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.

Alan Wong Yew Loon

Alan Wong is a Malaysian culinary leader with over two decades of progressive kitchen leadership across some of the world’s most prestigious hotel brands. Currently serving as Culinary Director his career trajectory across Shangri-La, Marriott International, W Hotels, Waldorf Astoria, and Hilton Worldwide reflects both the depth of his craft and his ability to operate at the highest levels of international luxury hospitality.

Alan began his culinary journey in Singapore in 2001, where he rose from service staff to Sous Chef a progression that speaks to his foundational discipline and passion for the kitchen. He subsequently took on corporate management trainee responsibilities across Shangri-La properties in Singapore, Penang, China, and the Philippines, before stepping into Executive Chef and Director of Culinary roles in Malaysia, Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai. His experience encompasses pre-opening kitchens, fine dining operations, Chinese and Japanese restaurant concepts, large-scale banquet operations, and F&B revenue strategy.

As an Industry Advisor with Asianhotelier.Org, Alan brings the perspective of a Malaysian culinary professional who has built an outstanding international career, demonstrating that world-class culinary excellence knows no borders. His insights into kitchen leadership, food and beverage innovation, and operational standards make him a compelling voice for hospitality professionals aspiring to grow their careers across the region and beyond.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Praba G Menon

A seasoned, well-travelled hospitality professional who started as a housekeeping attendant at the poolside, progressing through a role as a restaurant busboy before becoming Director of Food & Beverage for the Regent Kuala Lumpur. His career took him to Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Mauritius, the Seychelles, South Africa, and Mali in various General Manager positions.

He later returned to Malaysia to serve as Chief Operating Officer of a local hospitality group in Borneo. Most recently he held a corporate position as Group Managing Director of PestBusters Pte Ltd in Singapore, overseeing operations across five countries with expansion planned throughout the Asia Pacific region. He has since retired to Malaysia.

Menon attributes his professional success to the hospitality industry’s development opportunities and is passionately committed to training and developing young talent, emphasising the importance of allowing emerging professionals to learn from mistakes and grow in their roles.

Clement Paul

Clement Paul brings over 33 years of experience in hotel management to his role. He progressed from entry-level Front Office positions through various roles including Director of Rooms and Executive Assistant Manager, gaining exposure to both major hotel brands and independent properties.

Currently overseeing a 355-room resort, he focuses on optimal guest satisfaction and a good working environment to achieve all set objectives. His contributions to the hospitality sector earned him recognition as one of Malaysia’s Best General Managers at the CMO Asia Awards 2019 in Kuala Lumpur.