Speakers
Dato’ Ir. Rajendran Anthony
Mayor, Penang Island City Council
Dato’ Ir. Rajendran Anthony
Mayor, Penang Island City Council
Dato’ Ir. Rajendran Anthony was born in Penang Island and is a civil engineer by profession. He started his career at the Municipal Council of Penang Island (now the City Council of Penang Island) in 1986. He has a B.Eng (Hons) degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Hertfordshire, United Kingdom. In 2002, he was seconded to the State Economic Planning Unit to Head of the Traffic Section. Subsequently he was appointed as the General Manager of the State Public Transport Company in 2007. He returned to the City Council in 2009 as the Chief Engineer and was promoted to the Deputy Director of Engineering post in 2011 and the Director in 2018.
Based on his experience and performance in various positions and capacities, Ir. Rajendran was appointed as the City Secretary in 2022 has held the helm of the City Council of Penang Island as the Mayor from May 2023. His vision is to make Penang Island a Progressive, Resilient and Happy City.
Ir. Rajendran is an experienced engineer in Highways and Bridges Construction, Traffic Planning and Management, Public Transport Planning and Operation; and Solid Waste Operations and Management. He also oversees the Digital Transformation of the City Council of Penang Island. He is a professional engineer with practising certificate registered with the Board of Engineers Malaysia. In 2024, he was conferred the Honorary Fellow of The Institution of Engineers Malaysia for his contributions to the engineering profession and the institution.
Siti Suhana Binti Rosli
City Treasurer and Chief Digital Officer, Miri City Council
Siti Suhana Binti Rosli
City Treasurer and Chief Digital Officer, Miri City Council
Pn. Siti Suhana Binti Rosli is the City Treasurer and Chief Digital Officer of Miri City Council, with over 20 years of experience in public sector financial management, strategic governance and digital transformation. In addition to leading the Council's financial management and corporate governance, she spearheads Miri's Smart City initiatives, overseeing the development of the Miri Smart City Command Centre (MSCCC) to enhance urban operations, public service delivery and city resilience through data-driven governance and digital innovation.
A Chartered Accountant (MIA) and ACMA, CGMA professional, she has successfully bridged financial leadership with smart city transformation, leading initiatives in digital governance, urban resilience, artificial intelligence and sustainable city development. As the project lead for Miri's Smart City initiatives, she represented Miri City Council at the Seoul Smart City Prize 2024, where Miri received the Silver Prize in the Human-Centric City Category, recognising the city's commitment to people-centred digital transformation.
Today, she joins the panel to share Miri's practical experience in developing and operating a Miri Smart City and its Command Centre, implementing digital transformation within local government, and leveraging technology to build more resilient, sustainable and citizen-centric cities.
Datuk Nik Ahmad Faizul, Abdul Mallek
Smart City Architect and Founding Director, Smart Cities Program Alliance
Datuk Nik Ahmad Faizul, Abdul Mallek
Smart City Architect and Founding Director, Smart Cities Program Alliance
TPr Ts. Md Farabi Yussoff bin Md Yussof
Head of Smart Infrastructure, Gamuda Technologies Sdn Bhd
TPr Ts. Md Farabi Yussoff bin Md Yussof
Head of Smart Infrastructure, Gamuda Technologies Sdn Bhd
Rex Lai
Chief Strategy Officer and Co-Founder of Teragrid
Rex Lai
Chief Strategy Officer and Co-Founder of Teragrid
Rex Lai is the Chief Strategy Officer and co-founder of Teragrid, a Malaysia-based agentic AI company dedicated to transforming enterprises through agentic approaches to business. He specializes in translating complex business processes and operational pain points into practical, workable agentic AI solutions that deliver measurable value. For Rex, robust data governance and cybersecurity are paramount, forming the foundation of every agentic AI system he designs and implements.
Beyond Teragrid, Rex serves as Chief Consultant to a Government-Linked Company, where he leads the refactoring of core 20 enterprise systems, overseeing hardware modernization, software architecture, and the strategic planning of the organization's AI roadmap. His work bridges deep technical expertise with long-term institutional transformation. Rex is also an academician, contributing as a part-time lecturer at Universiti Sains Malaysia, where he teaches both undergraduate and master's students. In this role, he shares real-world industry insight and nurtures the next generation of technology professionals. Combining entrepreneurial leadership, hands-on consulting, and academic engagement, Rex brings a rare blend of strategic vision and technical depth. His commitment to secure, governance-first AI positions him as a trusted partner for organizations navigating the shift toward intelligent, agent-driven operations.
Mohd Alhafidz Yahya
Director of Innovation, AI Malaysia Berhad (NAIO)
Mohd Alhafidz Yahya
Director of Innovation, AI Malaysia Berhad (NAIO)
Alhafidz Yahya is an Aerospace Engineer and a Certified AI Practitioner, specializing in Computer Vision systems. He currently serves as the Director of Innovation at the National Artificial Intelligence Office (NAIO), an organization under the Ministry of Digital, where his work focuses on accelerating AI technology adoption in Malaysia. He is also responsible for fostering cross sector collaborations and promoting ethical technology development. Some of the projects he is currently spearheading at NAIO include enhancing Malaysia AI Sandbox, Overseeing the development of a Sovereign AI system, and establishing AI Clusters across different domains. Alhafidz holds a bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from Purdue University, US
Lip Gee Tan
Chief Technology Officer, Microsoft Malaysia
Lip Gee Tan
Chief Technology Officer, Microsoft Malaysia
Lip Gee Tan is the Chief Technology Officer at Microsoft Malaysia, where he works closely with customers, partners, and industry leaders to help organizations reimagine how they operate, compete, and grow in an AI‑driven world.
With more than 25 years of experience spanning software development, IT operations, consulting, solution architecture, and technical pre-sales, Lip Gee brings a practitioner-led perspective to enterprise transformation. His background covers hands-on engineering, large scale production environments, and strategic advisory roles, enabling organizations to modernize cloud and data platforms, design resilient architectures, and unlock value from emerging technologies.
Before joining Microsoft, Lip Gee held senior technical and customer facing roles at global technology companies, including AWS, Google Cloud, and IBM. In these roles, he worked closely with business and technology leaders to navigate complex transformations, bridging strategy and execution across cloud adoption, data modernization, and AI‑driven innovation.
As CTO, Lip Gee believes organizations are at a defining moment where AI has evolved from a supporting tool into the strategic foundation of the modern enterprise. At Microsoft Malaysia, he is focused on helping customers move beyond experimentation to scale AI responsibly and with purpose. He is particularly passionate about enabling organizations in Malaysia to become Frontier Firms in the digital economy: enterprises that harness AI, data, and cloud to innovate faster, operate intelligently, and build sustained competitive advantage.
Outside of work, Lip Gee enjoys reading, staying active at the gym, and expressing his creativity through music as a drummer.
Dr Matin Ng Chin Liang
Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer and Alternate Director, UWC Berhad
Dr Matin Ng Chin Liang
Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer and Alternate Director, UWC Berhad
Dr. Matin Ng Chin Liang is the Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer and Alternate Director of UWC Berhad, a integrated engineering service provider listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia. Dr. Ng plays a pivotal role in charting the Group’s corporate strategies, expanding business capabilities, and driving high-tech engineering initiatives. Notably, he was a key driver behind UWC Berhad’s highly successful initial public offering (IPO) in 2019.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts (First Class Honours) and a Master of Science (Distinction) in Accounting and Finance from the University of Exeter, UK. He completed his Doctor of Business Administration at Wawasan Open University. He is also a Fellow Member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA) and a member of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA). Beyond his corporate leadership, Dr. Ng actively champions industry development and workforce upskilling. He serves as the Chairman of the Youth Club for the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) Penang Branch and holds the role of Vice Chairman at the Penang Skills Development Centre (PSDC)
Graham Rice
Vice President, Sustainability, Asia Pacific, B.Braun
Graham Rice
Vice President, Sustainability, Asia Pacific, B.Braun
Graham has made Malaysia his home for over 27 years. Born in the Middle East and raised in the UK, he brings a diverse background to his professional journey.
With extensive experience in procurement and sustainability roles across the Asia Pacific region, Graham has worked in various sectors, including Electrical & Electronics, Consultancy, and Pharmaceuticals, before venturing into Medical Technology.
Graham joined B. Braun in 2015 as Vice President and Head of Procurement for the Asia Pacific region. In addition to this role, he has been instrumental in advancing sustainability initiatives within the company.
In 2024, Graham transitioned to a newly established position as Vice President of Sustainability for B. Braun in Asia Pacific. In this role, he is dedicated to implementing sustainability strategies, policies, and programs that reflect B. Braun's commitment to social responsibility and environmental sustainability throughout the region.
Wan Rodziana Wan Hassan
Assistant General Manager, Corporate Strategy, NCIA
Wan Rodziana Wan Hassan
Assistant General Manager, Corporate Strategy, NCIA
Wan Rodziana Wan Hassan is the Assistant General Manager, Corporate Strategy at the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA), Malaysia, the statutory body responsible for driving the socio-economic development of the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER), encompassing Penang, Kedah, Perak, and Perlis.
She leads NCIA's corporate strategy, regional planning, industrial development, and strategic intelligence functions, driving the formulation of long-term development strategies aligned with the NCER Strategic Development Plan and Malaysia's national priorities. Her work focuses on industrial ecosystem planning, strategic policy development, investment enablement, and the implementation of catalytic industrial projects that enhance regional competitiveness and sustainable economic growth.
Wan Rodziana has extensive experience in facilitating cross-sector collaboration among government agencies, industry, academia, and development partners to advance regional development initiatives. She is actively involved in developing strategies that integrate sustainability, digitalisation, and industrial ecosystem development to support the transition towards greener, smarter, and more resilient manufacturing hubs. She holds a Master of Business Administration from Universiti Utara Malaysia and a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from the University of Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Sr Hj Roslan bin Hassan
Deputy Chief Executive (Management), Penang Development Corporation
Sr Hj Roslan bin Hassan
Deputy Chief Executive (Management), Penang Development Corporation
Sr Hj Roslan bin Hassan is currently the Deputy Chief Executive (Management) of Penang Development Corporation (PDC). He graduated from Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom in 1991 and is a member of the Royal Institution of Surveyors Malaysia (RISM). With over 30 years of experience in estate and property management, he has extensive expertise in property management, land matters and the management of stratified developments, including residential and commercial projects.
Prior to joining PDC in 1994, he gained valuable experience with two reputable property valuation and real estate management companies. Throughout his tenure at PDC, he has successfully managed various property assets, land-related matters, and strata schemes, including the conduct of Annual General Meetings (AGMs) and subsequent handover of management responsibilities to property owners. He has played a key role in advancing PDC’s sustainability agenda, including the establishment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Division to drive sustainability and ESG initiatives. He also serves as a Director of Solar Voltech Sdn. Bhd., a wholly owned subsidiary of PDC, specialising in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and green technology solutions. His strategic engagements with the Penang Green Council and various State agencies culminated in PDC being appointed by the Penang State Government as the lead agency to implement the Penang Energy Framework at government buildings across the State.
Sam Majid
Former CEO of AI Malaysia Berhad (NAIO)
Sam Majid
Former CEO of AI Malaysia Berhad (NAIO)
Dr. Hari Narayanan
CEO, Penang Skills Development Centre (PSDC)
Dr. Hari Narayanan
CEO, Penang Skills Development Centre (PSDC)
Thong Seng Foo
Chief Technology Officer, Public Sector, Microsoft ASEAN
Thong Seng Foo
Chief Technology Officer, Public Sector, Microsoft ASEAN
Thong Seng Foo is Chief Technology Officer, Public Sector, Microsoft ASEAN, where he works with governments, city leaders, and public sector organizations across Southeast Asia on digital transformation, cloud adoption, data platforms, and artificial intelligence. With over two decades of experience in technology leadership, Thong Seng helps organizations navigate modernization initiatives spanning digital government, smart infrastructure, citizen services, and AI-driven transformation.
Prior to Microsoft, Thong Seng held senior leadership roles at Amazon Web Services (AWS), working with governments, public sector agencies, and regulated industries across Asia Pacific and Japan on cloud strategy, sovereign technology initiatives, and mission-critical digital platforms.
At Microsoft, Thong Seng focuses on helping organizations harness emerging technologies to deliver responsive, data-driven, and sustainable public services. His focus areas include AI governance, digital twins, smart infrastructure, urban resilience, and the role of intelligent platforms in shaping the future of cities and communities.