Rohizat Baharum

Rohizat brings more than 25 years of hospitality sector experience, having worked with major hotel chains including Equatorial, Hyatt, Parkroyal, and Pan Pacific Hotels & Resorts, plus convention venues such as KLCC and MITEC. He serves on several professional bodies including the Industrial Relations Panel for the Industrial Court and the SOCSO Panel.

His career focuses on creating employment pathways and developing hospitality talent. He has established partnerships with hospitality colleges to deliver skills training in catering, housekeeping, culinary arts, and beverage service, and pioneered a “Casual Worker Program” offering skill training to students at hospitality colleges and universities.

Rohizat serves as an Industrial Advisor to INTI University and TARUC, and is Vice President of the ASIA Hospitality and Human Resource Association and Deputy Chairman of Malaysia Tourism Talent Development. His qualifications include Train the Trainer certification (HRDF), Licensed Master and Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming, and Certified Hotel Trainer credentials.

Ruth Abishegam Clark

Ruth serves as SVP of Learning & Development at Azimuth Centre of Excellence, an international company dedicated to creating customised training and Human Resources consultancy for corporate clients using disruptive methodologies.

She brings over 30 years of experience in the hospitality sector across the Asia Pacific region, having headed Human Resources departments and served as an HR and L&D consultant. Throughout her career she has worked across diverse organisational cultures and levels, focusing on building shared value for communities.

A key aspect of her professional legacy involves championing sustainability initiatives, leading organisational transformation toward environmental and community responsibility. Looking forward, Ruth aims to mentor emerging hoteliers by offering fresh perspectives to those who want to rise the ladder and have the drive and passion to be internationally recognised.

Kathy Khoo S.L.

Kathy brings over three decades of hospitality experience spanning multiple continents. She graduated from Middlesex Polytechnic (now Middlesex University) and launched her career in London across various hospitality institutions.

Drawn to Asian hospitality, she relocated to Malaysia and progressed through several roles, ultimately becoming Hotel Manager at Savv Hotel Penang — a property situated within Georgetown’s UNESCO World Heritage Site. She emphasises that sustainable development ensures long-term viability and believes the pandemic has revealed critical gaps in traditional business models.

Throughout her career in Rooms and Housekeeping, Kathy has mentored numerous associates who advanced within the industry. She advocates for structured training and development programmes, viewing them as essential pathways that make career progression more accessible in hospitality.

Ravi Kathiravelu

Ravi currently serves as Executive Director of Sutera Sanctuary Lodges in Sabah, Borneo, overseeing four properties in natural settings. The flagship property is located in Kinabalu National Park — Malaysia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site (2000) — situated 1,584 metres above sea level and featuring unique ecological systems.

In his current position, Ravi prioritises environmental stewardship, believing sustainable development is essential for humanity’s future. He previously worked as Chief Operating Officer at Sutera Harbour Resort, where he began as Head of Food & Beverage Operations managing 14 outlets, 2 ballrooms, and 27 meeting rooms, and has held food and beverage roles with international hospitality chains across Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia.

Beyond his primary role, Ravi advises a major hospitality development project in Timor-Leste. He is a graduate of Ecole Les Roches Bluche in Switzerland and Schiller International University in London.

Johnny CS Lee

Johnny CS Lee brings more than three decades of HR expertise from the hospitality sector, beginning his career in Sabah during the early 1990s. He joined Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort as part of the pre-opening team and subsequently became a central figure in Sabah’s HR community.

Motivated by a commitment to creating employment opportunities and nurturing talent, Lee played a key role in launching a collaborative initiative involving Shangri-La, the state HR body, and a local hospitality college in the mid-1990s — a programme that supported the professional growth of numerous young hospitality professionals.

Throughout his career, Lee has completed various professional development programmes at both local and regional levels. He now contributes to the industry by offering mentorship and contemporary perspectives to emerging hoteliers.

Abdul Ali Bin Abdul Wahab

Ali possesses more than 35 years of experience in the hotel finance and accounting function. Throughout his career he has held positions at several prominent hospitality establishments including Pan Pacific Hotels & Resorts, Grand Season, and Nova Resort.

His professional involvement extends beyond individual properties: he maintains active participation in the Kuala Lumpur Hotels Finance group under the Malaysian Association of Hotels and serves on various advisory councils.

Currently, Ali works in a consultancy capacity with Tanjung Rhu Resort on the island of Langkawi, where he applies his extensive financial expertise to support resort operations.

Christopher Raj

Christopher Raj has established himself as a cornerstone of the hospitality sector, bringing nearly four decades of HR experience to the industry. He commenced his tenure at Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur in 1997 as Deputy HR and currently serves in a senior directorial position overseeing human resources and industrial relations matters.

His educational background includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Science complemented by a Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resources Management and Industrial Relations. He received the Kesatria Mangku Negara (KMN) honour from the Malaysian King in June 2015 in recognition of his contributions to the nation.

Beyond his corporate role, Raj serves as President of the Association of Hotel Employers, holds council membership with the Malaysian Employers Federation, and has been a member of the National Labour Advisory Council since 2008. He is also a published author and a certified trainer for numerous professional development programmes.

Thomas Ch’ng

Thomas Ch’ng is a dedicated human resources professional with over two decades of experience in the hospitality sector. He began his career at Hard Rock Hotel Penang, serving as pre-opening Director of Human Resources from 2008, where he helped establish Malaysia’s first Hard Rock Hotel location.

Currently he holds the position of Complex Director of HR at Marriott International, overseeing human resources operations for both the Westin and St Regis properties in Langkawi.

Throughout his extensive career he has maintained a commitment to industry development by serving on academic panels as an Industry Advisor, focusing on mentoring emerging hospitality professionals and providing practical guidance to the next generation of hoteliers.

Sunny Savinderjit Singh

Sunny is a seasoned professional bringing 27 years of leadership experience from four industries, including 16 years as a professional consultant trainer. His career spans the hospitality, petroleum and logistics, education, and training sectors.

In hospitality he held operational and strategic roles with major properties including The Holiday Inn, Penang Mutiara Beach Resort, and Sunway Hotel Georgetown and Penang, directing Front Office / Rooms Division while overseeing employee development, training, customer service initiatives, and operations planning, budgeting, and forecasting.

His distinctive capability is designing customised programmes addressing competency gaps or specific operational needs. He conducts training fluently in both English and Bahasa Malaysia, incorporating practical tools, role-plays, and real operational examples to enhance participant engagement across diverse sectors.

Wesley Chan

Wesley Chan is a trainer, speaker, and coach who formerly competed as a national Taekwondo athlete. Despite his Chemical Engineering background, he transitioned into sales and discovered his calling in training and coaching others, engaging over 150,000 people across Asia through his programmes.

His coaching methodology centres on four pillars: building trust through positive relationships, establishing credibility, delivering compelling presentations, and achieving win-win negotiations. He emphasises helping professionals sell their ideas better without being rigid, focusing on application-driven outcomes.

His client portfolio spans luxury hospitality (St. Regis Langkawi, Westin, Banyan Tree, Pavilion Hotel), telecommunications, automotive, financial services, and technology, and he appears regularly as a guest speaker on Malaysian radio and television.