Theme: Shine For Others

On Sunday 17th November 2019, we will be welcoming thought-provoking, inspirational, and world renowned industry leaders, to explore the theme “Shine For Others” at the Waterfront Hotel Kuching, Sarawak.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organised events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Our event is called TEDxKenyalang, where x = independently organised TED event. At our TEDxKenyalang events, live speakers come together to spark deep discussion and connect. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events, including ours, are self-organised.

The Waterfront Hotel
68, Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg
Kuching, Sarawak, 93000
Malaysia

Afnan Rosli

Calligraphy Artist / Life Coach

Afnan is an Exclusive Calligraphy Artist & the mastermind “Sifu” Class Metamorphosis. Having said that, he is the founder of Afnan Galleria Official and at one time he impressed the nation with a shocking 1 million sale of his online Pre-Metamorphosis tickets in less than 24 hours. He regularly creates high-impact knowledge sharing & motivational quotes on his social media platforms such as Facebook & Telegram. Apart from that, he is actively involved in volunteering efforts and has touched the life of thousands of people through his online and offline seminars by teaching people to live in love, peace and happiness. One of Afnan’s many community outreach efforts is that he initiated movements and a sustainable agricultural project of providing food for more than 30,000 refugees every single day.

Al-Ishsal Ishak

Corporate Leader / Dreamer

Al-Ishsal Ishak is are the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) chairman. He holds a Bachelor of Management (Honours) degree from Universiti Sains Malaysia and was a Japan Airlines Scholar at Sophia University, Tokyo. He has also served on the board of the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and is a former member of the National Information Technology Council (NITC). His experience span a myriad of industry sectors i.e. automotive, aviation,consulting, financial services, infotech & Internet, media & marketing, and telecoms.

Allison Morris

Social Innovator

Allison holds a Masters in Public Affairs from Sciences Po, Paris and a Bachelor’s Degree in International Studies from Emory University, United States. She's passionate in empowering young women through entrepreneurship and social innovations. Her effort is also acknowledged in designing scalable mentoring programs for young Syrian and Palestinian refugees in Lebanon on behalf of UNICEF. Allison has contributed greatly to humanity, varying from giving business advice to refugees in Atlanta, Georgia, and teaching money-saving and launching skills to domestic Singapore workers, to guiding young women in Yangon on lean start-up techniques and helping local organisations lead their very first speed mentoring event for refugees in Bekaa Valley, Lebanon.

Ar Safri Mohammed

Architect / Coach

Ar Safri is a Managing Director of PU Architects who leads the team of designers into bringing Kuching up to its full potential. Under his supervision, the firm won Silver Award from Sarawak Chief Minister’s Industry Excellence Awards and he himself received the Professional Entrepreneur Award for Anugerah Usahawan Bumiputera Sarawak 2017. His other winning designs include Proposed State Archive Building for Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, TH Hotel, UNIMAS CICTS Building, APMM Sandakan and HIKMAH Exchange. In 2017, TH Hotel and Convention Centre Kuching has emerged as the winner of the Asia Pacific Property Awards held in Bangkok and the International Property Awards held in London for “Best New Hotel Construction and Design Category”.

Dona Drury Wee

Animal Rights Advocate / Non Profiteer

Dona Drury Wee, President of Sarawak SSPCA, consistently works to promote a greater understanding of animal welfare. In the distant past, when the health department took over the cost of the Thalassemia medicines, Dona joined the Sarawak Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, SSPCA, and she has been the President for the past eight years. She attempt to make a better life for animals, give advice to the public on all matters of animal welfare, to create awareness by educating children on the importance of animal care which can later lessen the conflict between humans & animals, especially in urban areas. Dona strongly believes robust neutering and micro-chipping program and enforcement of the licensing laws are the answers to pet control.

Fiona Marcus Raja

Entrepreneur / Community Leader

As the current President of Sarawak Association of Tourism Attraction, Vice President of Sarawak Tourism Federation and also the Head BIMP-EAGA Business Council Social Culture and Education cluster, she obtained vast experience in sales, marketing, events' planning & project management. Her entrepreneurial journey was forced to a sudden halt in July 2014, when her two-year-old son Royce was diagnosed with cancer. Royce’s care became her first priority, one that required her family to seek lengthy and expensive medical care overseas. Fiona sold both NailMeGood and Sarawak River Cruise to further fund his treatments. Currently, she is working on the Royce Cancer Foundation which is devoted to building awareness on children’s cancer.

Jarod Yong

The Jungle Teacher

Jarod is figuring out simple yet significant ways to spark joy in Malaysia’s English education system. Known for mind-blowing work at his former school deep in the jungles of Borneo, SMK Katibas, he is currently cracking tough nuts at SMK Tabuan Jaya, after a year-long teaching stint in NYC. An alumnus of Fulbright, YSEALI, and Haggai, he holds an M.A. from Columbia University, a B.Ed. from Victoria University of Wellington, and is that Oxbridge in the horizon? He’s always looking for co-conspirators to help move education in Malaysia forward by leaps and bounds, so do drop by and say hi!

Khairul Rusydi

Entrepreneur / Educator

Khairul Rusydi is the co-founder and CEO of Reactor (www.reactor.school), a company that trains and invests in youth-led startups. Rusydi spends most of his time designing Entrepreneurship Education (EntreEd) programmes for schools and mentoring startups teams. Hear how he works with educators from all 10 ASEAN countries, and how Reactor has graduated over 10,000 entrepreneurial students to scale their impact across the region. The youngest nominee on the Prestige 40 Under 40 list for 2019, Rusydi has represented Singapore at various international platforms, including the ASEAN-India exchange programme, the Global Entrepreneurship Summit and the Commonwealth Youth Forum.

Purvi Tantia

Author / Consultant and Business Coach to Women Entrepreneurs

Purvi Tantia was selected from India to study abroad on full scholarship in Australia under Australian Government’s Endeavour Scholarship. Her life’s ideology changed from serving her nation to serving the world after her own study abroad experience. She has travelled to 30+ countries and has developed a deeper sense of purpose as a global citizen to serve the world. She is passionate about serving towards UN Sustainable Development Goal of Education. She started the movement, ‘Study Abroad Revolution’ with her book with the same title and she is on a mission to help 1 Million students experience study abroad at least once in a lifetime.

Saufi Aiman

Instrumentalist / Music Instructor

Saufi, the founder of Sape'star, a brand that strives in positioning Sape' in the local & global commercial market through musical performance, retails of instruments & music education. He is a professional musician, music instructor, co-author for Traditional Music Instrument: Sape' (DBP), & author for Sape' method books. Due to that, he was the Champion of the world Instrumentalist award for classical, contemporary & open category and also bagged 4 gold medals & 1 silver medal during the 21st Annual World Championship of Performing Arts in 2017. WCOPA is an international competition for aspiring performers and ent entainers held annually in Long Beach, California(USA).

Susan Walker

Speech Therapist / Educational Kinesiologist

Sue Walker is a British Speech & Language Therapist, and an Educational Kinesiologist. She has been a long-time resident in Sarawak, for more than 2 decades. She is currently the only licensed Brain Gym! Rhythmic Movement Training instructor in Sarawak. Sue Walker is also the co-founder of Meeting Needs Rehab with her friend Caroline Adriaanse, a Physiology and Occupational Therapist. Their voluntary project aims to provide mobility aids and other support to financially-disadvantaged families as well as to heighten the community's awareness towards the physical needs, living conditions and financial limitations of disabled people in Kuching.

Uzz Taufek

Digital Jedi

Uzz creates innovative ideas that help brands achieve their business goals and digital solutions that solve complex problems. Based in Singapore, he is an international award-winning digital marketer and creative technologist with 18 year's experience in the advertising and marketing industry. Trained as an architect at RMIT University in Melbourne, Uzz is passionate about user experience, urban design, photography, social psychology, internet of things, and virtual culture. He has worked with some of the top advertising agencies in the world including BBDO, JWT, Leo Burnett and is currently the Senior Vice President of Flipside, a global mobile and digital agency from the UK and part of the Weber Shandwick & IPG group.