Industry Partners

Dato’ Dr Haji Azman Abu Bakar

Former Deputy Director General of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia

Dato’ Dr. Haji Azman Abu Bakar is the former Deputy Director General of Health, and is a public health specialist who has made significant contributions to the field of healthcare in Malaysia. He obtained his MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) and MPH (Master of Public Health) degrees from University Malaya in 1984 and 1988, respectively. Later, he pursued a PhD at the University of Nottingham, UK, focusing on quality of life research. Dato' Dr Azman was also Director of the Medical Development Division, a District Health Officer, a director of a 700 beds computerized hospital, a programme technical officer at the ministry level, State Health Director and Director of the Institute of Health System Research (IHSR) Malaysia.

Dato’ Adnan Pawanteh

Executive Director, Group Corporate Affairs, Nestle Products Sdn. Bhd.

Dato’ Adnan Pawanteh is currently the Executive Director, Group Corporate Affairsof Nestlé (Malaysia) Berhad. Besides Corporate Affairs, he oversees Sustainability, Corporate Nutrition, Consumer Services and Halal Affairs for the Company. He has had the experience of working abroad in various Nestlé markets namely Australia, Turkey and the Philippines. He is passionate is the area of Manufacturing and Sustainability. He holds a MBA and a Bachelor Degree in Engineering. He is currently the FMM Malaysian Food Manufacturing Group Chairman (MAFMAG).

Mr Ben Ng

Chief Executive Officer, AIA Malaysia

Ben is responsible for further strengthening AIA’s position in the life insurance industry and helping the company optimize its growth in Malaysia. Ben leads the ongoing development of the company’s insurance and takaful businesses in the country elevating the professionalism of its agency force, enhancing its bancassurance partnerships, expanding its market-leading corporate solutions business, as well as improving AIA’s customer engagement and experience. In addition to its three main business lines Agency, Partnership Distribution and Corporate Solutions, Ben also oversees AIA’s General Insurance, Family Takaful, Pension and Asset Management, as well as its Health Services units.

Mr Jean-Francois Naa

Chief Executive Officer, IHH Healthcare Malaysia

Mr. Jean-François has more than 25 years’ experience in the healthcare industry and has held the role of Chief Executive Officer of several IHH Healthcare entities since 2012.He has been the Chief Executive Officer of Gleneagles Hospital Medini Johor and Gleneagles Hospital Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia, Regional Chief Executive Officer of South and East Malaysia and interim Chief Executive Officer of IHH Healthcare India. In Singapore, he was the covering Chief Executive Officer for Gleneagles Hospital Singapore, Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital and Chief Executive Officer of Gleneagles Clinical Research Centre.

Dr Sumitra Nair

Senior Director and Head of Sustainability, Telekom Malaysia Berhad

Sumitra is currently Senior Director and Head of Group Sustainability at Telekom Malaysia. She brings close to three decades of corporate and senior leadership experience in digital economy, sustainability and human capital development. She is also a member of the national Digital Productivity Nexus under the auspices of the Malaysia Productivity Centre. Prior to joining TM, Sumitra served as Executive Committee member, and Senior Vice President of Strategy and Policy at Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation, over-seeing the agency’s macro-strategy, research, corporate planning, policy advocacy and ESG portfolios. In previous roles, Sumitra has also established a proven track record in leading digital talent development programmes across the talent life cycle, from K-12 to higher education and workforce development strategies. Sumitra holds a her PhD in Business and Economics from Monash University Malaysia.

Ms Bhavani Sivalingam

Head of R&D Solutions for JAPAC, IQVIA

Bhavani Sivalingam is Senior Vice President, responsible for IQVIA’s R&D Solutions business in Asia-Pacific and Japan. Bhavani and her leadership team oversee delivery of a variety of innovative delivery models across the region including full-service studies, functional resourcing, and biotech-focused trial solutions. She is also a key member of IQVIA’s Asia-Pacific leadership team. Bhavani graduated with a BSc in Chemistry from the National University of Singapore.

Dr Michael Shleifer

Co-Founder and Managing Partner, SPRIM Ventures

Dr. Michael Shleifer has over 20 years of experience in healthcare innovation. After four years at L’Oréal he and his partners founded SPRIM Consultancy in 2001. With operations across 17 countries, SPRIM Consultancy provides consulting and CRO services and stewarding life science clients through the development and delivery of commercially successful life science innovations. In 2015, Michael launched SPRIM Global Investment (SGI) activities in pharma services (CROs), biotech and digital clinical solutions. These activities encompass direct equity investments, investments through venture funds, as well as debt and royalty financing.

Dr Lim Ban Keong

Managing Director, Rhone Ma Holdings Berhad

Dr. Michael Shleifer has over 20 years of experience in healthcare innovation. After four years at L’Oréal he and his partners founded SPRIM Consultancy in 2001. With operations across 17 countries, SPRIM Consultancy provides consulting and CRO services and stewarding life science clients through the development and delivery of commercially successful life science innovations. In 2015, Michael launched SPRIM Global Investment (SGI) activities in pharma services (CROs), biotech and digital clinical solutions. These activities encompass direct equity investments, investments through venture funds, as well as debt and royalty financing. Dr. Lim began his career as Technical Sales Executive at Pahang Pharmacy Sdn Bhd in 1997 where he was responsible for providing veterinary services and promoting veterinary products to swine and poultry farms. He was in charge of the product portfolio covering veterinary pharmaceutical and biological products during his tenure with Rhodia Malaysia Sdn Bhd. Subsequently in 2000, he left Rhodia Malaysia Sdn Bhd and joined Rhone Ma Malaysia Sdn Bhd which acquired the animal health division of Rhodia Malaysia Sdn Bhd. Since then, Dr. Lim has been the Techno-Commercial Manager of Rhone Ma Malaysia Sdn Bhd and was subsequently promoted to General Manager in 2010 and assumed the role of Managing Director in 2013.

Ms Cheah Sook Hoon

Tech Leader, Professor

With over three decades of experience in the tech industry, Sook Hoon Cheah has held various senior management and regional leadership positions. Her domain expertise lies in driving new business development, strategic partnerships and leading high growth tech environment across Asia. She has experience advising C-Suite leaders and boards on cloud and AI adoption, developing organization culture and digital talent capabilities. She spent over 26 years at Microsoft, where she held several leadership positions, including General Manager of Southeast Asia New Markets and Asia Pacific Regional Director for Small Medium Enterprises.

Mr Azran Osman-Rani

CEO and Co-Founder, Naluri Hidup

Azran pioneered the long-haul, low-cost airline model as the founding CEO of AirAsia X. He led the growth from start-up to US$1 billion in revenue, 2500 employees, and a public-listing in six years, breaking many low-cost airline industry conventions and introducing innovations. Azran is active in the internet technology space as a co-founder, investor and advisor to iflix, MoneyMatch, Cognifyx, and YellowPorter. He is currently the founding CEO of a digital health technology company Naluri and an Ironman triathlete.