Alex Png

Chief People Officer, APAC

The Hoffman Agency

Alex Png is the Chief People Officer for Asia Pacific at The Hoffman Agency, where he leads regional HR strategy, talent development, and organizational transformation. With prior leadership roles at Intrepid, Omnicom, Flywheel, Grab and Circles.Life, Alex brings deep expertise in people and organisational design, employee experience, employer branding, diversity and inclusion, and people operations across fast-growth tech and consulting sectors. Known for his high emotional intelligence, strategic thinking, and calm leadership style, he excels in building scalable HR frameworks and fostering inclusive, high-performing cultures. Alex frequently travels across APAC to align HR policies with business goals, support hiring initiatives, and represent the agency at industry events. His appointment marked a pivotal step in strengthening Hoffman’s people-first approach, contributing to improved retention and promotion rates across the region.

Anand Wong

Founder & CEO

Heron

Anand Wong is a seasoned HR executive with over 20 years of leadership experience across Asia Pacific, specializing in HR strategy, transformation, and operations. He is the founder of Atlas Waves HR Consulting, where he advises organizations on people strategy, fractional HR leadership, and HR tech implementation. In parallel, Anand is currently building his own HR tech venture, with the goal of shaping meaningful, people-first solutions that reflect everything he has learned so far.

Throughout his career, he has led large-scale initiatives in M&A integration, HRIS deployment, organizational design, talent and change management at leading companies such as American Express, Metso, Sigma-Aldrich (now Merck KGaA), Lazada, Chope, and Love, Bonito. He is known for his collaborative and empathetic leadership style, stakeholder engagement, and passion for driving continuous improvement.

He holds an Executive MSc in HR & Global Leadership from Baruch College (CUNY), and is certified in SHL OPQ/MQ, DDI Targeted Selection, and 360 Feedback tools.

Anisha Sasheendran

Managing Partner

One People Team Sdn Bhd

Anisha Sasheendran is a builder of high-performing teams, bold cultures, and purpose-driven companies. A Biotechnology graduate who found her calling in HR, she began her journey as the first Malaysian selected for AIESEC International’s global team in Rotterdam, where she led leadership development programmes worldwide. She later returned to Malaysia to start her HR career with PwC, then helped scale a social tech startup into a multinational as Chief Talent Officer. At Maxis, she led Young Talent Programmes, bringing fresh talent into the telco industry. She went on to become Regional Head of People at Fave, managing teams across Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. Today, Anisha is the founder and Managing Partner of One People Team, an advisory and training company
working with business and HR leaders across Southeast Asia. A TEDx speaker and endeavor mentor, she combines startup agility, corporate depth, and global perspective to unlock people’s potential and drive performance.

Avinash Kohli

Founder and CEO

intalent.ai

Avi Kohli is the Founder and CEO of intalent.ai, a Silicon Valley–based startup building an Agentic Hiring OS that is transforming how organizations hire talent.

Prior to founding intalent.ai, Avi spent nearly two decades in senior HR leadership roles at Boeing, GE, and Citi, working across India, the United States, and Singapore, where he is currently based.

His corporate career includes serving as CHRO of Boeing India, where he was a strategic partner in scaling the company’s commercial and defense businesses. At Citi, he led HR for its global technology center, helping scale it into a key global pillar. Earlier, he was part of the Executive Development team at GE’s global headquarters, working on enterprise talent reviews and CEO succession.

Avi plays an active role in the global HR community. He serves on the Board of the National HRD Network, a 20,000+ member organization, and is the President of its Singapore Chapter.

He holds an MBA in Human Resources from the University of Delhi and is a graduate of GE’s Global HR Leadership Program.

Chee Gay Lim

Managing Director – GOC APAC

The Access Group

Chee Gay Lim is the Managing Director for APAC at The Access Group, where he leads regional growth, digital innovation, and people-centric transformation for one of the world’s largest business management software providers. With nearly three decades of cross-functional leadership across manufacturing, supply chain, IT, and human resources, Chee Gay brings a rare blend of operational depth and strategic foresight.

His career journey spans global organizations like Intel, Samsung, AIA, and TDCX, where he has been instrumental in pioneering Industry 4.0 adoption, HR digitalization, and AI-driven decision-making frameworks. As a champion of continuous improvement, he has applied lean methodologies beyond factory floors—infusing agility, empowerment, and performance culture across enterprise functions.

Recognized among Asia’s Top HR Leaders and Southeast Asia’s HR Icons, Chee Gay is also a TalentCorp Fellow and Adjunct Professor, committed to nurturing future-ready talent and advancing human capital strategies across sectors. His leadership philosophy is rooted in purpose, impact, and human connection—translating into business transformations that are both scalable and sustainable.

Outside of work, he channels his passion for service and discipline as President of the Life Saving Society Malaysia and an active triathlete. Chee Gay continues to inspire with his unique ability to lead with both heart and strategy.

Chloe Gan

Human Resources Director

Arvato Systems Malaysia

Chloe Gan is an accomplished HR leader with over 24 years of experience across IT, retail, and pharmaceutical industries. She currently serves as Human Resources Director at Arvato Systems Malaysia, where she partners closely with business leaders to align people strategies with long-term business sustainability. In parallel, Chloe also heads the Software Services division — bringing a rare blend of people leadership, operational insight, and commercial acumen.

Recognised as a trusted HR Business Partner, Chloe has played a pivotal role in building high-performing workplaces with strong employee engagement, reduced attrition, and consistent multi-year Best Employer recognition. Her work spans employee experience, leadership development, rewards and recognition, and HR digital transformation. A SHRM-SCP certified professional, certified performance coach, and frequent conference speaker, Chloe brings a practical, data-informed, and deeply people-centric lens to evaluating organisations that genuinely place employee happiness at the core of business success.

Datuk (Dr) Nora Manaf

Chairman | Board member

MGA | MBSB Group Berhad

Datuk (Dr) Nora Manaf is the Chairman of Manaf Gardner Associates (MGA) and was recently appointed as an Independent and Non-Executive Director and Board member of MBSB Group. Nora is a qualified Chartered Accountant,Chartered Banker (CIB, Scotland), Master Professional (IHRP, Singapore), Chartered Fellow CIPD (CIPD, UK), Strengths Coach (Gallup) and Black Belt Sustainability Practitioner.

Nora is an alumnus of Harvard (HBS AMP), Heriot-Watt (PhD by Practice), Cornell (School of Industrial Relations) and UiTM (School of Accountancy).She is an appointed Adjunct Professor at prestigious universities, including the University Utara Malaysia (UUM) and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), as well as appointed CEO@Faculty of UUM, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) and UiTM. Nora holds various Board membership; Board of Trustees for Yayasan Khazanah (Khazanah Foundation), Board of Investment (UiTM), Advisory Board (Yayasan Peneraju), Asian Advisory Board (Harvard Business Publishing), Chief People Officer Board (i4CP), Board of Examiners (Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers), Asia Pacific Industry Advisory Panel (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants), University-Industry Advisory Council of UUM and Academic Advisory Board Member of Putra Business School (PBS). Nora is also a member of the National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC).

Significant achievements across several leading organisations mark Nora’s career. Nora’s career is marked by significant achievements across several leading organizations. From August 2008 to October 2024, she served as Group Chief Human Capital Officer at Maybank, where she spearheaded the HR strategy and execution of the successful Leap30 Transformation. Under her leadership, Maybank's employer ranking rose from 17th in 2008 to 1st in 2014, maintaining its top position in all National level and Global rankings thereafter, including Willis Towers Watson’s Global High Performing Companies and Bloomberg’s. She also successfully defended and increased employee engagement levels from below 70% to above 80% throughout the 2009 Leap30 Transformation programme to-date (2024). These accomplishments demonstrate her ability to drive organizational transformation and enhance
employee satisfaction.

During her tenure at Maybank, Nora led the restructuring of the group from a local focus to global structures, improving employee productivity ratios. She successfully reduced headcount by 6,000 between 2009 and 2018 without retrenchment programs, and strengthened talent pipelines at all levels, maintaining an 80% internal realization rate for vacancies over the last 10 years. Additionally, she improved staff compensation and rewards without negatively impacting the staff cost-to-income ratio, maintaining revenue per staff above RM320K PA/Staff. This showcases her expertise in balancing organizational efficiency with employee well- being.

Prior to Maybank, Nora held key positions at Standard Chartered Bank from March 1999 to 2008, where she supported the CEO in turning around the Wholesale Banking business in Malaysia. She was handpicked for roles such as CHRO of Scope International, leading HR for the post-Chase Retail Bank HK Acquisition, addressing talent drain in London, and preparing PT Bank Permata for divestment. Earlier, from 1994 to 1999, at Maxis, she managed a retrenchment program and launched innovative approaches to secure alternative employment for affected staff, while also sponsoring self-directed learning initiatives. These experiences highlight her adaptability and strategic approach to human capital management across diverse
organizational contexts.

Nora was conferred the World Women Legend and Icon Leadership Award 2025,Global Women Leadership Lifetime Award 2024, national-level LAWA CHRO Champion Award 2023, national-level Woman Beacon of Light Award 2016, Outstanding Global Islamic Women Manager Icon Excellence Award (2023) and Top 50 Impact Lifetime Achievement Award for Women Excellence (2021) by KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific. Nora is also immediate Past President of the Malaysian Commercial Banks Association (MCBA), Chairman (HRNG), Council Member (MEF), Co-Chair (ARC) and CouncilMember (IAC)
.
Nora was also appointed as the Project Champion in 2024 for the Industry’s Future Skills Framework (FSF) that was launched by the BNM Governor and HR Minister in July 2024. She is Founder Sponsor of the acclaimed eMpowering Youths Across ASEAN programme and inaugural First EXCO Sponsor of Maybank’s Sustainability Culture and Governance Pillar. Nora is also Founder Council of the Malaysia Chapter of the 30 Percent Club, Executive Sponsor for Maybank’s Women Mentor Women Council, as well as a Mentor for the ICAEW-TalentCorp Women in Leadership Programme.

Recently, she was featured in the “Top 10 CHROs to Follow on LinkedIn” by NewInAsia.com, the leading platform for business insights across Asia. The globally recognised wisdom of Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast is proven under the leadership of Datuk (Dr) Nora Manaf in her work alongside the Group President CEO and his Top Team’s significant Milestone Leap30 Transformation of a leading ASEAN Bank and Malaysia’s largest company by market capitalisation listed on the Malaysian Stock Exchange, Maybank. In her capacity as Group Chief Human Capital Officer appointed in September 2008, Nora influenced and ensured the key success factors of a Business strategy were enabled and targeted Results realised. This was captured in a Case Study written and published by the Singapore Management University in 2019 titled “Maybank: Organisational Transformation through Human Resources”.

Dr Kohinoor Shweta Vohra

Strategic HR Consultant

Kohinoor is a Strategic HR & People Strategy Consultant with over a decade of experience partnering with leaders to build healthy, high-performing workplaces. She has led HR transformation, employee relations, and performance management initiatives across diverse environments, including technology, shared services, and multinational client-facing operations.

Most recently, Kohinoor has supported SMEs in Malaysia as an independent consultant, acting as a trusted advisor to founders and senior leaders on people strategy, organizational effectiveness, and employee experience. Prior to this, she served as HRBP Lead at TDCX Malaysia, where she led and mentored HRBPs supporting global clients such as Google, Disney, and Agilent, and advised leaders on culture, change, and complex employee relations matters.

Kohinoor is known for her balanced, pragmatic approach to workplace challenges, combining business acumen with empathy, fairness, and a strong commitment to employee well-being.

Dr. Loo Leap Han

Head of People

Infinity Logistics & Transport Sdn Bhd

Dr. Loo is a seasoned HR professional with over 25 years of experience across manufacturing, healthcare, and construction. As Head of People at Infinity Logistics & Transport, he leads the people and culture agenda, driving strategic HR initiatives. His expertise spans talent management, people productivity, HR analytics, and organisational development. Dr. Loo is also a sought-after speaker, trainer, and academic, having published HR research and lectured at universities. He is passionate about shaping future-ready HR practices and continues to inspire the industry through his leadership and contributions.

Dr. Soha Chahine

Organizational Psychologist & Founder

Forward Training & Consulting

Dr. Soha Chahine is an Organizational Psychologist, ICF-accredited PCC coach, and founder and Managing Director of Forward Training & Consulting. Grounded in behavioral science, her work examines the human systems that shape behavior, decision-making, and performance across individuals, teams, and leadership, influencing how culture, accountability, and resilience evolve in complex organizational environments.

She is the co-author of The Talent Matrix™ Playbook and Shaken, Stirred but Not Deterred, and a contributor to Harvard Business Review Arabia, where her work bridges theory and practice across Emotional Intelligence, Human Intelligence, resilience, and leadership effectiveness.

Dr. Chahine is a certified psychometric assessor, Adjunct Faculty in Business Ethics, and a global jury member for international HR and leadership awards. Her professional work also extends into governance and ethics through service in an independent ambassadorial capacity as Arab Women Ambassador for Human Sustainability, aligned with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights & International Cooperation (UNHCHRIC).

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communication (Public Relations), a Master of Science in Human Resource Management and Training, and a Doctorate in Organizational Psychology with a focus on talent and culture transformation.

Dr. Tommy Ng

Founder & Chief Guru

HR Guru Pte Ltd

Dr. Tommy Ng is the Founder and Chief Guru of HR Guru Pte Ltd and a well-recognised HR practitioner with hands-on experience across the corporate world of Asia Pacific, EMEA, Europe and the Americas, as well as in the consulting space. Over three decades, he has held senior CHRO and C-suite roles at Raffles Holdings, Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, SMRT Corporation, GuocoLand, and Tiger Airways.

At HRguru®, Dr. Ng provides strategic HR advisory, executive compensation expertise, and on-demand solutions to organisations and leaders navigating people and culture challenges. He is a Fellow of the Singapore Human Resources Institute and recipient of multiple accolades including the NTUC Medal of Commendation and the Asia Best Employer Brand HR Leadership Award.

Beyond work, Dr. Ng is a dog lover, an avid reader and author of the book “Nothing Surprises Me - I Work in HR (A Personal Journey). He continues to shape the regional HR landscape through advisory, board, and community roles.

Edalyn “Lyn” D. Hadjula-Legarde

Country People and Culture Director

Dutch Lady Milk Industries – Malaysia Berhad

With more than 25 years’ solid HR experience focused on People and Culture Strategy and Management in large multinational and local organizations, Lyn distinguished herself in the HR field. Inclusion and Diversity, Talent and Leadership Development and Strategic Rewards are passions and advocacies that she drive. 

She worked for well-known brands such as AMA Group of Companies, Emerson Electric Asia Ltd, Red Ribbon Bakeshop Inc. a company by the Jollibee group, Philip Morris HR Shared Services, Philip Morris Asia Ltd and Alaska Milk Corporation. She is currently the Country People and Culture Director for Dutch Lady Milk Industries – Malaysia Berhad, a company by Royal Friesland Campina. She has led several DEI Interventions locally, regionally and globally such as Equal Salary Certification, Wellness and Well-being Programs, Psychological Safety, Women Leadership Development, and she champions Unconscious Bias.

Lyn also is an Adjunct Professor and Program Director of the Center for Executive Education of the Asian Institute of Management in Manila, Philippines, a premiere Business School in Asia. She is also currently representing Dutch Lady Milk Industries - Berhad at the CAN-DEI Workstream, 30%+ Club and the Malaysia Lead Women.

She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Management major in Legal Management from Ateneo de Manila University, a Diploma in Industrial Relations from University of the Philippines and HR-related certificates from prestigious institutions including Ateneo CORD, Pennsylvania State University and London Business School. Lyn is also a holder of the Level 3 CHRME designation and she is a Certified Senior HR Practitioner by the CPHR/CAHR United Kingdom. 

Lyn has been recognized: 
• Top Most HR Leaders (ASIA) Award by the World HRD Congress August 2022 
• Top Most HR Leader (PH) Award by the World HRD Congress June 2023
• Women of Excellence, Rising Tigers Organization October 2023 (PH)
• 2023 Global 200 Power Leaders in HR White Pages International (Global)
• PH Top 100 Talent Leaders 2024 The Bridge Club (PH)
• Most Iconic Global HR Leader by the World HRD Congress Global HR Excellence Awards February 2024 (Global)

She has been a consistent speaker for Total Rewards, Transformational HR, AI in HR, Learning & Development, Talent Management, Leadership Development and Inclusion & Diversity, across countries and regions. 

Lyn has 6 kids – 2 human who are both finishing university, 3 dogs and 1 kitty cat. She loves to cook, read and travel. 

Grant ‘Upbeat’ Bosnick

Award-Winning Author, Keynote Speaker and Musician

Grant ‘Upbeat’ Bosnick is an award-winning Author, Keynote Speaker, Musician, and the Managing Director of YES (Your Empowering Solutions), a boutique HR consultancy. Using psychology and neuroscience, he has partnered with over a hundred Fortune 500 and FTSE 100 clients in 45 countries on 6 continents to transform people’s mindsets and behaviour to achieve results and perform at a higher level. He loves switching on light bulbs with people – triggering those ‘aha moments’ - insights - that change mindsets and open up new possibilities. His passion is all about helping people, teams and organizations re-imagine the future, for a better vision and better results... His latest award-winning book, Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership: A Bite-Size Approach Using Psychology and Neuroscience, was published by Routledge in 2023, with a foreword by Marshall Goldsmith

Haikal Akmar

Chief Human Resources Officer, UOA Group

CEO, UOA Academy

Haikal Akmar is the Chief Human Resources Officer of United Overseas Australia Ltd (UOA Group) and CEO of UOA Academy. UOA Group, a listed company, is one of the region’s leading real estate development and property investment groups with a presence in Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, and Malaysia.

With over 18 years of experience across hospitality, retail, real estate, property development, and financial services, Haikal’s portfolio extends beyond human resources to include business P&L leadership, culture building, capability development, and leadership growth. He is also active in advancing the use of Artificial Intelligence. Through the Laurence Yap School of AI at UOA Academy, he drives corporate application of AI, and contributes nationally as a member of AI Council.

Haikal further supports future skills and industry growth as Council Member of MyMahir Future Skills under TalentCorp and Co-Chair of the Tourism Productivity Nexus with the Malaysia Productivity Corporation. His work reflects a commitment to building meaningful, resilient, and future-ready workforces.

Jing Yng Voo

Chief People and Culture Officer

The Alice Smith School

With a 20-year journey in HR, Voo advanced from HR Practitioner to Group Director of HR Operations at YTL Hotels and Properties, demonstrating continuous leadership growth. In 2016, she became Head of Human Resources at Heriot-Watt University Malaysia, supporting the university’s 5-year people development plan and successfully implementing an ERP HR system to streamline processes from recruitment to onboarding and managing leavers.

Currently Chief People and Culture Officer at The Alice Smith School, Voo leads change management initiatives and works closely with stakeholders. Her leadership philosophy emphasizes a people-centric environment, positioning HR as a strategic partner for organizational excellence. She leverages strategic insight and innovative HR practices to drive organisational change and develop high-performing teams.

Maher Sabbagh

Chief People Officer and Board Advisor

A versatile and capable HR leader with more than two decades of rich and diverse experience with world's leading FMCG and Fortune 500 companies across Middle East, Europe, Africa, Asia and Emerging Markets. Accomplished track record in transformation strategies, change management and turnaround initiatives. Committed to excellence, adaptability in diversity and strategic leadership.

Mr. Anthony Berryhill, FRSA

Founder

Elite College Hacker

Anthony Berryhill, FRSA, is a global strategist specializing in the intersection of elite education and corporate talent development. A first-generation scholar from New Orleans, Anthony reverse-engineered a personal development path from a neighborhood devastated by Hurricane Katrina (the Lower 9th Ward) to Stanford University and Yale University. A former Vice President at PIMCO and a 3x National Champion Debate Coach, he is the founder of Elite College Hacker, where he democratizes access to the world’s most selective institutions. Named "America’s Greatest Thinker" in 2018, Berryhill is an expert in strategic persuasion and institutional literacy. He currently serves on the instructional staff at Harvard University and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA). His work has been featured in The Muse and recognized by global leadership summits for its impact on social mobility.

Nancy Zakharia

Board Advisor, Leadership Coach, and Talent & Organizational Development Leader

Nancy has held various HR and non HR roles in government and multinational organizations. She has extensive international experience working across many geographies and cultures in the capacity of a coach and HR professional. She leverages her expertise in career Management & Succession Planning complemented by experience in workforce planning, performance management, and job evaluation to drive organizational excellence. Her long-term strategic vision is a guiding force as she formulates strategies encompassing global Diversity & Inclusion, employee engagement, leadership development, and more. Nancy has driven the due diligence process for several merger & acquisition initiatives. She has also spearheaded Leadership Assessment & Development centres playing a pivotal role in selecting C-Suite executives for prominent organizations. This vast experience equips her with a comprehensive understanding of business challenges on a global scale, allowing her to effortlessly build strong connections with stakeholders at all levels and provide tailored business solutions.

Her passion for coaching & leadership development is evident through her design of HiPo talent programs & Female leadership programs.

Nancy believes in the power of community and is driven by a strong sense of purpose of making the world a better place; this fuels her commitment to giving back and creating a positive impact in the communities she operates in.

Nancy is a holder of a Masters’ in Business Administration from the American University of Sharjah (AUS) and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the Lebanese American University (LAU). She has pursued several certifications throughout her career and is currently a Certified Chair™ by The Advisory Board Center, a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) from ICF, Certified Professional Co-Active Coach- (CPCC), Certified Positive Intelligence Coach, Certified Strengths Coach, Certified People Acuity Guide, Professional Certified Coach for Innovators, a holder of SPHRi Certification from HRCI and SHRM- SCP from SHRM. She is Organization & Relationship Systems Coach and Conversational Intelligence Enhanced practitioner. Nancy is certified in a variety of Psychometric assessment tools that she uses as needed to support leadership development within organizations, and to facilitate individual and team coaching sessions.

Nitin Goil

Co-Founder and CEO

Restoration Labs | Global Leadership Advisor | Keynote Speaker |Best-Selling Author

Nitin is a global leadership advisor with more than 25 years of experience working with multinational organizations in the United States, Singapore and throughout Asia. His expertise is in the area of culture transformation, talent development and employee engagement. He is also a sought-after keynote speaker who has spoken and facilitated sessions at several regional and global conferences across Asia and North America.

Nitin’s mission is to make workplaces more compassionate and human and is a passionate thought leader, especially around topics of culture, well-being and employee engagement. He recently authored the book ‘The Restored Organization’ which talks about ‘Humanizing workplaces and Transforming Results’. He is also the co-founder and CEO of Restoration Labs, where he helps organizations transform their people and performance through courage and make workplace cultures great for all. Nitin has a Master degree in Education & Administration and a Bachelor degree in Psychology both from the United States where he also lived and worked for 15 years before moving to Singapore in 2010. He also holds a certification in Neuroscience and is a certified ICF executive coach.

Preethy Suresh

Founder & CEO

Ignition Point Ventures

Preethy Suresh is the Founder & CEO of Ignition Point Ventures, where she pioneers bespoke, people-centred HR systems tailored for growth-stage companies. Through IPVHR, she delivers fractional HR and consulting services, enabling organizations to access strategic expertise with agility and precision. With over two decades of experience in HR, Preethy brings a wealth of insight from working with multinational corporations across diverse global markets. Originally from Malaysia and now based in Dubai, her career has been defined by a relentless pursuit of excellence in fast-paced, high-growth environments, driving tangible results across complex industries such as telecommunications, software, and healthcare.

In addition to her entrepreneurial role, Preethy recently joined WisdomCircle as Strategic Advisor – Middle East, supporting the mission to connect experienced over-50 professionals with flexible and part-time work opportunities. Passionate about unlocking the full potential of people at every life stage, she is excited to contribute to WisdomCircle’s goal of reshaping the future of work for seasoned talent.

A certified coach from the prestigious Neuroleadership Institute, she blends strategic thinking with empathy to empower individuals and teams to thrive. A dedicated advocate for the HR profession, she also serves as a Faculty & Founding Member of the Hacking HR Expert’s Council, actively contributing to innovation, knowledge-sharing, and positive transformation across the global HR landscape.

Rachele Focardi

Founder XYZ@Work and Author of Reframing Generational Stereotypes

XYZ@Work

Rachele Focardi is a globally recognized authority on multigenerational workforce dynamics and a Top LinkedIn Voice, recently named one of the Six Most Influential Women in the New World of Work. With over two decades of experience across Asia, Europe, and the US, she pioneers strategies that transform age-diverse teams into engines of innovation, inclusion, and growth.

A sought-after TEDx and keynote speaker, Rachele advises Fortune 500 companies, governments, and universities. Her best-selling book, Reframing Generational Stereotypes, helps reframe how generations understand each other—shifting the narrative from judgment to collaboration.

As Founder and CEO of XYZ@Work, she leads global programs like Duo, a two-way mentoring model. She also chairs the Multigenerational Workforce Committee at AHDO, is Senior Partner at StartReverse, and lectures at Duke Corporate Education, Emeritus, and Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI).

Rachele began her career as a CFN–CNBC news anchor and later served as Chief Strategy Officer at Universum. She is a member of MENSA and is regularly featured in top global media as a trusted voice on the future of work.

Shafnas Siddiq

Head of People Strategy and Excellence

Borouge

Shafnas is a management consultant and a people centric transformational leader with over twenty years of diverse experience in operational excellence and strategy renovation across industry domains and global markets. His forte lies in integrating people, processes, and technology as the core foundation for driving customer value. Over the years, as a regional consulting partner, he has successfully lead business development, established and grown consulting practice teams across India, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. Currently, Shafnas is based in Singapore and spearheads the people strategy and growth for Borouge, a joint venture of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and Borealis of Austria. He is responsible for driving organizational growth plan, operating model design, manpower plan, total rewards strategy, digitalization and employee engagement across Asia Pacific and Middle East.

Shuchi Kapoor Bahl

Staffing & Operations Specialist – SEA

Kearney

A senior HR and Talent Acquisition leader with experience across consulting, Big Tech, SaaS, fintech, and high-growth startups in APAC and South Asia. Currently serving as Staffing & Operations Specialist – SEA at Kearney, driving workforce planning and hiring operations in complex, multicultural environments.

Brings deep expertise across Talent Acquisition, Startup HR, and AI-HR Tech product development, with a proven track record of building TA functions from the ground up, leading regional hiring, and enabling ethical, data-driven recruitment. Has held leadership roles at SugarBox, OnlinePajak, Circles.Life, and Mphasis (an HP company).

Beyond corporate roles, serves as Treasurer – National HRD Network (NHRDN), Singapore, is a published author, and actively supports nonprofits and social enterprises through pro bono HR advisory and governance roles. Passionate about transforming HR into a strategic growth engine—practical, tech-enabled, and purpose-led.

Steven Yeong

Global HR Advisor (Organizational Development)

Buildboldly.ai

Steven Yeong is on a mission to reshape HR—one day at a time. From wielding digital transformation for beauty conglomerates to hiring talent across Asia, Steven’s superpower is turning “people problems” into high-performance teams, usually with a dash of humour squeezed in for good measure. Working for firms such as Oracle, Unilever, L’Oreal and the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, Steven has been a strategic business partner and champion of employee happiness. He’s known for shrinking time-to-hire, boosting engagement scores, and running global HR ops before most have had their second coffee. When not trying to put out fires for his stakeholders, Steven might be coaching tennis—with forehands and forethought equally strong. Ready to spark change and inspire a few smiles, Steven believes no HR challenge is too big when faced with optimism and not taking oneself too seriously.

Umasuten Karisnan

Head of HR

Lattice Semiconductor Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore

Umasuten Karisnan is the head of HR for Lattice Semiconductor Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore with more than 20 years of local, regional and global human resources and operational management and leadership experience spanning organizational capability and development, employee engagement/relations, shared services center, payroll, employee tax, benefits, relocation, employee reimbursements, employee data management, call center support, equity, compensation and benefits, retention, talent acquisition and delivery. In his current role, he is working with the leadership team to hire, integrate and develop scores of engineers involved in cutting-edge technology in powering the world. His focus areas are on building the strategies to develop high performing team in making Lattice Semiconductor the powerhouse of engineering design globally.

Vaclav Koranda

CEO & Principal Consultant

Jebat Consulting Sdn Bhd

Vaclav Koranda was born in the Czech Republic. He has more than 25 years of experience in the field of human resources. He got his first HR Director role at a relatively early age of 27. Since then, he has held several executive roles in the area of Human Resources in Europe and Asia. Currently, he serves as the Head of Group Human Resources in BSSB Group and Adjunct Professor at Taylor’s University. Vaclav holds a master’s degree in Psychology and is also a Certified Human Resource Practitioner by MIHRM and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional. In 2018, he received a "CHRO of the Year" award. In 2019, he was named under "101 Global HR Heroes" and received the HR Leader award from Malaysian Institute of Human Resource Management. In 2020, he was named one of the most influential HR leaders in Malaysia.