Executive Director, Dragonfly Robotix Sdn Bhd

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Moderator : PAPER 3, PAPER 6 and PAPER 7

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Johan started his working career as a Marketing Executive with a British Trading House, Harper’s Gifillian Sdn. Bhd. based in Kuala Lumpur. After his management training and work exposure in KL, he was posted back to Kota Kinabalu in the trading division. After two years he joined Champion Motors/IDS as Area Manager of Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei selling well known brands like Audi, Land Rovers, Massey Ferguson Tractors and Bedford Trucks. Johan was sent by Inchcape to UK for his management training. He left to join Datuk Harris Salleh group of companies in the Berjaya era to do construction and development projects around Sabah and was Director of Gaya Shipping and Archipelago Shipping Sdn. Bhd, shipping pioneers in Sabah. He was then head hunted by Hanafiah Raslan and Mohamed (HRM) and recruited by Exxonmobil Borneo Ltd as area Manager based in Exxonmobil Malaysia’s office in KLCC. After two years stint in KL he was transferred back to Kota Kinabalu to head Exxonmobil interest in Borneo.

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In all his career with the foreign companies, he was the first bumiputra executive from East Malaysia to be recruited in management positions. Johan left Exxonmobil to start his own business but was called by the state government to help start the oil and gas business for Sabah. He spent a 3 months stint as consultant with SEDCO and later was brought to Yayasan Sabah as Deputy Director to take charge of the education portfolio and to spearhead the development of oil and gas business in Sabah. He has also held several directorships.

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Academic Qualifications:

Doctorate in Business Administration, from the  University of South Australia. He also hold an MBA in Strategic Marketing from University of Hull, UK and
Diploma in Advanced Marketing from Bristol Polytechnic, UK, and is a life member and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

Summary of Working Career: 

- Institute for Development Studies, Chief Executive Officer (2018 - 2019)
- Deputy Director Yayasan Sabah (2004 - 2013)
- Exxonmobil Borneo Ltd, Area Manager East Malaysia (1987 - 2003)
- Chief Project Coordinator Pembinaan Sabindo Sdn. Bhd. (1981 - 1986)
- Area Manager Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei, Champions Motors Sdn. Bhd (1982 - 1985)
- Senior Marketing Executive, Harper’s Trading Sdn. Bhd. (1979 - 1981)

Current employment and activities 
Johan has started a technology company Dragonfly Robotix Sdn. Bhd, since leaving Yayasan Sabah. This company offers specialised services in aerial mapping and photography for clients like POIC, Sabah Ports Authority, international film companies and project developers.
Apart from the company, Johan is a well known writer and columnist at Free Malaysia Today (FMT), the Malaysian Insight and Daily Express, Kota Kinabalu.
Johan is also active in NGO work with G25 group and many NGOs in different fields and interest.
He is also continuing his research and writing in various topics to inform and share with the general public.

Managing Director, KASI Group

Topic of Paper : "Digital Solutions to Confront a Volatile Future in the Maritime Industry"​

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Mr. Nair has more than 15 years of experience in the oil & gas and maritime sectors where he worked for major energy companies in various technical and commercial roles, which include trading and shipping businesses in global energy markets.

He is a member of the EASTPORT MARINE group of companies directly involved with LNG and Petroleum business units. Between 2008 and 2017, Mr. Nair successfully positioned EASTPORT MARINE as a player for LNG and petroleum transfers. He is also a member of KASI who are specialists in the execution of port and terminal projects including dry bulk, crude oil petroleum, LNG, containers, marinas, breakwaters, approach channels with an emphasis on validation of port design, risk management and maritime modelling and simulation.

Prior to KASI, Mr. Nair was part of the Olefins Trading & Shipping desk for INEOS who are a global manufacturer of petrochemicals, specialty chemicals and oil products. INEOS comprises 17 businesses each with a major chemical company heritage. Its production network spans 64 manufacturing facilities in 14 countries throughout the world making it the world’s third largest chemical company with sales today around US$47 billion. His role encompassed technical and commercial management of loading/unloading, transhipping and terminal operations of petro-chemical supply chains throughout Europe covering logistics of gas carriers, tankers, gas barges, and rail tank cars.

Mr. Nair holds an honours degree in Maritime Business and Management and is a member of The Nautical Institute, UK as well as the Royal Institute of Navigation, UK. He has also successfully completed a Naval Architecture course with Lloyds Maritime Academy, UK.

Chief Operating Officer, PACE UP Sdn Bhd

Faiz Latip serves as Chief Operating Officer and Business Development Manager of Pace Up Academy, a dynamic Malaysia’s Oil & Gas Training Specialist. He is also a certified trainer by Human Resource Development Fund (HRDF).

He represented Malaysian Oil & Gas Services Council (MOGSC) to launch OGLearn - The Malaysia's 1st Dedicated Oil & Gas Training Portal in 2018 to improve the training search process and empower Malaysian training businesses.

Faiz is a former Wireline Services Field Engineer with Baker Hughes, one of the world’s largest oilfield service company and completed his 6-month intensive engineering training in Dubai, U.A.E in 2015. He has experience working in PETRONAS's Exploration & Production project, Pendekar-1 at Sabah's offshore.

Faiz was a Completion Tools Trainee Field Engineer with Halliburton where he gained early understanding of oilfield operation and hands-on experience. He worked in tools preparation and testing at Halliburton’s warehouse, Kemaman, Terengganu.

Graduated with Bachelor Degree of Petroleum Engineering from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), he had also served as the President of Society of Petroleum Engineers UTM Student Chapter and led it to win the highest global recognition and award by Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) International; 2013 Outstanding Student Chapter (only 7 recipients in the world) and 2013 Gold Standard Award.

Director of Chemical and Advanced Materials Division, MIDA

Topic of Paper : "Investment Opportunities in the Oil & Gas Downstream Industry"

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Surayu Susah joined the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) in 2000 and her key responsibilities have been in promoting investments in the manufacturing and services sectors. Currently she serves as Director of Chemical and Advanced Materials Division, a division dedicated to promote and develop various sub sectors within the chemical portfolio including downstream of oil & gas sector in Malaysia.

Throughout her career of 20 years in MIDA, she has been instrumental in recommending projects of great value to the country, both domestic and foreign investments from Asia, Europe, North America and Middle East. Her expertise is not limited to chemicals but include life sciences, medical technology as well as lifestyle and building technology industries.

She has also been a part of the team formulating policies and strategies for the Industrial Master Plan and the Malaysia’s Economic Plan.

Director, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) Sabah ​

Topic of Paper : "Leverage on MATRADE Services to Grow Your Exports"

Pn. Noor Azian Romlan has 18 years of experience in MATRADE and is currently the newly appointed Director for the Sabah Regional Office.

She possesses a wealth of knowledge and experience in export development of Malaysian SMEs as a result of her long career and history with MATRADE.

She first joined MATRADE in 2001 under the Management Services Division for five years until 2006.  She then became Assistant Manager in the Malaysia Export Exhibition Centre for another five years from 2006-2011.  That year 2011, she was appointed Director, MATRADE Sarawak and held the role until 2014.  After that, in 2014-2018, she became Manager for Halal, Food and Beverages & Agro-based Section, Trade Promotion and Market Acceleration Division where she acquired significant experience in supporting F&B companies achieve their export objectives.  In January 2019, she was appointed Director, MATRADE Sabah.

Pn. Noor Azian has a Diploma in Accountancy and a degree in Business Management major in Finance from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Malaysia.

Managing Director, Blast Abrasives Supply Sdn Bhd Asia-Pacific Advisor, The Society for Protective Coatings (SSPC)

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​Topic of Paper : "Certified Coatings Craftworkers and Contractors to Improve Asset Life"

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Current Position

• Managing Director, Blast Abrasives Supply Sdn Bhd, a specialist supplier of abrasive blasting media to South East Asian contractors & shipyards

• Non-Executive Director of Schmidt Abrasive Blasting Sdn Bhd (Malaysia) and Schmidt Abrasive Blasting LLC (Saudi)

Professional Associations

• Vice Chair, SSPC Asia Pacific Advisory Council (immediate past Chair)

• Member, SSPC Malaysia Chapter (immediate past Vice-Chair)

• Member, IMM Coatings Committee

Industry Qualifications

• SSPC Protective Coatings Inspector Level 2

• SSPC C7 (abrasive blasting) Instructor