Forum Topics

• Industrial AI, Data Fabric, and Metaverses
• Transforming to 21st Century Operations
• Energy Transition and Industrial Sustainability
• Asset Performance Management
• Automation Innovations
• Cybersecurity for Digitalization and Sustainability
• Digital Twins and Connected Smart Machines
• Digital Workforce and Culture
• Industrial IoT Platforms, Edge Infrastructure, and End Devices
• Supply Chain Sustainability

Executive Speakers

The following executives are featured speakers at the Forum.

Chandran Nair

Chief Executive Officer
Universal Vapor Jet Corporation

As CEO of Universal Vapor Jet Corporation (UVJC), where he leads the company to enable dry and patterned printing for next-generation manufacturing, Chandran Nair brings his extensive leadership experience of more than 26 years, together with established operational expertise in global technology and equipment companies across Asia, Europe and the USA. Leveraging UVJC’s core competencies in precision deposition and thin-film jet printing, he is exploring opportunities in sectors such as electronics, semiconductors, and life sciences. Under his leadership, UVJC aims to push the boundaries of materials deposition technology, driving advancements in markets that require high-performance, scalable, and cost-effective production methods. His previous positions include President & Chief Executive Officer at semiconductor test equipment manufacturer AEM Holdings; President of the Robotics and Autonomous Systems Business Unit at ST Engineering; and Managing Director and Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Asia Pacific at National Instruments (NI). During his tenure at NI, Mr Nair was responsible for the successful expansion of its business throughout the APAC region to customers in a variety of major industries. Chandran Nair holds Master’s degrees in Mathematics from Arizona State University and Bangalore University, and a Bachelor of Science in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics from Christ College, Bangalore University.

Terence Wong

Head of APAC 5G Industry & IoT
GSMA

Terence Wong drives the GSMA IoT and 5G programmes in the Asia Pacific region, heading the APAC 5G Industry Community, which counts 1000+ members from government, mobile operators, innovator and ecosystem players. The Community is focused to support innovation and digital transformation in Manufacturing, Healthcare, Logistics, Port & Transportation, Energy, Mining & Utility, Smart City and the Public Sector. Having worked in the industry for over 20 years, at companies including Fujitsu, Nokia, and BSS/OSS, he has extensive (including board) experience in telecoms infrastructure, product development, management, consultancy, and sales and marketing. Terence has a Bachelor of Engineering (Electronic Engineering) from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, a Master of Business Administration (Information Technology Management) from Hong Kong Polytechnics University, and is a certified Project Management Professional (Project Management Institute).

Milind Milind

Principal AI Scientist
Mercedes Benz

Milind heads the AI product development and operations function at Mercedes-Benz for Region Overseas, covering more than 40 countries globally. With close to two decades of experience in business leadership and consulting roles, he has advised governments on policy and regulatory matters, worked with private companies on strategy and growth initiatives, been a core team member of a successful start-up, and has turned around a loss-making business. Milind holds three Master’s degrees – in Artificial Intelligence, Transport and Logistics, and Business Management.

AJ Eserjose

Regional Director
OT-ISAC

AJ Eserjose is Regional Director for the Operational Technology Information Sharing and Analysis Center (OT-ISAC), a trusted hub for secure threat intelligence exchange to strengthen the cybersecurity posture of critical infrastructure across Asia Pacific. He leads the strategic growth and operational development of OT-ISAC, focusing on innovation programs, alliance-building, and deepening engagement with Members, Alliance Partners, and Key Stakeholders. Overseeing daily operations, AJ works closely with the community to drive actionable, collective efforts that support and enhance OT cybersecurity programs across the region.

Michael Ng

Principal Instrumentation & Control Engineer
PETRONAS

Michael Ng is a Principal Instrumentation & Control Engineer with PETRONAS, the national oil company of Malaysia. His experience of over 18 years in the oil & gas industry began as a maintenance engineer at a petrochemical plant and went on to include participation in several flagship oil & gas projects for PETRONAS. Recently, he has led the Operational Technology portion of PETRONAS’ enterprise-wide cyber program, setting the strategy and security requirements to secure the company’s operations globally. He is also dedicated to elevating the awareness of OT cybersecurity in his home country of Malaysia. Michael graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of Michigan, USA.

Mohd Azlan Shah Abd Rahim

Staff Engineer, Instrument & Control Group Technical Solutions
PETRONAS

Ir. Ts. Mohd Azlan Shah Abd Rahim is a distinguished Technical Professional Engineer specializing in Instrumentation & Control with a focus on Field Instrumentation, Industrial Control Systems, and Operational Technology Cybersecurity at PETRONAS Group Technical Solution (GTS). With 18 years of experience, he has extensively worked across various oil and gas processes, including Refinery, Steam Cracker Complex, Petrochemical (Glycol, Methanol, Polymer, and Olefins), Utilities, Offsites and Power. Currently, he is actively engaged as a subject matter expert in advanced sustainability projects such as the Green Hydrogen PEM plant project in Sarawak H2 Hub and the Carbon Capture Utilization (CCU) project. Additionally, he is currently collaborating with UTP on evaluating and developing future technologies within Field Instrumentation that integrates the latest innovations, including AI and 5G. Azlan previously led a collaboration for Industrial Refinery Digital Twin solution development between PETRONAS and Honeywell that utilizes AI and Knowledge Graph to quickly identify root causes to yield deviation and provide predictions for optimizations that was deployed as a Proof-of-Concept in one of the Refinery operating units. 

Ravi Jagasia

Americas Representative
UniversalAutomation.org

As well as being a member of the UniversalAutomation.org team that is managing the implementation of an industrial automation shared source runtime execution engine based on the IEC 61499 standard, Ravi Jagasia is Director, Global Business Development (Automation) – Strategic Growth Initiatives at R. STAHL INC. Ravi has been with the R. STAHL Group for 16 years in different roles and for various markets, including the Middle East, India and currently in the Americas. He has represented the company at various regional bodies such as FF Middle East Marketing Committee, PCIC Middle East Committee, PI Middle East, and the Open Process Automation Forum (OPAF). He is the current Co-Chair of the OPAF, along with Kelly Li of ExxonMobil.

Mohamed Firdaus 

Senior Director, Enterprise Group
Singtel

Mohamed Firdaus is a seasoned telecommunications leader with over 15 years of experience spanning partner management, technical sales, business development, and strategic leadership. His expertise is deeply rooted in cutting-edge technologies, including 5G, Cloud, and Edge Compute. In his current role as Senior Director at Singtel’s Enterprise Group, Firdaus leads 5G Product and Business Development, driving the creation of innovative enterprise connectivity solutions such as network slicing and edge computing. His work plays a pivotal role in helping organizations harness next-generation technologies to transform their operations. Prior to Singtel, Firdaus was Regional Connectivity Manager at Meta, where he championed initiatives to expand Internet access in underserved regions, aligning with Meta’s mission to close the global digital divide. He also held a leadership role at Ericsson, where he led regional teams in growing the Packet Core business across Asia Pacific, delivering both commercial success and technological advancement.

Matthias Gronstedt

Managing Director
HHLA Sky

As Managing Director of HHLA Sky, Matthias Gronstedt’s professed task is: “Make drones usable in a scalable and efficient way for industrial settings – open up the 3rd dimension, safely and securely, to existing business processes and add innovative new ones!” Drawing on his decades of expertise in industrial networking and automation, as well as his IT background and international experience in technical and strategic sales and business development, Matthias assembled a small team to develop together an entire system to enable active and intelligent control and monitoring of 100+ drones and autonomous mobile robots – simultaneously from a single, centralized IIoT platform: the Integrated Control Center. Before forming HHLA-Sky, Matthias Gronsted was Digital Strategy Consultant for Hamburg Port Consulting and held a number of international management roles for Siemens, Europe's largest industrial company and global leader in automation. 

Roy Lim

CEO
Robocore

Roy Lim has been instrumental in integrating innovative technologies globally, with a focus on medical and service automation. In 2018, he founded Robocore, a robotics solutions company that became the leading seller of robots in Hong Kong within five years. Robocore recently acquired Temi, an Israeli robotics firm, and has successfully integrated open-platform robots, universal elevator systems, and robot management systems into a comprehensive solution, selling over 10,000 robots across 33 countries. Previously, in 2012, Roy set up L2F Incorporation, a system integrator developing high-tech automation solutions and which landed contracts from customers including Tesla, SpaceX, and Apple. Company revenue grew by 17 times in three years. Then, in 2017, Middleby, the largest food machinery company in the US, acquired L2F for close to HK$100 million (US$12.7 million). Consequent to the acquisition, Roy serves as the Chief Representative for the Asia Pacific region. Roy Lim is currently the Honorary Treasurer of the Young Industrialist Council of Hong Kong; Vice Chairman of Artificial Intelligence and Robotic Alliance; Vice Chairman of the Youth Executive Council of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries; on the ExCom of Hong Kong Automation and Technology Council; and a panel member in the Innovation and Technology Board of HKTDC. He holds three Bachelor’s degrees and a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering.

Octávio Paschoal

Electronic Intelligence Agent
Nova Smar

Octávio Paschoal has 15 years of working experience with instrumentation and control systems, in areas including applications engineering, automation projects and electronics R&D. Has been engaged in projects and events in South America, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia, with expertise in fiscal flow metering and sugar & ethanol, oil & gas and chemical industries. Octávio is an Open Process Automation Standard (O-PAS) engineering team member at Nova Smar, and has interest in fieldbus technology, communication protocols, SCADA, and control systems integration. He holds a B.Sc. in Control and Automation Engineering and an M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering (Automation and Industrial Electrical Systems).

Vikram Kalkat

Director, Strategic Services
ARC Advisory Group

Prior to joining ARC, Vikram Kalkat worked in several business development and consulting roles in IT, cybersecurity, strategy consulting, and other services related activities across the UK, Ireland, Canada and Singapore. In his previous role he was one of the founding members of INCIT (International Centre for Industrial Transformation), heading the Members and Data Governance section of the institute. Prior to joining INCIT, Vikram led Kaspersky Industrial Cybersecurity Solutions for Asia Pacific and worked with IBM across the globe for many years. Vikram has worked with clients in both public and private sectors in industries such as mining, chemical, banking and telecoms. Well-versed in Industry 4.0 related advancements, he is co-author of the book, Digital Spine: A Study in Business Strategy, which tackles several issues related to Industry 4.0. He has also written white papers on strategy, risk, and sustainability, as well as worked on sustainability related consulting engagements. He is a regular speaker at industry conferences on business, Industry 4.0, and cybersecurity strategy related issues. Born and raised in India, Vikram earned his postgraduate degree from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.

Colin Koh 

Senior Business Development Manager
LKH Precicon

Colin Koh has more than 35 years of experience pioneering the latest technologies within the Southeast Asia region. Involved in the Industrial IoT, Industrial Automation, OT Cybersecurity, Energy & Environmental sectors since the mid-1980s, he provides mentorship and advisory services to the industry, primarily focused on regional SMEs implementing digital transformation in line with Industry 4.0 concepts, and helping the next generation of technologists in the region. Colin held the role of President of the Singapore Industrial Automation Association (now known as AutomationSG ) from 2001-2005) and has delivered dozens of insightful industry papers and influential speeches in key regional conferences and business forums. He was also featured in Channel News Asia’s Start-Up TV series as an industry expert. He holds a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration (BBBA) from RMIT Australia and is an alumni of MIT Sloan School of Management executive program in Artificial Intelligence and IoT. Colin is co-author of the books Industry 4.0: Navigating the Manufacturing in ASEAN (2019); Smart Factory Technologies and Applications in the Post-Pandemic Era (2023); and Industrial AI: Data-Driven Applications in Smart Manufacturing (2024).

William Tanuwijaya

Technical Liaison
OPC Hub ASEAN

William Tanuwijaya is an accomplished professional with a deep passion for technology and its transformative applications in the manufacturing industry. With over 20 years of experience in automation, he has built a strong foundation of knowledge and expertise that spans both supplier and end-user environments. As the OPC Hub ASEAN Technical Liaison since 2019. he collaborates closely with the Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF) and the Standards Development Organisation (SDO). William notably led a dedicated working group to establish OPC UA as a Singapore Standard (SS IEC 62541), contributing significantly to advancing interoperability and digital transformation in the region’s manufacturing sector. At Beckhoff Automation, where he is currently Business Development Director, his multifaceted experience has given him a holistic view of the automation business, from technical operations to business strategy and regional leadership. His previous roles at Beckhoff include Senior Engineer, Application Manager, Regional Support Manager, Country Manager Indonesia. William is especially passionate about technology that enables more efficient and sustainable manufacturing processes. He is committed to staying abreast of the latest industry developments and continuously seeks opportunities for learning and professional growth.

Megat Shamsul Ariff

General Manager, Sales and Marketing
Trisystems Engineering

Megat Shamsul Ariff holds the position of General Manager of Sales & Marketing at Trisystems Engineering., a Malaysia based provider of industrial automation solutions. In this role, he is responsible for developing and implementing sales and marketing strategies that integrate emerging technologies and solutions related to the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and digitalization. With over two decades of experience in the automation industry, Megat’s expertise encompasses turbomachinery control, system safeguarding, and predictive analytics. Throughout his career, he has held various responsibilities, including site commissioning, project delivery, sales, and business development. Megat is an advocate for the adoption of advanced technologies such as sensors, software solutions, and digital platforms to enhance industrial processes. He emphasises the significance of smart maintenance programs, data science, machine learning algorithms, predictive analytics, and prescriptive diagnostics in maintaining competitiveness in the era of Industry 4.0.

Oliver Tian

Director and Founder
Oliver Tian Associates

Oliver Tian is a passionate AI visionary who believes in leveraging technology to augment human capabilities and extend our potential. With more than 35 years of IT consulting experience for governments and multinational companies across the Asia Pacific region, he grounds his strength in business processes and advanced technologies. A firm believer in industry cross-pollination, Oliver has successfully engaged with clients around optimizing the use of technology and human capital to meet business needs. By providing innovative and cutting-edge solutions, he believes that technology should be used to improve human conditions and make a positive impact on the world. His extensive involvement in industry associations and educational institutions includes: Honorary Advisory Mentor, Asia Pacific Assistive Robotics Association (APARA); Founding Member and Vice-Chairman, International Alliance of Robotics Associations; Vice President, Daegu Global Robotics Cluster; Advisory Board Member, Trusted AI (New York); Advisory Board Member, Responsible Technology Institute, University of Oxford, and Immediate Past President, Singapore Industrial Automation Association (SIAA).

Ethan Kuch

Principal Engineer (Advanced Manufacturing)
ST Engineering Advanced Networks & Sensors

Ethan Kuch is recognized for his enthusiastic leadership in industrial systems and digital transformation. In his role as the Innovation Lead, he drives the adoption and deployment of next-generation technologies, including 5G, artificial intelligence, and robotics, to advance operational excellence across complex, high-stakes manufacturing for serve defence and international customers. He holds a Master of Technology in Intelligent Systems (AI) and is a trusted partner to internal and external stakeholders, delivering innovation roadmaps that translate emerging capabilities into measurable business value with transformative outcomes.

Tom Kurtz

Vice President, EAM Portfolio Strategy & Enablement
Hexagon

Tom Kurtz is the Vice President for EAM Portfolio Strategy & Enablement at Hexagon. In this role, Tom owns the product strategy for the HxGN EAM solution, while also working with customers looking to expand their business processes from maintenance planning, execution and scheduling to the broader topic of asset lifecycle management. Tom has multiple decades of experience in enterprise software and consulting, having held positions in professional services, sales enablement, product management and product development. Prior to Hexagon, Tom’s previous roles included VP, Global Solution Lead for Asset Management at SAP; Senior Consultant at Accenture; Director of Sales Operations at Bravanta; and Associate Director of Services at Cambridge Technology Partners.

Chai Kah Ming 

Head of Smart Manufacturing, Executive Consultant & Sustainability Transformation
Yokogawa Engineering Asia

Kah-Ming Chai is a registered management consultant and certified assessor in the Consumer Sustainability Industry Readiness Index (COSIRI) and Smart Industry Readiness Index (SIRI) and has over 22 years of experience driving digital transformation and sustainability initiatives. He specializes in helping organizations in carbon-intensive industries achieve sustainable manufacturing excellence while maintaining operational competitiveness. Kah-Ming's consulting portfolio spans across high-emission industries, including petrochemicals, power generation, and heavy manufacturing across ASEAN, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East. He has guided over 30 companies in their smart manufacturing transformation through integrated digital sustainability transformations, identifying synergies between operational efficiency and environmental impact reduction. As a certified COSIRI assessor and ambassador of the International Centre for Industrial Transformation (INCIT), Kah-Ming is at the forefront of sustainability readiness assessments that use the world's first neutral and quantifiable framework for manufacturing sustainability. Kah Ming holds an MBA degree from UCLA Anderson and NUS Business School and is an active member of The Institute of Engineers Singapore.

Sujit John

Head of Regional System Marketing
Yokogawa Engineering Asia

Sujit John joined Yokogawa in 2004 and brings over two decades of global experience in industrial automation, with a specialized focus on control systems (DCS, SIS, PLCs) and operational technology (OT). Throughout his career, he has played a pivotal role in delivering end-to-end automation solutions for large-scale projects in the oil & gas, petrochemical, power, and energy sectors – spanning basic design, detailed engineering, commissioning, and lifecycle support. Currently, Sujit heads the Regional System Marketing team at Yokogawa, where his work focuses on integrating digital transformation, smart operations, and sustainability initiatives into the company’s control system offerings to meet the dynamic needs of modern industrial operations.

Sharul A-Rashid

Chair (Elect)
ISA Asia Pacific

Sharul A-Rashid is ISA Chair (Elect) for Asia Pacific Region and also holds the positions of Executive Director, Digital Energy Asia, and CEO, TI Consultancy. He specializes in the areas of instrumentation and control, metering and telecommunication, OT cybersecurity, as well as smart manufacturing/Industry 4.0/digital transformation. Sharul was with PETRONAS from 1990 to 2024 as Head of Technical Excellence; Group Technical Authority; Custodian Engineer, Instrumentation Control; among other positions He is also Past President of ISA, Malaysia Section; Vice-Chair ISA Global Cyber Security Alliance (ISAGCA); and Co-Chair of the Certification Work Group, Open Process Automation Forum (OPAF). Sharul is an “Expert” ISA/IEC 62443 Certification in Cybersecurity since 2019, a Certified Functional Safety Engineer, TUV Rheinland since 2010, and trained in Industry 4.0 Smart Industry Readiness Index (SIRI). Sharul graduated from the University of Miami with a BSc Electrical Engineering, and has a Master’s in Engineering from the University of Florida.

David Chia

Head ASEAN Hub
OPC Foundation 

David Chia is Head of OPC Foundation ASEAN Hub and Managing Director of Beckhoff Automation Pte Ltd, responsible for its business in Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines. The technical specification for OPC UA, IEC 62541, was introduced as a Singapore Standard in 2019 through advocacy by the OPC Hub. With over 20 years of experience in industrial automation, David continues to contribute regularly to Standards development in the region and is currently co-chair of the Smart Manufacturing Tech Committee overseeing relevant and emerging Standards for the manufacturing sector.

Bob Gill

General Manager, Southeast Asia
ARC Advisory Group

Bob Gill is responsible for managing ARC Advisory Group’s business operations and market research activities in Southeast Asia and Australia. His work experience includes engineering roles at British Aerospace, General Electric Company (GEC), and the Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech). At GEC, he was project manager for a plant data collection system that saw the successful deployment of the UK's first fieldbus network. At SIMTech, was a member of the team that developed the control system for Singapore Airlines' first fully automated cargo terminal (T6). The project received the Institute of Engineers Singapore (IES) Prestigious Engineering Award in 2003. He also had a decade-long career in industrial technology media as editor of publications including Control Engineering Asia and Industrial Automation Asia. Bob graduated from the University of Wales, UK, with a BSc in Electronics, an MSc in Manufacturing Systems Engineering, and has an MBA from NTU in Singapore.

Agenda

Following is the schedule for the Forum.  All times are Singapore Standard Time (SST). Presentations will be made in English.

Location

The Singapore Forum is held at Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel.

Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel
320 Orchard Road
Singapore 238865
+65 6753 5800