Chef Bob Lee

Chef Bob is a native of Penang who embodies the island’s multicultural culinary heritage. He began his career as crew aboard MISC Transpacific ocean liners before returning to Penang to establish himself as a leading player in the local culinary scene.

His professional journey included positions at prominent establishments such as the Penang Mutiara Hotel and the E&O Hotel, where he served as Executive Chef, and he represented Penang at international food promotion events around the world.

Despite retiring from active hotel management, he remains committed to mentoring emerging culinary professionals and advancing the next generation of talent in the hospitality industry.

Mondi Mecja

Mondi Mecja was appointed Country General Manager for Ascott Malaysia in September 2019, where he is responsible for enhancing Ascott’s presence and driving greater results for the brand in the country.

Prior to this role, he served as Area General Manager overseeing four properties within the Berjaya Group portfolio, including hotels in Kuala Lumpur and London and a resort in Tioman. Earlier in his career he held senior executive positions at Le Méridien Kuala Lumpur and Sunway Resort Hotel & Spa Kuala Lumpur, managing business development, operations, sales, marketing, revenue management, and asset management functions.

Mondi holds a Bachelor of Human Sciences degree and brings over 22 years of hospitality management experience. He serves as Vice President of the Malaysian Association of Hotels Kuala Lumpur Chapter and received the Leadership Personality Award (Most Outstanding) at the Hospitality Asia Platinum Awards 2018–2020.

Chef Zack Zaihari Zainol

Chef Zaihari Zainol, known professionally as Chef Zack, brings over 35 years of culinary experience to his role as Executive Chef at The Westin Langkawi. Throughout his career he has worked with prestigious international hospitality brands including The Four Seasons, The Ritz-Carlton, The Nikko, and IHG properties.

His expertise extends beyond hotel operations to international culinary promotion, having participated in events promoting Malaysian cuisine in countries such as Russia, Syria, Saudi Arabia, China, and various cities in India.

His achievements include recognition from the Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Bailliage de Malaisie (1991 Best Commis Chef Rôtisseur), finalist status in Inter Chef 92, and a gold medal at The Emirates Salon Culinaire in 1993. In his current phase, Chef Zack prioritises mentorship, remaining passionate about developing local talent to step up and take on bigger roles in the culinary field.

Susan Verghese

Susan Verghese is a leading educator and consultant who brings over 35 years of industry experience across hospitality establishments, academic institutions, and consultancies. She has collaborated with MAHTEC (the Malaysian Association of Hotels Training & Education Centre) and Aariana Hospitality International throughout her career.

Her professional credentials include CHT (Certified Hospitality Trainer) certification from the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute. She serves as the lead facilitator for CHT programmes and has conducted multiple certification sessions for Malaysia’s hospitality sector, with qualifications spanning Switzerland, America, India, Malaysia, and ASEAN-level certifications.

Throughout her career, Verghese has consistently earned strong evaluations from training participants and remains committed to advancing the hospitality industry through education and professional development initiatives.

Satiyasilan Maniam

Sati is an experienced hotelier who began his career as a pre-opening F&B Waiter at Penang Mutiara Hotel in 1988, a member of Leading Hotels of the World. He advanced through various roles while gaining cross-regional exposure in Singapore before reaching Assistant Food & Beverage Manager.

He subsequently pursued international experience at a luxury Maldivian property and with the Savoy Group of Hotels & Spa in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, managing F&B operations for a 1,000-room property with 18 dining establishments and a team of 180 associates.

After nearly five years abroad he returned to Malaysia as Director of Food & Beverage for a pre-opening luxury property in Langkawi, then managed an Eco Lodge at Taman Negara National Park as Resident Manager. This role deepened his commitment to sustainable development and the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030 Agenda.

Safian Omar

Safian joined the Malaysian Armed Forces in 1984 as a commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Malay Regiment, serving until 1992 as an Army Captain. During his service he held various positions including Platoon Commander and Battalion Artillery Commander, and completed specialised training in Artillery and Bomb Specialist studies in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Following military service, he transitioned to hospitality, joining Impiana Resort Cherating in 1993 where he became Chief Security Officer, before periods in private security and the financial sector managing security operations and fraud prevention.

Returning to hospitality, he served as Groups Security Manager for Gula Perak Berhad, Director of Safety & Security at Four Seasons Resort Langkawi (2004–2017), and Director of Loss Prevention at The Andaman, A Luxury Collection Resort Langkawi (2017–2021). He currently serves with the Sabah International Convention Centre in Kota Kinabalu.

Kingston Khoo

Kingston Khoo brings over two decades of hospitality expertise to his current role at Mutiara Taman Negara, an ecotourism resort situated within Asia’s largest national park. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Technology Management from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and maintains a licence as a tourist guide in Malaysia.

Prior to his current position, Khoo spent more than a decade as a product manager with a leading Malaysian destination management company, where he developed deep knowledge of experiential traveller preferences. His professional focus centres on knowing and understanding the needs and wants of the discerning experiential traveller.

A dedicated advocate for ecotourism’s role in conservation, Khoo demonstrates a commitment to Malaysia’s natural heritage preservation. His expertise extends to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals framework and its application to tourism, positioning him to advance responsible and sustainable tourism practices throughout the region.

Dr Simon Lee

Dr Simon Lee began his career joining the Malaysian Police Force in 1975, completing tactical training before being stationed in Ulu Kinta, Ipoh. He advanced through the ranks to Sub Inspector while balancing police duties with academic pursuits.

Maintaining a commitment to continuous learning, he earned a law degree from the University of Wolverhampton in 1995, an MBA from Universiti Utara Malaysia in 2005, and completed his DBA in 2015, with a doctoral thesis focused on human resource management within the Penang Police and the organisational impact of corruption.

Following his police career, Dr Lee has undertaken teaching and consulting roles with major corporate clients. He has received recognition from multiple government agencies, including the “Bentera Pasukan Polis” medal from Malaysia’s King in 2014 and the Pingat Jasa Pahlawan Negara in 2019.

Azvil Aziz

Azvil Aziz is a hospitality marketing professional with over two decades of combined experience in hospitality leadership. He currently directs hospitality management and development initiatives for a Malaysian-based brand.

His career encompasses diverse roles including General Manager at a Bangkok property, Vice President of Marketing and E-Commerce overseeing a portfolio of seven Malaysian hotels, and various positions in sales, marketing, and revenue management across both urban and resort properties.

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.