Our speakers bring diverse perspectives and proven expertise to inspire action

Meet leaders and innovators who are turning ideas into action, offering practical solutions and visionary perspectives on the circular economy.

HE DR. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN

Day One – Opening Remarks
Dr. Kao Kim Hourn’s career has focused on strengthening Cambodia’s international relations, particularly in ASEAN, driving policy advocacy and promoting research, education, and development. Dr. Kao had served as a two-term Minister Delegate attached to the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, from 2013 to 2022. He has authored dozens of books and articles on Cambodia and ASEAN.

Dr. Kao is a Member of the Supreme National Economic Council, a Senior Fellow at the Jeffrey Cheah Institute on Southeast Asia, and a Member of the Global Council of The Asia Society. He serves as a Member of the Board of Directors for the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace and the Worldwide Support for Development.

With the mission of providing education to the disadvantaged Cambodian youths, Dr. Kao established The University of Cambodia in 2003 and continued to serve as the university president until he stepped down in October 2022.

For his services to Cambodia, Dr. Kao received the Royal Order of Cambodia, the Royal Order of Sowathara, and the Grand Order of National Merit, among others. He was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Public Service from Ohio University in the United States, in 2007, and an Honorary Doctorate in Literature from the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology in India, in 2014. In addition, Dr. Kao received an Honorary Doctorate in Political Science from the Busan University of Foreign Studies, in the Republic of Korea, in June 2023, in recognition of his work and contribution to ASEAN. In recognition of Dr. Kao’s achievements in the field of political science and international affairs, he was conferred the Honorary Title of “Guest Professor” by Zhengzhou University, in Henan Province, the People’s Republic of China, on 15 October 2023. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn was conferred an Honourable Member of the International Advisory Board of the Institute of ASEAN Studies at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom, on 2 November 2023. Most recently, Dr. Kao was conferred the title of “Specially Invited Professor” by Hiroshima University, Japan, on 21 May 2024.

Dr. Kao started his career with the work in the think tank in Cambodia, dedicated to ASEAN and international affairs, after his return from his studies in the United States, in January 1993. He later joined the Royal Government of Cambodia where he had served, from August 2001 to August 2013, in a variety of capacities, including a post as Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, for two terms, from 2004 to 2013.

Dr. Kao completed Bachelor of Arts in Asian Studies from Baylor University, Master of Arts in Political Science and Master of Arts in International Studies from Ohio University, and Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

He is married with two adult children who live in Phnom Penh.

HE Sujiro Seam, Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to ASEAN

Day One – Opening Remarks
HE Sujiro Seam is a seasoned French diplomat with extensive international experience. Mr Sujiro currently serves as the Ambassador of the European Union to ASEAN, based in Jakarta, Indonesia. Prior roles include Ambassador of the European Union for the Pacific, Ambassador of France to several Pacific nations, Consul General of France in Houston, and various key positions within the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For the last 20 years, Mr Sujiro held roles in European diplomatic centres. Mr Sujiro began his career in the Legal Affairs Directorate of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
 
His education includes degrees from prestigious institutions, including the National School of Administration (Strasbourg and Paris) in 1998, and prior to that, the Institute of Political Science

HE Dr Pitchayaphant Charnbhumidol, Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Thailand

Day One – Opening Remarks
Dr Pitchayaphant Charnbhumidol is a former diplomat. He graduated with a B.A. in International Relations from the Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University in 1982. He earned a Master’s Degree from Tulane University and a Doctoral degree from the Claremont Graduate University, U.S.A., in the same field in 1987 and 1992, respectively.


As a career diplomat, Dr. Charnbhumidol held wide ranging positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Embassies of Thailand in various countries, namely Japan and Switzerland. He reached the zenith of his career as Ambassador of Thailand to Brazil and to Indonesia as well as Director-General of the Department of East Asian Affairs.

Presently, Dr. Charnbhumidol is the Vice President for International Affairs and Director of the Chinese-Thai Institute of Rangsit University.

HE Jarno Syrjälä, Under-Secretary of State International Trade, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Day One – Opening Remarks
Mr. Jarno Syrjälä has been serving as the Under-Secretary of State for International Trade since 1 September 2023 at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.

Mr. Syrjälä (born 1964) joined the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 1990. Since then, he has served in various functions at Finland’s bilateral missions in Jakarta, Tel Aviv, Ramallah, Washington and Berlin. His most recent post in the Foreign Service was Ambassador in Beijing from 2017 to 2021. During that period, he also was
accredited to Mongolia. Before that, he worked as Director General of the Department for Africa and the Middle East from 2013 to 2017. He also served as Ambassador in Riyadh from 2010 to 2013, also accredited to Kuwait, Oman and Yemen.

Since September 2023, Syrjälä is the Representative of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in the Business Finland Board of Directors.

Syrjälä holds the degree of Master of Science in Economics and Business Administration from the University of Vaasa.

Vong Sok, Head of the Environment Division, Assistant Director of the Sustainable Development Directorate, ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Department ASEAN Secretariat

Day One Morning Session I – Circular Economy State of Play in ASEAN – ASCC (Presenter)
Day Two Morning Panel Discussion I – Priority Areas for Harmonised/Joint Action (Moderator)
Day Two Morning Panel Discussion II – Enabling CE acceleration through policy action, resource mobilisation and multi-stakeholder partnerships (Moderator)
Day Two – Closing Remarks

Dr. Vong Sok is a dedicated Environmental Professional with over 25 years of experience in compliance and governance. He excels in strategic environmental planning and management systems. Dr. Sok actively participates in environmental initiatives across Southeast Asia, building strong partnerships with government agencies, international organizations, and local communities.
His collaborative approach enables him to make significant contributions to the region’s environmental health and drive positive change for the future.

Latifahaida Latif, Assistant Director, Analysis & Monitoring on Finance and Socio-Economic Division (AMSFED), ASEAN Secretariat

Day One Morning Session I – Circular Economy State of Play in ASEAN – AEC (Presenter)
Latifahaida is an international trade negotiator specialising in the financial sector. She joins the ASEAN Secretariat as Assistant Director responsible for the analysis and monitoring of finance and socioeconomic issues which include sustainability agenda for the ASEAN Economic Community. Prior to this, Latifahaida was a Trade and Commercial Advisor with the British High Commission, Kuala Lumpur; Deputy Director of International Department at the Central Bank of Malaysia; and Assistant Director at the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Malaysia.
 
Latifahaida is a passionate advocate of feminist economics. She graduated with a Bachelor degree in Accounting from Universiti Sains Malaysia and completed her Masters degree (MSc) in Political Economy of Development from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), London. 

Cuong Ba Tran, Assistant Director and Head of the Trade Facilitation Division at the ASEAN Secretariat

Day One Morning Session I – Circular Economy State of Play in ASEAN – AEC (Presenter)

Day Two Morning Panel Discussion I – Priority Areas for Harmonised/Joint Action (Panellist)

Mr. Cuong Ba Tran has served as Assistant Director and Head of the Trade Facilitation Division at the ASEAN Secretariat since 2018. He provides policy advice and technical support on Customs, Trade Facilitation, Trade in Goods, Rules of Origin, and the ASEAN Customs Transit System. He also participates in negotiations such as the ATIGA Upgrade, ASEAN-Canada FTA, and ASEAN-China FTA 3.0. Prior to joining ASEAN, he worked for over 15 years at Viet Nam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade, negotiating major FTAs including RCEP, CP-TPP, and several ASEAN agreements. He is also recognized as a WTO expert in goods, services, and agriculture.

Magnus Bengtsson, International Sustainability Expert

Day One Morning Session II – Resource Use in ASEAN and the Role of the Circular Economy in Achieving ASEAN Vision 2045 (Moderator)
Magnus Bengtsson is an international sustainability expert advising governments and organisations on policies related to consumption and production and circular economy. He has lived and worked in Asia for more than 20 years. In 2019, he was one of the lead authors of an EU-supported regional study on plastics and circular economy in ASEAN. He is currently assisting the establishment of an ASEAN platform for circular economy while also facilitating EU-Indonesia cooperation on circular economy and supporting the government of Lao PDR on policies to address single-use plastics.
 
Magnus is also a sustainability advisor to Japanese corporations as the principal researcher at non-profit NELIS, as a lecturer at Toyo University in Tokyo, and as the policy lead at Berlin-based non-profit Hot or Cool Institute. In addition, he serves on the management team and the steering committee of the Future Earth Knowledge-Action Network on Systems of Sustainable Consumption and Production.
 
Between 2007 and 2017, he worked for the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), where he built up and led the sustainable consumption and production area. Before joining IGES, he held a post-doc position at the University of Tokyo. In addition to a PhD in Environmental Systems Analysis from Chalmers University of Technology in his native Sweden, Magnus also holds degrees in Industrial Engineering and Management (MSc), and History (BA).

Kari Herlevi, Program Director for Sitra’s Circular Economy Program

Day One Morning Session II – Resource Use in ASEAN and the Role of the Circular Economy in Achieving ASEAN Vision 2045 (Presenter & Panellist)
Kari Herlevi serves as the Program Director for Sitra’s Circular Economy Program. The circular economy program is part of Sitra’s international activities. The program is responsible for Sitra’s global projects, including EUCERC, PSLifestyles, and WCEF.

The circular economy promotes sustainable development by reducing the consumption of natural resources and minimising waste generation. This is particularly important on a global scale. The projects have received significant international funding. The goal is to launch new impactful international initiatives in the circular economy in the future.

Kari Herlevi has been working with the circular economy at Sitra since 2015. Previously, he led the Green Growth programme related to the circular economy at Tekes, which had a funding volume exceeding 100 million euros. He has also worked abroad, including in Silicon Valley, California, in the field of cleantech. Having worked on sustainability issues for a long time, his expertise also covers topics related to business strategies and internationalisation.

He is eager to learn more about new collaboration opportunities in the international circular economy.

Alessio Miatto, Senior Research Scientist

Day One Morning Session II – Resource Use in ASEAN and the Role of the Circular Economy in Achieving ASEAN Vision 2045 (Presenter & Panellist)
Alessio Miatto is a Senior Research Scientist at CSIRO Environment, where he focuses on advancing the Circular Economy and promoting sustainability in the built environment. His research aims to deepen our understanding of material consumption patterns, and he has made significant contributions to the field of Industrial Ecology, including serving as a leading author of the Global Manual on Material Flow Analysis published by the UN Environment Programme. Before joining CSIRO, Alessio was an Associate Research Scientist and Lecturer at Yale University, combining his passion for scientific research with knowledge dissemination. 

Dr. Margaret Kuyor, Deputy Undersecretary (Circular Economy Policy) Urban Sustainability Division Ministry of Housing and Local Government

Day One Morning Session II – Resource Use in ASEAN and the Role of the Circular Economy in Achieving ASEAN Vision 2045 (Presenter & Panellist)
Dr. Margaret Kuyor, Deputy Undersecretary for Circular Economy Policy at the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, is a seasoned policy expert with over 20 years of experience in government administration, strategic planning, and sustainability.


She has led key national efforts in circular economy for solid waste management, leveraging her PhD in Business Studies and Management from the University of Southampton, United Kingdom, to integrate academic insights with leadership in advancing sustainability policies.
 

Anthony Pramualratana, Deputy Executive Director, ASEAN Center for Sustainable Development Studies and Dialogue (ACSDSD)

Day One Morning Session II – Resource Use in ASEAN and the Role of the Circular Economy in Achieving ASEAN Vision 2045 (Presenter & Panellist)
In July 2022, Dr. Anthony Pramualratana assumed the role of Deputy Executive Director at the ASEAN Centre for Sustainable Development and Studies Dialogue (ACSDSD). The ACSDSD garnered support from leaders during the 34th ASEAN Summit in Bangkok in June 2019 and was officially launched at the 35th ASEAN Summit in Bangkok in November 2019. Its primary objective is to advance research on specific sustainable development issues of mutual interest and facilitate dialogue among ASEAN Sectoral Bodies, Dialogues, and external partners, employing a comprehensive and cross-cutting approach. In September 2022, Dr. Pramualratana played a key role in establishing the ASEAN Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform, a regional facility aimed at helping ASEAN Member States (AMS) achieve sustainable consumption and production by accelerating the transition towards a circular economy.

Tuan Haji Rahman bin Mohd Din, Deputy Secretary General (Policy and Monitoring), the Ministry of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development (KUSKOP)

Day One – Announcements of New Circular Economy Initiatives in ASEAN (Presenter)
Tuan Haji Rahman bin Mohd Din is a highly experienced government officer with over three decades of experience in Malaysia’s Administrative and Diplomatic Service (PTD). He currently serves as the Deputy Secretary General (Policy and Monitoring) at the Ministry of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development (KUSKOP), where he oversees the formulation, coordination, and monitoring of national policies and programmes related to entrepreneurship and the cooperative sector.


Throughout his career, Tuan Haji Rahman has held a wide range of senior positions at both the federal and state levels, including in the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water, Public Service Department (JPA), MAMPU, Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU) of the Prime Minister’s Department, and the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Higher Education.

Nurshaffira Izzad, Head of ASEAN & Global, Ecosystem Development, Cradle Fund

Day One – Announcements of New Circular Economy Initiatives in ASEAN (Presenter)
Nurshaffira Izzad leads the ASEAN & Global portfolio at Cradle Fund, an initiative under Malaysia’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI). With over seven years of experience in the startup ecosystem, she drives strategic efforts to connect Malaysian and ASEAN startups with global opportunities, cultivating vibrant communities that contribute to economic growth and societal advancement.


Prior to Cradle Fund, she led Strategy and Marcomm at Endeavor, a New York-based global entrepreneurship community supporting economic transformation for high-impact startups like Careem, Airalo, Carsome, and Bukalapak. Her extensive experience includes developing strategies, partnerships, stakeholder management, marketing, and communications.


She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Politics from the University of Manchester.

Phong Giang, Project Director of the ASEAN-GIZ

Day One – Announcements of New Circular Economy Initiatives in ASEAN (Presenter)
Phong Giang is Waste Management Engineer and has been working in the area of waste management and Circular Economy in Development Cooperation since more than 15 Years. He is currently Project Director of the ASEAN-GIZ Project Promoting Trade-related Aspects for Circular Economy in ASEAN (TRACE).

Worajit Setthapun, Expert Group for ASEAN Talent Mobility – Thailand

Day One – Announcements of New Circular Economy Initiatives in ASEAN (Presenter)
Asst. Prof. Dr. Worajit Setthapun is the lecturer and the former Dean of the Asian Development College for Community Economy and Technology (adiCET), Chiang Mai Rajabhat University, Thailand. She established the Chiang Mai World Green City as the living laboratory for green technologies with renewable energy-based Smart Community.  Currently, Dr. Setthapun is also the Thailand’s Expert Group for Talent Mobility for ASEAN (EGTM). She is the EGTM secretariat to coordinate Talent mobility programs with the ASEAN Dialog partners. She was the former Deputy Director for the Program Management Unit for Human Resources & Institutional Development, Research and Innovation (PMU-B). She oversees the global partnership and climate change programs for Thailand frontier research.


Dr. Setthapun was the recipient of the Fulbright Scholarship and received her MS and PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan with doctoral appointment at Argonne National Laboratory.  She was the ASEAN-U.S. Science and Technology Fellow and worked at the Ministry of Energy, Thailand on Decentralized Community Power.  She was the 2016 ASEAN-US Women in Science for sustainable energy.  

Rene Van Berkel, Senior Circular Economy Expert

Day One – Announcements of New Circular Economy Initiatives in ASEAN (Presenter)

Day Two – Scene-setting Presentation (Presenter)

Dr Rene Van Berkel is co-convenor of the ASEAN Circular Economy Business Alliance, senior circular economy expert for the EU SWITCH Asia Policy Support Component and faculty member of the School of Global Studies at Thammasat University.


He has over three decades international professional experience in resource efficiency and circularity, and the roles of productivity, innovation and responsible business practices therein, in particular in Asia, Europe and Australia. He earlier served for over 15 years with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization in leadership roles at its headquarters and in Indonesia, India and South Asia. Priorly he was Professor of Cleaner Production at Curtin University of Technology in Australia and senior academic at the University of Amsterdam in The Netherlands.


Dr Van Berkel is a Dutch national with a PhD in environmental science from the University of Amsterdam.

Dr. Saravanee Singtong, Director of the Sustainability Policy Division, NXPO, and Advisor to Chairperson of Standing Committee Industry, Thailand

Day One Afternoon Session I – Green Skills, Innovative Solutions and Investments – Unlocking the Potential of Circular Startups in ASEAN (Opening Remarks and Framing Presentation)
Dr. Saravanee Singtong is the Director of the Sustainability Policy Division, Office of National Higher Education Science Research and Innovation Policy Council (NXPO) and Advisor to Chairperson of Standing Committee Industry, Thailand. With more than 10 years of experience in formulating policies and defining agendas through evidence-based and systematic analysis, typically, begin with an initiative program and create the framework or forum for policy discussions on specific topics related to sustainability and well-being. The government and the private sector serve as partners in this endeavor. Over five years of global experience in addressing climate change and the circular economy. 3 years have been assigned to serve as the national designated entity (NDE) of the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN), the operational arm of the UNFCCC Technology Mechanism.
 
Saravanee response key project national initiatives on innovation ecosystems and net zero emission strategies, including Saraburi Sandbox, Mae Moh Model, and Phuket Net Zero. Saravanee drives the adoption of climate technologies such as CCUS, hydrogen energy, and digital platforms for circular economy and waste management, while linking programs with international frameworks including NDE/CTCN, GEF, and GCF, and present huge programs in COP conferences. Saravanee also develops Net Zero Campus for setting higher education in the Net Zero Emission pathway for 172 universities, and create Green Enterprise Indicator (GEI) as national standard for to link with the green finance and incentive tools

Imelda Bacudo, Climate, Agriculture, and Food Systems Expert

Day One Afternoon Session I – Green Skills, Innovative Solutions and Investments – Unlocking the Potential of Circular Startups in ASEAN (Moderator)
Imelda Bacudo is a Climate, Agriculture, and Food Systems Leader with over 25 years of global
experience advancing sustainable agriculture and climate resilience. She co-founded the ASEAN
Climate Resilience Network and helped establish the ASEAN Negotiating Group for Agriculture under the
UNFCCC. As part of the COP28 Presidency team, she was instrumental in developing the
landmark COP28 Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems and Climate
Action. Imelda has led initiatives with FAO, ASEAN, and international partners to unlock climate finance,
promote climate-smart agriculture, and ensure farmers’ voices shape policy. She is passionate about
translating global climate commitments into grassroots action.

Adi Reza, CEO and Co-founder of MYCL

Day One Afternoon Session I – Green Skills, Innovative Solutions and Investments – Unlocking the Potential of Circular Startups in ASEAN (Presenter and Panellist)
Adi Reza is the CEO and Co-founder of MYCL, a biotech startup pioneering sustainable mycelium-based materials for fashion and building industries. With a background in architecture from Institut Teknologi Bandung and international business training from QUT, Adi has led MYCL to international recognition, including the Earthshot Prize and MIT Solve. He is committed to advancing circular economy solutions and empowering local communities through innovative, low-impact biomaterials.

Unchalee Mulalee, Head of ESG, SCG Chemicals Public Co., Ltd. (SCGC)

Day One Afternoon Session I – Green Skills, Innovative Solutions and Investments – Unlocking the Potential of Circular Startups in ASEAN (Presenter and Panellist)
She has over 20 years of experience in petrochemical processes and industries across Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Holding a Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering and a Professional Engineering License (Thailand), she brings comprehensive technical expertise to advancing sustainability and ESG-driven transformation into business operations. Passionate about the circular economy, she drives high-impact projects in Thailand that cultivate collaboration, foster initiatives aligned with the principles of inclusive green growth, develop skills for the green transition, and deliver tangible results — shaping a more sustainable and resilient future.

Engelbert C. Pasag, Vice President, Panpacific University

Day One Afternoon Session I – Green Skills, Innovative Solutions and Investments – Unlocking the Potential of Circular Startups in ASEAN (Presenter and Panellist)
Prof. Engelbert C. Pasag is a distinguished academic administrator and international educator currently serving as the Vice President for Internationalization at Panpacific University (PU), Philippines, where he spearheads the institution’s global engagement strategies. With a career marked by progressive leadership roles, he has significantly contributed to the academic and operational advancement of PU, previously holding key positions as Chief Operations Officer (2021–2023) and Dean of the Panpacific Graduate School (2017–March 2024). His tenure in these roles underscores his expertise in institutional management, academic governance, and international collaboration.

Prof. Engelbert C. Pasag is a distinguished academic administrator and international educator currently serving as the Vice President for Internationalization at Panpacific University (PU), Philippines, where he spearheads the institution’s global engagement strategies. With a career marked by progressive leadership roles, he has significantly contributed to the academic and operational advancement of PU, previously holding key positions as Chief Operations Officer (2021–2023) and Dean of the Panpacific Graduate School (2017–March 2024). His tenure in these roles underscores his expertise in institutional management, academic governance, and international collaboration.

Frank Feulner, Team Leader, EU–ASEAN Sustainable Connectivity Package – Higher Education (SCOPE-HE)

Day One Afternoon Session I – Green Skills, Innovative Solutions and Investments – Unlocking the Potential of Circular Startups in ASEAN (Presenter and Panellist)
Dr. Feulner leads the EU–ASEAN Sustainable Connectivity Package – Higher Education (SCOPE-HE), an initiative that strengthens people-to-people ties in the higher education and TVET sectors between the European Union and ASEAN. He previously served as an advisor to the UNDP Pacific Office, supporting parliamentary development across 15 Pacific Island Countries, and held senior positions with UNDP and USAID in Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Pacific. His career began with the UN Support Facility for Indonesian Recovery. Dr. Feulner holds a PhD in Political Science from SOAS, University of London, and an MA from the University of Passau, Germany.

Ms Ulrike Sengstschmid, Advocacy Manager at the EU-ASEAN Business Council

Day One Afternoon Session I – Green Skills, Innovative Solutions and Investments – Unlocking the Potential of Circular Startups in ASEAN (Presenter and Panellist)
Ulrike Sengstschmid is an Advocacy Manager at the EU-ASEAN Business Council, where she leads the Council’s work on sustainability, energy, and transport. Her focus is on advancing ASEAN’s green transition, with particular emphasis on circular economy, decarbonisation, and carbon market development. She regularly engages with policymakers, industry leaders, and regional platforms to support evidence-based policy and stronger public–private collaboration.


Prior to joining the Council, Ulrike worked at the Asia Competitiveness Institute, National University of Singapore (NUS). She holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy from NUS and in European Affairs from Sciences Po Paris.

Fara Alyaa Azmin, Vice President of Private Equity, Kumpulan Wang Persaraan (Diperbadankan) (KWAP)

Day One Afternoon Session II – Closing the Loop: Catalysing ASEAN Circular Transition through Investment (Moderator)

Fara Alyaa Azmin (Fara) joined KWAP in late 2018. She is currently Vice President in the Private Equity department where she plays a key role in managing and growing the fund’s private equity portfolio. With over a decade of experience in corporate finance and investment banking including previous roles at CIMB Investment Bank and ECM Libra Investment Bank, Fara brings broad experience in deal structuring, fund evaluation, and strategic investment planning.

At KWAP, she contributes to building a resilient and diversified portfolio that supports long-term, sustainable returns. Her work aligns with KWAP’s broader mission to generate alpha through selective investments while promoting responsible capital deployment across sectors, including those with strong ESG and circular economy potential.

Venon Tian, Chief Operating Officer (COO), ZUS Coffee

Day One Afternoon Session II – Closing the Loop: Catalysing ASEAN Circular Transition through Investment (Panellist)
Venon Tian, Chief Operating Officer of ZUS Coffee, has been instrumental in growing the brand into one of Malaysia’s leading coffee chains while embedding sustainability into its operations. His entrepreneurial drive has helped ZUS create thousands of jobs and build a brand that connects with everyday consumers.

Beyond business growth, Venon is steering ZUS towards circular economy practices by rethinking consumer habits and expanding into complementary verticals. His vision is to transform Malaysia’s coffee culture and position ZUS as a holistic, sustainable lifestyle brand with regional and international reach.

Mohamed Tarek EI-Fatatry, Founder of Electronic Recycling Through Heroes (ERTH)

Day One Afternoon Session II – Closing the Loop: Catalysing ASEAN Circular Transition through Investment (Panellist)

Mohamed Tarek El-Fatatry (Tarek) is the founder of ERTH, Malaysia’s largest direct e-waste collector serving over 30,000 clients including Petronas, Shell, Dell, and the UN. Since 2019, ERTH has diverted over 3,00 tons of electronics from landfills, helping reduce environmental and health risks. The enterprise offers free pick-up and attractive cash rewards, partnering only with licensed recovery facilities to ensure responsible recycling and raising the national recycling rate.

Badrul Hisham Jaafar, Principal and Senior Vice President, COPE Private Equity

Day One Afternoon Session II – Closing the Loop: Catalysing ASEAN Circular Transition through Investment (Panellist)
Badrul Hisham Jaafar is a seasoned PE & VC professional with over thirty (30) years of experience since his involvement in the industry in 1995. He has covered all VC and PE-related activities from fundraising, deal origination, evaluation, negotiation, completion, monitoring, value-adding, and exit activities involving start-ups, growth, and late-stage deals. Badrul has completed over thirty (30) deals, of which twelve (12) were covered from origination until their eventual listing on local and international bourses.

He started his career as an equity analyst before joining the Private Banking group of a local financial institution mainly covering equity back financing for high-net-worth individuals. He then joined Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC) to manage its Private Equity division, which was then a licensed entity by the SC that he helped secure. Subsequently, he joined MIMOS Berhad, the Secretariat for the National Information Technology Council (NITC) Malaysia, to manage an IT Grant Scheme and was thereafter recruited by Modal Perdana in 2004 to manage its local VC & PE funds. Badrul left Modal Perdana in 2013 to join COPE as an Investment Principal.

Badrul was a member of NITC secretariat 2002-2004, a committee member of the MVCA in 2004 & 2005, an APICTA award evaluator committee member for Best ICT Start-Ups for 2007 & 2008, and was a member of the panel of evaluation experts on the application for R, D&C funds under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Information (MOSTI) from 2010-2015.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance, Investment, and Banking Management from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. He used to sit on the Board of several technology companies but now confines himself to managing COPE and related companies under COPE’s investment portfolio.

Chai Peng Teh, Founder & CEO, Complete Human Network (CHN)

Day One Afternoon Session II – Closing the Loop: Catalysing ASEAN Circular Transition through Investment (Panellist)

Teh Chai Peng is the Founder & CEO of Complete Human Network (CHN), Malaysia’s leading purpose-built Enterprise Mobility-as-a-Service (EMaaS) and Device-as-a-Service (DaaS) provider. CHN enables secure and sustainable digital transformation across diverse sectors including government, education, financial services, fintech, aviation, manufacturing, and oil & gas.

With over 20 years of technology leadership at Oracle, IBM, and Avaya before founding CHN in 2012, Chai Peng has built the company into an Apple Premium Business Partner, Malaysia’s first Jamf Elite Partner, and a MyHIJAU-certified e-waste collection centre. Today, CHN is also an investor-funded company, accelerating its mission to take the circular digital economy to the next stage.

She is a Council Member of the ESG Association of Malaysia (2025–2028) and recipient of the SOBA Platinum Female Entrepreneur Award 2024 and ESG Positive Impact Gold Award 2023.

Passionate about the circular digital economy, Chai Peng champions device lifecycle extension, ESG data automation, and secure mobility to reduce e-waste and Scope 3 emissions.

”The future of digital transformation lies in circularity, where every device has a longer life, and every action creates impact for profit, people and planet”

Chalothorn Vashirakovit (Boat), Managing Director, TPG

Day One Afternoon Session II – Closing the Loop: Catalysing ASEAN Circular Transition through Investment (Panellist)
Chalothorn Vashirakovit (Boat) is a Managing Director at TPG based in Singapore and heads the investment activities for the Growth Fund and Rise Fund for Southeast Asia. He is also closely involved in Capital Asia Funds.

Prior to joining TPG, Boat spent a decade in investment management across Asia. He was most recently the Head of Southeast Asia investments for Lone Star Funds where he transacted across the region in both credits and private equity investments. Prior to Lone Star Funds, Boat was Senior Vice President of Clearwater Capital Partners, an Asia-dedicated special situations fund manager based in Hong Kong. Boat’s investment career has spanned across various Asian geographies including Southeast Asia, Australia and India. His experience also covers numerous sectors such as telecommunication, financial services, real estates, agricultural, engineering services and natural resources. Before his investment career, Boat was a Consultant with Boston Consulting Group and Senior Officer with the Singapore Government.

Rifki Weno, Executive Director, ASEAN Business Advisory Council

Day Two Morning Panel Discussion I – Priority Areas for Harmonised/Joint Action (Panellist)
Rifki has over a decade of proven track record in policy advocacy.
He has a rich and diverse experience set, from in-house government relations in tech company Tokopedia, public policy consultant, to global engagement facilitator within foreign embassies and the ASEAN Secretariat.
 His issue expertise includes digital technology and sustainability.

David Christensen, Project Team Lead, Bornholm’s Waste Authority (BOFA), Denmark

Day Two Morning Panel Discussion I – Priority Areas for Harmonised/Joint Action (Panellist)
David Christensen is Project Team Lead at BOFA (Bornholm’s Waste Authority), where he heads the projects unit responsible for research, development, and innovation in waste management and circular economy. Based on the Danish island of Bornholm, BOFA is internationally recognized for its “Bright Green Island” strategy and vision to become a waste-free society by 2032. David coordinates an interdisciplinary team and a broad portfolio of EU Horizon Europe, Interreg, and LIFE projects as well as national initiatives.
 
Alongside his municipal role, David is affiliated with Aalborg University’s Department of Sustainability and Planning. His academic work includes a PhD on sustainable innovation partnerships in waste management and numerous peer-reviewed publications, including recent studies on multilayer packaging flows and island waste system transitions.
 
David has more than 15 years’ experience at the intersection of public utilities, academia, and international collaboration. He has managed partnerships across Europe, Africa, and Asia – including work in Vietnam, Uganda, and Indonesia – and engages actively in professional networks such as ISWA and the Circular Denmark. He brings a Danish and EU perspective on waste data harmonization, circular transitions, and island-based innovation, with a strong focus on how localized solutions can scale and inform international frameworks

Chris Humphrey, Executive Director, EU-ASEAN Business Council

Day Two Morning Panel Discussion I – Priority Areas for Harmonised/Joint Action (Panellist)
Chris Humphrey is a Business Development and Government Relations professional with more than a decade of experience running business units throughout Asia, and over 20 years of experience of either working for or dealing with Governments and regulatory authorities.


Chris began his varied professional career as a UK Civil Servant where, amongst other things, he was a Private Secretary to a Minister and an Air Services Trade Negotiator covering the Asia Pacific Region.
After leaving Government, Chris moved to the private sector working initially in the Government and external relations teams at two British airlines, before moving to Shanghai, China with Virgin Atlantic where he headed up the airline’s China operation and oversaw the rapid expansion of their business in China. Whilst in Shanghai, Chris also sat on the Executive Committee of the British Chamber of Commerce. After a short spell in Hong Kong with Virgin, Chris then joined a UK based security and defence group where he led their Asia Pacific team for over five years and was instrumental in them getting contracts with the Japanese and Singapore Governments and also with SOEs in China.


More recently Chris has been acting as a consultant assisting start-ups in Asia with their business and corporate development before joining the EU-ASEAN Business Council in June 2014.

Muhammad Iqbal Balative, Deputy Director for Program and
Knowledge Management at Indonesia’s Ministry of Finance

Day Two Morning Panel Discussion II – Enabling CE acceleration through policy action, resource mobilisation and multi-stakeholder partnerships (Panellist)
Muhammad Iqbal Balative is the Deputy Director for Program and Knowledge Management at Indonesia’s Ministry of Finance (DJPPR), where he leads knowledge and program initiatives advancing Islamic financing and sovereign sukuk innovation. His portfolio spans instrument R&D and policy implementation—previously heading Islamic Financial Instrument R&D (2021–2024), managing sukuk transactions, and overseeing legal
documentation for sovereign sukuk issuance. He contributes to the field through teaching and publications, including work on Indonesia’s Green Sukuk and Cash Waqf Linked Sukuk, and regularly engages on topics of risk management, financing strategy, Islamic finance, and sustainability financing. With over two decades of public-sector and capital-markets experience, he specialises in sukuk structuring, ESG-aligned investment, and public financial instruments.

Iqbal holds a DBA from the International Islamic University Malaysia, an MBA from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi Arabia, and a Bachelor’s in Economics from
the University of Indonesia. He is certified in ESG Investing (CFA Institute) and holds the Islamic Finance Qualification (CISI)

Gerald Ko, Senior Investment Manager, Gobi Partners

Day Two Morning Panel Discussion II – Enabling CE acceleration through policy action, resource mobilisation and multi-stakeholder partnerships (Panellist)
Gerald Ko is currently a Senior Investment Manager at Gobi Partners, investing in early and growth stage startups across Asia. Previously, he was a founding member of Deutsche Bank Ventures in New York where he led software investments across North America and emerging technologies globally.

Tengku Zahaslan Tuan Hashim, Director of the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) Delivery Management Unit at the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI)

Day Two Morning Panel Discussion II – Enabling CE acceleration through policy action, resource mobilisation and multi-stakeholder partnerships (Panellist)
Dr Tengku Zahaslan Tuan Hashim is a civil servant with diverse professional experience in public administration, diplomacy, and policymaking. He currently serves as the Director of the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) Delivery Management Unit at the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI).
 
In MITI, he led the development of the Circular Economy Policy Framework for the Manufacturing Sector, which is a critical initiative aimed at transitioning Malaysia’s industrial model toward a more restorative and regenerative system. He is also a committee member for various government initiatives related to sustainability and decarbonisation.
 
Dr Tengku Zahaslan’s civil service career includes previous positions at the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, the National Institute of Public Administration, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
 
He holds a PhD in International Political Economy from Monash University, an MSc in Management of Intellectual Property from Queen Mary, University of London, and a first degree in Nuclear Science from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Jérôme Pons, Head of Cooperation of the European Union (EU) Delegation to ASEAN

Day Two – Closing Remarks
Jérôme Pons currently serves as the Head of Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union to Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, and ASEAN. He has been in the European Commissions for more than 20 years as Regional Head of Cooperation for Central Africa and Asia, DG INTPA-Africa Directorate in Brussels,  and Head of Cooperation in Fiji and Malawi. Prior to joining European Commissions, he worked for ten years in the international and non-governmental organizations in the fields of development, good governance and humanitarian assistance in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Mr Pons holds a Postgraduate Degree in Development Economics and a Master’s in Banking, Finance, and Insurance from the University of Dijon, France.
 

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