Faculty

Adrian Praveen is Founder of Arrowood International, a hospitality consultant with 20+ years across Shangri-La, Starwood, St. Regis, and independent Malaysian hotels. He built Vision 360, Arrowood's 8-step hotel pre-opening framework, and Vision Impossible, a leadership transformation programme. He also runs Visionary Excellence and Visionary Leadership training, and hosts the Vision Impossible podcast, in conversation with hospitality leaders across the region.

Aileen Tan is the Honorary Professor of Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies (CEMACS), Universiti Sains Malaysia; Fellow of Academy Science Malaysia, Chair of UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the Sub-Commission of the Western Pacific (IOC WESTPAC); and Executive Director of the Asia-Pacific University-Community Engagement Network (APUCEN). She also sits in the Board of Trustees of Partnership for Observations of the Global Oceans (POGO). She serves as international steering committee in several organisations such as CoastPredict, GO2NE, Global Ocean Corps, Global Partnership on Plastic and Marine Litter; MarineLife 2030, OBON and EquiSea. 

Besides being the first female President of the 63-year old UNITAS Malacologica in year 2013-2016; Aileen Tan is also the first female Chair of IOC WESTPAC since the inception of the sub-commission in 1979. She is also the first Malaysian scientist who has successfully culture the tropical oysters and giant clams from eggs and sperms through artificial spawning.  

Aileen Tan is a visionary marine biologist and a pioneer of sustainable mollusc aquaculture in Southeast Asia. For over 35 years, she has championed environmentally responsible aquaculture to improve coastal livelihoods, particularly for underserved communities. Her work bridges scientific research, biodiversity conservation, and inclusive community engagement –advancing marine science with real-world impact.

Her leadership has earned international recognition, most notably the 2025 Anton Bruun Medal by UNESCO IOC– the highest honour in marine science. This prestigious award recognises individuals who have made outstanding contributions to ocean science, particularly in marine biology, marine ecosystems, and the sustainable management of living marine resources. She is deeply committed to translating knowledge into action, ensuring that her science uplifts communities and creates a more sustainable future for all.

Alicia Ng is a Clinical Psychologist with over 5 years of experience in mental health program development, psychological assessment, and workplace well-being. She delivers evidence based training across corporate, educational, and healthcare settings, focusing on stress management, emotional regulation, psychological safety, and trauma-informed practices to foster healthier individuals and workplaces. 

Alicia is a clinical psychologist by profession and is: 

• Registered with the Malaysian Allied Health Professions Council [MAHPC(CP)00257] 
• An HRDC Train-the-Trainer Certified Trainer 
• A Certified Psychological First Aid Trainer through the Department of Psychiatry, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia 

Hailing from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Ben Uzair is a seasoned professional emcee, corporate trainer and business events host with a strong presence across Malaysia’s MICE landscape. Drawing on his hospitality background and extensive experience hosting conferences, conventions, corporate events and international business gatherings, Ben brings warmth, confidence and professionalism to every stage, connecting audiences and ensuring every programme flows seamlessly.

Daniel is a trainer, consultant, coach, facilitator and motivational speaker who helps people and organisations turn potential into purposeful action. His experience spans sales, business management, human resources, learning and organisational development, with organisations including Scania SSEA, BAE Systems Applied Intelligence and Manpower Staffing Services.

Daniel partners with leaders, entrepreneurs and teams to clarify goals, strengthen leadership and translate strategy into results. His passion is helping people discover their strengths, embrace possibilities and create meaningful progress in their lives, teams, businesses and communities.

Ethan Ng is Managing Partner of MET Communications, the business events marketing agency he co-founded. Since 2014, he has marketed 40+ events in over five countries, working with PCMA, PCEB, Hannover Asia Pacific, MRANTI, MDEC, Kabloom Switzerland and more. His focus is helping organisers reach the right exhibitors, sponsors, delegates and visitors, not just a bigger crowd. 

As MET evolves to better support its clients, Ethan builds AI tools for speed and SOPs that keep people checking every deliverable. However, AI doesn’t know which buyer is worth chasing until someone tells it. That’s where human expertise and judgement matter most.

Haritina “Hari” Mogoșanu is an astrobiologist, TEDx speaker, analog astronaut and former NASA Ames intern. She co-founded New Zealand’s Star Safari Observatory and established the New Zealand Astrobiology Network. Through science, immersive education and storytelling, Hari explores life’s cosmic origins and inspires people to see our unique living planet and their place within the Universe through a new lens.

Iain Stirling is International Portfolio Director at Mash Media Group, where he leads Conference & Meetings World (CMW) and Exhibition World (EW). He has worked in business events since 2003, across media, publishing and live events, and now divides his time between reporting on the industry and working with the destinations, venues and organisers who shape it. He is a familiar face at trade shows and industry association events worldwide, and a regular moderator of sessions on the issues facing the sector.

Kevin Phun is a sustainable tourism specialist, consultant and trainer based in Singapore, with extensive experience across Southeast Asia. His work focuses on responsible tourism, climate-ready destinations, regenerative tourism, sustainability certification and capacity building. He works with tourism businesses, destinations and professionals, bridging practical industry experience with training, education and sustainable destination development across the region. 

Malar Ramalingam is a Strategic Communications, People & Organisational Development leader with 20+ years’ experience across diverse industries. As General Manager of InPsyful Learning & Solutions, she works at the intersection of leadership, workforce transformation & AI-readiness ~ helping Organisations connect People, Strategy & Technology while remaining adaptable, high-performing & deeply human.

Margaret is an entrepreneur, trailblazer and Founder of ROAR Tribe, a movement transforming how women see themselves, their potential and their place in society. With a background in advertising, she combines strategic thinking, creativity and entrepreneurial vision to challenge conventions and inspire change. Through her leadership and mountaineering journey, she advocates courage, resilience and the limitless possibilities of women.

Zulkifli Mustafa is a neuroscientist. His work on using honey to improve memory and tackle brain diseases motivated him to look for ways to increase Malaysia’s output of high-quality honey. He is the Project Leader for the Advance National Honey Landmark (AnNaHL) Translational Centre at the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and also the Vice President of the APIMONDIA Regional Asia.  As an academic, he supervises 21 postgraduates, published more than 25 research journals and books, and secured several patents. At the national level, he introduced the KELULUNOMIC initiative, a program for stingless bee conservation along with community socio-economy development. The program has been initiated with the Reinventing Honey Quality (RHQ) project that came up with significant inventions such as the MUSTAFA Hive, virtual reality stingless beekeeping module, HILDA System, KEIFh System and 17 Episode MOOC videos as well as the establishment of the first GMP, HACCP, ISO22000 certified stingless bee honey botttling factory. To date, he has trained over 4000 stingless beekeepers. He is the founder a spin-off by Universiti Sains Malaysia named Brainey Sdn Bhd. The company is set out to re-engineer the stingless bee industry to achieve its full potential as an innovation-driven national commodity.

A senior leader in the business events & brand experience space with a track record of building high-performing teams, growing multi-brand operations, and leading impactful work across Asia Pacific. 

Olinto currently serves as General Manager of MCI Macau and Hong Kong, while also leading Black Flower Agency in APAC, MCI Group’s luxury brand experience agency, and Ovation Hong Kong & Macau, the group’s destination management brand.

Across these roles, Olinto brings a rare cross-sector perspective spanning engagement marketing, luxury experiences, and corporate event delivery.

He has built a reputation for people-first leadership, strong commercial instinct, and creating team cultures grounded in trust, accountability, and high standards. 

Originally from Brazil and raised across the APAC region, Olinto brings a multicultural lens to leadership and communication and is known for a style that is approachable, energetic, and grounded in real-world experience. At the heart of his leadership philosophy is a simple belief: great teams are built on curiosity, passion and ownership. Building lean, high-quality teams that deliver with both excellence and purpose.

He is also the author of Liderança Criativa, a newly published book on how to inspire and motivate teams in creative environments through vision, alignment, and purpose.

Rachel AJ Lee is an experienced trade journalist specialising in the business events, corporate travel, and hospitality sectors across Asia-Pacific. Writing for and managing TTGmice and TTGassociations, she delivers sharp coverage on industry strategy, destination marketing, and emerging market dynamics. Her reporting spans executive interviews, venue spotlights, and deep dives into regional trends – ranging from corporate wellness integration to major events like the Singapore Grand Prix.

Samuel “Sam” Leske is an astrophysicist, former Air Force pilot and co-founder of New Zealand’s Star Safari Observatory. An experienced astronomy educator and communicator, he transforms complex cosmic ideas into vivid, accessible experiences. Through telescopes, immersive visualisation and storytelling, Sam invites audiences to journey across the Universe and return with a deeper understanding of our extraordinary place within it

Shimal Jaykant, DES, SEPC, is a conference and events manager with international experience across Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan and Australia. Her work spans across physical, hybrid and virtual events, with hands-on expertise in AI-powered tools, mobile applications, interactive platforms and live content management.

Recognised in PCMA’s 20 in Their Twenties Class of 2026 and awarded the IAPCO & NZICC Jan Tonkin Scholarship, she brings a practical, forward-thinking perspective on the industry’s evolving skills and workplace demands. She is passionate about continuous learning and using technology to streamline workflows, enhance speaker experiences, and create smarter, more forward-thinking ways of working.