WELCOMING REMARK 

Zeeda Fatimah Mohamad 

Director, UM Sustainability and Development Centre (UMSDC) 

Zeeda is an Associate Professor at the UM Department of Science and Technology Studies, Faculty of Science who is passionate about the potential of systems and place-based approaches and action-oriented research in dealing with the challenges of environmental and sustainability transitions. She has been a part of the UM campus greening and sustainability movement since 2008 and is currently the founding director of UMSDC since it was established in December 2021. Zeeda completed her bachelors in Ecology at Universiti Malaya and later pursued her postgraduate studies in Environmental Management at Lund University and Science and Technology Policy at University of Sussex.

UMEXPERT profile: https://umexpert.um.edu.my/zeeda21.html 

UMSDC is UM's campus sustainability coordinating centre, with the vision to transform UM into a model urban campus that advances green, carbon-neutral and sustainable lifestyle and innovation. Under the umbrella of the UM Deputy Vice Chancellor of Research and Innovation, UMSDC aspires to promote and support solutions for a sustainable future, by using UM campus as a space or testbed (especially via the three entities: EcoCampus@UM, Rimba Ilmu Botanic Garden, and Makerspace@UM). The centre combines creative experimentations in sustainable innovation, enculturation of sustainable lifestyle, and re-enchanting the sense of global and local (Glo-Cal) sustainability stewardship among the campus community and our stakeholders to achieve this vision. 

Website: https://sustainability.um.edu.my/ 

SPECIAL INTRODUCTION: Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)

Kong Phui Yi

Manager, SDSN Malaysia (hosted by Sunway University)

Phui Yi is a Research Analyst at the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Asia office and Network Manager of the SDSN Malaysia Chapter.  She holds a Master’s in Sustainable Development Management from Sunway University Malaysia, and an interdisciplinary degree in English and Theatre from a liberal arts institution, Bowdoin College, in the United States. Phui Yi’s current role in SDSN Asia is on education, particularly, to advance Education for Sustainable Development in national schools in Malaysia. She will be speaking on three main projects at the SDSN Asia office. She will share examples from existing SDSN Asia projects related to networks, energy transition and education.   

The Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) is a global organization under the auspices of the United Nations. The organization’s Asia office, located in Sunway City, Malaysia is one of SDSN’s three coordinating offices, the other two being in New York and Paris. SDSN’s main objectives are to localize the SDGs, to promote and implement Education for Sustainable Development, and to mobilise technical and scientific expertise for solutions initiatives.

Website: https://www.unsdsn.org/malaysia (Malaysia) https://www.unsdsn.org/sdsn-in-asia (Asia)

SPECIAL INTRODUCTION: KL SDG Centre 

Syed Iskandar Syed Mustafa Kamal

Senior Executive, SDG Center Kuala Lumpur, Urbanice Malaysia 

Syed Iskandar is a dedicated community advocate and museologist with a passion for championing impactful initiatives. Recognizing the urgent need for intervention, he joined Urbanice Malaysia and has collaborated closely with local organizations, government and educational institutions to develop and implement comprehensive programmes that promote positive alternatives for schools and advocates of sustainability. He is currently focusing his efforts to create robust activities, programmes and partnerships through the SDG Centre Kuala Lumpur alongside DBKL as a strategic partner.

SDG Centre Kuala Lumpur showcases Kuala Lumpur’s commitment to the SDG and its localization and exhibits partnerships, programmes and projects to achieve the UN Global Agenda. Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s efforts to localise and implement the Sustainable Development Goals and New Urban Agenda are being consolidated at the Kuala Lumpur SDG Centre. The Kuala Lumpur SDG Centre is an effective platform to share and disseminate information with other stakeholders. This will encourage further collaboration and cooperation with a long-lasting impact.

Website: https://sdgcentrekl.com/ 

MODERATOR

Noor Zalina Mahmood

Director, UM Kong Zi Institute & UM ESG Committee Protem Leader

Noor Zalina Mahmood is an Associate Professor at the  Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya. She obtained her first degree in Ecology from UM and completed her PhD from University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom in Environmental Management focused on solid waste management. She was the Director (Malaysia) of Kong Zi Institute where she was appointed since January 2018 and during her appointment, she led Kong Zi team in exploring new potentials on engaging Kong Zi with other organisations and agencies in networking and collaborations between Malaysia and China universities as well as other agencies/industries. Prior to her post as the Director of Kong Zi Institute, she was the Deputy Dean of Sustainability Science Research Cluster, University of Malaya and the Coordinator for Environmental Science and Management Program.  Noor Zalina actively involves with international and national research works such JSPS-Asian Core Program with universities in Japan,  Danish University Consumerist Network, Technical expert on Solid Waste for Greentech Foresight 2030 under Malaysia-Industry Government Group for High Technology (MiGHT), Chairman of Material Flow Cost Accounting (MFCA) Industry Standard SIRIM and Working Group Committee for the development of Standard on National Solid Waste under the Department of Standard Malaysia. She currently is facilitating UM ESG CoE to develop and create networking between universities and industries/agencies in their ESG journeys. 

UMEXPERT profile: https://umexpert.um.edu.my/alin.html 

Flash Talk Speaker 

Zuraini Ahmad Tajudin

Director, Department of Environment (DOE) Wilayah Persekutuan KL

Madam Zuraini graduated from Universiti Malaya in 1993 and started her career with DOE since 1994 as Environmental Control Officer. She been assigned to several sectors in DOE such as EIA Review officer, Enforcement Officer for Environmental Quality Act 1974, and Prosecution Officer on the same act. In 2008, she been assigned as officer in charge for Multi Environment Agreements (MEAs) – Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Convention and responsible in the implementation of MEAs’ requirements within Malaysia. Her main expertise is hazardous waste management. In 2020, she been appointed as Director for Strategic Communication for DOE, and she was responsible for education and public awareness program on environment at all level especially on the importance of sustainable development and practicing the green lifestyle for a better environment - now and for the future generation Currently, her assignment is to lead DOE WPKL in ensuring the compliance of EQA 1974, implementing the educational and awareness programs on environment and enhance the networking among authorities and private sectors in Kuala Lumpur towards sustainable city of Kuala Lumpur.

The Department of Environment (DOE) is one of the agencies under the Ministry Of Natural Resources, Environment And Climate Change (MNRECC) that is responsible to formulate regulations and review policies on environmental protection and  to enforce the latest environmental requirements. DOE Wilayah Persekutuan is one of the state-level branches of DOE. 

Website: https://www.doe.gov.my/en/utama-english/ 

Flash Talk Speaker 

Aznie Rahim

Principal Assistant Secretary, Ministry Of Natural Resources, Environment And Climate Change (MNRECC), Water Sector 

A highly driven and passionate about policy planning and strategic delivery, Aznie Rahim joined public service in 2006. Her background includes Bachelor of Information Technology from Multimedia University, graduate certificate in Arts from University of Melbourne and Master in Urban Planning and Environment from RMIT Australia.She has experience in Land Transport policy, delivery of national transformation programmes for Integration of Urban Public Transport and Climate Change Adaptation. Her active support for women and climate change got her involved with the G100 Club as Chair for Environment and Climate Change. She is also a member of the Global Ambassadors of Sustainability (UAE) and member of the University Malaya Climate Change Network (UMCCRN). She is currently the Principal Assitant Secretary (Water Division) at MNRECC. 

Ministry Of Natural Resources, Environment And Climate Change (MNRECC) is the ministry responsible to spearhead Malaysia's sustainable electricity supply industry and natural resources governance for the wellbeing of the nation. 

Website: https://www.nrecc.gov.my/en-my 

Flash Talk Speaker 

Lim Su-Jin

Coordinator, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) - United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF ) Youth Environment Living Labs (YELL) 

Su-Jin started her career in consulting in corporate sustainability and greenhouse gas accounting. After that, she joined the development sector where her perspective of sustainable development was broadened from involving in projects on social protection and localizing sustainable development. Now, as the Youth Environment Living Labs (YELL) Coordinator, she believes children and young people are critical stakeholders and changemakers for achieving the sustainable development agenda. 

YELL is a joint programme of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Malaysia and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Malaysia, supported by Amanah Lestari Alam (ALAM). It aims to 1) localise climate narratives and emphasising local and indigenous perspective on nature and environment so that they are more relevant and compelling to young people in Malaysia; and 2) strengthen the ecosystem of actors to support and hold the space for youth to engage as agents of change in environmental policy and action. 

Website: https://yell.my/ 

MODERATOR

VGR Chandran A/L Govindaraju

Deputy Dean (Value Creation and Enterprise), Faculty of Business and Economics

VGR Chandran is Professor of Industrial Development at the Department of Development Studies, Faculty of Business and Economics at University of Malaya. He has also worked as Principal Analyst of Economic and Policy Studies with Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT), Prime Minister’s Department, Malaysia. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics and his research interests are mainly on innovation, technology development, trade and globalization that relate to industrial development. His field research covers sectors such as electrical and electronics, automotive, food, chemical, oil palm, machinery, iron and steel, ICT, and the newly emerging sector - renewable energy.  He had extensive fieldwork covering the Asian region that includes countries like Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, India, China, Thailand, and Malaysia. In recent years, his research interest expanded into investigating newly emerging enterprises within the context of social innovation and social enterprises, as well as open innovation.

UMEXPERT profile: https://umexpert.um.edu.my/vgrchandran.html 

Flash Talk Speaker 

Ms Suganthy David 

Manager, Investor and Ecosystem Management, Invest KL 

Suganthy David is in the post investment Americas team in InvestKL, a federal investment promotion agency under the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry. She is also leading the Investor Collaboration Programme and sitting in the ESG & Sustainability Connexion Centre Committee.  She was a Senior Case Counsel with the Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration, where she headed the adjudication division and spearheaded medical mediation. Prior to that, she was lecturing law for four years.  Suganthy holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of London (External Programme) and a Masters of Law Degree from University Malaya. 

InvestKL, an agency under the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), is an Investment Promotion Agency focused at attracting Fortune 500 and Forbes 2000 multinational companies, unicorns, fast growing and hidden champion type companies to establish their regional hubs and undertake regional activities in Greater Kuala Lumpur. As a city, Greater Kuala Lumpur is stepping up its sustainability efforts to align with the government's goals. Invest KL aspires to companies under their purview to support this vision. 

Website: https://www.investkl.gov.my/why-greater-kl/esg-sustainability 

Flash Talk Speaker 

Mr. Chong Paul Wee

Director of Corporate Banking, Global Banking, Maybank 

Chong Paul Wee has more than 20 years of experience in the Banking sector, and have been a part of Maybank for 10 years. During his career, Paul has taken roles in Investment Banking, involving research, corporate finance and client coverage for over 14 years. Since 6 years ago, Paul joined the Corporate Banking division, under Maybank Global Banking. During his tenure, he was involved in more than RM1.4bn of sustainable financing, in particular large scale solar projects and contracts. Paul was also involve in various sustainable initiatives undertaken by Maybank, specifically for the construction and real estate sector. This includes participating in the crafting of the Bank’s Sustainable Product Framework and Position Statements.

Maybank (Malayan Banking Berhad) , is the largest provider of financial services in Malaysia and has major operations throughout Sout East Asia. The bank provides services such as insurance, asset management, stock broking, nominee services, venture capital, leasing, and Internet banking. Currently. Maybank is committed to upholding good environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices, which include the promotion of sustainable finance.

Website: https://www.maybank.com/en/sustainability.page 

Flash Talk Speaker 

Murali Ram 

Lead, Advisory, Planning & Sustainability, ARUP 

Murali Ram manages the Cities & Advisory practice at Arup in Malaysia. He acts as a sustainability advisor to urban actors and is the lead author of the publication Creating Future-Proof Cities: How to Navigate the Climate Crisis. Murali has a wealth of experience in crafting urban strategies for social impact and seeing to their successful implementation. He is an alumni of Universiti Malaya, National University of Singapore and Sunway University, and holds a Master in Sustainable Development.

Arup is a British multinational professional services firm headquartered in London that provides design, engineering, architecture, planning, and advisory services across every aspect of the built environment., Arup is also a collective of engineering and sustainability consultants, designers, architects and experts dedicated to sustainable development, and to using imagination, technology and rigour to shape a better world.

Website: https://www.arup.com/ 

Flash Talk Speaker 

Prasna Nair

Climate Change & Carbon Executive. YTL -SV Carbon 

Prasna Nair is an environmentalist committed to fostering the decarbonization transition within industries. She takes a keen interest in innovative approaches that synergistically combat the pressing challenges of climate change. Her focal point revolves around integrating nature-based solutions and technology-driven decarbonisation strategies to facilitate the transition of organizations towards achieving carbon neutrality. Currently, she works as a Climate Change and Carbon Projects professional at YTL-SV Carbon, where she oversees the planning, management, execution, and expansion of consultancy mandates pertaining to greenhouse gas (GHG) assessment and reporting, as well as the development of carbon offset projects.

YTL-SV Carbon Sdn. Bhd. a subsidiary under YTK, is one of the top CDM/VCS project developers and GHG inventory consultants in South East Asia, both in terms of volume of projects and quality of service. Our mission is to contribute to sustainable development through the use of carbon finance to promote environmental friendly projects

Website: https://www.ytl-svcarbon.com/ 

Flash Talk Speaker 

Mohamed Tarek El-Fatatry

 Founder and Director, ERTH Social Enterprise 

Mohamed "Mo" Tarek El-Fatatry is an exceptional Finnish-Egyptian serial entrepreneur who has become a true visionary in the world of social innovation. As the founder and driving force behind ERTH (E-waste Recycling Through Heroes), he has pioneered a revolutionary approach to collecting and recycling electronic waste from households and businesses utilizing freelance "Heroes". With Mo at the helm, ERTH has become the largest direct collector of electronic waste in Malaysia, having amassed an impressive 1,000 tons of electronic waste to date. The company's client list includes global brands such as DHL, Volvo, United Nations, Dell, Shell, NTT, Hong Leong, and thousands of satisfied customers who have given the company a perfect 5/5 rating. Mo's exceptional leadership and passion have earned him many accolades, including being named one of Asia's most influential people and receiving the prestigious Internationalization Award of the President of Finland.

ERTH is an accredited social enterprise that is converting a global problem into opportunities for job creation, and income generation whilst concurrently ensuring proper management of hazardous e-waste material disposal.They offer pick-up services and pay higher prices for the e-waste than public recycling centres due to their unique and accelerated reverse supply chain solution that incentives, facilitates and optimizes e-waste recycling and trading.

Website: https://erth.app/ 

MODERATOR

Goh Hong Ching

Chair, UM Research Cluster on Social Advancement and Happiness

Hong Ching received training in urban planning, tourism, and geography. Currently, she is an Associate Professor at the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Faculty of Built Environment in UM and holds the position of chair for the UM Social Advancement and Happiness Research Cluster. Her research interests encompass resource governance, sustainable coastal development, and tourism planning within an interdisciplinary framework. More recently, she has been particularly focused on understanding the interactions between coastal communities and the interface of land and sea. 

UMEXPERT profile: https://umexpert.um.edu.my/gohhc.html 

Under the purview of UM Deputy Vice Chancellor of Research and Innovation, the research clusters at UM provide broad direction for developing research agenda, each embracing prominent and evolving themes in research area. Currently there are four research clusters, i.e., (1) Industry, Innovation & Sustainability Science, (2) Frontiers of the Natural World, (3) Health & Wellbeing and (4) Social Advancement & Happiness. Each cluster includes interdisciplinary approaches and coordinates research activities from different disciplines. 

UM Research Cluster Website: https://researchcluster.um.edu.my/ 

Flash Talk Speaker 

Ivy Wong

Head - Environment, Strategy & Partnership, Yayasan Hasanah 

Ms. Ivy Wong Abdullah is currently the Head, Environment Impact Area and Programme Manager of the Social Entrepreneurial (SE) Fund Development at Yayasan Hasanah. She currently leads the work towards environmental sustainability in the state of Perak and also responsible plastic waste management across Malaysia. Ivy is currently serving as a member of the National Biodiversity Roundtable with the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (KETSA) on the National Policy of Biological Diversity 2021-2030. Ivy is a member of the 202 AVPN Impact Investing Fellows, 2016 Asia Fellow of the Low Emissions Development Strategy (LEDS) Global Partnership Program, 2016 Alumni of the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) program on Climate and Energy, and the 2014 Global Green Economy Academy 2014, the framework of Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE), offering a unique global knowledge-sharing to help actively promote green economies that is socially inclusive.

Yayasan Hasanah was born as an independent grant-making foundation on 1 July 2015, with the aim of creating greater impact that complements Khazanah’s efforts towards advancing Malaysia.​ Hasanah focuses on the pressing community, social, and environmental issues in Malaysia. We work to bring together policymakers, civil society organisations, corporations, and local communities to enable collective impact for the people and environment.

Website: https://yayasanhasanah.org/ 

Flash Talk Speaker 

Amierah Amer

Senior Officer, Sustainable Consumption, WWF - Malaysia 

As a food lover herself, Amierah believes that simple changes in our consumption habits can positively impact our planet in the long term. She is currently leading the consumer engagement work for food consumption, covering topics on seafood, sustainable diets, and food waste. Amierah has been with WWF-Malaysia for 8 years engaging businesses and consumers across Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Kota Kinabalu, in efforts to raise awareness and seek collaboration in adopting responsible sourcing and consumption. 

Established in 1972, WWF-Malaysia is part of WWF, the international conservation organisation working to sustain the natural world for the benefit of people and wildlife. WWF aims to build a future in which people live in harmony with nature. Together, it's possible.

Website: https://www.wwf.org.my/ 

Flash Talk Speaker 

 Joanne Mun

President,  Bangsar Community Garden 

Joanne Mun is an architect‐urbanist with two decades of professional experience in the fields of urban design and architecture in Australia and Malaysia. In 2015, Joanne returned to Kuala Lumpur and joined Think City as a Community Architect. Her passion for community empowerment continues after her stint in Think City: since late 2018, Joanne is deeply involved in education and urban farming with two NGOs – YWCA KL’s Vocational School and Kebun-Kebun Bangsar. She is currently the Chairperson of Kebun-Kebun Bangsar and was listed in the Wiki Impact’s 100 Malaysian Changemakers. 

Kebun-Kebun Bangsar is an urban community farm and garden nestled in a quiet residential enclave in Bangsar. It was founded in 2017 by landscape architect Ng Sek San. The farm is a mere five-minute drive from Bangsar Village II. But you’ll be surprised at the change of scenery once you step into this green sanctuary. Even for just a couple of hours, adults can seek reprieve from their hectic lives here while kids can explore nature and run free in the enclosed space.

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/kebunkebunbangsar 

Flash Talk Speaker 

Anthony Tan Kee Huat

Director of Finance, All Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia on Sustainable Development Goals (APPGM - SDG) 

Anthony began his working career in 1988 upon graduating from Universiti Sains Malaysia with a Bachelor of Computer Science degree. After 17 years managing the IT Department in the manufacturing sector, he shifted gears and took on the position of Executive Director for the Centre for Environment Technology and Development, Malaysia (CETDEM), one of the oldest Environmental NGOs in Malaysia. In 2020, Anthony completed a Master in Sustainable Development Management (MSDM) programme in the Jeffrey Sachs Centre of Sunway University Malaysia. Anthony joined the Secretariat for the All Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia on Sustainable Development Goals in January 2020. Anthony is currently responsible for the Financial Management in the APPGM-SDG. He has been a member of the Petaling Jaya Green City Task Force since 2010. He recently completed a Case Study on Petaling Jaya for a SEA Circular project related to ocean litter. Anthony refers to himself as Your Friendly Neighbourhood EnvironMentalist.

APPGM-SDG is a bipartisan initiative driven to implement the SDGs in the Parliamentary constituencies. The SDGs are implemented through the analysis of issues and solutions, policy research, facilitating multi-stakeholder partnerships, including raising awareness and building capacity at the local level. Our team is made up of parliamentarians, academics, solution providers, and civil society activists.

Website: https://appgm-sdg.com/