FORBES ASIA NEXT TYCOONS FORUM
Formula for Success
Time was when the surest path to wealth was to inherit it. No more. Money still generates more money—now as never before. But the engines driving those gains have changed irreversibly. Fortunes grow fastest not at sprawling conglomerates with towering assets and heavy connections, but at mammoth high-tech consumer companies with mountains of data and at minuscule startups with clever algorithms. The generation of leaders taking the wheel at Asia’s family businesses faces an incessant challenge to its survival. Innovate! Or risk being overtaken by the inexorable march of disruptive technologies. Innovate! And risk spoiling the careful cultural chemistry that keeps a family business humming. But hurry: the landscape is shifting fast as new powers rise and others wane. With inequality growing, wealth itself is under attack. Finding the right formula to break free from the pack has never been tougher.
2019 SPEAKERS
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Ong Ye Kung×2019 SPEAKEROng Ye KungMinister for EducationSingapore
Ong Ye Kung is the Minister for Education. He was elected Member of Parliament for Sembawang GRC in Sep 2015, and appointed to the Cabinet of Singapore on 1 Oct 2015. He had held the positions of Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) and Second Minister for Defence. He is concurrently a board member of the Monetary Authority of Singapore and Chairman of the Chinese Development Assistance Council.
Prior to his Cabinet appointment, he held the position of Director of Group Strategy at Keppel Corporation, overseeing long term strategic planning of the Group’s activities.
Before joining Keppel Corporation, he was the Deputy Secretary-General of National Trades Union Congress, overseeing the Labour Movement’s employment and employability programmes.
He also held various positions in the Government earlier. These include the Chief Executive of Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA), during which he spearheaded many initiatives to build up the Continuing Education and Training infrastructure.
He was the Principal Private Secretary to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong from 2003-2005, and Press Secretary to Prime Minister Lee from 1997-2003. Mr Ong was also the Deputy Chief Negotiator for the US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement.
Mr Ong graduated from the London School of Economics and Political Science (UK) with a Bsc(Econs) First Class Honours, and holds a Master of Business Administration from the Institute of Management Development, Lausanne, Switzerland. He is married with two teenage children.
Minister for EducationSingapore -
Arif P. Rachmat×2019 SPEAKERArif P. RachmatCofounder and Executive ChairmanTriputra Agro Persada
He is the Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Triputra Agro Persada (TAP) and Board of Director of Triputra Investindo Arya (Triputra Holding Company). Triputra Group has 4 major lines of businesses:
1. Energy: One of largest integrated coal-fired power plants (ADARO Energy and Padang Karunia)
2. Food and Agri: Over 250.000 ha of palm oil plantations, largest crumb rubber exporter, and corn and rice aggregators (TAP, DSN Group, Kirana Megatara, Seger)
3. Logistics and Mobility: Largest car rental fleet, car auction, complete logistic services and largest Honda motorcycle dealership (ASSA, Puninar, Daya)
4. Manufacturing: Largest car wheel, auto parts and garment factories (Pako,Dharma Polimetal, Bina Busana)Triputra is part of founding members of BTPN Syariah Bank (BTPS Microfinance), ESSA (Largest Amonia Plant), Multico (Industrial Equipment Distributor), and acts as a local partner of Bounty Indonesia (Poultry), Siam Cement, Kredit Pintar and Batumbu (Fintech).
Arif also helps initiate the launching of new startups: CarOline (Car Auction Online Platform), AnterAja (Last Mile Delivery), and Kedai Sayur (Farm to fork supply chain) amongst others.
Arif takes-on the role as the Head of Permanent Committee on food-agri and forestry at Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN Indonesia), and Chief Deputy of Indonesia Business Association (APINDO) heading agriculture, plantation and forestry sectors, Vice Chairman of Global Agribusiness Alliance (GAA). Active as Member of Board of Trustee at TNC (The Nature Conservancy), Endeavour, Centre for Strategic and International studies (CSIS), Prasetya Mulya University and Junior Achievement in Indonesia. He sits at the Board of Advisors at Rabobank Food Agri in Asia, and Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI).
He serves as Chairman of GK Indonesia Foundation, local Co-Champions of Young Global Leaders of the World Economic Forum as well as a member of Asia Business Council and Young Presidents Organization (YPO). Member of Center for Asian Philanthropy and Society (CAPS), Asia Philanthropy Circle (APC), and Perhimpunan Filantropi Indonesia (PFI).
He graduated from Georgetown Prep School and cum laude in B.S. and Master of Operations Research and Industrial Engineering from Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. Upon graduation, he worked for General Electric Company in the U.S. and globally for 7 years in various leadership roles.
Cofounder and Executive ChairmanTriputra Agro Persada -
Katrina Razon×2019 SPEAKERKatrina RazonManaging Director, KSR VenturesManaging Partner, CC: Concepts
Katrina Razon is the Founder/Managing Director at KSR Ventures, Director at the Wonderfruit Festival, and Creative Director/Partner at CC: Concepts. Katrina is an industry-agnostic Seed Investor, choosing to focus on key inflection points of outstanding companies that aim to solve social and/or environmental problems in inspiring ways. She has worn many different hats from being a DJ to festival and live events producer. Katrina serves as a Director at Thailand’s premium sustainable lifestyle and carbon neutral festival Wonderfruit.
She is an Activist whose advocacies include wildlife conservation, child welfare and environmental sustainability. Katrina currently divides time between Manila and Los Angeles. In her spare time, she enjoys surfing, reading and film.
Managing Director, KSR VenturesManaging Partner, CC: Concepts -
Kuok Meng Ru×2019 SPEAKERKuok Meng RuChief Executive OfficerBandLab Technologies
Meng Ru Kuok is CEO of BandLab Technologies, a collective of global music brands headquartered in Singapore, which he founded in 2016. The BandLab Technologies portfolio includes digital, media, manufacturing and retail businesses focused on innovating for music creators and fans, with the aim of creating a connected world of music.
Notable recent acquisitions include legendary UK music media brands NME and Uncut. The group's flagship platform, BandLab, is using innovative cross-platform technology to empower more than 8 million people to make music, connect and collaborate.
Meng is also the Managing Director of Swee Lee Music, music instrument and accessory retailer. He has been leading this business since 2012, when he acquired the legacy music retailer and subsequently transformed it into one of the largest musical instrument retail, distribution and e-commerce businesses across Southeast Asia.
Chief Executive OfficerBandLab Technologies -
Jonathan Zeman×2019 SPEAKERJonathan ZemanChief Executive OfficerLan Kwai Fong Group
Jonathan Zeman is Chief Executive Officer of the Lan Kwai Fong Group, a diversified property development company with business interests in commercial & residential property, resorts, hospitality, entertainment, film, media and technology in Asia. He has over 20 years’ experience working in Greater China and leads a creative and diverse team of over 400 professionals distributed through offices in Hong Kong, Mainland China and Thailand.
Since becoming CEO, Mr. Zeman has led various property development and redevelopment projects for the Group in addition to leading the Group to diversify its business into new synergistic businesses to complement its core property development business.
Under his leadership the Lan Kwai Fong Group has become one of the leading experts in leisure and entertainment property development in Greater China. The Group portfolio includes projects in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Chengdu and other parts of China as well as award winning projects in Phuket Thailand.
Redevelopment of the California Tower at the heart of Lan Kwai Fong, Hong Kong, under Mr. Zeman’s leadership set a new standard for Asian leisure and entertainment property. The project features cues to the Group’s flair for design and attracted top leisure brands and operators.
Mr. Zeman is a dynamic, well informed, creative thinker who has lived in Hong Kong for over 40 years. Starting his career with the Group after completing his bachelor’s degree in East Asian Studies with honours at the University of California Los Angeles, Mr. Zeman worked his way through different divisions within the Group, from hospitality, information technology, project management and operations to eventually becoming a core member of the senior management team.
With his keen interest in numerous diverse fields and cultures together with the ability to absorb and implement the pertinent qualities into every project, Mr. Zeman continues to set the Group apart from other standard property developers and offers a unique touch which is pivotal in today’s ever-changing market.
Mr. Zeman also has received various honours and has sat on the executive committees and as advisor to various organisations. In addition, his linguistic abilities include fluency in English, Cantonese, Mandarin, French and he is conversant in Thai—all of which solidify his deep understanding of the markets in which the Group operates within the region.
Chief Executive OfficerLan Kwai Fong Group -
Allen Law×2019 SPEAKERAllen LawChief Executive OfficerPark Hotel Group
Mr Allen Law is Chief Executive Officer of Park Hotel Group, one of Asia Pacific's leading hospitality companies. Under his leadership, Park Hotel Group expanded from a single hotel in Hong Kong to a multinational company with a multi-property portfolio spanning across 12 destinations in the Asia Pacific region.
Demonstrating strong business acumen and leadership skills in the dynamic travel and tourism landscape, Allen has grown Park Hotel Group’s collection of brands, which comprises of the luxury Grand Park, the upscale Park Hotel and the midscale Destination as well as the loyalty programme, Park Rewards. In addition, he has led Park Hotel Group to garner numerous awards over the years, including: TTG Asia's Best Regional Hotel Chain (2012-2016) and most recently SkillsFuture Employer Awards 2018.
Allen currently serves on the Board of Directors of Singapore Tourism Board, SkillsFuture Singapore and Singapore Institute of Hospitality.
Chief Executive OfficerPark Hotel Group -
Cecile Ang×2019 SPEAKERCecile AngPresidentDiamond Hotel
Cecile Ang is an executive of San Miguel Corporation and works with the different subsidiaries of the group. Her recent focus is expanding the hospitality, infrastructure and recreation business of the group, specifically in Boracay Island. She also heads the planning and design committee for the group’s bid for the New Manila International Airport. She is also leading the building of permanent soup kitchens, food banks and community centers in urban poor communities for the company’s foundation. Prior to these roles, she worked in the group’s other subsidiaries, Petron Corporation and Purefoods Corporation. She is also a board advisor for Bank of Commerce.
PresidentDiamond Hotel -
Enrico Moretti Polegato×2019 SPEAKEREnrico Moretti PolegatoPresident and CEO, Diadora S.p.A.Vice President, Geox S.p.A.
Enrico Moretti Polegato is President and CEO of Diadora, leading Italian sport brand. For more than 70 years, Diadora has developed and marketed products both for competitive sports and for non-athletic/leisure activities. Founded in 1948 in Caerano di San Marco (Treviso), Diadora is currently present in more than 60 countries. Since July 2009 Diadora has been controlled by L.I.R., holding company owned by the Moretti Polegato family.
Since 2008, Enrico Moretti Polegato has also been Vice President of Geox S.p.A.
Born in Asolo (Treviso) in 1981, Enrico Moretti Polegato earned a law degree from the University of Padua. In 2008 he became a member of the bar.
Since 2004, after working first for the legal office and then for the investor relations and internal auditing office, he has been on the Board of Directors of Geox.
Since 2008 he has been a member of the General Board Committee of the Central Veneto Industrial Association.
Since 2018 he has been a member of the Unicredit Bank Territorial Council for the Northeastern Region of Italy.
President and CEO, Diadora S.p.A.Vice President, Geox S.p.A. -
Jennifer Liu×2019 SPEAKERJennifer LiuFounder and CEOThe Coffee Academics
Based in Hong Kong, Jennifer is an award-winning serial entrepreneur, an innovative brand creator and interior designer, with an architectural background from Cornell University in New York. She was recently featured in the books of “Born to be Boss” & “Those Who Inspire Hong Kong”.
Jennifer began her startup life with PP.com, a tech company that facilitated the property sectors as a platform that was invested by PCCW Ventures and was later acquired by a NASDAQ property company in the US.
What came next was her vast F+B curations drawn from diverse inspirations in arts, travels and technology. From boutique neighborhood cafes HABITŪ to later specialty coffeehouse The Coffee Academïcs and RoastaryLab; each brand yields successful homegrown creations evolved organically through Jennifer’s creative and charismatic leadership. Today, Jennifer owns the number 1 specialty coffee brand in Hong Kong by consumption and market share according to Frost and Sullivan 2017.
Also a passionate social advocate, Jennifer founded her personal philanthropy – Jennifer W. F. Liu Charitable Foundation. This is where innovative workshops on social causes, particularly sustainable living, are weaved together to support underprivileged women and children in Hong Kong. Besides her personal philanthropies, Jennifer dedicates herself in various important public services positions, expanding her contributions to social developments. To name a few, Jennifer is a member of the Standing Committee of Business for Social Good – a platform to connect business success with social progress organized by Our Hong Kong Foundation; an Advisor of Our Hong Kong Foundation; a Board Member of Liu Po Shan Memorial College; a Member of All-China Women’s Federation Hong Kong Delegates Association; Member of Hong Kong Women Development Association; and a Member of All-China Federation of Industry & Commerce.
Throughout the years, Jennifer’s achievements have been continually recognized by numerous prestigious awards including South China Morning Post “25 Women of our Time 2012”; Perspective Magazine “40 under 40” in 2012; CEO Magazine “Best Hospitality Group of Hong Kong 2013”; City Magazine “18 Notable Women in Social Business 2014”; Capital Magazine “CEO of the Year” in both 2007 & 2014. In recent years, Jennifer was also awarded the esteemed “Piaget Award for Excellence of Entrepreneurship" in 2015; “Most Outstanding Women of Hong Kong” by the Women Development Association of Hong Kong in 2016; Gafencu Magazine “Hospitality Most Excellent Award” in 2016; Jessica Magazine “Most Successful Women 2017”; “Top 50 Innovative Retail Leaders in Hong Kong 2017” by Inside Retail Asia; and Gafencu Magazine “The 300 Most Powerful People in Hong Kong 2017”.
A confident and inspiring speaker, Jennifer is widely sought-after to give talks, interviews and special appearances by notable and influential publications, media platforms and organizations, including but not limited to CNBC, BBC, Bloomberg, TEDx, Google-EYE, American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, Asia Society Hong Kong, InvestHK, StartmeupHK, Rotary Club of Hong Kong, World Social Summit and in September 2016, she was an invited speaker at the Allegra World Coffee Portal in New York, featuring the most influential people in the coffee industry.
Founder and CEOThe Coffee Academics -
Binay Raghuram Shetty×2019 SPEAKERBinay Raghuram ShettyVice Chairman and CEOBRS Ventures
As the Vice Chairman and CEO of BRS Ventures, Binay Shetty embodies the best qualities of a successful entrepreneur of this generation. Guided by his visionary father, Binay is poised to take the legacy forward. He brings strong expertise of having worked with the BRS Ventures’ entities for more than a decade.
Prior to his current responsibility, he held the position of Chief Operating Officer at NMC Health, a London Stock Exchange listed healthcare provider and part of the premium FTSE 100 Index responsible for Operations, HR, Marketing, IT and Projects. He was a Board Member of NMC Health Plc.
In addition to his current role, Binay also serves as the Executive Director of Finablr, a global platform for full service payments and foreign exchange underpinned by proprietary technology with network companies such as UAE Exchange, Unimoni, Travelex, Xpress Money, Ditto Bank. He is also the Director of UAE Exchange, a leading global remittance, foreign exchange and payment solutions company as well as Travelex, a global foreign exchange provider. He is also the Vice Chairman of Alexandria NMC, a healthcare group in Egypt and BR LIFE that operates multi-specialty healthcare facilities in India.
Binay is also a board member of the Indian Business & Professional Group (IBPG) Abu Dhabi, Center for Technology and Economic Development (CTED), a research center at New York University Abu Dhabi and UAE Genetic Diseases Association. He is also managing trustee of the Dr. BR and Dr. CR Shetty Foundation.
He has 14 years of experience with a focus on strategic planning and corporate governance. He is an active participant in various social and philanthropic initiatives as well as community activities.
Binay graduated from Boston University, Massachusetts, USA, with specialization in Finance and Entrepreneurship.
Vice Chairman and CEOBRS Ventures -
Chatri Sityodtong×2019 SPEAKERChatri SityodtongChairman and CEOONE Championship
Chatri Sityodtong is the Founder, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship (ONE), Asia’s largest global sports media property in history with a broadcast to 2.6 billion potential viewers across 140+ countries around the world. ONE is a celebration of Asia's greatest cultural treasure, martial arts. Through the magic of storytelling and the power of media, ONE is on a mission to unleash real-life superheroes, celebrate values, ignite dreams, inspire nations, and change the world.
Sityodtong is a self-made entrepreneur and lifelong martial artist from Thailand. His rags-to-riches life story has inspired millions around the world on BBC, CNN, Bloomberg, CNBC, and other major media. He was also named “Asia’s King of Martial Arts” by the Financial Times, and Asia's 3rd Most Powerful Person in Sports by FOX Sports.
Chatri Sityodtong holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA from Tufts University.
Chairman and CEOONE Championship -
Teresa Wibowo×2019 SPEAKERTeresa WibowoChiefRuparupa.com
Teresa Wibowo is the Chief of Ruparupa.com.
Ruparupa.com is the digital initiative of Kawan Lama Group, a 65 years old corporation whose expertise is in industrial and retail.
Ruparupa.com is currently the biggest omni-channel operator, uniting 300+ stores ACE Hardware, Informa Furnishings and Toys Kingdom (all part of Kawan Lama Group).
The company offers a wide range of products, not just from Kawan Lama Group but also enhances its product offering by working with other marketplace vendors.
Ruparupa.com has STOPS (Store Pickup Service) facility that allows customers to buy products online and pick it up at the store of their choice.
ChiefRuparupa.com -
Kenneth Gaw×2019 SPEAKERKenneth GawPresident and Managing PrincipalGaw Capital Partners
Kenneth co-founded Gaw Capital Partners in 2005, and has been its President and Managing Principal. Gaw Capital is a uniquely positioned private equity real estate fund management company focusing on selected markets globally. The firm has raised five commingled funds targeting the Greater China and Asia Pacific region since its inception. In addition to managing opportunistic funds in Vietnam and the US along with a Pan-Asia hospitality fund and European hospitality fund, the firm also provides services for separate account direct investments globally. It has raised equity in excess of USD$ 13 billion so far and currently commands assets of USD$ 23 billion under management.
Kenneth joined Pioneer Global Group (224: Hong Kong Exchange) since 1994 and remains to be Managing Director. Notable transactions under his direction include acquisition and repositioning of Pullman Hotel G Pattaya and Pullman Hotel G Bangkok, Thailand; AIA Tower in Macau; and Global Gateway, 68 Yee Woo Street building, Club Lusitano building, Kowloon City Plaza in Hong Kong.
Additionally, Kenneth holds directorships at Dusit Thani Public Company Limited (DCT: Bangkok Exchange) and Hong Kong Thailand Business Council.
Kenneth graduated with a B.Sc degree (Magna Cum Laude) from Brown University in 1992 and began his career at Goldman Sachs.
President and Managing PrincipalGaw Capital Partners -
Rachel Lau×2019 SPEAKERRachel LauManaging PartnerRHL Ventures
Experience
Rachel Lau is Managing Partner at RHL Ventures. RHL Ventures is a Southeast Asian based private investment firm that focuses on growth capital investments in the South East Asia and the US region.
Before setting up RHL Ventures as a partner in February 2016, Rachel was Vice President at Heitman Investment Management in Hong Kong and Australia. Rachel helped managed USD$4bn of global long-only and absolute return equity strategies, focused on the Asia Pacific region. Prior to this, Rachel worked as an investment analyst with Dutch investment manager, NN Investment Management, which manages USD$225bn. In her tenure with NN, Rachel worked in the Asian Equities team in Hong Kong, Emerging Market Debt team in Atlanta and Multi Assets Strategies in New York. She conducted fundamental analysis on global companies in Asia, Latin America and USA, across different capital structures, be it equity, debt or derivatives. Rachel has deployed billions of dollars of long term capital to meet outsized returns for institutional investors.
Rachel graduated from Australian National University with a Bachelor of Commerce with Distinction (double major in Accounting and Finance) and received a Master of Law (major in Business Law) from the University of Sydney. In addition, Rachel represented Malaysia in the sport of rhythmic gymnastics in various tournaments and the British Council as a delegate in the Young Global Citizen Summit to solves issues on global poverty and human rights.
Rachel serves as President of the Malaysia Gymnastics Federation and on the Leadership Team of the Hong Kong chapter of Ellevate (formerly 85 Broads), a 34,000-member global network of professional women; and sits on the Program Committee of EMpower, a global not-for-profit organization that supports at risks youths in developing countries.
In 2018, Rachel was named as 50 People who are Redefining the Way We Live by Business Times Singapore and was selected as Milken Institute Young Leaders Circle, a non-profit, non-partisan global think tank that is determined to increase global prosperity by advancing collaborative solutions that widen access to capital, create jobs and improve health.
Philosophy
Rachel sets herself apart by thinking creatively. She believes in hard work and conducting detail due diligence on a company before investing.
In the process of translating grand transformational themes into an investment portfolio, Rachel seeks to understand the underlying drivers of the business and stress tests a range of outcome before making an investment decision. She believes that in forming an opinion, it is most important to understand the unknowns and risks that comes with each investment. She believes that returns are not only generated by identifying companies with good growth, but also by avoiding pitfalls. That is really more an art than a science, the key is to capitalise on local contacts and rigorous due diligence.
Rachel likes investing in simple, predictable, free cash flow generative, resilient and sustainable businesses. These businesses should ideally have strong growth opportunities and scarcity value. Where possible, she looks to invest in high-quality businesses at a price that is not reflective of the intrinsic value of the business as it is.
Rachel believes that mispriced assets are emerging because of the mismatch of expectations between financial capital holders and business needs. Financial capital holders are constantly pressured to look for quick profits and therefore, exerting a similar pressure for businesses to compromise on investing for long term growth. Great companies are not built in a day and therefore, she believes that RHL will be able to counter that pressure by providing patient capital that provides partnership in connecting entrepreneurs with the resources, connections and capital know how.
Managing PartnerRHL Ventures -
Melvyn Pun×2019 SPEAKERMelvyn PunChief Executive OfficerYoma Strategic Holdings
Appointed to the Board of Yoma Strategic on 27 July 2015, Mr Melvyn Pun is an Executive Director and the Chief Executive Officer of Yoma Strategic Holdings Ltd. (Yoma Strategic) as well as Non Executive Director of Yoma Bank.
Prior to that, Melvyn was the Alternate Director to Mr Serge Pun in Yoma Strategic and the Chief Executive Officer of Serge Pun & Associates (Myanmar) Limited. Melvyn has been extensively involved in developing the Group’s relationships with key parties, including Mitsubishi Corporation, IFC, ADB, Yum! Brands, Parkson, Case New Holland, Dulwich College International and Kokubu, amongst others.
Melvyn was educated in the United Kingdom and graduated from University of Cambridge in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts (First Class Honours), Masters of Engineering and Masters of Arts.
Chief Executive OfficerYoma Strategic Holdings -
Nirvana Chaudhary×2019 SPEAKERNirvana ChaudharyManaging DirectorCG Corp Global
Despite his family’s achievements, Nirvana Chaudhary is no stranger to working hard for his own success. He founded his own company within the CG Corp Global conglomerate, CG Finco, when he was only 19-years-old and became the managing director of the Chaudhary Group before reaching 30.
CG Corp Global is a multi-dimensional conglomerate with a complementary business portfolio that comprises over 80 businesses on five continents and in 30 countries. It has a workforce of over 15,000 people and a net worth in excess of $2.5 billion.
Nirvana’s drive and determination to expand his great-grandfather’s business across the globe has catapulted him into the position of Nepal’s ultimate role model, where he uses his power to motivate youth, teach them leadership skills and give back to his country.
In 2010, Nirvana began leading CG’s philanthropic organization, Chaudhary Foundation, which focuses on improving the lives and strengthening the communities of Nepal. Through the foundation, he is dedicated to creating socially responsible businesses and sustainably developing Nepal.
Nirvana has been one of the foundation’s driving forces and has helped it open Nepal's largest spiritual institute, Shashwat Dham, and partner with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to improve health and sanitation in Nepal. He also runs his own private philanthropy initiative in the name of his parents, Binod & Sarika Chaudhary Foundation.
Beyond his business and philanthropic endeavors, Nirvana is passionate about collecting art that promotes young Nepali artists, he was a former national squash player and an avid trekker who has summited some of the tallest mountains in the world.
Managing DirectorCG Corp Global -
Justin Doebele×2019 SPEAKERJustin DoebeleEditor, Forbes AsiaExecutive Director - Content, Forbes Asia
Justin Doebele is one of the most experienced Forbes executives in Asia. He is currently the Editor and Executive Director - Content at Forbes Asia, based in Singapore from July 2018. Before that he managed and edited Forbes Indonesia from its launch in 2010. At Forbes Indonesia, he led the team in creating one of the most successful business publications in the country, as well as launching ForbesLife Indonesia in 2014, now one of the most successful lifestyle media brands in the country. Before relocating to Jakarta, he was with Forbes in Singapore, where he set up the Singapore bureau for Forbes Global, and launched and managed the noted Asia Rich Lists for Forbes. He also played a major role in the launching of Forbes India, and worked closely with Forbes partners in China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia and Thailand. He has a BA from Harvard and MS in Journalism from Columbia University. He is the former president of the Jakarta Foreign Correspondents Club, the former Vice President of the Foreign Correspondents Association of Singapore, and a lifetime member of both the Singapore Press Club and the N.Y.-based Council on Foreign Relations.
Editor, Forbes AsiaExecutive Director - Content, Forbes Asia -
Rana Wehbe×2019 SPEAKERRana WehbeSenior Editor-Special ProjectsForbes Asia
Rana joined the Forbes’ Hong Kong office as a Senior Digital Editor in October 2015 to kickstart Forbes’ successful Under 30 franchise in the APAC region. She has since edited all four editions of the 30 Under 30 Asia list and directed the programming for Forbes Under 30 Asia Summits. Apart from building Asia’s network of successful young entrepreneurs through this annual list, Rana has been recently promoted to be a key member of Forbes Asia operations, handling special projects that seek to expand the brand’s footprint in the region.
Born and bred in Beirut, Lebanon – Rana’s eclectic journey has taken her from Dubai to Singapore and now Hong Kong where she’s worked at global newsrooms taking on various editorial roles, last of which is APAC Group Editor in Chief for the Paris-based Reworld Media where she launched two lifestyle and fashion websites (Marie France Asia and BE Asia) setting their editorial strategy and growing their audience from day one. Before that, she ran an editorial fashion blog which focused on emerging Asian designers and grew a large following in Singapore and beyond.
Be it tech or fashion - Rana is always inspired by the creativity, energy and talent of those who dare to take a risk and follow their passion – something she personally thrives on.
Fascinated by Asia and its diverse culture, Rana loves to travel around the region and she’s equally fond of Asimov’s sci-fi novels and her skyhigh heels.
Senior Editor-Special ProjectsForbes Asia -
Wayne Arnold×2019 SPEAKERWayne ArnoldExecutive EditorForbes Asia
With 29 years in Asia, Wayne was previously head of policy and regulatory affairs at the Asia Securities Industry & Financial Markets Association in Hong Kong. From 1999 to 2008, he was Southeast Asia business and finance correspondent for The New York Times and the International Herald Tribune. In 2008, Wayne helped launch a newspaper in Abu Dhabi, The National, where he chronicled Dubai’s financial meltdown as economics columnist. He returned to Hong Kong in 2011 to join Thomson Reuters’ commentary service Breakingviews as Asia strategist. He was then Reuters' editor for Asian economics and markets before joining the Wall Street Journal as Asia Economics Correspondent and then Barron’s Asia as a columnist. He has written columns for the Asian Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg on everything from financial markets to aviation and technology. Since arriving in Asia in 1990, he has covered Japan’s financial collapse, the global economic crisis and China's slowdown.
Executive EditorForbes Asia -
Pamela Ambler×2019 SPEAKERPamela AmblerSenior ReporterForbes Asia
Pamela covers wealth, blockchain and the crypto economy as a senior reporter across digital and print platforms. Prior to Forbes Asia, she served as on-air foreign correspondent for Thomson Reuters’ broadcast team, during which she reported on global markets, central bank policies, and breaking business news.
Before Asia, she was a journalist at NBC Comcast, and started her career at CNBC and Bloomberg as a financial news producer in New York. She is a graduate of Columbia Journalism School and holds an MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management.
Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Washington Post, Yahoo, USA Today, Huffington Post, and Nasdaq. Pamela’s previous incarnation was on the buy side in M&A research and asset management, inspired by Michael Lewis’ book “Liar’s Poker”.
Senior ReporterForbes Asia
AGENDA
Venue: The Glasshouse, Andaz Singapore
11:00
Registration desk opens
11:45
Guests to be seated
12:00
Welcome remarks
12:15
Lunch and Session I - In Conversation with Ong Ye Kung, Minister for Education, Singapore
Moderator: Justin Doebele, Editor, Forbes Asia, Executive Director - Content, Forbes Asia
14:00
Session II - Where to Park it
Money never sleeps. And managing it has never been trickier. Asia’s emerging markets are caught in a tug of war between China and the U.S. that goes far beyond trade. Europe is succumbing to its long breakup with the U.K. And digital trolls have turned some elections into political dynamite. Policymakers and investors face a volatile combination of rising risk and slowing growth. Yet more and more cash is fleeing public markets and pouring instead into high-tech venture capital and private equity. In this panel, investment-savvy business leaders will debate where the smart money is headed and how old-school assets such as property, stocks and bonds stack up against structured products, startups and new darlings like AI and cryptocurrencies.
Moderated by Wayne Arnold, Executive Editor, Forbes Asia
Confirmed speakers:
Kenneth Gaw, President and Managing Principal, Gaw Capital Partners
Rachel Lau, Managing Partner, RHL Ventures
Allen Law, Chief Executive Officer, Park Hotel Group
Melvyn Pun, Chief Executive Officer, Yoma Strategic Holdings
Arif P. Rachmat, Cofounder and Executive Chairman, Triputra Agro Persada
15:00
Session III - The Winner's Circle
Capitalism is under attack, but so are the conventional solutions to inequality and the populism it is fueling. Traditional philanthropy and corporate charitable giving are out; ESG and social investing are in. Business leaders need to demonstrate that their company delivers a positive impact, whether by creating jobs in needy communities or improving the environment. This panel will discuss what business leaders need to do to make a real difference—and make sure growing scrutiny of wealth doesn’t come back to bite them.
Moderated by Pamela Ambler, Senior Reporter, Forbes Asia
Confirmed speakers:
Cecile Ang, President, Diamond Hotel
Nirvana Chaudhary, Managing Director, CG Corp Global
Jennifer Liu, Founder and CEO, The Coffee Academics
Katrina Razon, Managing Director, KSR Ventures, Managing Partner, CC:Concepts
Binay Raghuram Shetty, Vice Chairman and CEO, BRS Ventures
16:00
Session IV - Quantum Shift
Data is the new oil. And the companies with the biggest consumer bases are the new sheikhdoms. Armed with artificial intelligence, these businesses pose a formidable threat to incumbents. By building a community around their core products, they can create an ecosystem and mine it for clues to new services to sell. Businesses that aren’t already doing this to widen their market are likely to wake up one day to find new rivals pushing into theirs. In this session, panelists will discuss how the latest technologies are transforming their businesses and creating new opportunities.
Moderated by Rana Wehbe, Senior Editor-Special Projects, Forbes Asia
Confirmed speakers:
Kuok Meng Ru, Chief Executive Officer, BandLab Technologies
Enrico Moretti Polegato, President and CEO, Diadora S.p.A., Vice President, Geox S.p.A.
Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO, ONE Championship
Teresa Wibowo, Chief, Ruparupa.com
Jonathan Zeman, Chief Executive Officer, Lan Kwai Fong Group
17:00
Group Photo
17:00 - 18:00
Networking Reception
LOCATION
The Glasshouse (Level 3)
Andaz Singapore
5 Fraser Street
Singapore 189354
CONTACT
General & Sponsorship
Tina Wee
info@forbesasia.com.sg
Speaking Opportunities
Janelle Kuah
speakers@forbesasia.com.sg
General & Sponsorship
Tina Wee
info@forbesasia.com.sg
Speaking Opportunities
Janelle Kuah
speakers@forbesasia.com.sg