Founding Members Biographies
 | ||
| eBay Hong Kong and South East Asia | ||
 |
Dan Neary, Regional Director - South East Asia, eBay Inc. Dan Neary is the Regional Director of South East Asia, overseeing the development of eBay’s businesses in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, and India. Dan joined eBay in 2002 as the head of the Collectibles business unit in the U.S. Prior to eBay, Dan was the COO of Vendio (formally know as AuctionWatch.com), the largest independent provider of auction software and services for selling at online marketplaces. Prior to Vendio, Dan was the Managing Partner of McRand International, a private equity group focused on investments in the exposition industry. During his tenure, Dan helped build the company’s primary base of assets and ultimately led the successful sale of the firm to Krause Publications. Dan began his career at the Kellogg Company where he spent over eight years in various U.S. marketing positions and in managing various international operations in Asia. In his last role with the company, Dan was the General Manager of the company’s Greater-China business and based in Guangzhou, China. Dan is a graduate of DePaul University where he received both his B.S. and M.B.A. in marketing. | |
| www.ebay.com.sg | ||
 | ||
| Genovate Solutions | ||
 |
J Anton Ravindran, Group CEO & Co-Founder, Genovate Solutions J. Anton Ravindran is the Group CEO and Co-Founder of Genovate Solutions. He has been instrumental in expanding Genovate to be a regional player in IT services, consulting and training. He has acquired nearly 15 years of experience in the IT Industry and has worked with a host of major corporations, both in the US, and in Asia. Prior to heading Genovate, a Singapore-based company that currently has regional offices in 10 countries, Ranvindran was the Regional Business Manager (SES) with Sun Microsystems for Asia South. Whilst at Sun Microsystems, he won the President's Award for outstanding performance in 1999. Ravindran has also worked with Singalab (an IBM/NCB joint venture) where he spearheaded business development and with Informatics, where he spearheaded and managed ITE programmes, for its international operations, for nearly 30 countries. Whilst based in Texas, he had a successful technical career with both IBM Labs at Roanoake, and Computer Associates at Las Collinas. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in IT awarded by the University of Texas and an MBA conferred by the University of North Texas. Ravindran has published numerous articles in most of the leading IT publications in Southeast Asia and is a regular guest speaker at major technology events, and has presented at international conferences. Anton is also the Asst Secretary elect of Singapore Education International (SEI), an industry driven government supported organization. In spite of his demanding schedule, Ravindran finds time to contribute to many civic and charitable organizations in Singapore. He is also a Charter Member of the Singapore Lions Club. He is married to Mala, a Singaporean, and partner of a local law firm. | |
| www.genovate.com | ||
| J Anton Ravindran | ||
 | ||
| Macromedia South Asia Pte Ltd | ||
 |
Ng Yew Hwee, Diector, Macromedia South Asia Pte Ltd As Regional Director for Macromedia South Asia based in Singapore, Yew Hwee is responsible for developing the business in ASEAN and Indian subcontinent. He is instrumental in starting Macromedia's regional operations in October 1999. Prior to this, he was the IBM PC product manager for the ASEAN/South Asia region. He had been with IBM, since his graduation from the National University of Singapore, for more than 7 years, holding marketing, sales and channel management positions, handling the various IBM hardware, software and services businesses. | |
| www.macromedia.com | ||
.GIF) | ||
| The Pacific West Communications | ||
 |
Andrew Peters, Regional Director Asia Pacific, The Pacific West Communications Public Relations – Event Management – Marketing Strategy Bringing more than 15 years of industry experience to the table, Andrew joined The Pacific West Communications in October 2005. As Regional Director Asia Pacific, Andrew is responsible for the strategic development of the agency, overseeing client portfolios, business development and providing counsel to deliver total value-added solutions that deliver sustainable results for clients. He is also instrumental in regionalising the agency’s business through opening offices in Hong Kong, Sydney and London, further expansion plans continue. Before driving the strategic direction of The Pacific West Communications, Andrew spearheaded client campaigns for an integrated marketing and communication agency headquartered in Sydney. He was seen to be a sort-after resource for their Asian clients and subsequently established their first international office in Singapore. Andrew has been also instrumental in founding the Internet Industry Association of Singapore (IIAS) and continues to serve as its secretariat. Andrew has had extensive experience in B2B and B2C marketing for technology companies across Asia Pacific. His previous years were spent at multinational technology vendors including ICL (now Fujitsu), Wang Computers and Anixter. To compliment The Pacific West Communication’s portfolio of services Andrew has recently launched a number of new exciting initiatives these include; a business platform that facilitates business relations between Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Translations Services for corporate communications from web to print to broadcast and yet to be unveiled, an essential Destination Travel Service. Andrew is a passionate New Zealander with an avid interest in technology and possesses an entrepreneurial attitude to both business and life. To contact Andrew Peters please call +65 9451 9012 or email: Andrew@thepacificwest.com | |
 | ||
| Media Connect Asia | ||
 |
Glen Myles, Director of International Operations, Media Connect Asia MediaConnect Worldwide is the Asia Pacific’s leader in helping PR companies and communication departments manage their media relations activities and connect with key editors and journalists. Our goal is to be the worldwide leader in providing services and information that helps our customers build better media relations. We will achieve that by focusing on growth, innovation and customer satisfaction. | |
| www.mediaconnectasia.com | ||
 | ||
| Microsoft Corporation | ||
 |
Katharine A Bostik, Senior Director Legal and Corporate Affairs, South East Asia, Microsoft Corporation Katharine Bostick is Microsoft’s Senior Director of Legal and Corporate Affairs in South East Asia. She is responsible for leading Microsoft’s efforts across South Asia Pacific in developing and implementing Microsoft’s internet safety initiatives focused on protecting the public from the growing internet threats, including malicious code, botnets, spam, online fraud, and other cyber attacks. She collaborates with governments, industry, law enforcement, and consumers to build partnerships focused on public policy, education, and enforcement. In leading Microsoft’s cybercrime enforcement efforts in the region, she is building public/private partnerships with law enforcement agencies focused on cybercrime capacity building projects. Katharine is also leading Microsoft’s efforts in protecting children online by working with external organizations and law enforcement to protect children impacted by the internet. In the area of Intellectual Property, she has established Microsoft’s Anti-counterfeiting program in South Asia Pacific. The program has focused on education, public policy, and strategic enforcement against criminal organizations in key markets across the region. Prior to joining Microsoft, Katharine served as a federal prosecutor for over 11 years. As an Assistant United States Attorney, she prosecuted cases in the Southern District of New York, the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section at the Department of Justice, and in the Northern District of California. During her career as a federal prosecutor she handled a wide range of investigations and prosecutions, including prosecutions of major organizations involved in international drug trafficking and money laundering, and major fraud investigations. Just prior to joining Microsoft, she served as the Chief of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force for the Pacific Region in the United States Attorney’s Office in San Francisco, California. Katharine received her Juris Doctorate from Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California at Berkeley. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of Santa Clara. She is a member of the New York, California, and Washington D.C bars. | |
| www.microsoft.com.sg | ||
| Katharine A Bostick | ||
| Modern Montessori International Group | ||
 |
T Chandroo, Chairman/CEO, Modern Montessori International Group Mr T. Chandroo founded MMI in 1989. He built up the MMI Group with great entrepreneurial spirit, from its initial 1-classroom operation in 1989 to a forward-looking SME encompassing more than 20 centres in Singapore, with similar operations with joint venture partners in Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand. Having built up the Group to its current position, Mr. Chandroo has not forgotten his roots and has extended unconditional assistance, financial or otherwise to many self-help, social and educational institutions. Being a keen life-long learner, Mr. Chandroo is currently a PhD student with the Preston University, USA. From its humble beginnings in 1989, the Modern Montessori International (MMI) Group has grown to encompass 40 centres. The group has expanded into Malaysia, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka and, most recently, Indonesia. Similar joint venture agreements are currently explored for China and Oceania. In association with Modern Montessori International, London, the MMI Group was one of the first to introduce the Montessori Method of Education to Singapore. The Modern Montessori Training Centre currently conducts the Diploma in Montessori Method of Education, Certificate in Pre-School Teaching, Diploma in Pre-School Education – Teaching and Diploma in Pre-School Education – Leadership teacher-training programmes. It continues to expand and intensify its expansion into the Asia-Pacific region. MMI Malaysia, a wholly owned subsidy, was set up in 2001 as the first stop of this expansion plan. It is all set to make inroads into the Malaysian pre-school education industry. In Thailand, the MMI Group entered a joint venture with the local Horizon Beach Resort Group to develop the Montessori Method of Education in the country. Present plans include the establishment of 50 pre-school centres in the next five years as the group envisages an explosion in interest in pre-school education. MMI India, one of the Group’s largest joint ventures, has its own four-storey facility in Gurgaon, Delhi, which has a capacity for 500 children. It also conducts courses leading to the Diploma in Montessori Method of Education. In Sri Lanka, the MMI Group collaborated with the country’s oldest and largest business conglomerates, the Ceylinco Group, build a strong foundation for its Montessori programme. On the home side, the MMI Group is the first in Singapore to offer Montessori business opportunities through franchising. Our experience allows us to create a unique franchising solution. Highlights include:
Already the first Montessori institution in the world to receive ISO 9001-2000 certification, there are plans to list in MMI Group within the next five years. With this, it will be the first Montessori institution to be listed. | |
| www.modern-montessori.com | ||
 | ||
| Network for Electronic Transactions (Singapore) Pte Ltd | ||
 |
Raj Lorenz, General Manager, eNETS & International Markets, NETS Raj Lorenz is the General Manager for the eNETS family of payment products that are owned and operated by the Network for Electronic Transfers Singapore Pte Ltd. eNETS encompasses a wide range of Internet and mobile payments that compliment the existing physical world payment products extensively offered by NETS today. He heads the eNETS Group and is responsible for developing eNETS as the leading brand in Singapore for Internet and mobile payments. His group focuses on merchant acquisition and on increasing the consumer adoption rate through awareness programs. Lorenz also manages the International Markets Business of NETS. This group is responsible for extending NETS’s interests into overseas markets by entering into acquisitions, partnerships and alliances with overseas payment operators. This group recently acquired a subsidiary in China that operates stored value payment cards and entered into an interoperability agreement with the China UnionPay organization to allow use of China UnionPay cards on NETS’s network. Prior to NETS, he was employed for more than 12 years with Citibank both in Australia and Malaysia. During his career with the bank he covered several functions including; Marketing Head for a corporate business unit, Financial Control and Treasury Risk management. Lorenz is an accountant by way of background and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia. | |
| www.nets.com.sg | ||
 | ||
| SurfControl | ||
 |
Mark Trudinger, Vice President Asia, SurfControl Mark Trudinger has worked in Internet related fields since 1996. He was International Director of sales for Microsystems Software International, and International Internet Director for the software division of Mattel Inc., and is currently Vice President Asia for SurfControl Plc. He has worked for SurfControl since 2001. He has been a frequent speaker at international events, usually focusing on his expertise in Internet Filtering, Internet Security and how to stop unwanted content. Trudinger joined SurfControl as Director EMEA and Rest of World, responsible for building the business in Scandinavia, Southern and Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia. In 2003 he moved from London to Singapore to established the Singapore Office, SurfControl’s first Asian office. As Vice President Asia, he is responsible for North and South East Asian territories, including India and Japan. | |
| www.surfcontrol.com | ||
| Mark Trudinger | ||
 | ||
| Yahoo! Singapore and Southeast Asia | ||
 |
Reza Behnam, Managing Director, Yahoo! Singapore and Southeast Asia As Managing Director of Yahoo! Singapore and Southeast Asia, based in Singapore, Reza Behnam oversees Yahoo!’s advertising, wireless, alliance and e-commerce businesses across Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines and Indonesia. He is also charge of strategic planning, sales, partnerships, marketing, distribution, production, engineering and finance for Yahoo! Singapore (sg.yahoo.com), and Yahoo! Asia (asia.yahoo.com). Prior to joining Yahoo!’s international team, Reza was the Director of Global Alliances at Yahoo!’s headquarters in the United States where he successfully integrated and managed the Solutions team, played an integral role in partnership negations with Connexion by Boeing, Dell, Philips, Sony amongst others. He also led all alliance planning, business strategy and devised new market strategies for Yahoo!. Reza has over seven years of experience as a management/strategy consultant where he worked with Global 500 companies to devise marketing strategies for market sizing, pricing, brand positioning, customer segmentation and targeting. He has worked at Intel’s head quarters in California as a corporate marketing strategist/scientist and held the position of lead strategist at Viant Inc., an e-business consulting company. Reza is a graduate of Boston University with a B.A. in Mathematics and Economics and a M.A. in Economics. | |
| www.yahoo.com.sg | ||
 | ||
| Zara Technology Pte Ltd | ||
 |
Christopher Harvey, Chief Executive & Software Engineer, Zara Technology Pte Ltd Christopher oversees strategy and charts technical directions for Zara Technology. He has more than three decades of experience developing software in the UK and in Asia for both MNCs and SMEs across multiple industries. He has extensive experience in integration and conversion of legacy applications to Internet-enabled systems. Beginning his career in the UK, his much sought-after expertize brought him to Asia. He has consulted and implemented systems for a wide range of companies including Wilson Parking, A&W, Pico Art, National Bank of New Zealand, Oxford University, Hill Samuel, NatWest Bank, Morgan Stanley, Commercial Union, and Hitachi Chemicals. For the past decade in Asia, he has been leading a team developing software for SMEs. By literally living and breathing the SME segment, his understanding and knowledge of the market is comprehensive. Christopher received his BSc (Hons) in Computing Science from the University of Staffordshire, UK (1984). PhD research in knowledge-based systems and Artificial intelligence at the University Of Aston in Birmingham was cut short due to the unrelenting pull of the private sector; but Christopher has always harboured a curiously strange desire to officially finish what was started. | |
| www.zaratechnology.com | ||
| Christopher Harvey | ||
 | ||
| ZUJI | ||
 |
Wong Kok Kit, Chief Financial Officer, ZUJI
Based in Singapore, Wong is responsible for managing ZUJI’s robust financial and accounting systems and teams, as well as having input into ZUJI’s operation, product development and expansion planning decisions. He also oversees ZUJI’s human resources, legal and risk management teams and works in close association with ZUJI’s financial and card transaction partners. Wong has a solid background in finance and accounting having spent 16 years in senior positions with multi-national corporations and leading local companies in Singapore. Wong was the Chief Financial Officer at ST Assembly Test Services, a provider of semiconductor packaging and test services. He played a key role in preparing the company for its Initial Public Offering in Jan 2000 with simultaneous listings on the Main Board of the Singapore Stock Exchange and NASDAQ. Prior to that he was Finance Director of Seagate Technology, a maker of disk drives for data storage, for eight years. | |
| www.zuji.com.sg | ||