Vasudevan Suppiah

Vasudevan Suppiah is a seasoned industry professional backed by 25 years of experience in Human Resources and Industrial Relations in the hospitality field, having worked extensively with both international hotel chains and independent properties throughout his career.

His professional motivation centres on addressing industry gaps. He believes there is a need for a platform for Asian hoteliers to share their knowledge and experiences, and he is committed to leveraging technology to develop solutions that encourage the recruitment and training of young people from local communities while providing equal opportunities for the next generation.

His credentials include a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from the University of London, a Postgraduate Diploma in HRM from the University of Portsmouth, and an MBA from Universiti Utara Malaysia. He holds Certified Hospitality Administrator, Certified Hospitality Trainer, Certified Hospitality Revenue Manager, and Certified HR Auditor credentials, and served as a Member of the Malaysian Industrial Court Panel from 2009 to 2012.

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.

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.

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.

Padmaraaj Marudadorai

Padmaraaj Marudadorai is the Loss Prevention Manager with Marriott International. Reporting directly to the Property General Manager, he leads a cross-functional team spanning assistant managers, supervisors, health and safety officers, and outsourced security personnel.

Padmaraaj brings a notably diverse career background to his security leadership role, having previously served as Cluster Assistant Human Resources Manager. This combination of HR and loss prevention experience gives him a rounded understanding of hotel operations, people management, and compliance.

A graduate of B.H.M.S. Lucerne, Switzerland, and Olympia College Kuala Lumpur, Padmaraaj is also an HRD Corp Accredited Trainer and Certified Departmental Trainer for Marriott Properties. As an Industry Advisor with Asianhotelier.Org, he represents the emerging generation of hospitality professionals — versatile, compliance-driven, and committed to building safe, well-managed hotel environments.