Director, Jimbaran Hijau Estate, Bali, Indonesia

Strategic Advisor, Microsoft; Four-Star General (Ret.), United States Marine Corps; Member, stars Global Advisory Panel, Washington DC, United States

General John R. Allen, USMC (Ret.) is a four-star Marine Corps General and a global leader in defense strategy, emerging technologies, and international security. He commanded U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan and served as Special Presidential Envoy to the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL. A Strategic Advisor to Microsoft and Senior Fellow at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab, he is also co-author of Turning Point: Policymaking in the Era of Artificial Intelligence and Future War and the Defence of Europe. He previously led the Brookings Institution and served as Director of Asia-Pacific Policy for the Pentagon, where he led regional initiatives involving China, Taiwan, and Korea. He advises on securing U.S. innovation and supply chains against geopolitical risk and helps align technology investment with national security priorities.

Dr Beh joined EDB in November 1992 and held various portfolios over the years. Dr Beh also held concurrent appointments as the Executive Director of the Biomedical Research Council at the Agency for Science, Technology & Research, as well as the Director of the Ministry of Trade & Industry’s Energy Planning Division. He was Managing Director of EDB from 1 August 2008 to 30 June 2012 before his appointment at the Ministry of Law.

Dr Beh is a medical doctor by training and graduated from the National University of Singapore. He is also a Sloan Fellow with a Master of Science in Management from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business and completed the Advanced Management Programme at the Harvard Business School.

 He is a Board Director and chairs the Nominating & Governance Committee for Singapore Exchange Limited, and also chairs the board of CapitaLand Ascendas REIT Management Limited. In addition, he is a member of the Young Presidents’ Organisation.

Head of Ecosystem Enablement, Allan and Gill Gray Philanthropy, South Africa

Ms. Nomfundo Faith Dlamini was the Development Bank of Southern Africa’s Hub Manager for the eThekwini District Development Model. She was accountable for the metropolitan space as the arena for intergovernmental planning and coordination and responsible for producing a Spatially Integrated Single Government Plan for eThekwini Metro that guides and directs all strategic investment spending and project delivery across government and stakeholders.

This she accomplished through reinforcing an outcomes-based IGR system for the Metro through a regulated cooperative governance One Plan and developing the eThekwini DDM stakeholder management strategy through the One Plan. Through the One Plan - a long-term strategic framework - she unpacked the socio-economic challenges facing the Metro and ensured inclusive and integrated placemaking through the six transformational areas of People Development and Demographics, Economic Positioning, Spatial Restructuring and Environmental Sustainability, Infrastructure Engineering, Integrated Services Provisioning and Governance and Management.

Prior to joining the DBSA, she worked as the Programme Manager: Productive Cities at the South African Cities Network. Her work at the SACN focused on strengthening urban economies, job creation and infrastructure investment through spatial transformation, expanding economic participation and improving local economic governance. She has worked as the Manager: Strategy, Research and Policy Development for the Office of the Executive Mayor at the City of Johannesburg, as the Senior Political Specialist at the Embassy of the United States of America and as the Deputy Director: Parliamentary Liaison, Intergovernmental Relations & Protocol at the KwaZulu-Natal Ministry of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.

She is an urban governance and developmental strategist, specialist in economic development, research and public policy with extensive international and intergovernmental experience. She mainly draws scholarship within the disciplines of development studies, policy and public administration, international relations and development planning to inform her work and research.

Founder & CEO, AlphaGeo, Internationally Bestselling Author and Global Strategy Advisor, Singapore 

Parag KHANNA is Founder & CEO of AlphaGeo, the leading AI-powered geospatial predictive location analytics platform. He is the internationally bestselling author of seven books including MOVE: Where People Are Going for a Better Future (2021), preceded by The Future is Asian: Commerce, Conflict & Culture in the 21st Century(2019), as well as a trilogy of books on the future of world order beginning with The Second World: Empires and Influence in the New Global Order (2008), followed by How to Run the World: Charting a Course to the Next Renaissance (2011), and concluding with Connectography: Mapping the Future of Global Civilization(2016). He is also the author of Technocracy in America: Rise of the Info-State (2017) and co-author of Hybrid Reality: Thriving in the Emerging Human-Technology Civilization (2012). Parag was named one of Esquire’s “75 Most Influential People of the 21st Century”, and featured in WIRED magazine’s “Smart List”. He holds a Ph.D. from the London School of Economics, and Bachelors and Masters degrees from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. Born in India and raised in the UAE, New York and Germany, he has traveled to more than 150 countries and is a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum.

Head of Client Markets for P&C Reinsurance Business in SID, Swiss Re, Singapore

Victor Kuk is the Head of Client Markets for P&C reinsurance business in SID, comprises of Southeast Asia, India, Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan, in Swiss Re. Assuming the role on 1 July 2017, he is responsible for driving Swiss Re's non-life reinsurance business in the SID markets together with a team of Client Managers across the region. Victor is based in Hong Kong.

Prior to this, Victor was the Head of Hub Casualty Asia in Swiss Re, a position he held since January 2016. He brings with him more than 17 years of experience in general insurance management especially in strategic planning, operational management and business management.

Before joining Swiss Re, Victor was Chief Risk Officer of Emerging Markets at QBE Insurance Group Limited since October 2014; responsible for risk management, compliance, actuarial and reinsurance strategy to ensure prudent strategic business planning and decision making across the 23 markets in the Emerging Markets Division. Prior to that, he joined QBE Insurance Group Limited, as Chief Risk Officer, Asia Pacific in December 2012.

Victor had also held various senior positions with AXA for more than 12 years. His last roles with AXA included serving as Chief Business Development Officer and Regional Chief Executive Officer.

Outside work, Victor is a keen sailor and enjoys playing tennis regularly.  He is also interested in drones, boats and fast cars.

Executive Chairman, PwC Singapore; stars Alumnus; Member, stars Asia Advisory Panel, Singapore

Grounded by purpose and values, Marcus LAM is a 26-year veteran at PwC Singapore and served as Assurance Leader for the past four years. During his tenure, the firm focused on building trust and transparency in the audit profession through focusing on audit quality and technological enablement. He has also been on PwC Singapore’s leadership team since 2016.

Outside of PwC, Marcus is active in contributing to the development of the accounting profession. He is a council member of the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants and is a board member of the Accounting Standard Council Singapore. Passionate about education and giving back to the community, he also serves as the Deputy Chairman of the Singapore Polytechnic Board of Governors, the Chairman of the Edusave Advisory Council under the Ministry of Education, and the Vice President of the Parkinson Society of Singapore.

Marcus holds a Bachelors degree in Accountancy (First Class Honours) from Nanyang Business School, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. He is also a Chartered Financial Analyst, a practicing member of ISCA and a member of the ASEAN Chartered Professional Accountant (ASEAN CPA).

Former Group President, GIC; Former Head of Singapore Civil Service; Member, stars International Board, Singapore

Siong Guan Lim was Group President of GIC from 2007 until the end of 2016, after which he was Advisor to GIC's Group Executive Committee until March 2019. The GIC manages the financial reserves of the Singapore Government. He was Chairman of the Singapore Economic Development Board from October 2006 to June 2009. The Board is the Singapore government’s lead agency for planning and executing strategies to enhance Singapore’s position as a global business centre. Much of its work is attracting international corporations to set up manufacturing and services activities in Singapore as critical links in the global supply chain.

Siong Guan was Professor in the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore from 2005–2023, instructing on leadership and change management, as well as a Senior Fellow of the Civil Service College from 2006–2023.

He was the Head of the Singapore Civil Service from September 1999 to March 2005. Siong Guan was the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defense (1981-1994), the Prime Minister’s Office (1994-1998), the Ministry of Education (1997-1999) and the Ministry of Finance (1999-2006). In every appointment he introduced innovative policies and practices which enhanced the drive, capacity, capability and performance of the organization. Siong Guan has chaired the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (2004-2006), the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (2004-2006) and the Central Provident Fund Board (1986-1994), and was a board member of many companies including Temasek, the other sovereign wealth fund manager of Singapore.

Scholar, Visiting Research Professor, Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS), National University of Singapore, New Dehli, India

Raja MOHAN is a senior fellow with the Asia Society Policy Institute in Delhi. He is a visiting professor at the Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS), National University of Singapore and was previously the Director of ISAS. He writes a column on international affairs for the Foreign Policy journal in Washington and the Indian Express in Delhi. He was the founding director of Carnegie India in Delhi, the sixth international center of Carnegie Endowment for Peace. He was associated with several Indian think tanks, including the Institute of Defense Studies and Analyses. He was a Professor of South Asian Studies at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and the Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Singapore. He served on India’s National Security Advisory Board.

Founder and CEO, Diaflow, Singapore

CFO of Temasek and President of Temasek Singapore, Singapore

Png Chin Yee joined Temasek in July 2011 and is currently Chief Financial Officer.

Her prior roles in Temasek include Head, Financial Services, Senior Managing Director, China, and Senior Managing Director, Portfolio Strategy and Risk Group.

Prior to joining Temasek, Ms Png was Managing Director with UBS AG where she was Joint Head of the Financial Institutions Group for Asia investment banking.

Ms Png holds a Bachelor of Accountancy degree with First Class Honours from the Nanyang Technological University and is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Regional CEO, Southeast Asia, PSA; stars Alumnus, Singapore

Member, stars Foundation Board, Zurich, Switzerland

• Professional Career
  • Independent Board Director (since 1.7.2024)
    • Georg Fischer AG – Chair of the Audit Committee / Member of the Nomination & Sustainability Committee
    • TAKKT AG - Member of the Supervisory Board / Member of the Audit Committee
    • Family Office – Independent Director
  • PricewaterhouseCoopers AG (PwC) 1.1.1994 – 30.6.2024
    Relevant roles:
    • Since 2002, Partner (Lead Audit Partner / Global Client Partner)
    • Up to 2012, Industry Leader for the Market Segment Industrial Products (Industrial Manufacturing, Chemicals, Transportation & Logistics and Business & Professional Services)
    • From 2013 - 2015, Regional Leader; leading the PwC Assurance practice in Zurich & Eastern Switzerland / Ticino with 6 offices and > 350 employees
    • From 2015 – 2018, Markets Leader Switzerland in Assurance and Member of the Executive Team (“Geschäftsleitung”)
    • From 2019 – 2022, Chairman PwC Switzerland
    • From 2023 - 2024, co-responsibility for ESG reporting / assurance in PwC Switzerland
  • Industry experience
    • 30 years of relevant experience in Trade, Industry & Services
    • Ambition for deep understanding of clients’ business, strategy, operating model and management teams to ensure optimal support and delivery capabilities (“listen / understand / execute”)

  Other Activities / Experience

  • International assignments (London, Madagascar, Montreal). Madagascar was a co-sponsored assignment with the United Nations to look into the topic of better access to safe drinking water (UN SDG)
  • Extensive client related business travels and building-up a relevant personal network in Europe, the US and China
  • Former Governance leader PwC Switzerland; initiating and leading the PwC Audit Committee Forum (flagship client event of Assurance in Switzerland); board assessment projects
  • Activities in professional organisations (recent and past): Avenir Suisse, IMD, Liechtenstein dialogue for development, Liechtenstein Finance Forum, Rive reine, Swiss Global Entreprise, Swissmem, the stars – leaders of the next generation, Zurich Commercial Chamber (Zürcher Handelskammer), Zurich Economic Society (Zürcher Volkswirtschaftliche Gesellschaft)
  • Worked with Korn Ferry International as management consultant after completion of university

Founder and Executive Chairman, stars Foundation, Weinfelden, Switzerland

• 2014 – present: Executive Chairman and Founder of the stars Foundation Board, Weinfelden, Switzerland
• 2008 – 2014: Chairman and Co-Founder of the stars Foundation Board, Weinfelden, Switzerland
• 1994 – 2016: Member of the Board of UBS Wolfsberg and Congress Hotel Seepark AG
• 1994 – 2014: CEO, UBS Wolfsberg. Emphasis on Business Development, i.e. initiating, supervising, and conducting UBS Briefings, UBS Health Forum, UBS Arts Forum, UBS Study Trips, UBS Think Tanks, Wolfsberg Podium (www.wolfsberg.com)
• 1981 – 1994: Various responsibilities for UBS Management and Executive Development, Member and Chairman of the Board of UBS Art Collection
• Concurrently: Member of the Board of various companies and foundations in Switzerland

Vice Chairman, Temasek; Former CEO, PSA; Member, stars Asia Advisory Panel, Singapore

Tan Chong Meng is the Group Chief Executive Officer of PSA International (PSA). He joined PSA on 1 October 2011, bringing with him a wealth of experience in managing the complexity, diversity and breadth of a global business.

PSA International (PSA) is a leading global port operator and trusted supply chain partner to cargo stakeholders. PSA’s ports and cargo solutions portfolio comprises over 60 deepsea, rail and inland terminals, across 160 locations in 42 countries – including two flagship port operations in Singapore and Belgium, as well as affiliated businesses in supply chain management, logistics, marine and digital services.

Together with his management team, Chong Meng is responsible for the overall performance of the PSA Group and provides strategic direction on growing the company’s network value through maximising assets and engaging global business partnerships.

Outside the PSA Group, Chong Meng serves as the Chairman of JTC and is a non-Executive Director on the board of the National University Health System (NUHS). In January 2022, he assumed the role of Governor Chair for The World Economic Forum’s Supply Chain & Transport Industry Community. He was previously a Board Member of IE Singapore and F&N Pte Ltd.

In April 2020, he was appointed Co-Chair of the Emerging Stronger Task Force, a committee set up by the Singapore government to guide the nation’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.  Chong Meng, who was also appointed the Lead for Community Care Facilities Taskforce, drove the set-up of emergency health infrastructure during the first COVID-19 surge and facilitated the safe arrival of migrant workers for critical sectors. In recognition of his exemplary leadership in coordinating Singapore’s pandemic response, safeguarding lives and livelihoods, and steering the nation towards recovery, he was one of a select few conferred the national “Meritorious Service Medal (COVID-19)” in December 2022.

Before joining PSA, Chong Meng was the Executive Vice President, Global Commercial, Shell Downstream, of the Royal Dutch Shell Group. He led six global businesses – many of which are world leaders engaged in the marketing and sale of fuels, lubricants and specialty products to commercial customers vis-à-vis Aviation, Marine, Industrial, Land Transport, Construction and Liquefied Petroleum Gas. A global leader with more than 20 years of experience in Shell, Chong Meng worked in USA, Europe, China and Singapore, holding various senior leadership positions that spanned management, sales, marketing, trading, refinery operations, customer service and merger & acquisitions.

CEO, Turtle Venture; stars Alumna, Dhaka, Bangladesh 

Chair, James Cook University Singapore; Board Director – SGX-Listed companies and Kemin Industries (USA); Adjunct Professor, National University of Singapore; Member, stars Asia Advisory Panel, Singapore

Su-Yen is an experienced Board Chair and independent director who has served for over 15 years on the Boards of multiple listed, family-controlled, private equity-held, government-linked and not-for-profit organisations in Australia, Asia, and the United States. She is Chairperson of James Cook University Singapore, and immediate Past Chairperson of the Singapore Institute of Directors. Previously she was also Independent Chair of SGX Mainboard-listed Nera Telecommunications.

Currently, she is an Independent Director at Yoma Strategic Holdings, CSE Global, and First Resources. In addition, she serves on the global board of privately-held Kemin Industries, and is a Board Director of the Infocomm Media Development Authority, which is a statutory board under the Singapore Ministry of Communications and Information.

She is an Adjunct Professor at the National University of Singapore Business School, a member of the Executive Education Faculty at Duke University, and a keynote speaker who engages audiences worldwide on leadership, transformation, and the future of work.

Previously Su-Yen was CEO of the Human Capital Leadership Institute, Chairman for Marsh & McLennan Companies (Singapore), and Senior Partner and Managing Director, Southeast Asia at Mercer. Earlier, she was Asia Managing Partner for the Communications, Information & Entertainment practice at Oliver Wyman.

She holds a B.A. (summa cum laude) in music and computer science from Linfield University, and an M.B.A. from the Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina. She is a Senior Accredited Director of the Singapore Institute of Directors, and a member of the Young Presidents' Organization. She is an avid adventure traveller and has ventured to some of the most remote parts of the world, including Antarctica and Timbuktu.

Assistant Professor, China Programme, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Xue Gong is Assistant Professor and Deputy Coordinator of MSc IPE Programme at S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Her current research interests include International Political Economy, China’s economic diplomacy, Asian regionalism and governance. She has contributed to peer-reviewed journals such as the World Development, International Affairs, the Pacific Review, Contemporary Southeast Asia, Harvard Asia Quarterly, etc. She has two co-edited books on Belt and Road Initiative. She has also contributed to several book chapters on China’s economic statecraft and impacts on regional geoeconomics and politics.

Co-Founder and CEO, WIZ.AI, Singapore

Jennifer Zhang, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of WIZ.AI, is a visionary and innovative technology leader with a passion for creating smart customer engagements through cutting-edge conversational AI powered by proprietary Enterprise Large Language Models. Jennifer and her two co-founders established WIZ.AI with the ambition to revolutionize how businesses around the world effortlessly connect to their customers across telephony, chat, messaging, and email.

Under Jennifer's leadership, WIZ.AI has experienced staggering growth, boasting a diverse team of professionals and serving over 260 clients globally, including Fortune 500 companies. With its flagship product, the WIZ Talkbot, WIZ.AI delivers hundreds of millions of automated omnichannel customer engagements every hour, 24/7.

Before WIZ.AI, Jennifer co-founded PlusYoou, the most influential US-China entrepreneur community and platform in Southern California, and managed two early-stage tech VC funds in Los Angeles and Beijing from 2016-2019.

Jennifer's success and influence in the technology space have led to her being featured on Channel NewsAsia, The Business Times, and multiple other technology publications and regional forums, further solidifying her reputation as an innovative technology leader.