These alumni mean business: Highlights from the Regional Conference

By Sadia Roohi

NTU alumna Norliny Talib has taken on the role of leading the University’s alumni association in Brunei. In July, she travelled to Kuala Lumpur for the third edition of the NTU Alumni Regional Conference, eager to connect with fellow alumni from around the world and learn from other alumni leaders on how to better engage her local chapter.

She was joined by 250 other alumni and industry leaders from China, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand.

Norliny Talib (centre) with alumni from Singapore, Mahmutha Begum (left) and Azizah Sapari (right).

Themed “Driving growth through innovation, sustainability, and collaboration”, the conference featured discussions on emerging opportunities such as the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone, strategies for organisations to be more sustainable in a changing world, and how innovative technology can support entrepreneurial success.

HE Vanu Gopala Menon, Singapore’s High Commissioner to Malaysia, delivered the keynote address where he spoke about the excellent ties between Singapore and Malaysia and how we can keep our bilateral agenda future ready.

Here’s what went down at the event:

Liem Ay Ling (2nd from right), a graduate of Nanyang Business School, is a Senior Advisor (Private Sector Partnerships) at the International Committee of the Red Cross based in Malaysia. She was impressed by the relevance of the conference topics in innovation and sustainability, and reconnected with fellow alumni based overseas.

Overseas participants went on a learning journey, visiting local organisations including Bridge Data Centres and QES Group on 11 July.

NTU Deputy President and Provost Professor Christian Wolfrum (3rd from right) spoke at the event and highlighted the vital role alumni play in strengthening NTU’s reputation through their achievements and contributions.

Alumna Tracey Yip (far right), Senior Associate at TSA Riley, shared her insights on the panel on Sustainable Solutions for a Changing World. She said, “Before driving change, organisations must define what 'meaningful' truly entails. Clear communication is key as people need to understand what we’re doing, why it matters, and how it affects them. This helps create ownership and transforms compliance into self-leadership.”

The panel, moderated by NTU Prof Boh Wai Fong (far left), also featured alumni speakers Ang Yoke Kee (3rd from left) from Pedigree Investment Corp, and Dr Lee Hui Mien (2nd from left) who heads environmental sustainability at Singtel.

The panel on “Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone and the Future of Regional Partnerships” was moderated by NTU Provost’s Chair in International Relations Assoc Prof Li Mingjiang (far right). Featured alumni speakers were (from left) Mohamed Farid Bin Kairi, Managing Director, Maybank; Soo Hoo Khoon Yean, Managing Director, PwC Malaysia; and Sven Yeo, Co-founder & CTO, Archisen.

Mohamed Farid described the economic zone as “very exciting” given its proximity to Singapore. “Finding the competitive niche is key and taking advantage of cost efficiencies across both countries will help discover these opportunities. For example, there is potential to tap into Singapore’s talent pool while keeping operational costs low,” he said.

To help alumni showcase their companies, they were invited to present their business model at the conference. Entrepreneur Tan Hong Boon runs a company Perunding Bethany in the business of civil engineering consultation and water systems engineering. He said, "The conference was a fantastic platform to showcase how civil engineering principles can be applied to real-world sustainability challenges. I was glad that alumni bonded quickly over a chat and offered ideas for collaboration. This shared NTU bond creates a sense of trust and purpose, and it’s what makes our global network such a powerful driver of meaningful change."

Alumnus David Ho, President of AlphaLadder InnovX, is leading an AI-powered road traffic and parking optimisation solution currently deployed in 53 cities. "Speaking at the conference and presenting on my venture was a rewarding experience. It provided a platform to connect with a dynamic group of alumni while showcasing what my team and I have built. There’s a palpable sense of camaraderie within the community, and it’s evident that our alumni are eager to support one another,” he shared.

Alumni took part in five breakout sessions that sparked discussions on timely topics such as sustainability, talent development, and the use of emerging technologies to drive business innovation. They also examined opportunities in the Johor-Singapore SEZ and shared perspectives on international business.

Alumni are looking forward to the 2026 NTU Alumni Regional Conference in Thailand. NTU Alumni Association (Thailand) President, Parit Aranyawat (left), received the NTU flag from Dr Carrine Teoh.

The event received support from Singapore Global Network and other sponsors and partners. For event photos, visit the Facebook album.