,000 members and has conducted over 19,000 therapy sessions in the past 4 years. 

Madiha’s forte is on human resource, corporate culture, digital healthcare, entrepreneurship and women empowerment where she conducts workshops for corporate companies, universities and public.

Her appearances in mainstream media and conferences have enabled her to not only create awareness on issues of public interest but also inspire individuals to embark on a self-development journey. 

Maddy started her career as a business journalist for 3 years at The Edge Newspaper and has been an entrepreneur for the past decade, venturing into various businesses from F&B to software development. 

Her long-term vision is to focus on educational reform and she believes that PlusVibes is the key to providing substantial insight on the youth’s struggles and personal development.  

DEPUTY CEO, ASIA SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

Dr. Melati Nungsari is an Associate Professor of Economics, the Deputy Dean of Research & Academics, and the Deputy CEO at Asia School of Business (ASB) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She is also the Faculty Director of the ASEAN Research Center (ARC) at ASB and holds an appointment at MIT Sloan School of Management as a Research Affiliate.

Dr. Melati is an applied microeconomist who specializes in informality and its consequences, with specialties in labor economics, public economics, and industrial organization. Her research portfolio spans multiple topics including the labor integration of refugees in Southeast Asia, entrepreneurship for underprivileged youth, and sustainability.

She was a Chancellor's Fellow with the Royster Society of Fellows at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she received her Ph.D. Prior to ASB, she was a professor of economics at Butler University and Davidson College in the US. 

CHAIRMAN, TBN ASIA

Melvyn spent 18 years of his life as a banker and General Manager of a stockbroking company before responding to the call to do religious work for the next 18 years of his life. For the 3rd period of 18 years of his life, he’s passionate about the synergy between the Marketplace and alleviation of poverty through enterprises.

CEO, MYIMPACT

Dr. Melissa Foo is the Chief Executive Officer of the Malaysia Impact Alliance (MyImpact). Dr Melissa is a seasoned angel investor who is actively involved in early-stage investments and innovation across sectors such as Health, Education, Fintech, Food & Agritech and Social Impact.

As the former Head of Sunway iLabs Ventures and Vice President of the Malaysian Business Angel Network, Dr. Melissa has also worked with the Malaysian government in various roles managing capacity-building and accelerators for startups, promoting corporate innovation programmes and corporate venture capital. Dr Melissa was instrumental in the design and implementation of innovative social financing initiatives such as the Social Outcome Fund and Social Impact Exchange under the National Innovation Agency of Malaysia.

Dr. Melissa received an MBA from Columbia Business School with a dual-concentration in Family Enterprise Management & Impact Investing. She also serves on the board of her family healthcare company based in Malaysia. Prior to that, she obtained her dental qualifications from the University of Melbourne and was attached to the Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Department of Hospital Sungai Buloh, specialising in trauma and facial reconstruction.

Dr. Melissa is passionate about innovation and its real-world applications into industry. Her diverse experience enabled her to bridge gaps in communication and connect dots between traditional business processes and advanced technologies.

CHAIRMAN, MALAYSIAN VENTURE CAPITAL AND PRIVATE EQUITY ASSOCIATION (MVCA)

Sai Kit has over 25 years of experience accumulated from various roles in audit, corporate finance, corporate development and venture building spanning multiple industries, including manufacturing, property development, hospitality, financial services, food services, enterprise software and digital advertising.

He started up Captii Ventures, a corporate venture capital arm of SGX-listed Captii Limited. He is also the founder and director of Artem Ventures, a venture capital management corporation registered with the Securities Commission, Malaysia.

Sai Kit presently serves as Chairman of the Malaysia Venture Capital and Private Equity Association. He also serves as a mentor at Thought for Food, PitchIN, SITEC, ScaleUp Malaysia, Startup Weekend and many more.

MANAGING DIRECTOR, MADCASH

Nuraizah, fondly known as Aizah, is a Malaysia-based multi-award-winning technopreneur and serial entrepreneur. An Electrical Engineer by training, she began her career in engineering and R&D with Motorola and Nokia. She started her first company in 2006 and now runs Madcat World, a software development house, and MADCash, a fintech company focused on empowering women with micro businesses. Nuraizah is also the ASEAN Access Ambassador and Malaysia’s local consultant in a five-year project to encourage greater digital adoption among women entrepreneurs.

Nuraizah holds a degree from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and she is currently pursuing a certificate in Data Science. She is a graduate of the Vital Voices Grow program with 42 women entrepreneurs globally as well as an alumnus of the East-West Center Changing Faces Women Leadership Seminar 2018 and the Cherie Blair Foundation mentoring program 2012.

GROUP CEO, BIJI-BIJI INITIATIVE & MEREKA

Rashvin leads the Biji-biji Group, one of Malaysia's pioneering and award-winning Social Innovation organizations. Since 2013, they have created a series of successful social innovation models and enterprises, across circular economy, ethical fashion, and alternative energy. Their latest venture is Mereka, an education and innovation platform, designed to connect people with educational content, experts, and technology.

Rashvin plays an active part in various global and regional engagements. One of his most meaningful engagements was a panelist at the Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF) in 2019 & 2020, Asian Financial Forum 2021 and Sustainable Brands Asia Pacific 2021, and also being selected as an Obama Leader in the Asia Pacific inaugural cohort 2020.

In 2019, Biji-biji won the Common Objective (CO) Leadership Award in the UK, and in 2018 Biji-biji was recognized as the Social Enterprise of the Year at the Sustainable Business Awards and got our World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO) certification. In 2015, Biji-biji won the coveted SME Innovation Challenge by Alliance Bank. Rashvin graduated with an Accounting and Finance degree from the University of West of England, Bristol UK, and spent the first 4 years of his career in the corporate world, as a Manager at the Advisory Division of PwC Malaysia.

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AT INNOVATION & ENTREPRENEURSHIP CENTRE, ASB

Redza began his entrepreneurial journey in 2016, co-founding Grub Cycle, Pasar Grub, and Oililin—startups rooted in sustainability and social impact. Within the first four months of launching Grub Cycle, he raised over RM 1 million through grants and investors. His ventures have earned recognition from the Alliance Bizsmart Challenge and international platforms such as Pitch@Palace UK and the Alipay-NUS Social Innovation Challenge in Singapore.

He has represented Malaysia globally through programs in Australia, Germany, Hungary, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines. A strong advocate for social entrepreneurship, Redza champions initiatives like Buy Social Malaysia, helping social enterprises gain market access through partnerships with corporations and government.

Currently, he serves as President of the Chamber of Social Entrepreneur Development (CSED) and leads ASBhive at the Asia School of Business, designing programs that support startups and impact-driven founders across Malaysia.

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, TUNGLING GROUP

Rosemary Tan is currently Director of Operation for the Tungling Group, a family run business involved in Property Development and Palm Oil Plantations. 

She is a property developer of great note, having been listed as one of the Top 30 Property developers in Malaysia. Environmental as well as social sustainability are close to Rosemary’s heart and she is well-known in the Asia Pacific region for developments that are environment-friendly.

She joined EO in 1996 and is currently Global Governance Director. She was the 2013-14 EO Global Chair, is a certified EO Forum and Moderator trainer and has held various leadership roles for the Asia-Pacific region. 

On a social front Rosemary was District Governor of Malaysia’s Kiwanis International a global organisation of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time, and recently championing Organ Donation helping the nations needs to increase awareness and organ pledges on MySejahtera.

Rosemary’s mission is to help others discover their potential; as trainer, coach and a mentor. She is recognised for her strength and skill in building bridges in the marketplace and community that bring about transformational change.

FOUNDER, LEADERONOMICS

Roshan is the Founder and CEO of Leaderonomics, an award-winning social enterprise. He is a thought leader in the field of leadership development and human capital. He o speaks about transformation, for individuals as well as organizations, across the globe. He has grown Leaderonomics from an NGO into one of the best brands in leadership development and technology, not just in Malaysia but across Southeast Asia.

Prior to Leaderonomics, he spent 14 years at General Electric (GE) across the US, Europe and in Asia, in various finance, HR, leadership development and business management roles. He also spent 2 years at Johnson & Johnson in a global capacity before setting up Leaderonomics.

FOUNDER & DIRECTOR, THE WHITEHATTERS

Founder and Director of The Whitehatters; a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) focused on community development and responsible advocacy and activism, Shahrany's impactful work has earned mentions in Parliament and been featured numerous times in the media.

Shahrany spent more than two decades in the corporate and government sectors where she gained extensive experience in general management with a special focus on strategic planning and execution.

Shahrany was a member of the Ministry for Social and Family Development (MSF) Alliances for Action to strengthen marriages and family relationships and Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circles (IRCC) Refresh Workgroup to develop recommendations to strengthen the IRCC’s capabilities and to build more cohesive networks within the community. She was also part of the Founders Memorial Committee.

Currently, Shahrany is serving her third term as the Chairperson for Casa Raudha, a crisis shelter for abused women and children. She is also a board member with the National Council of Social Services, an ExCo member for Unleash The Roar; a national movement which aims to raise the levels of Singapore football, a Member of the Respect Committee with the Football Association of Singapore, an advisor with PEGUAM; a society for Muslim legal professionals and those with legal backgrounds, and a management board member with the Al-Falah Mosque.

Shahrany does what she does because she believes it needs to be done.

SUSTAINABILITY CONSULTANT, GLOBAL GREEN CONNECT

Syafirul is a devoted sustainability practitioner. His wide involvement in the sustainability space has brought him to places, including leading a groundbreaking project to achieve verified carbon neutrality, development of corporate decarbonisation roadmaps and assurance of digital platforms on greenhouse gas accounting.

He is a GRI Certified Sustainability Professional and is certified in both GHG Accounting and Assurance. His technical expertise in various emissions accounting standards and sustainability reporting standards makes him a versatile and impactful professional in influencing positive changes to an organisation.

Syafirul’s career spans diverse roles in consulting and assurance in sustainability, compliance advisory, project management, and solar engineering across international organisations. He holds a master’s degree in Sustainable Design from Polytechnic University of Catalonia.

CO-FOUNDER & CHIEF IMPACT OFFICER, LENDFORGOOD

Tom is a serial social entrepreneur with a passion for using technology and entrepreneurship to build a better world, and supporting others to do likewise.

LendForGood is a platform that connects social enterprises with impact investors. Our mission is to grow the business for good movement by democratising impact investment, letting everyone invest in their values and unlocking the impact potential in small and emerging businesses globally.

Tom also co-founded StartSomeGood, an innovation agency and global social enterprise ecosystem builder, in 2011. He was CEO until March 2024, when he became Entrepreneur-in-Residence after StartSomeGood was acquired by General Good. StartSomeGood supports emerging social entrepreneurs around the world to design, test, launch, and grow social impact projects that increase the pace of innovation for social change. 

Tom is a regular speaker and advocate for social enterprise, a coach for founders and a teacher of community-building and fundraising skills. He is a non-executive director of the Centre for Social Impact, Australia's leading social impact research and teaching organisation.

FOUNDER, ETHIS MALAYSIA, & MANAGING PARTNER, HASAN VC

Umar Munshi, a Singaporean, is the Founder of Ethis Group and Managing Partner at HASAN.VC. An entrepreneur since the age of 18, Umar is recognised as a leader in ethical investment, fintech, and halal startups.

Founded in 2014 with Ronald Wijaya, Ethis is a venture builder that has launched and grown ethical and halal investment platforms, apps and licensed fintech firms in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Turkiye and Oman under the Ethis, HASAN.VC, and GlobalSadaqah brands. Ethis matches investors and funders to SMEs and startups that are sustainable and impactful. HASAN.VC is a VC fund licensed in Malaysia and an accelerator firm in Singapore backed by a global community of angel investors and founders.

Umar received the Emerging Leader Prize in conjunction with The Royal Award for Islamic Finance 2022 by Bank Negara Malaysia and the Securities Commission Malaysia. Ethis received multiple awards, including the Islamic Economy Award for SME Development from HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum in 2016.

COO, FAIRVIEW INTERNATIONAL PLC

Dr. Vincent Chian, a medical graduate from Manchester University, transitioned to education with a keen focus on strategic leadership. As the Global Principal of Fairview International School Malaysia and Provost of University College Fairview, the school achieved the International School Award 2021 for their outstanding skills programme and consistently the Best IB school in Malaysia for 5 consecutive years as well as a top 100 IB school in the world from 2020-2024.

His approach to education, creating the right environment for youth to thrive, much like gardening, is evident in Fairview's successes and his participation in forums like IB Global and Edutech Asia. Dr. Chian's educational philosophy emphasises a mature holistic approach, blending tradition and innovation.

CEO, INSKEN (INSTITUT KEUSAHAWANAN NEGARA)

Viviantie Sarjuni is a Malaysian leader with over 15 years of experience in the public sector and currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Institut Keusahawanan Negara (INSKEN) under KUSKOP, the national agency leading Malaysia’s social entrepreneurship mandate.

Previously, she was the founding CEO of the Sabah Creative Economy and Innovation Centre (SCENIC), where she positioned the agency as both a talent builder and a policy influencer in social innovation, entrepreneurship, and the creative economy.

In Sabah—Malaysia’s poorest state—Viviantie played a pivotal role in growing the social enterprise ecosystem. Within three years, SCENIC supported nearly 200 rural-based social enterprises in accessing funding and expanding their impact.

She also led the launch of the first Digital and IoT Sandbox in Borneo, established Malaysia’s first Toon Boom Accredited Training Centre, and helped position Sabah among the top three SE ecosystems in the country. SCENIC further revitalised STEM and tech innovation initiatives in the state.

Her recognitions include the UK Government’s Chevening Scholarship (2022), the Chief Minister’s Special Award (2024), and being named one of the 2024 Kindness & Leadership: 50 Leading Lights in Asia Pacific.

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, YTL FOUNDATION

Xiao Cheng serves the poor in Malaysia by building up impact leaders, connecting and partnering with people. As the Chief Operating Officer of YTL Foundation, she believes in building a better society through leadership transformation and holistic education. Xiao Cheng is a Board Member of Malaysia Impact Alliance, catalysing impact investing in Malaysia.

Xiao Cheng is also a Founding Partner of Earth Heir, a pioneer and award-winning social enterprise that celebrates Malaysia’s varied heritage art forms. As the former Head of Acumen Academy in Malaysia, where she also pioneered the inaugural Southeast Asia Acumen Fellowship—laying the foundation for a regional ecosystem of impact leaders.

She is an Acumen Fellow, an alumna of The Global Good Fund and Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship. Awarded with Prestige 40 Under 40 and The Vice Chancellor Global Graduate Prize, She was also a Star Scholar from Nottingham University Business School.