WiT Indie Penang 2025: Next Generation

Alexander Khor is the Co-Founder and Head of Product at Belli, a Singapore-based startup revolutionizing air cargo with next-generation operations software. A former Chief of Staff at edtech company GuruLab and the first product manager at AirAsia’s Teleport, Alexander brings deep product expertise and a sharp eye for untapped opportunities in aviation and logistics.

With a background in molecular biology from University College London, Alexander blends analytical rigor with startup grit. Under his leadership, Belli reached breakeven in under nine months, raised US$500,000 in pre-seed funding from Iterative, and won €330,000 at the FutureTravel Summit 2024 in Barcelona.

A frequent speaker on product innovation and logistics tech, Alexander is passionate about building tools that simplify complexity and move legacy industries forward.

Amer Ridzuan is a Klook Kreator and full-time silicon design engineer based in Bayan Lepas, Penang. Hailing from Kulim, Kedah, Amer began his creator journey in mid-2023, using TikTok as a digital diary of his DIY travels. With a distinct voice shaped by his Kedah accent and a no-frills, value-driven approach, Amer focuses on helping fellow Malaysians travel affordably and independently. His content in Bahasa Melayu consistently drives high engagement and conversions — particularly around theme parks, outdoor adventures, and local travel hacks. Despite a modest follower count (~25,000), Amer’s authenticity and micro-influencer edge have earned him consistent four-figure monthly commissions with Klook, showcasing the real influence of relatability.

Angelica is the co-founder of SocialSeal, a startup that helps travel brands see what travelers are searching for and resonating with on video platforms across different countries and languages.

A growth marketer and data geek for over 10 years, Angelica has lived through the rise of apps at M&C Saatchi Performance, hopped on the Klook rocket ship to scale it into today's unicorn, and grew Google's consumer cloud storage through partner marketing.

Ashley Yeo is a Director of Business Development - Asia Pacific at an award-winning data intelligence company, Lighthouse. She's passionate in discussions surrounding revenue optimisation, and is an expert in uncovering market demand trends and pricing opportunities for investors, management companies and hoteliers.

Baidi Li is the Vice President of Commercial for Travel Activities at Traveloka, Southeast Asia’s leading travel and lifestyle platform. Based in Singapore, she leads the company’s regional commercial strategy for travel experiences, focusing on product growth, strategic partnerships, and customer engagement.

With over 15 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry, Baidi has held leadership roles at Go City, TripAdvisor, Viator, and Magpie, driving expansion and digital innovation across the Asia-Pacific region. She is a recognized thought leader and frequent speaker at industry events including Web in Travel (WiT), where she shares insights on travel tech, digital transformation, and the future of experiences.

Baidi holds a Master of Arts in Design from the State Academy of Fine Arts Stuttgart (Germany) and a Bachelor's in Industrial Design from the Beijing Institute of Clothing Technology. She is fluent in English and Mandarin.

Bell Beh is the Co-Founder & CEO of Buzz, a trailblazing company transforming the travel and fintech landscapes through AI and embedded finance. With a Master’s degree in Law and Technology from UC Berkeley as an APAC Scholar, Bell has built a career defined by innovation and bold leadership, spanning fintech, tourism, and technology.

Early Career and Foundational Experience
Bell’s journey into technology and finance began at Singtel DashPay, where she played a pivotal role in securing one of the first fintech licenses for Singapore’s largest telco, enabling the launch of DashPay – a pioneering mobile payment platform. DashPay recently achieved a significant milestone with a successful exit, acquired by Western Union as part of its global expansion strategy. Following her fintech success, Bell served as Corporate Counsel at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore’s No. 1 destination, where she managed complex regulatory and licensing matters for the iconic integrated resort. This experience gave her deep insights into the tourism and hospitality sectors, laying the foundation for her future ventures in travel technology.

Founding Buzz and Building a MENA-APAC Travel Fintech Corridor
In 2020, Bell founded Buzz, a company that has rapidly grown into a major player in the AI and travel sectors, with operations spanning Saudi Arabia and Singapore. Under her leadership, Buzz developed BAE (Buzz AI Experience), a next-generation travel platform that seamlessly integrates Discover, Book, and Pay into a single, hyper-personalized journey. Unlike traditional travel apps, BAE is an experiences-driven utility, powered by AI and embedded finance, creating a frictionless travel experience for millions of tourists.

Creating the MENA-APAC Travel Fintech Corridor
Serving as at the Saudi-Singapore Business Council, Bell is building the largest MENA-APAC travel fintech corridor, connecting tourists, merchants, and financial institutions through BuzzPay, the fintech arm of Buzz. With BuzzPay, Bell aims to revolutionize cross-border payments, making it easier for travelers to navigate unfamiliar territories. BuzzPay is also poised to become the first WeChat Pay acquirer in Saudi Arabia, creating a seamless financial gateway for tourists from Asia to the Middle East. She is also forming partnership with major telcos in Indonesia to further create Saudi-Indonesia corridor.

Strategic Partnerships and Global Impact
Buzz has forged high-profile partnerships with the Saudi Tourism Authority, Singapore Land Authority, Almosafer, and Saudia, establishing itself as a trusted partner in the global tourism ecosystem. These collaborations have positioned Buzz as a key player in transforming the tourism landscape, bridging cultural and financial gaps with cutting-edge technology. Bell’s team also works closely with Amadeus to roll out BAE.

Vision for the Future
Bell’s long-term vision is to establish Buzz as the leading APAC-MENA tourist engagement platform, enabling seamless, hyper-personalized travel experiences for millions of travelers worldwide. She aims to take Buzz public, listing on Tadawul in the next 3 years and Nasdaq within 5 years, setting a new global standard for AI-powered travel and embedded finance.

Next Steps
Bell is currently leading Buzz’s efforts to secure key financial licenses, including a Payment Institution (PI) license in Saudi Arabia, to strengthen BuzzPay’s cross-border payment capabilities. With significant interest from strategic investors, including a US$15 million term sheet from MENA investor, Bell is poised to take Buzz to the next level.

Chee Chong is passionate about the tourism industry, so much so that his 15-year career has been centered around it. He has founded not one, but two start-ups to better meet the needs of the buoyant travel/tourism industry.

He is currently Chief Executive Officer and visionary of GlobalTix, an e-ticketing travel marketplace. Chee Chong was also one of the co-founders of Adventure Glamping, which has pioneered and built the first-ever “glamping” (glamorous camping) resort called Canopi, located in Bintan.

He began his travel industry career with SilkAir, the regional carrier owned by Singapore Airlines and subsequently was seconded to Singapore Airlines.

During his seven-year career with the two carriers, he handled various job functions, including postings to Thailand, Indonesia, and Central Japan which gave him invaluable exposure in the airline industry. In Central Japan, he started many initiatives, including several that continue to today, and the team was recognized with a CEO’s Merit Award for operational excellence.

Chee Chong next joined Sentosa Development Corporation as a member of the management team. He started as the Leisure Operation, Director where he was responsible for ongoing daily operations, from beach operation, attractions to ticketing and subsequently became the General Manager of Mount Faber Leisure Group.

Chee Chong holds a Bachelor of Engineering (2nd Upper) degree from the National University of Singapore.

As a travel expert, Chester fulfilled his childhood dream by traveling around the world for a year on a tight budget, covering six continents and over 30 countries from Antarctica to the Arctic. These global adventures inspired him to create TC Time Walk — a platform that connects travelers with Taichung’s hidden stories, authentic culture, and local secrets through guided walking tours. Beyond being an entrepreneur, Chester also shares his passion as a radio DJ, travel writer, and speaker, encouraging people to see the world — and their own cities — with fresh eyes. His mission is to turn ordinary trips into meaningful journeys and help travelers discover a deeper side of Taiwan through the eyes of locals.

Investment banker turned international hotelier Chris Ong first ventured into the hospitality business when he moved to Sri Lanka in 2003. He bought a 17th-century Dutch mansion in Galle and restored it into a 12-suite heritage boutique hotel and named it “Galle Fort Hotel”. In 2007, Galle Fort Hotel was one of the recipients of the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Award of Distinction in recognition of the conservation work done on it. In 2011, it was sold to a Sri Lankans public company and remains to this day as one of Sri Lanka’s top hotels.

Upon returning home to Penang in 2007 due to family reasons, and in 2007, he purchased a decrepit Anglo-Indian bungalow on Clove Hall Road on what was once the Sarkies Brothers’ estate. Chris lovingly restored it and turned it into a 5-suite cozy heritage boutique hotel. Clove Hall was his first project in Penang, which was later sold when the purchaser made him an offer he could not refuse.

George Town, Penang, was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008, which spurred Chris to save more heritage buildings in the core heritage zone. In 2009, two more properties were added to his portfolio, namely Muntri Mews and Noordin Mews. Noordin Mews was sold during its first month of operation when Chris was again made an offer he could not turn down. Chris then used the gains from the sale to save more crumbling buildings.

Where others saw decay and neglect, Chris could visualize grace and beauty. Shortly after that, more properties were acquired, namely, Seven Terraces and Muntri Grove. and the latest addition to the list is Jawi Peranakan Mansion, which started operations in January 2017. Each hotel showcases a range of 19th-century architecture, integral to Penang’s history and heritage, with hip and yet comfortable interiors for today’s living.

George Town Heritage & Hotels (GTHH) is now a portal for Chris Ong’s portfolio of hotels to better serve guests with seamless bookings, reservations, and inquiries for each hotel in the group. In the near future, GTHH will also serve as an information hub for Penang’s cultural events.

Christine Tan has a strong background in sales and management, with extensive experience in the Asia Pacific region. Christine has held various leadership positions throughout their career, including Vice President of Sales - APAC at Lighthouse, ASEAN Commercial Director at Yanolja Cloud, Managing Director Asia Pacific at D-EDGE Hospitality Solutions, and Vice President Sales Asia Pacific at Trust International. Christine also has experience at Pegasus Solutions, where they served as VP Sales and Account Management APAC, VP Service Delivery APAC, and Director of Business Development - Americas. Additionally, Christine has worked as a Managing Director at an independent consulting business and held roles as a Director at Whale Media and EVP/Partner at The HEMS Groups. Christine began their career as the Director of International Reservation Systems/Revenue Management at ANA Hotels International.

Christine Tan has a Masters of Science degree in Tourism from Strathclyde University in Scotland, UK. Christine also has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Schiller International University in London. Additionally, Christine holds a Diploma in Hotel Management from Hotel Consult School Hotel Colleges in Switzerland, which is now known as Cesar Ritz Colleges.

With a background in media, Daniel began his career in Hong Kong’s MICE industry before venturing into tourism through a startup competition in 2012. After returning to Taiwan, he held roles at Lion Travel and the Hawaii Tourism Authority, eventually founding RTM – Redefine Tourism Mixer to foster innovation across travel, technology, and local culture.

In 2016, he launched a rural revitalization project in his coastal hometown in Southern Taiwan, designing immersive experiences and youth entrepreneurship programs.

While COVID-19 ends, Daniel seized the opportunity of co-creating NextT Travel Accelerator along with industry leader Lion Group, making it Taiwan’s first tourism-focused startup accelerator, connecting global partners to nurture sustainable, experience-driven ventures.

He is regarded as a passionate educator and ecosystem builder, dedicated to helping emerging entrepreneurs bridge knowledge and network gaps across borders and disciplines.

Dennis Lee, a seasoned actor, singer, and tech entrepreneur, has a wealth of experience in the performing arts. In his career as a musical theatre performer, Dennis has graced the stage in leading roles in productions like “Living Together”, “Avenue Q”, and “Fame the Musical.” He’s also been a part of numerous other noteworthy shows, including “A Streetcar Named Desire,” “Euphrasia the Musical,” and “Medicine Buddha the Musical.” Dennis’ talent and dedication to the arts have earned him awards such as the Mercedes-Benz Award for Creative Excellence and the Best Supporting Actor Award in Short+Sweet Malaysia.

In the realm of technology and entrepreneurship, Dennis co-founded CloudJoi, a groundbreaking digital ticketing and streaming platform. This platform has redefined the theatre experience, offering audiences a one-of-a-kind and immersive journey into the world of the arts. Dennis’ innovative approach has effectively bridged the gap between theatre and technology, revolutionising the arts ecosystem and creating a profound connection between audiences and the arts that was previously unparalleled.

Doris has an illustrious career spanning more than 25 years in the hospitality industry.

She was the first Asian woman to serve as education chairperson at the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) for Asia as well as their representative on the Asia Pacific Council. A well-respected professional, her work earned much recognition, which bagged the ACTE President's Award in 2002 for her regional contributions. March 2009 saw Harper’s Bazaar Japan profiled her work in their story on ‘successful Asian career women’. In September 2013, Hotelier India had her in their 2013 Power 100 List of the Top 100 “Most Influential People in the Hospitality Industry”. Last August 2016, CMO ASIA named her one of Asia’s 50 Woman Leaders to bag the Leadership Excellence Award.

Doris was the first person appointed at Alila Hotels and Resorts Corporate Office to drive sales & marketing and to grow the brand in 2003. As one of the pioneers in boutique luxury, she successfully positioned brand Alila as one of the top 4 luxury brands in the world. In 2017, the brand clinched Telegraph UK's Best Luxury Hotel Group of the year. Following the Alila success story came the acquisition of Two Roads Hospitality by Hyatt Hotels Corporation in November 2018.

Dylan Tan is the Founder of Replyr.ai, specializing in branding & business growth. Known for the viral "Bus Uncle" project, which attracted 1M visitors in 48 hours. Previously led marketing at Carousell and co-founded Glints. Expertise in digital strategy & scaling startups.

Eason Zhang is the Head of Apps, Strategic Partnerships for TikTok in Southeast Asia, where he leads 3 Industries focusing SuperApps, FinTech & Travel clients

Over his 3.5 years at TikTok, Eason has successfully built and lead the Strategic Account team for Travel post pandemic. His effort had driven innovative performance product solutions for TikTok globally, and shaped effective digital strategies that empower Local Services, FinTech & Travel partners to leverage TikTok’s dynamic platform.

Before joining TikTok, Eason built up his industry knowledge and honed his skills at Skyscanner and Google, amassing nearly a decade of experience in travel space and digital marketing. He is well-versed in performance solutions and has developed a deep understanding of the travel landscape across the Asia-Pacific and Greater China region. Eason is also recognized for his thought leadership on the future of travel landscape, making him a compelling speaker and strategist in the industry.

Fabian Teja is the Country Director for Malaysia and Brunei at Agoda, a leading digital travel platform. In his role, he oversees Agoda's operations and strategic initiatives in these two countries, focusing on enhancing the company's presence and growth in the region.

Under his leadership, Agoda has been actively promoting sustainable travel practices. For instance, during the 2025 edition of its Eco Deals program, travelers were offered discounts of up to 15% on partner hotels across 10 Asian markets. Additionally, for each booking made through the program, Agoda contributed one US dollar towards local conservation efforts, supporting initiatives by organizations like the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) .

Fabian Teja has also been instrumental in highlighting emerging travel destinations. He noted the Perhentian Islands as Malaysia's fastest-growing destination for international travelers, emphasizing the country's rich diversity in attractions .

Currently the Principal Consultant at IdeaWeaver Consulting, Jack is a technology and marketing strategist with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management from Middlesex University in London. With over 30 years of experiences from hotel operations and technology, to strategic branding and marketing with esteemed brands such as the Hilton International, InterContinental Hotels Group and Solare Hotels and Resorts in locations including London, Atlanta and Tokyo.

His expertise culminated from having an early career in hotel operations, technology and marketing which led to roles of Chief Information Officer (CIO), Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and Chief Operating Officer (COO).

From the beginnings of hotel operations and technology, Jack has developed extensive knowledge in the best practices on an international level. His affinity for technological development and trends utilized in the operations has successfully assisted hotels with tailor-made solutions, yielding optimized results.

Complemented with his passion in travel, he has a holistic understanding of cultures in their respective environments – vital in the makings of any hotel business whether it is a luxury brand or budget establishment – aiming to provide a great guest experience, wherever it may be on the map.

Having such a vantage point, Jack is accomplished in strategic planning, design and implementation of smart applications. Being highly analytical of data, he provides solutions that are both creative and innovative.

As a key player in the hotel industry, Jack has been invited to share his knowledge at various events related to hospitality, technology, and travel. He was a panelist at Travel Massive KL; Web in Travel (WIT) Singapore, Japan and Indonesia; and HTNG Asia-Pacific Conference in Bali. He also spoke at the Singapore Institute of Technology on how the Internet of Things (IoT) would be relevant in the hotel and travel sector. He had moderated at Echelon Malaysia on how technology changed the hotel industry, and how Malaysian hoteliers were adapting to the dynamic market which is increasingly complex and competitive.

Jean is a creative professional with a fresh perspective on design thinking aimed at enhancing customer experiences. She's a native English speaker and takes pride in her design and presentation skills. Over the years, she has had the privilege of working in various vibrant cities like Singapore, Barcelona, London, Bangkok, and Kuala Lumpur.

In 2018, Jean achieved her Masters of Arts (M.A) in Research in Design and Innovation from ELISAVA School of Design and Engineering in Barcelona, Spain, earning recognition as a top graduate. During her time there, she had the opportunity to lead a remote guest experience team at Houst, formerly known as Airsorted & Hostmaker, where she served as a Guest Experience Manager. Her role involved overseeing global customer support and long-term property rentals in Europe while also managing the recruitment and training of new team members in Kuala Lumpur, the Service Excellence Hub in Asia.

Jean recently returned to her passion for vacation rentals and joined The Luxe Nomad. Before this role, she led the Donor Experience Project at UNICEF Malaysia. Her career also included a tenure at Accenture in the Global Network, Strategy & Consulting division, where she served as a Management Consultant. At SOCAR, she managed customer experience (CX) projects for a self-serve car rental app originating from Seoul, South Korea.

Solutions-driven individual with experience in solving complex problems, working with cross-functional teams, and building project plans. Recently completed the Google Project Management Career Certificate—a rigorous, hands-on program that covers traditional and Agile project management approaches throughout the life cycle of a project.

Before her recent roles, Jean accumulated over a decade of experience as an Art Director & Creative Technologist. Her expertise spanned various areas such as digital and content marketing, digital transformation, customer relationship management, responsive web design and development, email marketing, data analytics, branding, and social media campaigns. She had the privilege of working with Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay in Singapore, a renowned performing arts venue known for its diverse range of shows encompassing music, dance, theatre, and visual arts, with a special emphasis on Asian culture.

Joe Xizhi Lu is the Co-Founder and CEO of Heymax.ai, a fintech startup based in Singapore. He is recognized for his innovative approach to aggregating fragmented loyalty rewards, enabling customers to earn a free premium trip annually by pooling points from various brands. His mission extends beyond business success; he aims to cultivate a robust tech ecosystem in Southeast Asia over the next three decades.

A seasoned professional with a unique blend of 14 years mastering the art of hospitality and 8 years innovating within travel technology. Possesses a deep understanding of guest experience, seamlessly integrated with a powerful grasp of the digital solutions shaping today's travel landscape. Stands at the exciting intersection of service and technology, driving the future of how we experience the world.

Hannah Pearson is the Regional Director APAC for the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA). She is also the Director of Pear Anderson, a research and sales representation tourism consultancy specialising in the Southeast Asian and Muslim tourism industry.

Over the past 10 years, Hannah has crisscrossed the region and gained a deep, first-hand insight into the developing trends and potential of adventure travel and the Southeast Asian tourism industry.

At the ATTA, she partners with adventure travel stakeholders to develop the industry across the Asian region through trade and consumer activation, education and adventure events. Hannah also publishes a weekly report tracking the impact of COVID-19 on the SE Asian tourism industry, and co-hosts a podcast, The South East Asia Travel Show.

Hannah has authored reports and whitepapers, and has spoken on numerous occasions at prestigious travel conferences such as Royal Geographical Society’s Annual Conference and ITB Asia. Her work has been featured on BBC World News, Bloomberg, the Straits Times, BFM, Web in Travel, Skift, TTG Asia and Travel Weekly Asia, amongst others.

Henry is the General Manager of My Indie World, a platform focused on supporting independent travel creators, local experience providers, and community-led tourism across Asia. His work sits at the intersection of travel, technology, and storytelling — with an emphasis on building ecosystems that are inclusive, sustainable, and grounded in place.

He is part of the team behind WiT Indie, where he contributes to programme development and content curation, and supports ongoing WiT editorial and community projects. He also helps organise Travel Tech Thursdays KL, a monthly meetup series that brings together startups, platforms, and industry players shaping the future of travel in the region.

With a background in media and partnerships, Henry brings a perspective rooted in collaboration, curiosity, and a deep appreciation for the independent spirit that drives meaningful travel.

Henry is one of the top 100 Chinese travelers. With 9 years of experience as a foreign language tour guide, he used to specialize inintroducing Taiwan's beauty to inbound tourists from Europe, America, and around the world before the pandemic. He’s familiar with Taiwan's diverse cultures, landscapes, historical contexts, and hidden gems. After the pandemic, Henry shifted to leading in-depth domestic tours, focusing on cultural exploration. Additionally, he conduct Taiwan travel lectures, guide training, and cultural promotion courses at schools, communities, and relevant organizations. He has also ventured into themed tours like photography and cycling, continuously exploring unique ways to showcase Taiwan's 368 towns and townships to travelers.

Karina Robles Bahrin is a Malaysian author, entrepreneur, and former communications executive whose multifaceted career spans literature, business, and public engagement. Best known for her award-winning debut novel The Accidental Malay, which won the 2022 Epigram Books Fiction Prize, Karina writes boldly about identity, race, and religion in Malaysia. Her work sparks meaningful conversations about what it means to belong in a multicultural society.

A Stanford University graduate in International Relations, Karina spent over two decades in public relations, including as Head of Communications at Bursa Malaysia. She has managed high-profile media campaigns and contributed to major public events, giving her deep insight into corporate storytelling and media strategy.

In 2012, Karina pivoted to entrepreneurship, co-founding La Pari-Pari, a boutique hotel in Langkawi, along with the restaurant fatCUPID and the sustainable farm Kebun Republik. She also co-founded Suatukala, a community initiative promoting storytelling among youth.

Karina speaks passionately on topics such as cultural identity, mixed heritage, women’s empowerment, sustainable tourism, and creative writing. Her talks blend personal experience with critical insight, offering valuable perspectives for audiences in literature, leadership, education, and cultural discourse.

Whether addressing readers, aspiring writers, or business professionals, Karina brings clarity, warmth, and authenticity to every conversation. She is particularly attuned to themes of intersectionality, female agency, and social transformation in Southeast Asia.

Nadia Omer joins AirAsia MOVE (formerly airasia Superapp) as its Chief Executive Officer effective 26 October 2023. Her key priority will be to drive AirAsia MOVE’s vision to be the best-value one-stop travel platform in Asean.

Nadia comes with deep experience within Asia and ASEAN in category conversion, habit change and building new categories that create shared value for the full ecosystem. She began her career at P&G and subsequently moved to bigger roles at Nestle and PepsiCo and served as the Chief Business Officer of Cars24, Southeast Asia before AirAsia MOVE.

Innovation and building talent is something very close to Nadia’s heart. She has built her career as a working mum, and feels passionately about energizing and engaging other young female talents to unleash their potential. She is also a mentor at Antler focusing on helping young founders in tech and e-commerce.

Nadia holds a Master of Business Administration from the Lahore University of Management, and is a Bachelor of Science (Maths, Stats & Econ) graduate.

Bringing with him over two decades of extensive hospitality experience, Nixon is poised to lead lyf Georgetown Penang as it opens its doors to a new generation of travellers. Nixon began his illustrious career at the prestigious Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur in 2004.

Since then, he has amassed a wealth of experience across leading international hotel groups, including the Shangri-la Group, Starwood, Marriott, and Berjaya Times Square. His colourful journey has also taken him beyond Malaysian shores, where he contributed to the successful pre-opening operations in Macao and China for almost four years.

Nixon’s diverse background equips him with the expertise to steer lyf Georgetown Penang toward becoming a standout destination in Penang’s hospitality scene.

As a leader, Nixon embodies the spirit of lyf – a brand that is all about community, creativity, and connectivity. His dynamic and hands-on leadership style reflects his passion for fostering vibrant, collaborative environments where residents can thrive. Outside of his professional achievements, Nixon is a true all-rounder with a love for music and sports. He enjoys drumming and playing the guitar during his free time.

On outdoor activities, he enjoys playing basketball, badminton, e-sports, and various other athletic pursuits. His active lifestyle and creative passions align perfectly with lyf’s ethos of cultivating a lively, interactive community.

Dr. Ooi Kee Beng is the Executive Director of Penang Institute, the public policy think tank of the Penang State Government. A political analyst, historian, and writer, Dr. Ooi is widely regarded for his insights into Malaysian and Southeast Asian socio-political developments, nation-building, and identity formation.

Before returning to Malaysia, he was the Deputy Director of the ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, where he led influential research on regional politics and governance. He is also a prolific author and editor, having published numerous books on Malaysian political history, including biographies of national leaders.

Prestine Davekhaw is a documentary photographer, and founder on a mission to preserve what matters - be it disappearing cultures or fair pay. Her documentary journey began with Disappearing Cultures, a long-term project capturing fading traditions across the world, from coastal fishing communities to ancient rituals in remote villages.

She is also the founder of MalaysianPAYGAP, a startup challenging wage opacity across Asia. What started as a simple Instagram page evolved into a full-fledged data platform and movement, making salaries more transparent and conversations around work more honest.

Through both her lens and her product, Prestine brings visibility to the invisible, be it a forgotten tradition or an underpaid worker.

Experienced Project Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the B2B and B2C travel and tourism industry. Proficient in client management, having led projects, handled accounts and maintain long-term relations with National Tourism Organizations and destination marketing companies.

Strong media and communication professional with a portfolio in planning and presenting at some of the most premier conferences in the world. Responsible for conceptualizing, coordinating and execution of the events

As the Assistant Vice President of International Markets, Ms Ru Yi formulates strategic goals and drives organisational growth of Trip.com’s hotel business units across Asia, including Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand, among others.

Ms Ru oversees the International Hotel Business Units’ operations in these markets – with the objectives of strengthening brand equity, identifying new growth opportunities and partnerships, and fostering strategic relationships with stakeholders.

A founding member of Trip.com Singapore, Ms Ru was the Regional General Manager and the Country Head of the International Hotel Business Unit (Singapore) before being promoted to her current position.

Ms Ru has a wealth of experience and expertise in the hospitality sector. Prior to joining Trip.com Group in 2013, she had assumed key appointments at Resorts World Sentosa, Sentosa Leisure Group and Far East Organization. A forward-thinking strategic leader with a strong business acumen, Ms Ru is frequently invited to speak at industry and trade events.

Ms Ru graduated with a Bachelor in Business Management from Singapore Management University, and also holds an Executive MBA from SMU. A proud mum of two girls, Ms Ru enjoys reading and jogging.

Sarah Chung is the founder and CEO of Like It Formosa, the biggest English walking tour company in Taiwan. She holds a bachelor degree in Agricultural Economics from National Taiwan University, and has previously worked as an analyst in the investment banking sector at HSBC Taiwan for two years. She spent one year as a visiting student in Barcelona, Spain and got to know the concept of Free Walking Tour when she was traveling around Europe, which she believed is the solution that could increase both foreigner’s understanding of Taiwan as well as young Taiwanese’ state identity. Like It Formosa was then founded in 2015, specializing in content design and tour guide training. Sarah was also a TED speaker and an official English tour guide in Taiwan.

As Klook’s General Manager for Singapore, Sarah oversees the travel and leisure platform's operations, including business development, marketing and e-commerce. Over the past year, Sarah has led her team in tackling the domestic tourism market amidst a rapidly changing environment - from kickstarting Klook's foray into hotels and cruises, to innovating and enhancing traditional tourism products to better suit local tastes.

Sarah was previously Southeast Asia Marketing Director (Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore) for Klook. Prior to that, she worked in Edelman’s Brand practice - where she led consumer campaigns for prominent international and local brands including Diageo, Shell, Singapore Tourism Board, Lagardère Sports, Kimberly Clark and Nestlé.

Sen Soon Mun serves as Director at Horwath HTL Kuala Lumpur, bringing extensive experience and a proven track record in managing operations and enhancing the firm’s presence in Malaysia and the surrounding region. With a deep understanding of the hospitality sector, he specialises in delivering market insights and financial feasibility studies to support strategic decision-making for hotel developments and investments.

Soon Mun has played a pivotal role in conducting comprehensive market and financial feasibility assessments, ensuring that clients are equipped with the data and insights needed to make informed decisions. His expertise extends to leading operator searches and negotiating Hotel Management Agreements (HMA), securing optimal partnerships and contractual terms that align with client objectives.

As a distinguished member of the Association of Certified Accountants (ACCA), Soon Mun combines robust financial expertise with an in-depth knowledge of the hospitality industry. His ability to bridge financial acumen with operational strategy makes him a valuable asset for guiding hotel projects from conception to successful execution.

Through his leadership, Soon Mun continues to strengthen Horwath HTL’s position in Malaysia, offering tailored solutions that drive value and support sustainable growth for hospitality projects across the region.

Siew Hoon is a travel trade journalist, author, entrepreneur and podcaster who established WiT in 2005 to address the evolving landscape of travel technology and customer behaviour.

Over the years, WiT has grown into a prominent events and media platform in the Asia Pacific region, expanding its coverage to include markets such as Japan, South Korea, and the Middle East. Recognised as “Tourism Entrepreneur of the Year” by the Singapore Tourism Board, Siew Hoon’s efforts led to the acquisition of WiT by Northstar Travel Group in 2014.

Siew Hoon is happiest when platforming the future movers and shakers of the industry, lending a voice to those who are out to change, disrupt, and build back better. She thrives on launching unique, people-centric events by blending global insights with local knowledge, while exploring new markets and staying informed about industry developments.

Siew Hoon’s published titles include “Around Asia In One Hour: Tales of Condoms, Chillies & Curries,” and children’s books such as “Adventures of Habibie The Turtle” and “The Story of Baitong and Boon.” Siew Hoon also hosts the “A Life In Travel” podcast.