Rizal Dato’ Nainy is the Chief Executive Officer of SME Corporation Malaysia, where he leads the strategic planning, implementation, and enhancement of SME development programs to foster globally competitive and resilient businesses. He brings extensive expertise in government relations, strategic transformation, IR4.0, digitization, and business re-engineering, with prior leadership experience at the Prime Minister’s Department and global roles at Shell. He holds a First Class Honours degree in Mechanical Engineering from Imperial College London and an MBA from Charles Sturt University, Australia.

Yusram Yusup is the Senior Director of the Transformation & Digital Trade Division at MATRADE, where he oversees Digital Trade, the Export Academy, Market Development, and Customised Programmes. Since joining MATRADE in 2006, he has held key leadership positions across various divisions—including Strategic Planning, HR, and Halal units—and served as Trade Commissioner in Indonesia, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia. He holds a double degree in South East Asian Studies (B.A. Hons) and Law (LL.B), alongside a Master of Laws (LL.M) in Business Law.

Ivan Look Chun Tat serves as Director of ESG & Corporate Services at Wezmart Consulting, where he leads sustainability advisory by blending academic rigor with practical industry experience. Currently pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration at Asia Pacific University (APU), Ivan specializes in integrating governance, sustainability, and innovation to drive transformative solutions across education and business practices.

Dr. John Loh is a seasoned entrepreneur, sustainability practitioner, and digital transformation advocate with over 25 years of experience across engineering, oil & gas, and industrial manufacturing. As Director of Operations & Strategic Development at Emerging EPC, he led the company’s expansion across Southeast Asia and established its pioneering sustainability reporting aligned with global frameworks like GRI and the UN SDGs. He also serves as National Sustainability & ESG Chairman for SAMENTA, actively collaborating with government, industry, and academia to drive ESG adoption, smart manufacturing, and digital transformation for Malaysian SMEs.

Alain Lye is the Founder and CEO of VeecoTech Group and RakanSales. At VeecoTech Group, he leads a team of over 100 professionals delivering mission-critical enterprise systems and AI solutions for government agencies, financial institutions, and major corporations across Southeast Asia. As CEO of RakanSales, Alain created a conversation-first, AI-powered CRM designed to help Asian SMEs streamline sales pipelines and automate customer follow-ups. His primary ambition is to scale RakanSales into a globally recognized CRM brand originating from Southeast Asia, enabling growing businesses to succeed internationally.

Teng Chan Leong is the CEO of Skribble Group, bringing over 10 years of experience leading digital transformation, branding, and marketing initiatives across Southeast Asia. He oversees Skribble Group’s suite of companies—including Skribble Me, Skribble Lab, Skribble Ventures, and Skribble Media—following his early career as Head of Digital Transformation at a major Malaysian conglomerate. Additionally, Teng is the founder of SAMA Alliance, a regional marketing network encompassing more than 50 independent agencies across the Asia-Pacific region.

Dr. Wong Kee Wei is an accomplished entrepreneur, speaker, and strategic coach with over 20 years of leadership experience. He is the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Safetyware Group Berhad, leading its growth into a Bursa Malaysia-listed company spanning Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Australia. He also serves as Founder and CEO of Keyway Digital Labs and Chief Coach at Multifocal Advisory, advising SMEs on AI adoption, digital transformation, and strategic execution. Dr. Wong holds leadership roles in SAMENTA and MFMA, serves as an Adjunct Lecturer at UTP, and holds a Doctorate in Business Administration.

Daniel Cerventus is a prominent entrepreneur, investor, and community builder based in Southeast Asia. He is the founder of NextUpAsia, a vibrant community of nearly 250,000 entrepreneurs, and AcquireStreet, an M&A advisory firm supporting strategic mergers and acquisitions for SMEs. Daniel also serves as the Organizer and Lead Curator of TEDxKL—the third-largest TEDx event globally—and has been a TEDx Ambassador since 2014. Additionally, he leads Build With AI, a platform empowering creators in AI technology. Recognized by Forbes and BFM, Daniel frequently consults for top organizations like Bank Negara Malaysia and Petronas on strategy and content.

Datuk Chong Sin Woon is the Secretary General of the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) and Chairman of the MCA Pahang State Liaison Committee. He previously served as a Senator of Malaysia (2014–2018), Deputy Minister of Education (2015–2018), and Chairman of the Port Klang Authority (2020–2023). Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Datuk Chong also chairs Koperasi Petani Muda Malaysia Berhad and advises various community organizations, focusing on youth development, SME growth, and public service.

Lee Chean Chung is the founder of the Hub for ASEAN Technology Innovation (HATI) and President of both SEAPAC and the Malaysia-China Technology Promotion Association. A former Member of Parliament for Petaling Jaya (2022–2026) and Semambu State Assemblyman (2013–2022), he brings extensive governance experience. He holds a Master in Public Administration from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, an M.Sc. in Transportation and Logistics, and a degree in Computer Engineering. His policy work focuses on sustainable development, industrial strategy, transportation, and ASEAN economic integration.

Professor Yeah Kim Leng is a Professor and Director of the Economic Studies Programme at the Jeffrey Cheah Institute on Southeast Asia at Sunway University. He serves as President of the Malaysian Economic Association (MEA) and is an adviser on the Prime Minister’s Policy Advisory Committee (PMAC). His extensive experience includes roles as chief economist at a credit rating agency and external member of Bank Negara Malaysia’s Monetary Policy Committee. Professor Yeah holds a PhD and MBA from the University of Hawaii, with research focused on monetary economics, fiscal sustainability, and tax systems.

Datuk William Ng is the national president of SAMENTA, interim president of the
Malaysian Alliance of Corporate Directors, and Malaysia’s representative to the ASEAN MSME Advisory Board. As a serial entrepreneur, he has founded and/or invested in early start-ups that are now listed in Bursa Malaysia, ASX and NASDAQ. During Covid-19, he took his company public in Singapore, as Audience Analytics Limited, where he continues to be the chairman and managing director.

Steven Chiew is the Group CEO of Next Group and the founder of Next Energy, Malaysia’s trusted solar service provider. A civil engineer by training, he uniquely combines engineering rigor, broadcasting storytelling, and entrepreneurial drive. Founded in 2018, Next Energy was built to make solar simple, transparent, and worry-free, now serving residential, commercial, and industrial clients across Malaysia.

Theophilus Wong is a multiple award-winning business and corporate leader with a strong passion for people development. He founded Fish Camp Learning 18 years ago and has since built a career spanning talent management, leadership development, people analytics, business strategy and organisational design. Today, he owns and is involved in several businesses while continuing to advise and develop leaders and organisations across industries in Malaysia and the region. Beyond business, Theophilus is actively involved in community and charitable work. He currently serves as a Board of Trustees member of the CCEP Foundation and as SAMENTA Sarawak State Chairman, contributing to social causes and the development of the SME business community.

Ben Lim co-founded NEXEA in 2015, establishing a leading hybrid venture fund and accelerator dedicated to supporting Southeast Asia’s top tech entrepreneurs. Under his leadership, NEXEA screens over 2,200 startups annually, investing in the top 0.25% through a founder-first model that pairs per-deal funding with mentorship from veteran executives. NEXEA’s portfolio of 50+ companies includes high-growth scaling successes like Lapasar and Parkit. Beyond investments, Ben oversees regional accelerators and peer advisory cohorts supporting ventures generating RM3.5 billion annually, while championing founder-focused educational platforms like DisruptInvest.org.

Yeoh Chen Chow is the Founder of 1% Advisory & Coaching and serves on the board of directors for three listed companies, acting as Chairman of Foodie Media Berhad and Independent Director at Audience Analytics Limited and SRKK AI Berhad. He previously co-founded Fave Group, which was acquired by Pine Labs. Yeoh is a Cornell University alumnus and an Eisenhower Fellow.