List of Speakers

Datuk Dr. Kuljit Singh earned his Master’s in Otorhinolaryngology from University Malaya, Kuala Lumpur in 2002. Prior to that, he served at Hospital Kuala Lumpur & Hospital Kangar, as the ENT Clinical specialist in HKL [2002], Lecturer & ENT Specialist at University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) and now Consultant ENT Surgeon at Prince Court Medical Centre (PCMC) since 2007.

An active member in Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) since 1996 and he has contributed and engaged himself in various roles at state and national level of MMA where he also served as the Honorary General Secretary from 2013 – 2014. In terms of networking and foreign collaborations; he has conducted meetings and presented in all the ASEAN countries and has a great networking with all the leading ENT doctors within the region and many other parts of the world.

He has served the Malaysian Society of Otorhinolaryngologist [ENT] as President in 2007 and awarded meritorious awards by the society. He leads the way on minimal invasive sinus surgery and recently using Imaging Guidance System in navigating sinus surgery. Currently, he serves the position of Medical Director at PCMC, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and is also the President of Association Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM). His passion is to serve towards the healthcare of the people of this country.

Dr Girdhar Gyani is currently working as Director General, Association of Healthcare Providers (India). Mission of AHPI is (a) to build capacity in Indian health system with focus on patient safety and affordability and (b) undertake advocacy with government on matters related to regulation, tariffs, financial sustainability and other issues affecting healthcare industry.  

Prior to this Dr Gyani was Secretary General, Quality Council of India (2003-2012), an apex national body responsible for establishing and operating national accreditation structure and promoting quality in all walks of life. Dr Gyani introduced number of measures, integrating quality in to regulatory framework in the areas of education, healthcare, environment, industry and public services, which are known to have resulted in to good governance practices. SME World Magazine in its cover story of June 2012 issue, described him as Quality Man of India.

One of his towering contributions has been in establishing and operating national accreditation structure (NABH) for healthcare for the first time in the country and where he worked as its CEO till, he superannuated in May 2012.  NABH has been the single most important initiative which has dramatically changed the healthcare scenario in INDIA, bringing Patient Safety at the centre stage.  Dr Gyani has distinction of serving on board of International Society for Quality in Healthcare during 2009-12.

Dr. Eleni Dimokidis, the Head of Healthcare Technology across Asia Pacific and Japan at Amazon Web Services, brings a wealth of experience as a technology leader and legal advisor. She spearheads healthcare technology innovation, taking the lead in nationwide digital transformations of hospital systems through close collaboration with Ministries of Health and governments.

She has been recognised as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, a Global Leader by the Tallberg Foundation, and a Cartier Laureate for the US among other prestigious accolades. With a diverse educational background, she is a Technology Fellow at Georgetown University and a Research Fellow at SMU Yong Pung How School of Law, bridging the fields of technology, healthcare and law. She holds a PhD in Regenerative Medicine from UCL, an MSc in Bioengineering from UIUC, an MSc in Nanotechnology from UCL, an LLB in Law from UoL, and a BSc in Computer Science and Biomedical Informatics from UTH. She has completed executive studies in Sustainability (Stanford), Intellectual Property Law (SUSS), Smart City Design (NTU), and Artificial Intelligence (HKUST). Additionally, she is certified as an expert in Machine Learning and Solutions Architecting at a professional level.

Dr. Saideep brings a global perspective to digital healthcare innovation. Through his consultancy work, he has guided healthcare organisations internationally in modernising patient management systems and optimising care pathways. His work also includes leading multicentre studies in Italy examining patient attitudes toward remote patient monitoring technologies. Now, as founder and CEO of Novocuris UK, he is leading an exceptional team in creating a more connected and accessible patient-centric healthcare ecosystem through a suite of digital mobile-first solutions.

Saideep’s partners for Novocuris’ Malaysian chapter include:

Prasad Vijayasundram: Former CEO SCBMB Trustee Berhad/Executive Director, Head Financial Institutions & Public Sector Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia. Prasad is also Sovereign Rating Advisory for the Ministry of Finance and State Governments.

Veleswaran Nallaiah: Founder of BIIT Consulting (acquired by Accenture) and Former Managing Director Accenture Malaysia (AI/Data). Veleswaran brings expertise in the creation of Data & AI-driven solutions which carry a global impact. 

Razali serves as the Chief Industry Development Officer at the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), where he spearheads initiatives to drive the adoption of emerging technologies across communities and stakeholders. In this role, Razali is dedicated to fostering meaningful innovation, ensuring that future technologies create lasting value for stakeholders nationwide.

Prior to leading the Industry Development Sector, Razali was involved in the development of various policy and regulatory initiatives in the Commission.

Razali graduated from Indiana University, Bloomington in Telecommunications and Political Science.  He also holds a Master of Science degree in Urban Development and Management from Universiti Teknologi MARA.

Dr. Ezam Mat Ali is a medical professional and healthcare technology innovator dedicated to enhancing patient care and clinical communication. A Nottingham University graduate (1997), he specialized in paediatrics in London and served as a consultant neonatologist at London North West Healthcare NHS Trust for seven years.

In 2009, he pioneered London’s first high-fidelity clinical simulation programme. His passion for integrating technology into healthcare led him to complete a Master’s in Technology in Clinical Practice (UCL, 2015) and work as a medicolegal advisor.

Recognizing communication as a key challenge, he founded Hailadoc Ltd. (London, 2015) and MedPlanner Sdn Bhd (Malaysia, 2017), developing secure clinical communication apps. In 2024, he launched MedPlanner’s inter-team communication feature, revolutionizing clinical collaboration and efficiency, reducing delays, and mitigating clinical risks.

G Saravanan is a seasoned Chief Information Ocer (CIO) with over 25 years of extensive experience in spearheading information technology initiatives within the healthcare industry. Currently, he leads the information technology division at TMC Life Sciences Bhd (TMCLS), focusing on optimising healthcare IT processes to achieve excellence in patient care and operational eciency. His career spans across Southeast Asia and the Middle East, where he has worked both as a client and consultant in hospital environments, specialising in IT strategy, hospital operations, telemedicine ecosystems, and compliance with legal frameworks.

G Saravanan’s areas of expertise include healthcare IT strategy, hospital systems and operations, telemedicine device ecosystems, business processes optimisation, legal and regulatory compliance, healthcare data management, standards adoption and implementation, project management, enterprise architecture, infrastructure and business architecture, and solution architecture and software development.

He holds certifications in HL7 Healthcare Standards, DICOM Healthcare Standards, ISO 27001 (Healthcare Data Security Framework), CISM (Certified Information Security Manager), HIPAA (Healthcare Security Certified Professional, US), BLOCKCHAIN (Certified Blockchain Expert, Blockchain Council, UK), PRINCE2 (Practitioner Certified Project & Programme Management, UK), TOGAF 9.1 (Certified Enterprise Architecture), and is a professional member of IASA (International Association of Software Architects). He is also a lifetime member of the Malaysian National Computer Confederation and a founding member of Qatar Toastmasters International.

G Saravanan’s commitment to advancing healthcare IT standards and his leadership in strategic IT implementations have significantly contributed to enhancing healthcare delivery across diverse international settings. He continues to drive innovation and excellence in healthcare IT, ensuring alignment with organisational objectives and global standards. Balancing both a thriving career and a fulfilling home life, G Saravanan is married with two children.

Dr. Maheshwara Rao Appannan currently serves as the Director of the Digital Health Division at the Ministry of Health Malaysia. With a career spanning over 17 years, Dr. Appannan has made significant contributions to healthcare through his expertise in public health, infectious disease modeling, and digital health innovation. As one of the pioneer in the field of digital health, Dr. Appannan has significantly contributed to Malaysia’s healthcare landscape through his visionary
leadership and innovative solutions.

Dr. Appannan’s academic journey is marked by prestigious qualifications, including a Doctorate in Public Health (DrPH) and a Masters in Public Health (MPH) from the University of Malaya. He also holds a certification in Public Health Emergency Management (PHEM) from the CDC in Atlanta and has completed the Leadership in Medicine (LIM-SEA) program at Harvard Medical
School.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Appannan played a crucial role as the head of data. He was instrumental in the development and deployment of the MySejahtera application, a pivotal tool in Malaysia’s pandemic response. Additionally, he ensured the transparency and accessibility of COVID-19 data by making it publicly available on GitHub and creating the comprehensive COVID-19 website, COVIDNow.

Dr. Appannan’s commitment to advancing digital health is further exemplified by his swift implementation of a cloud-based clinic management model in 50 health clinics across Malaysia within just eight weeks. This achievement has enabled Ministry of Health to further receive more funding for digitalization using the deployment model and accelerate digitalization in all MOH facilities. The strive and momentum to champion digitalization in healthcare was continued by innovating digitalizing manual healthcare processes such as organ donation pledge, primary healthcare appointment scheduling, disease care plans, screening programs and many others. His efforts have streamlined healthcare services, improving efficiency and patient care.

In 2024, Dr. Appannan achieved another milestone by successfully implementing the International Patient Summary (IPS), enhancing the interoperability and continuity of care for patients across borders. He is also a staunch advocate for the ‘1 Citizen 1 Record’ initiative, aiming to provide every Malaysian with a unified health record, thus advancing the nation’s healthcare through digital
transformation.

Michael is Chief Strategy Officer of KPJ Healthcare Berhad a role he has held since September 2023. In this role he develops and assists in the execution of the company’s strategy for building growth, innovation and value across the KPJ ecosystem.

With a healthcare career spanning more than 25 years, Michael has held senior leadership roles in Australia, Malaysia and the Middle East with executive responsibility for the development and implementation of organizational initiatives, including major digital blueprints, organizational restructuring, as well as balance sheet and operational responsibility. Michael was involved in the development of the first DRG case weights in New South Wales, Australia and is leading this work within KPJ Healthcare.

Maznan is a digital transformation leader with over 30 years of experience in telecommunications and ICT business.

He previously led innovation programs at TM One, specializing in 5G industrial solutions and smart services.

His proven track record includes leading technical and sales teams in delivering cutting-edge solutions through internal channels and strategic partnerships. 

His expertise covers the IP networking, embedded systems, Internet of Things (IoT), cloud services, cybersecurity, and large-scale system deployment.

As the CEO of NexoPrima Sdn Bhd, Maznan is passionate about driving healthcare innovation through intelligent platforms and seeks to collaborate with healthcare providers and practitioners to enhance efficiency and care delivery.

For over 25 years, Dr. Wang-Jun Lee has played a pivotal role in the Korean healthcare sector as a doctor, healthcare executive, and journalist. He currently serves as the Chairman and CEO of Myongji Hospital, recognized as one of the most innovative hospitals in Korea, and as the publisher of the Korean Doctors’ Weekly.

He holds the position of Vice President at the Korean Hospital Association (KHA) and also Chairman of the Korea Healthcare Congress, the premier annual international healthcare conference hosted by the KHA.

Over the past two decades, he has represented the Korean Hospital Association in international engagements. He joined the International Hospital Federation(IHF) Governing Council in 2024 and has been actively engaged in Asian Hospital Federation(AHF) activities.

Previously, he served as President of the Korean Society for Quality in Healthcare  (KoSQua) and actively participated in national initiatives related to infection control and vaccine development during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additionally, he is deeply committed to medical aid for migrant workers in Korea, serving as Vice Chairman of the Migrant Health Association.

Dr. Jose Santiago, Jr.’s professional career is well known to most in the medical field in the Philippines. He has been at the helm of various Medical Societies, namely the Philippine Society of Anesthesiologists Southern Tagalog Chapter, Cabuyao Medical Society, Laguna Medical Society, PPLMS Laguna Medical Society Foundation and most notably as President of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) from 2018 to 2020. The PMA is the primary medical association of the Philippines, covering some 30,000 medical practitioners and component medical groups from the entire country.

On January 1, 2024, Dr. Santiago took on the prestigious role of President of the Philippine Hospital Association (PHA), an umbrella organization of nearly 2,000 government and private hospitals in the country. Currently serving his second term, Dr. Santiago continues to guide the PHA in Leading, Enabling, Assisting, and Protecting the member hospitals towards quality service.

The PHA, already on its 75th year, is internationally recognized by and is a member of the International Hospital Federation and the Asian Hospital Federation.

In his personal capacity, Dr. Santiago is the President of the St. James Hospital, Inc. in Santa Rosa City, and CEO of both the Divine Mercy Hospital and the Family Care Hospital in San Pedro Laguna. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of several other hospitals in the Philippines.

Prof Eugene is a public health doctor and serves in key leadership roles in healthcare management. Eugene has had a distinguished career with the National Healthcare Group (NHG), which serves 1.5 million residents living in Central and North Singapore. Over his tenure, he has led the Group’s development of population health, integrated care models, clinical governance, hospital operations, translational research, and healthcare innovation.

In his current role as Deputy Group CEO, he oversees NHG Population Health Campus, comprising its population health office, primary care services, community care services and clinical shared services for the group. Eugene had served 9 years till March 2024, as the CEO of Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), NHG’s flagship hospital comprising 2,300 beds. As CEO, he drove the planning and development of the 17 ha HealthCity Novena Master Plan, which included the development of the National Centre for Infectious Diseases and TTSH Integrated Care hub for rehabilitation and recovery.

To change healthcare, Eugene inspired the set up of the Centre for Healthcare Innovation (CHI) and today, serves as its Executive Director. CHI is Singapore’s largest purpose-built healthcare innovation centre, bringing together 88 innovation partners to date from across local and international health systems, academia, industries, and government agencies to co-learn and co-create value. CHI drives innovation for system change; with its Academies focused on Healthcare Value, Health & Social Change, and Healthcare Sustainability. In 2023, Eugene brought together 12 hospitals accounting for more than 80% of hospital beds in Singapore to form the Hospitals of Singapore Network, hosted by CHI and the network is a full member of the International Hospital Federation.

Dr. Mohamed Ali Abu Bakar is the Chief Executive Officer at Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC}, an agency under the purview of the Ministry of Health Malaysia. MHTC is entrusted to promote, facilitate, and strategically expand Malaysia’s healthcare travel industry, which is a significant export service for the country.

Dr. Ali brings 28+ years of C-suite experience, excelling in strategic, financial, digital, and operational transformations. He’s managed diverse businesses, from high-tech equipment to clinical research, showcasing his versatility. His expertise spans healthcare, government agencies, and education, driving sustainable growth in ever-evolving markets. Dr. Ali’s strategic thinking, leadership, and analytical skills have benefited government bodies, multinationals, and local conglomerates in Asia and the United States. He’s also played a pivotal role in leading healthcare travel initiatives and executing marketing strategies across the Asia Pacific.

Leveraging his wealth of experience and exceptional leadership skills, Dr. Ali will be spearheading MHTC with a focus on establishing long-term strategic partnerships and formulating sustainability models for the organisation and the industry.

Prior to joining MHTC, Dr. Ali managed his own consultancy firm, specialising in Healthcare and Islamic Finance, delivering successful projects diversifying conglomerates into health, leading international education M&A, and overseeing breast cancer research in Malaysia. He also played a key role in an EPP project with the Ministry of Health Malaysia, expanding the company’s reach across Malaysia and forging global research partnerships. Dr. Ali has a strong background in healthcare travel, initially working with the Malaysian Tourism Board and later expanding these efforts with the Pantai Group. In Vietnam, he devised health and wellness strategy for Vinmec, the country’s primary healthcare institution. His expertise is sought after in the Asia Pacific and globally, and he has established valuable partnerships across the Asia Pacific, Middle East, and the USA.

Dr. Ali obtained his Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine MD Degree at the National University of Malaysia. He continued his studies in management and finance obtaining Master levels qualification in Islamic Finance from INCEIF, and in Hospital Management and Global Bio entrepreneurship from Singapore Management University and California institute for Quantitative Biosciences respectively.

He is keen to uplift the quality of clinical care in Malaysia as a life member of Malaysian Medical Association (MMA). He is passionate about health informatics and new technologies and has kept abreast with the leading trends by being actively involved both in Malaysia and internationally as a member of the judging committee of MSC APICTA Awards for the past 15 years in the areas of Health and Well-being and Research & Development.

Outside of work, Dr. Ali is passionate about writing articles on Healthcare, exploring new destinations and immersing himself in diverse local communities, culture, and heritage.

Professor Dato’ Dr. Syed Mohamed Aljunid is a distinguished Public Health Medicine Consultant and Professor of Health Economics, Policy, and Management at IMU University. He holds a PhD in Health Economics and Financing from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, an MD from UKM, and a Master of Science in Public Health from the National University of Singapore. With over 30 years of experience, he has served in notable roles, including Founding Head of the International Centre for Casemix and Clinical Coding at UKM and Senior Research Fellow at the UN University International Institute for Global Health. His consultancy work with organizations such as WHO, ADB, GIZ, and the World Bank has significantly influenced the development of Diagnosis-Related Groups (DRGs) in national health financing globally. Dr. Aljunid has published over 300 articles and presented at more than 350 conferences, earning recognition as one of the top 2% most cited scientists by Stanford University in 2024.