Speakers

Zambry bin Abdul Kadir  born 22 March 1962) is a Malaysian politician who has served as the Minister of Higher Education under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim since December 2023 and a senator since December 2022. He previously served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs prior to the 2023 cabinet reshuffle from December 2022 to December 2023, non-independent and non-executive Chairman of Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) from August 2020 to December 2022, Leader of the Opposition of Perak briefly from July 2018 to August 2018, 11th Menteri Besar of Perak from February 2009 to May 2018, Member of the Perak State Executive Council (EXCO) in the Barisan Nasional (BN) state administration under former Menteri Besar Tajol Rosli Mohd Ghazali from March 2004 to March 2008, and Member of the Perak State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Pangkor from March 2004 to November 2022. He is a Supreme Council Member and the Division Chief of Lumut of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), a component party of the BN coalition. He has also served as BN's Secretary-General since June 2021. 

Poh Li Lau, PhD, is an associate professor in the Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling, Faculty of Education at Universiti Malaya, Malaysia. She has a Ph.D. in Counseling (UM). She completed a 2-year post-doctoral scholarship in counseling psychology at Indiana University Bloomington, USA. Her research interests include career counseling, positive psychology, resilience, cross-cultural and well-being. Poh Li has been teaching subjects such as Career Counseling Practice and Career Development Theories at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels since 2011. She also supervises PhD students conducting research related to the topic of career development. She is responsible for teaching and learning, evaluation activities in the undergraduate and postgraduate counseling programs, and consultation projects. She is also a registered counselor in Malaysia. Poh Li has over 20 peer-reviewed journal articles, including publications in Career Development Quarterly and Journal of Career Development. She received the 2025 APCDA Outstanding Educator of Career Professionals Award.

Sunil Hasmukharay, CSP, SPHRi, PCC (ICF), SP (EMCC), CRP, CSFC, CSFBC
Group CEO, HC Consultants Group | International Keynote Speaker & Executive Leadership Coach

Sunil Hasmukharay is a globally recognized keynote speaker, professional facilitator, and executive leadership coach with a career spanning over two decades. His journey began at age 17 when he delivered his first keynote at the United Nations, and since then he has engaged audiences in more than 46 countries, reaching over 350,000 participants across 120+ countries online, with more than 2,500 customized interventions delivered.

Prior to founding HC Consultants Group, Sunil served PETRONAS—the national oil and gas company of Malaysia—managing downstream projects valued at over RM 250 billion . Today, as the Group CEO of HC Consultants, he leads with a vision to enable flourishing individuals and thriving organizations through culture transformation, leadership development, change management, talent strategy, and ROI-driven organizational design.

Sunil also plays a leading role in various industry associations: he is a Council Member of the Malaysia Institute of Human Resources Management (MIHRM), the Founder & President of the Malaysia Positive Psychology Association, and the Co‑Founder & Immediate Past President of the Malaysia Association of Professional Trainers & Coaches (MAPTAC). Additionally, he represents Malaysia as the EMCC Global Asia Pacific Region Ambassador .

He is also an Adjunct Professor, a Certified ROI Professional (CRP), and a prolific proponent of integrating positive psychology, Appreciative Inquiry, and ROI methodology in organizational learning and transformation.

Mr. Megat Fazrul Azlin Megat Abd Aziz
Vice President, Graduate & Emerging Talent, Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad (TalentCorp)

Mr. Megat Fazrul Azlin serves as the Vice President of the Graduate and Emerging Talent Team at Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad (TalentCorp), where he brings over 11 years of experience in collaborating with government agencies, industry leaders, and higher education institutions. He is committed to improving the graduate talent ecosystem and building a sustainable talent pipeline to support Malaysia’s future workforce.

Throughout his career, he has successfully led national initiatives such as the Structured Internship Program, the Graduate Employability Management Scheme, and the Malaysia Partnership for the Sustainable Development Goals. In recognition of his impactful work, he was named one of the MIA 70 Rising Personalities on LinkedIn in 2020. His mission remains clear: to nurture, empower, and connect Malaysia’s emerging talent across all sectors and regions.

Dr. Rosaria Mita Amalia, M.Hum., is a distinguished Indonesian scholar and practitioner in the field of career development. She currently serves as:

• President of the Indonesia Career Centre Network (ICCN) (Badan Pimpinan ICCN), representing Padjadjaran University in her leadership role
  
  

• Head of the Career Development Center at Padjadjaran University (Universitas Padjadjaran)
  
  

Her expertise spans organizing job fairs, delivering career readiness training, and leading initiatives to align university graduate skills with industry demand .

A published author in the ICCN proceedings—including studies on Unpad’s 2019 job fair—she is recognized for her research and thought leadership in career services 

Dr. Amalia brings a wealth of experience in ASEAN career center leadership, educational collaboration, and graduate employability strategies—making her an ideal speaker for this conference 

Hafiz Kasman is the Co-Founder and COO of Kinobi, a Singapore-based SaaS career management platform that supports over 1.2 million students and more than 60 universities across Asia-Pacific, including Singapore, Indonesia, and Hong Kong, partnering with leading institutions such as Nanyang Technological University and the Singapore Institute of Management. Committed to youth development, Hafiz has made significant contributions through initiatives like Mentoring SG, MENDAKI, and the ASEAN Youth Fellowship.

Prof. Dian Ratna Sawitri, born on September 1, 1978, in Semarang, Indonesia, is the Dean and a Professor at the Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Diponegoro. She completed her Bachelor's degree in Psychology at Universitas Diponegoro in 2000 and earned her Master's degree from the University of Indonesia's Faculty of Psychology in 2008. In 2013, she obtained her Ph.D. from Griffith University in Australia, where her research focused on parental influences on Indonesian adolescents' career aspirations within a collectivist cultural context.

Prof. Sawitri has made significant contributions to the field of career development, particularly concerning adolescents' career decision-making processes in collectivist cultures. She developed the Adolescent-Parent Career Congruence Scale, a tool designed to measure the alignment between adolescents' career aspirations and perceived parental influences. Her research has been widely published and cited in high-impact journals, reflecting her influence in the academic community.

In recognition of her academic achievements and contributions, Prof. Sawitri was honored as Griffith Health's 2023 Outstanding International Alumnus. She also serves as an Adjunct Professor at Griffith University and a Research Fellow at INTI International University.

Throughout her career, Prof. Sawitri has held various administrative and academic roles, including Psychodiagnostic Laboratory Manager, Secretary of the UNDIP Student Consultative Body, and Head of the Procurement Receiver/Examiner Team. She has also been instrumental in establishing the UNDIP Career Centre (UCC) and has taught as a visiting lecturer in career development at universities in the United States and Australia.

Prof. Sawitri's dedication to education, research, and community service continues to impact students, academics, and the broader community positively.

Ms Kaylene Wong
Managing Director, John Ethans International
Executive Committee Member, People Career Development Association (PCDA), Singapore

Ms Kaylene Wong is a dynamic business and HR leader with deep expertise at the intersection of people, technology, and sustainability. As Managing Director of John Ethans International and Exco member of PCDA Singapore, she empowers organizations to thrive in the digital age through workforce modernization, digital trust, and sustainable HR practices.

Trilingual in German, Mandarin, and English, Kaylene brings a global perspective to talent development, guiding businesses across sectors in building inclusive, future-ready teams. Her work spans human capital strategy, career development, and sustainable transformation—ensuring organizations remain agile, competitive, and socially responsible.

Ms. Thuy Tran is the founder of SIF Careers, a career development organization based in Vietnam. She is also the Vietnam Representative for the Asia Pacific Career Development Association (APCDA), where she contributes to career development initiatives within the region.

In addition to her work with SIF Careers, Ms. Tran has been involved in mentoring programs, providing valuable feedback and insights to students. For instance, she participated in the VGU Mentoring Program, where she offered guidance to students on their career paths.

Through her roles, Ms. Tran demonstrates a commitment to enhancing career development opportunities and supporting students in their professional journeys.

Mrs. Ayza Q. Figuro leads the Office of Career Services at UA&P, where she empowers students and graduates to align their career goals with personal values and market realities. With a strong background in student development and industry engagement, she champions meaningful career readiness programs and fosters strong employer partnerships across the Philippines. 

Nik is currently the Director, Digital Talent & Entrepreneurship at Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC). In this function, his key responsibility is to drive efforts towards meeting current and future needs of Digital Technology talent through synergistic collaborations between academia, industry players and the government. The various initiatives run by MDEC have benefitted current and future talents across schools, tertiary institutions and existing workforce. He’s also responsible to drive development of talent for Digital Entrepreneurship and High Value Gig Workforce. Nik holds advisory roles at various agencies including Ministry of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Human Resources, HRD Corp’s Sectorial Training Committee, and Talent Corp’s Future Skills Talent Council. Prior to joining MDEC, Nik was in the telecommunications industry, implementing turn-key projects across Malaysia. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Columbia University as well as an MBA from Multimedia University. 

Dr. Teddy Indira Budiwan is a leading figure in the intersection of psychology, career services, and higher education in Indonesia. He currently serves as the Head of the National and International Cooperation Department at the Indonesian Psychological Association (Himpsi) and as Secretary General of the Indonesia Career Center Network (ICCN). 

A graduate of Universitas Indonesia in Psychology and Management, Dr. Teddy has over a decade of experience in marketing research, training, and career development. He previously led the career center at Universitas Bina Nusantara and continues to lecture in psychology and marketing. Having recently completed his doctorate in Management at Universitas Bina Nusantara, 

Dr. Teddy actively promotes regional collaboration in career readiness and talent development across ASEAN.

Mr. Nanda Kishor Mandal is the Founder and Director of Skill Lab, an organization dedicated to enhancing the employability of university students through skill development initiatives.

With over a decade of experience in capacity development, strategic human resource management, and small and medium enterprise management, Mr. Mandal has been instrumental in bridging the gap between education and employment. His work focuses on equipping students with the necessary skills to succeed in the workforce.

In addition to his role at Skill Lab, Mr. Mandal has served as the Head of the Yunus Social Business Center at King’s College, Kathmandu. He has also conducted workshops and training sessions at institutions such as the National Central University in Taiwan, Tata Institute of Social Sciences in India, and the Center for Social Entrepreneurship in the Russian Federation.

Through his leadership at Skill Lab, Mr. Mandal continues to play a pivotal role in transforming the future workforce by focusing on skilling, re-skilling, and up-skilling initiatives.

Guided by a passion for leveraging digital innovation to unlock human potential, Tessie drives AI‑powered talent and change initiatives for her clients across public and private sector organisations. At Temus—a Singapore‑born digital transformation champion—Tessie advocates for a “service journey” mindset, avoiding one‑size‑fits‑all templates and anchor bias to surface solutions that truly resonate across diverse cultural and demographic landscapes. She is excited to meet with like-minded leaders and collaborate on tailored strategies for building tomorrow’s digital workforce. 

Mr. Nabil Marie is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GRADUAN®, Malaysia's premier career resource platform for graduates. Established in 1994 by his parents, Elia Talib and Faris Marie, GRADUAN® has evolved into a multifaceted organization under Nabil's leadership, offering career fairs, employer branding videos, and human resources conferences.

Nabil emphasizes the importance of ownership and teamwork within the organization, believing that everyone should feel proud of their contributions and work collaboratively. He advises young professionals to be humble, reliable, and proactive in their careers, encouraging them to seek experiences beyond academic achievements.

Siti Norliza Mohd Sahar is the Regional Head of Talent Acquisition and Employer Branding at CIMB, a position she has held since April 2023.

She has been with CIMB since January 2019, initially serving as the Head of Regional Talent Acquisition.

With over 27 years of experience, Siti Norliza has held various roles in multiple organizations. Before joining CIMB, she was the Director of Talent at the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) from January 2017 to December 2018. Prior to that, she served as the Head of Graduate Employability at Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad (TalentCorp) from October 2011 to January 2017. She also held the position of Vice President of Strategic Human Capital Management at Khazanah Nasional Berhad from May 2005 to October 2011.

In addition to her corporate roles, Siti Norliza contributes to academia as an Industry Advisory Panel member at the University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) and the School of Professional Studies at Taylor's College since October 2021. She is also an Industry Advisory Council member at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS since January 2019.

Siti Norliza holds a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) from Manchester Business School

Dr. Mohd Izwan Bin Zainol is the Laboratory Manager in the Research Development Division at Leave a Nest Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.

He leads the Nest-Bio Venture Laboratory (NBVL), focusing on lab digitization and fostering a collaborative scientific ecosystem. His primary research areas include diagnostic microbiology, immunopathology of infectious diseases, and the analysis of natural products' bioactive compounds.

Dr. Izwan began his academic journey by obtaining a Bachelor's Degree in Biomedical Science from the University of Malaya in 2009. He then pursued a Master's Degree in Medical Science at the same university, supported by a teaching assistant fellowship, which he completed in 2016. In 2019, he earned his Ph.D. from the Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST) in Japan, as a recipient of the Monbukagakusho (MEXT) scholarship.

Prior to joining Leave a Nest Malaysia, Dr. Izwan served as a postdoctoral research fellow at the Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Malaya. He also held the position of laboratory manager at the Centre of Excellence for Research in AIDS (CERiA). Beyond his scientific and academic pursuits, Dr. Izwan is passionate about informal education and community outreach, engaging in public health awareness initiatives and science programs for school children.

Ms. Isnarti Hasan, S.E., M.Si.
Director of Employment Placement Development, Ministry of Manpower of the Republic of Indonesia

Ms. Isnarti Hasan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics (S.E.) and a Master’s degree in Science (M.Si.). As the Director of Employment Placement Development at Indonesia’s Ministry of Manpower, she leads initiatives to streamline and enhance worker placement both domestically and internationally. Her responsibilities include policy formulation, directing training and placement programs, and fostering collaboration with employment agencies and industry partners. Through her leadership, she aims to empower the workforce, ensure fair labor practices, and support legal, efficient deployment of Indonesian workers around the world.

YB Ms. Wong Shu Qi is currently a Member of Parliament for Kluang and a board member of Research for Social Advancement (REFSA). She started her career as a writer and journalist before being appointed the Executive Secretary for DAP and serving as a member of the Johor State Legislative Assembly from 2013 to 2018.

YB Ms. Shu Qi graduated with a double degree in Political Science and Journalism from the National Chengchi University, Taiwan and a Master's in Public Administration from the National University of Singapore.