ICDL Asia Digital Challenge 2024

Alex is the Managing Director of Spaze Ventures, a seed capital firm that focuses on investing in early stage technology startups, where he leads the investments and helps founders grow their startup. He also started EduSpaze, Singapore’s 1st edtech accelerator and is passionate about entrepreneurship, education and innovation. He has invested in more than 70+ startups, helped them grow, expand overseas and raise the next round of funding.

Alex has about two decades of experience from both the public and private sectors. He was previously the vice president of a regional fintech company that specializes in payment processing and consumer data, where he was responsible for regional business development and expansion into new markets. The company was subsequently acquired by Wirecard in 2014. Prior to that, Alex leads the enterprise technology team in Enterprise Singapore, where he specialized in the e-government and financial services clusters to help companies expand beyond the shores of Singapore. He received the MTI Borderless Award in 2010. Alex started his first business in 2002 and worked briefly as an engineer before joining a boutique investment firm, where he further developed his passion and commitment to help companies grow.

Alex is currently the President of Enterprise Singapore Society (EnterpriseSG Alumni) and also a Councillor of SGTECH. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) and a Master of Science (Technopreneurship & Innovation), both from Nanyang Technological University. He also attended University of Washington and the International Business Fellowship at University of Dubai.

Ardi is a key figure in TalentCorp’s Graduate & Emerging Talent department, where he leads Campus Engagement & Mobility initiatives. He collaborates with public and private higher education institutions across Malaysia to enhance students’ industry readiness. By building partnerships, Ardi facilitates the schoolto-work transition, ensuring graduates have the skills needed to succeed.

He also oversees mobility programs, offering international internships that broaden students’ skills and perspectives. His engagement with university career
centres and students helps prepare them for their careers.

Previously, Ardi served as Sector Relationship Manager, managing efforts in key industries like Oil & Gas, Energy, and Education, particularly in Sabah and
Sarawak. In this role, he built relationships with stakeholders, aligning TalentCorp’s initiatives with academic and industry needs.

Before TalentCorp, Ardi managed the Graduate Employability Management Scheme (GEMS) at Khazanah Nasional Berhad, a national program to enhance
employability for Malaysian graduates. This shaped his understanding of talent development on a broader scale. Ardi enjoys building partnerships between academia and industry, focusing on initiatives that support Malaysia’s future workforce. His passion for creating opportunities helps students transition smoothly into their careers, making a positive impact through his work.

Dr. Azli Bin Nawawi is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Mechanical Engineering Technology, Faculty of Engineering Technology, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM). He holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from UTHM (2015) and a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of New South Wales (2008). Dr. Azli specializes in Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA), CAD System Applications, and Lean Concept Application in SMEs. He is also an Associate Researcher at the Institute of Integrated Engineering and the Faculty of Engineering Technology. Due to his interest in digitalization, Dr. Azli was appointed as the Head of the Digital Content Development Department for 5 years in the Centre for Virtual Learning, and later served as its Director for 2 years. He is a committed digital content creator, having published hundreds of videos and developed several online courses related to CAD software. He also manages various social media platforms. His contributions significantly advance engineering education and technology.

Edmund Liew is an accomplished project and product manager with over 15 years of experience in the design, education, and consulting industries. He has led multiple high-value contracts across Singapore and the APAC region, specializing in product design, project management, and data analytics. Edmund’s achievements include winning the prestigious Red Dot Award for Design Concept in 2016 and spearheading a rebranding project that reduced fraud by 30-50% for a financial client. He currently oversees the Data Analytics and Business Application training programs at NTUC LearningHub, where he leads the development and roll-out of accredited government funded courses. With a strong background in instructional design, stakeholder management, and creative strategy, Edmund is a versatile leader known for delivering results on large-scale projects, managing teams, and driving business growth through innovative solutions

An user experience centric product designer with +16 years’ experience in IT industry. I’m passionate, innovative and highly self-motivated. Pursuing design simplicity and minimalist are my design principles. I’m also an aesthetic practitioner & team collaborator.

Mr. Foo Wen Yeow has been a Chemistry educator for over 15 years at Crescent Girls’ School CGS) under the Ministry of Education. Beyond his passion for Chemistry, he is a firm believer in utilising technology in meaningful and creative ways to help students enjoy learning in the classroom. His enthusiasm in this area has seen him serve as the Subject Head of ICT for more than a decade in CGS which is one of the first few FutureSchools@Singapore that focuses on innovative approaches leveraging on ICT to bring about more engaged learning.
 
In addition to his contributions within the school, Mr. Foo has been actively sharing his experiences in managing educational technology with local and foreign visitors to the school. He has also worked closely with ICDL Asia, collaborating to organize the National Digital Explorer (NDE) since 2022. This initiative has successfully engaged more than 60 schools annually, reflecting Mr. Foo’s commitment to promoting digital literacy and educational excellence on a broader scale.
 
Mr. Foo Wen Yeow has made significant strides in advancing ICT education and fostering a culture of digital innovation in the educational fraternity.

Kathleen Donohoe has held several senior positions within NSW, Ireland and the United Kingdom across K-12, Tertiary and Vocational education. She is the Founder and Director of Leading Thinking International, building on her experience as a Director for the NSW Department of Education.

Her career in education began as a secondary teacher with subsequent appointments in academic and executive roles. She has worked for organisations including ICDL Foundation, the European Union, UNESCO and the University of Sydney.

In her current role, Kathleen works with school, universities, jurisdictional bodies and industry in thought leadership, professional development, developing and implementing strategy across physical, virtual, and social learning space – informing design, transition, effective use and evaluation, building partnerships between industry and education.

Kathleen has a strong commitment to research and evidence-based approaches to emerging learning and teaching practices. Throughout Kathleen’s career she has maintained a focus on the importance of building the professional knowledge and practice of educators. She continually leads initiatives to promote digital and information financial literacy, inspiring learning, innovation, and engagement to meet current and emerging opportunities from AI, big data, and technology.

Kelvin currently works as a manager with Singapore Institute of Management (SIM) Centre for Micro-Credentials. He leads a dedicated team of Associate consultant/trainers in the areas of course development and Training, curating industry relevant Micro-Credential courses for various types of learners.

Kelvin held various academic positions in various academic institutions in Singapore in his earlier roles prior to joining SIM such as the being Programme Director for the Business School at Raffles Education Corp, managing the Business, Tourism and Hospitality school of about 500 students.

Kelvin has also headed the Curriculum Developing Team at ST Electronics (eSERV), managing augmented projects, providing educational and digital transformation consultation and courseware creation services to key clients from various Singapore Government ministries such as the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), Ministry of Education (MOE) and Intellectual Development Authority (IDA).

Kelvin has extensive knowledge and experience in curriculum development, E-commerce implementation as well as pedagogic application to educational programmes and Instructional Design frameworks.

Dr. Madhavan Balan Nair, or more commonly known as Dr. Madhavan Nair, Heads the Operations Team of MYNext, a subsidiary of TalentCorp, which focuses on providing Talent Solutions, with the main purpose of supporting the government agenda on addressing the issue of graduate employability in Malaysia.

With prevalent experience in the academia for the past 19 years holding various administrative positions, Dr. Madhavan is known for his expertise and insights on the issues and challenges faced by students, universities and industries in nurturing and hiring the right talents.

Dr. Madhavan holds a Doctor of Philosophy from Universiti Putra Malaysia, and has obtained professional certifications in various Information Technology related professions, including Cisco, Huawei Certified Network Administrator, Huawei Certified Academic Instructor and AWS Cloud Foundation.

Melissa Shahrom is an Associate Professor at the Department of Technology and Supply Chain Management Studies, Faculty of Business and Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Selangor, Malaysia. She received a Bachelor (Hons.) in Information Technology (Networking) from Universiti Utara Malaysia, a Master of Science in Information Technology from UiTM, Malaysia and was awarded a PhD in Engineering from the University of Melbourne, Australia. She was a member of the Ambient Spatial Intelligent Interest Group (AmSI) in the Department of Infrastructure Engineering at the University of Melbourne and her research and teaching focus is on information security risk management, information systems and technology management. She is currently a member of the Information Systems Association (AIS) and Malaysian Board of Technologists (MBOT). Melissa has also carried out several research collaborations and consulting projects with several government and private agencies in Malaysia and universities abroad. She is also committed to the ongoing improvement of digital literacy education. This could involve staying up-to-date with the latest digital tools, trends and pedagogical strategies and making adjustments to the curriculum as needed to keep it relevant and effective.

Murphy is a seasoned professional with over ten years of experience in data analytics and machine learning. His expertise lies in leveraging data for business outcomes and creating data-driven solutions. He has extensive experience in tertiary institutions, understanding curriculum planning and learning platforms.

Throughout his career, he has held various roles in corporate and academia, including senior management and board memberships. His work in data refinery and analytics has earned industry recognition. Currently, he is researching in areas like ethics of AI, generative AI, and Computational Social Science.

He lectures at several universities in the ASEAN region and is an adjunct at Singapore Management University. His experiential learning case studies have won multiple teaching awards. Murphy has authored and co-authored many articles and served on review boards.

His consulting experience is extensive across different sectors. He holds a DProf degree and adult learning trainer qualifications.

Ms Pua Bee Lian obtained her degree in Business Information Systems from Campbell University, USA, and Master’s degree from Asia e University, Malaysia. With 20 years of teaching experience in tertiary education, she is currently the Programme Leader in the Faculty of Computing & Information Technology at Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT), Malaysia. She specialise in Information and Communication Technology Management.

Ms Pua has successfully attained the instructor-level credential for completing the CISCO IT Essentials course as part of the Cisco Networking Academy® programme. She has also completed the four modules of the International Computer Driving Licence (ICDL), the international standard in digital skills certification. These four modules are namely Online Collaboration, Project Planning, Cyber Security and Presentation
(Advanced).

In addition to her academic and professional achievements, Ms. Pua is actively involved in national-level competitions. Under her mentorship, Mr Wong Yik Han, a student fromthe Diploma in Internet Technology was crowned champion (tertiary category) at the
National Level, represented Malaysia at the ICDL Asia Digital Challenge at Thailand.

Ms. Qiu Shiyun brings over a decade of experience in the fields of industrial engineering, operations management, and business process optimization. Prior to joining Temasek Polytechnic, she worked as a process improvement consultant in various industries, including manufacturing, and aviation. Her expertise lies in identifying inefficiencies in workflows and implementing data-driven strategies to improve operational efficiency and reduce waste.

Outside of teaching, Ms. Shiyun enjoys mentoring engineering students in process improvement projects and leading students on overseas studies trip and global studies trip.

Academic Credentials:

• Master’s Degree in Logistics, Nanyang Technological University
• Lean Management Certification
• Bachelor’s Degree in Material Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University

Mr. Qu Zixuan is the Chief Researcher at Yicai Business School and a renowned author of the “White Paper on Global DTC Insights of Chinese Enterprises.” With a strong background as a former Amazon (China) seller enabling expert, he has provided practical solutions across North America, Europe, and other regions, specialising in brand building and supply chain optimisation.

Mr. Qu is also the official marketing methodology author for the Little Red Book platform, focusing on the beauty, home life, and clothing industries. He has worked extensively with China’s leading brands, including Liangpinpuzi (a major snack retailer), Myfoodie (a pet food giant), and Jiuyang Electric Appliances, offering deep insights and strategies to elevate their market presence.

Rich Baxter, a renowned educator and Principal of Innovation in Education, is a beacon of educational innovation with a profound commitment to student welfare. Continuing his journey as a classroom teacher, Rich’s remarkable career path encompasses early roles at the Hong Kong Education Department as one of the first primary Native-english Speaking Teachers. Graduating from OISE in 2004, he channelled his passion for innovation into pioneering art programs that garnered awards. His influential presence as a Judge, Speaker, and Competitor at the Reimagine Education Awards, often dubbed the ‘Oscars of Education’, underscores his leadership. Currently teaching Grade 7/8 in Toronto, Rich’s dedication extends beyond the classroom. His project, the Bootstrapping Checklist, fosters social entrepreneurship through immersive, collaborative learning, earning accolades like the 2021 Bronze in the USA & Canada Regional Award. Rich’s tireless pursuits exemplify his mission to enhance equitable access to quality education.

Sean is the Regional Technical Manager for the Mainstream Engineering and Product Engineering Software portfolios of Siemens Digital Industry Software in South East Asia. With over 25 years’ experience in the mechanical engineering and CAD industries, he has been heavily involved in the fields of mechanical design, simulation as well as project management. His primary role involves working closely with product development and partner teams in the ecosystem by providing technical and business development leadership and support to help businesses succeed in their digitalization journey. He also directs and mentors tertiary students during their internship at Siemens, ensuring that the new generation are well equipped to tackle the unique challenges of today.

Dr. Sharidatul Akma Abu Seman is a senior lecturer in the Department of Technology and Supply Chain Management Studies at the Faculty of Business and Management, UiTM Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. Her academic expertise encompasses technology management, mobile health, ICT, and online learning. She has a robust background in teaching courses such as Research Methods, Digital Workforce, Data Warehouse, and End User Applications.

Dr. Sharidatul Akma Abu Seman is recognized for her innovative contributions, having participated in and won several international innovation competitions. Her expertise has also been acknowledged through her role as a jury member in various international IID events. She holds four ICDL badges (Application Essentials, Digital Marketing, Internet of Things, and Presentation) and has completed the Introduction to Generative AI from IBM SkillsBuild, showcasing her advanced skills in digital literacy and technology.

In addition to her teaching and research accomplishments, Dr. Sharidatul Akma Abu Seman contributes to the academic community by serving on the editorial boards and program committees of numerous international journals and conferences. She also collaborates through multiple consultancy projects.

Mr. Stephen Yee is an Experienced Learning and Development and HR Business Leader, and practitioner. He is the Deputy Executive Director of the Singapore National Employers Federation with two decades of knowledge and skills working in the not-for-profit organization management industry and working with development and social partners. He has 30 years of working experience and skills in Strategic Planning, Go-to-market Strategy, Organizational Development, Sales Management, HR Business Partner, Learning and Development and Business Strategy, working with employers and enterprises of various sizes and in different industry sectors in both Multi-National Companies. He works closely with the government on the evaluation of training programs that is applicable to employers and the mass market. He is in various tripartite working committees like the tripartite committee for older workers in training, employers committee for human capital development, and enterprise training scheme. On top of that, he does audits as part of the evaluation committee for skills and future awards for employers and individuals. He has been in the making of the workforce skills qualifications with the government agencies and examining its impact on employers and employability skills since 2005. In 2007, he brought in International Computer Driving License (ICDL), a non-profit organization body responsible for computer certification based in Ireland and has international offices globally. He has also in instrumenting mutual recognition of skills among the IT certification and HR Certification (Singapore).