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Born in Ireland and having lived in 5 countries since, Mr. Quentin O’Mahony is most comfortable up in the air. By the age of 8 he had circumnavigated the globe and so began a passion for aviation that led him to CAE in Montreal following his McGill MBA in 2010. Since joining CAE he has been based in Kuala Lumpur, working closely with AirAsia before becoming the first General Manager of their Singapore Flight
Training Centre in 2013. In 2015 he was appointed General Manager of Japan Airlines CAE joint venture responsible for Tokyo, Japan and Seoul, South Korea. When not busy playing with flight simulators he enjoys playing running marathons, refereeing football (soccer) and chasing after his 2 young boys.
Mr. Bill Tarrant has spent the past 32 years working in almost every country in Asia for Reuters, as a correspondent, bureau chief and editor. He was Asia’s first Enterprise Editor for Reuters and oversaw special reports that won a number of international awards, including Reuters first Pulitzer Prize for text in 2014. He is the author of a book about the Jakarta Post, an English-language daily he helped to start in 1983. For the past two years, he has been a top news editor, editing major initiative pieces on topics ranging from Islamic politics in Indonesia and Malaysia, the North Korea missile crisis and the impact of Trump’s policies on Asia to the IMDB scandal and issues around foreign banking in the region. Born in Springfield, Mass., Bill also has Irish citizenship and holds an MA from the University of Missouri School of Journalism.
The Hon. Wayne G. Wouters is a Strategic and Policy Advisor with McCarthy Tétrault LLP. Before joining the private sector, Mr. Wouters was the Clerk of the Privy Council, Secretary to the Cabinet, and Head of the Public Service of Canada. Appointed by Prime Minister Harper, Mr. Wouters served from July 1, 2009 until October 3, 2014, at which time he retired from the Public Service of Canada. Mr. Wouters has an Undergraduate Bachelor of Commerce degree at the University of Saskatchewan and a Master’s Degree in Economics from Queen’s University. He has also held progressively senior positions in several departments including the Department of Finance and the Privy Council Office.
Mr. Wong Joo Seng is the founder and CEO of Spark Systems, builders of ultrafast, low latency, resilient and cost-effective trading platforms. Joo Seng is also a Venture Capitalist and Partner with both Vickers Venture Partners as well as an Investment Partner with True Global Ventures. He also co-founded M-Daq. Joo Seng started his career in 1987 with United Overseas Bank Singapore, where he was a trader in precious metals. He later went on to working with Republic National Bank of New York in Singapore, Bank of New Zealand in Wellington, Head of Treasury at TLB Bullion and Futures, and G K Goh. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Mathematics from the National University of Singapore.
Mr. Wayne Farmer, managing partner of a boutique advisory firm and a private-markets professional with 15 + years of originating, leading and structuring pan-Asia investment transactions (focus on South East Asia/China) and selected cross-border/ global deals. Originated approximately USD 3 billion of deal flow and leads the firm’s capital / fundraising relationships, industry market intelligence gathering as well as deal execution for clients – including expectations management, strategic /operational advice/ planning, corporate and board restructuring, staffing and deal / corporate documentation. Wayne is also a Strategic Advisor to Cobalt Equity Partners, a Pan-Asia focused PE fund manager based in Hong Kong. Successful track record of launching corporate, entrepreneurial and public policy ventures with a high level of dedication to outcomes. Engaging speaker and an articulate policy advocate practiced in government relations, with an established commitment to the development of ASEAN. A graduate of Queen’s University; Ivey Business School; Singapore Management University; and a permanent resident of both Singapore and Hong Kong SAR.
Mr. Stewart Beck, is the President and CEO of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada. Prior to joining APF Canada, Mr. Beck served as the Canadian High Commissioner to the Republic of India with concurrent accreditation to the Kingdom of Bhutan and to Nepal. He joined Canada’s Department of External Affairs and International Trade (now Global Affairs Canada) in 1982 and served abroad in the United States, Taiwan, and the People’s Republic of China. In Ottawa, he held a number of progressively more senior positions, including Director General of the North Asia Bureau, Director General Responsible for Senior Management and Rotational Assignments, and Assistant Deputy Minister for International Business Development, Investment, and Innovation. He was Consul General in Shanghai and prior to his posting to India, he was Consul General in San Francisco.
Mr. Victor Sasdiyarto is Head of Loan Syndication and Financial Advisory Division at PT Sarana Multi Infrastruktur. He is responsible for overseeing financing arrangements, not only bank loan but also equity and MTN. Mr. Sasdiyarto managed project at Kertajati International Airport at West Java, a 4000 liter/second water supply project across 5 regions and municipalities in East Java under a PPP Scheme. He also assisted 5 ship port companies in conducting studies to obtain concession rights. He also manages the power plant, LPG storage, rolling stock and tourism special economic zone. Before joining PT SMI, he served as Associate Director of Deloitte TT, AVP of Loan Syndication at MayBank Indonesia, AVP of Loan Syndication at OCBC Indonesia and Senior Manager at CIMB Bank Indonesia.
Ms. Sirina Hervy is the Managing Director of Sinouk Coffee, a leading player in the coffee Industry in Laos. She leads the internal transformation of the company to scale with its future growth :growing the coffee shop network locally and regionally as well as developping an export market for Sinouk roasted coffee. She also has her sights set on establishing coffee tourism as a key draw card to Southern Laos. Before joining Sinouk Coffee and returning to her Origin Country, she headed the office of a start up in Singapore where she also built her network and knowledge of the ASEAN market. She then joined a major American Consulting Company in the Digital Consulting practice and lead projects in various industries.
Mr Sia Kheng Yok is the Chief Executive of the Association of Aerospace Industries (Singapore), a not-for-profit corporate membership organization representing the Aerospace industry in Singapore. Sia sits on the Advisory Boards of the Singapore Institute of Aerospace Engineers and the Singapore Space and Technology Association. He is also a senior member of the Institution of Engineers, serving on the Aerospace Engineering Technical Committee. Before joining the Association, Sia worked at the Singapore Economic Development Board (1993-2016), the lead government agency for planning and executing strategies that shape the future of Singapore’s economy. He also served as Director for the Aerospace research program at the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (2011-12).
Mr. Rob Simmons joined the Alberta Government in August 2013 as Managing Director – Southeast Asia and Oceania based in the Alberta Singapore Office. Rob has over twenty-five years of experience in trade, investment promotion and export finance in Asia. From 2004 to 2013 Rob was Chief Representative, Southeast Asia for Canada’s official export credit agency – Export Development Canada (EDC) based in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Prior to joining EDC, Mr. Simmons held a number of senior positions within the Alberta Government including Senior Director Asia Trade and Investment working out of the Alberta Hong Kong Office and Advisor – Natural Resource Policy with the Alberta Ministry of Federal and Intergovernmental Affairs based in Edmonton. Mr. Simmons is a graduate of the University of Manitoba as well as the University of Winnipeg.
Ms. Pearlie Koh is an Associate Professor of Law at the School of Law, Singapore Management University. She received her legal training at the National University of Singapore and the University of Melbourne and is a member of the Singapore Bar. Pearlie teaches and writes in corporate law. Her research has been cited by the courts of Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and England and Wales.
Ms. Nathalie Benzing is the Chief Operating Officer at TradeGecko, a fast-growing Singapore startup providing a SaaS inventory and order management platform solution for SME brand owners and distributors. Nathalie’s focus is on driving, supporting and enabling TradeGecko’s aggressive expansion plans to better serve its global customer base. Prior to this, Nathalie spent six years as Autodesk’s Global Head of Acquisition Integration within their Corporate Development team. In this and her previous role, as Autodesk’s EMEA Integration Lead, she led more than 60 merger integrations, from due diligence through to integration completion. Prior to joining Autodesk she held a number of IT Programme and Project Management roles focusing on CRM and ERP implementations working with clients such as NIKE and Philips Healthcare (formerly ADAC Laboratories).
Mr. Nadzri Hashim joined AirAsia in May 2005 as a Technical Services Manager. In March 2016, he was appointed as the Country Head of Engineering in Malaysia. Prior to joining AirAsia, Nadzri was a Technical Services Engineer at Emirates Airlines, part of a team responsible for all strategic configuration and repair of the airline’s wide body cabin interiors. His team was also responsible for the introduction of AirAsia Airbus A320 into service. Nadzri obtained a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from the Ohio State University, in the US. He also holds a DCA Design Organization Certification and Verification Engineer Approval, the Head of Design Organization and was a Part M Continuing Airworthiness Nominated Holder.
Mr.S Iswaran joined the Singapore Administrative Service in 1987. He served in the Ministries of Home Affairs and Education, was seconded to the National Trade Union Congress, and later to the Singapore Indian Development Association as its first Chief Executive Officer. Mr Iswaran was Director for International Trade at the Ministry of Trade and Industry in the lead up to Singapore’s hosting of the WTO Ministerial Conference in 1996. He then joined the private sector, as Director for Strategic Development at Singapore Technologies Pte Ltd. Later, as Managing Director at Temasek Holdings, he undertook investments, takeover, buy-out and merger transactions in the pharmaceuticals, biotech, hitech manufacturing, transport and logistics sectors. Mr. Iswaran has been elected as a Member of Parliament in five General Elections since 2 January 1997. Prior to his Cabinet appointment in 2006, he served on several Government Parliamentary Committees, and as the Deputy Speaker of Parliament from September 2004 to June 2006. Mr. Iswaran is currently the Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry), focusing on economic restructuring, productivity growth, and creating a vibrant domestic economy and enterprise ecosystem. He also oversees the Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Energy Market Authority, International Enterprise Singapore, Singapore Tourism Board, Sentosa Development Corporation and SPRING Singapore. Mr. Iswaran read Economics at the University of Adelaide and graduated with First Class Honours. He also holds a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard University.
Mr. Michael Nicholas is the Managing Director of British Columbia’s Trade and Investment Office based in Singapore and covering Malaysia as well. He has spent 12 years living and working in Southeast Asia as a management consultant to international companies and as an exporter. Most recently, Michael was Country Manager – Singapore as well as Lead of the firm’s trade and investment team based in Shanghai. Prior to this, Michael was at Trade & Invest British Columbia as Senior Director – Natural Resources and Director for India & Southeast Asia. Michael has an MBA from INSEAD, a post-graduate diploma on Management in Asia from Simon Fraser University and a degree in Southeast Asian Studies from UBC.
Ms. Lynn McDonald (BA, Trinity College, University of Toronto; LL.B, University of Toronto) joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 1996. After working in both the Legal and Trade Policy Bureaux of DFAIT from 1996-1999, she took up a position as Legal Advisor to Canada’s Permanent Mission to the World Trade Organization in Geneva, Switzerland from 1999-2002. From 2005-2009, she served as Counsellor and Head of the Trade Policy Section at the Embassy of Canada in Washington, D.C., USA. Ms. McDonald was Director of the Intellectual Property Trade Policy Division at Global Affairs Canada headquarters from 2011-2014. In 2014, she became Consul and Senior Trade Commissioner at the Consulate General of Canada in Hong Kong and Macao. Ms. McDonald was appointed as High Commissioner to Singapore in 2016.
Ms. Marlene Han is an entrepreneur at heart, she loves bringing people together to achieve mutual goals, whilst building quality sustainable business through delivering positive results for all parties and enjoying the company of good partners. She was a President/Chairman of CanCham in Hong Kong (1992-1994) and CanCham in Singapore as President/Chairman/ExCo Member (2007 – present), which was acknowledged through a Governor General’s Award. Marlene and business partner Des McGahan started Hong Kong agency, PRISM, in 1989. PRISM grew to include operations in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzou, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Having sold PRISM in 1996 to global sports marketing company, Octagon, Marlene oversaw Asian operations until 2005 and continues projects with an incredible network of great friends and top-notch professionals.
Ms. Mairead Lavery joined Export Development Canada in 2014, taking on the role of Senior Vice President for Business Development, where she has a lead role in expanding the crown corporation’s impact for Canadian exporters doing business in almost two hundred countries, across all industrial sectors. She came to EDC from Bombardier, after sixteen years of assuming roles of increasing responsibility. These positions included Vice-President Finance, Vice-President Strategy, as well as V-P Business Development and Structured Finance for Bombardier’s Aerospace Group and, finally, as V-P Transformation and Shared Services. Mairead is a native of Northern Ireland, where she earned her degree in Management and Accounting from Queen’s University Belfast. She is also a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland.
Mr. Klaus Houben joined Export Development Canada (EDC) in September 2010 and was recently appointed EDC’s Chief Representative South East Asia based in Singapore. When joining EDC in 2010 he started as EDC’s Senior Regional Manager – Europe. He headed the representation in Dusseldorf, Germany. Mr. Houben has nearly 30 years experience in the banking industry serving corporate customers from medium sized enterprises to multinationals. Prior to joining EDC’s International Business Development Group, Mr. Houben worked as a self employed Consultant specialized in corporate finance developing financing strategies for corporate customers and supporting them in the arrangements of loans. Before that Mr. Houben was a Member of the Board of Directors of PB Firmenkunden AG, the corporate banking unit of Deutsche Postbank AG, the German Postbank.
Mr. Kevyn McGraw moved to Laos at the age of 22 after graduating from Concordia University. He started working in 2013 for a Canadian software company named Aheeva Technologies as their Director in Asia. Aheeva develops contact center software and is used in over 30 different countries. In 2015, Kevyn and Aheeva partnered with Datacom, an IT company in Laos, and founded ASEAN Contact Center (ACC). The company’s mission was to be the first contact center BPO in Laos and modernize the local contact center industry. ACC now has over 140 staff and offers services in five different languages. ACC’s goal is to expand the company into ASEAN and add even more languages and services to help others grow.
