9TH WIEF GLOBAL DISCOURSE ON 4IR: Seizing Possibilities For The Future

Dr. Hasan Shafi
Partner
A.T. Kearney Inc.
Malaysia 

Dr. Hasan Shafi is a Partner at global management consulting firm A.T. Kearney Inc, based in Kuala Lumpur.  Dr Hasan has accumulated over 20 years of professional experience as a consultant, senior executive in listed company, research scientist, engineer and adviser for technology start-up. 

Dr. Hasan Shafi was a Vice President of Corporate Development for a listed global specialty chemicals company based out of Sydney, Australia.  He worked as a Research Scientist with Australia’s Defence Research Laboratory and started his formative days as an Engineer with Schlumberger, which is a leading oilfield technology service company. Dr Hasan was an adjunct Academic at Macquarie School of Business and RMIT in Australia. 

Dr. Hasan Shafi holds a BSc in Aeronautical Engineering from Middle East Technical University, Turkey, an MBAE from Ross School of Business, University of Michigan and a PhD in Engineering from University of Newcastle, Australia. 

Prof. Dr. Gowher Rizvi
International Affairs Adviser to the Hon’ble Prime Minister of Bangladesh
Bangladesh 

Prof. Dr. Gowher Rizvi is a historian, scholar and academic.  Currently, he is the International Affairs Adviser to the Hon’ble Prime Minister of Bangladesh.  Prior to that he was MacArthur Fellow in International Relations at Nuffield College, Oxford University, an editor of Contemporary South Asia and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.  He held various appointments at several universities including Oxford University, University of Warwick and Harvard Kennedy School. His publications cover the disciplines of history, international relations and public policy. 

He was also the Director of Contemporary Affairs at the Asia Society in New York, joined the Ford Foundation as its Deputy Director for Governance and Civil Society and was appointed the Ford Foundation Representative to New Delhi with responsibilities for directing the foundation’s activities in South Asia. He lectured public policy at Harvard Kennedy School and was also the Director of the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation.  

Prof. Dr. Gowher Rizvi was an Alfred Beit Junior Lecturer and Senior Associate at St. Antony’s College in Oxford, had taught history at Balliol College in Oxford.   

He earned both BA and MA from the University of Dhaka. He was a Rhodes scholar and holds a D.Phil. in History from Trinity College, Oxford. 

Prof. Dr. M. Shamsher Ali
Founder Vice Chancellor
Bangladesh Open University
Bangladesh

Prof. Dr. M. Shamsher Ali is Professor Emeritus of Southeast University in Bangladesh and the Founder Vice Chancellor of Bangladesh Open University.  He was the Director of Atomic Energy Centre in Dhaka.  He was Professor of Physics at the University of Dhaka and prior to that, he was acknowledged as Honorary Professor of Physics at the same university to mark his outstanding academic career and original contributions to nuclear physics. For more than 50 years, his work on alpha-alpha potential is being used globally and recently, in research on Supernova Nucleo Synthesis. 

Prof. Dr. M. Shamser Ali has produced many research publications in reputable international journals and has co-authored several books including Scientific Indications in the Holy Qur’an, Muslim Contributions to Science and Technology, Alladin’s Real Lamp: Science and Technology, and Islam, Science and Culture.  

He is a Fellow of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, Islamic Academy of Sciences in Jordan and The World Academy of Sciences in Italy.  He received a large number of awards including Third World Network of Scientific Organisations (TWNSO) Award and The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) Award.   He was elected to “Honorary Fellowship” of the World Innovation Foundation, UK which was founded by Nobel Laureate Glen Seaborg. 

He holds an MSc in Physics from the University of Dhaka and a PhD in Theoretical Nuclear Physics from Manchester University, UK.  

Syed Tamjid ur Rahman 
Vice President 
Bangladesh Center for Fourth Industrial Revolution (BD4IR)
Bangladesh  

  Syed Tamjid ur Rahman is the Vice President of Bangladesh Center for Fourth Industrial Revolution (BD4IR), that aims to rethink, reshape, redesign and rebuild the Bangladesh economy during the Fourth Industrial Revolution. He is also the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of ChangeMaker: Society for Social and Economic Development, a social change organisation setup in 1995 to promote cutting edge sustainable strategies to equip businesses and rural communities with knowledge, information, resources, skills, technologies and enabling an environment to accelerate growth.  

He is also known as transformational leader, strategic visionary, social innovator and a changemaker. He has spent over 30 years of his career playing a leading role in the Social Change Sector as well as in business, trade and industries in Bangladesh and in a number of other countries.  He focuses mainly on removing social, economic and market barriers, preparing businesses and societies to understand, appreciate, assess and embrace disruptive technologies such as AI, blockchain, big data, robotics, IoT and digital technologies.  

Syed Tamjid ur Rahman has been instrumental in formulating, enacting and enforcing policies, laws, UN protocols as well as treaties by sensitising parliamentarians, the government, the private sector and policy researchers.  

 In Focus Article

Tan Sri Dato’ Ahmad Fuzi Haji Abdul Razak
Secretary General, WIEF

Tan Sri Dato’ Ahmad Fuzi Haji Abdul Razak is the Secretary-General of the World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) Foundation and Group Chairman of ACE Holdings Berhad. He is Chairman of Seremban Engineering Berhad, ACE Investment Bank Limited, Theatre Management Associates Sdn Bhd, IMAN Research Consulting Sdn Bhd and TAERG International Sdn Bhd. He sits on the Board of Governors of Meritus University and on the Board of Puncak Niaga Holding Bhd, MDIS Malaysia Sdn Bhd, CGM Alstar Solutions Sdn Bhd and Lejadi Medimax Sdn Bhd.

Tan Sri Ahmad Fuzi joined the Malaysian Diplomatic and Administrative Service in 1972 and has served in various capacities at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs until 2009. He was at the Malaysian Missions abroad in Moscow, the Hague, Canberra, Washington and Dhaka. He was the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia and led the Malaysian senior official delegation in negotiations at various bilateral, regional and international conferences as well as organising various summits including the NAM and OIC summits in 2003 in Kuala Lumpur.

Besides serving as Director General of the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations Malaysia, he was also the Deputy Secretary General 1, Ambassador-at-Large and Malaysia’s Representative to the ASEAN High Level Task Force on the Drafting of the ASEAN Charter and Malaysia’s Representative to the High-Level Panel on the Drafting of the Terms of Reference of the ASEAN Human Rights Body.

Tan Sri Fuzi is a Distinguished Fellow of the Institute of Strategic and International Studies and Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations. He is also the Deputy Chairman of the Malaysian Member Committee of the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific and on the Board of Trustee for MERCY Malaysia, Perdana Global Peace Foundation, Yayasan Sarana Pendidikan Malaysia and Lejadi Foundation. He is a Patron of Malaysia-China Culture Association and Advisor to theAsia Pacific Entrepreneurship Award, Malaysia-Myanmar Chamber of Commerce, High School Bukit Mertajam Alumni Malaysia and Pixel Play Ventures Sdn Bhd.

Datuk Dr. Mohd Yusoff  Sulaiman 
President & Chief Executive Officer
Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT)
Malaysia    

Datuk Dr. Mohd Yusoff Sulaiman is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT).  It is a private-public partnership organisation under the purview of the Malaysian Prime Minister’s Department that focusses on exploration of new and strategic technologies for business optimisation.  He specialises in technology management and is a member of the Governing Board of the Malaysian Foresight Institute (myForesight), Malaysia-France University Centre (MFUC) and Regional Centre for Science and Technology Business Incubator (IRIS) appointed by UNESCO.  He is also a Fellow of the ASEAN Academy of Engineering & Technology (AAET) and the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM).  He is the lead representative for Malaysia in the Working Group on Innovation and Technology Policy of the OECD.  

Prior to joining MIGHT, he was the Special Officer to the Minister of Entrepreneur Development where he provided strategic advice in mobility and transportation for Malaysia.  He sits as Director to the Board of Kulim Technology Park Corporation Sdn Bhd, Aerospace Malaysia Innovation Centre and Melaka Green Tech Corporation.  

Datuk Dr. Mohd Yusoff Sulaiman holds a MSc from the University of Wales in the UK and a PhD from Universiti Teknikal Melaka Malaysia.  

Mahtab Uddin Ahmed 
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer
Robi Axiata Limited
Bangladesh

Mahtab Uddin Ahmed is Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Robi Axiata Limited, of which he had joined as its Chief Financial Officer in 2010 and three years later became its Chief Operating Officer.  Prior to joining Robi Axiata, he spent 17 years of his career with Unilever where he held various business and finance leadership positions including the position of Finance Director in various operating companies like Unilever Pakistan, Unilever Arabia and Unilever Bangladesh.   

He is currently the Vice President of Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB), and an Executive Committee Member of Foreign Investors’ Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FICCI).  He was the Vice President of Bangladesh Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BMCCI).  He is a Fellow Member of Institute of Cost and Management Accountant of Bangladesh (ICMAB), FCMA and CGMA of Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA, UK). He is also an alumnus of the Harvard Business School 

He holds a Bachelor of Honours and Masters in Accounting from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.  

Prof. Dr. Jamilur Reza Choudhury 
Vice Chancellor
University of Asia Pacific
Bangladesh

Prof. Dr Jamilur Reza Choudhury is the National Professor of Bangladesh and the Vice Chancellor of the University of Asia Pacific, Bangladesh.  He is a prominent personality in the engineering community of Bangladesh who has contributed greatly to the development of infrastructure system of the country.  He has acted as an adviser to a number of national as well as international projects and contributed significantly to the IT sector in Bangladesh.  He was also the Chairman of the task force for developing Software Export and IT Infrastructure in Bangladesh, under the Ministry of Commerce. He was Convener of Committee on Export of Software and Data Processing Services, Committee for Formulation of IT Policy for Bangladesh and ICT in Higher Education Group formed by Ministry of Education.   

Prof. Dr. Jamilur Reza Choudhury has published about 70 papers in reputable international journals and conference proceedings related to infrastructure and IT.  He has received numerous awards including the Order of the Rising Sun by the Japanese Government, Bangladesh’s national award Ekuskey Padak and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Recognition Award.  

He has a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), a master’s degree in Advanced Structural Engineering and a PhD from the University of Southampton in the UK. He was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Engineering by Manchester University.  

The Hon. FDr. Ar. Siti Rozaimeriyanty DSLJ Haji Abdul Rahman
Director and Principal Architect
Eco Bumi Arkitek
Brunei Darussalam

The Hon. Siti Rozaimeriyanty DSLJ Haji Abdul Rahman is the Director and Principal Architect of Eco Bumi Arkitek (EBA).  Prior to establishing EBA, she was a Senior Architect with the Public Works Department, Ministry of Development of Brunei.  She is a registered Practising Architect with BAPEQs, Chartered Member of RIBA of United Kingdom and ASEAN Architect, and the first female President of Institution of Surveyor, Engineer and Architect (PUJA Brunei). 

The Hon. Rozaimeriyanty was appointed by HM the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam as a member of the Legislative Council for a five-year term from 2017 to 2021.  Her main area of focus is on issues relating to education, women and country’s economic growth. 

She has been appointed as Board Member for numerous institutions including Board of Architects, Professional Engineers and Quantity Surveyor (BAPEQS), Darussalam Enterprise (DARe), Authority for Brunei AITI (Authority for Info-Communications Technology Industry), and Board of Housing Developers.  To name a few, she is also the Chairman for Future Workforce ASEAN, the Development Board Standing Committee, and Steering Committee for Brunei Shell Joint Venture Companies.  

The Hon. Rozaimeriyanty has recently received a Doctor Fellowship in Architechture from the Royal Institute of Singapore. 

Tun Musa Hitam
Chairman, WIEF Foundation, Malaysia

Tun Musa Hitam, who is currently Chairman of the World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) Foundation was Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister until 1986. In the course of his service in the Malaysian government, he held various positions including Minister of Home Affairs, Education, Primary Industries and Trade and Industries and Chairman of the Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA). Among his major official activities were as Leader of Malaysian Investment Missions to Europe, USA and Japan and representing Malaysia at UN ECOSOC related negotiating and regular conferences.

Since Tun Musa’s retirement from politics in 1987, he held Chairmanships of 3 Public Listed Companies and various business related institutions both at domestic and international levels. He was Chairman of the Malaysia – China Business Council, Co-Chair of the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) of the Asean – China, 15 year economic cooperation program and Chairman of the EPG to draft the Asean Charter. Currently, Tun Musa is Chairman of the Sime Darby Foundation, Chairman of the International Advisory Panel of CIMB Bank, Chairman of the International Selection Panel of the Royal Award on Islamic Finance and member of the Advisory Panel of the Iskandar Development Authority.

Tun Musa holds a BA (University of Malaya) and MA (University of Sussex) and held a resident Fellowship at Harvard University. For his services to the nation, The Yang Di Pertuan Agong (King) of Malaysia conferred him Malaysia highest award which carries the title “Tun”.

Md. Abdul Karim
Senior Adviser,
Building Resources Across Communities (BRAC) 
Bangladesh 

Md. Abdul Karim is a Senior Adviser of BRAC, Chairman of Green Delta Insurance Co. Ltd and Secretary General of the South East Asian Cooperation (SEACO) Foundation.  

He was a Principal Secretary to the Government of Bangladesh, Chairman of the National Board of Revenue and Managing Director of Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation. He worked as Secretary to the Government in the Ministries of Commerce, Fisheries and Livestock, Home Affairs, Communications and Finance.  He also served as the Economic and Commercial Counsellor of Bangladesh Embassy in Belgium, Chairman and Director of several state-owned companies including Padma Oil Company Limited. He was ex-officio Chairperson of several national level Committees of various Ministries while working as Principal Secretary. 

Md. Abdul Karim is involved in numerous organisations including Chittagong University Alumni Association as its President and the Honorary Advisory Board for Developing Country Programme Document of UNDP Bangladesh 2017-2021. He has produced books and articles, and lectured in universities including North South University and National Defence College of Bangladesh.  

He holds master’s degree in Development Administration from the University of Birmingham, UK and a MSc in Chemistry from the University of Chittagong. 

Prof. Dr. M. Anwar Hossain
First Vice Chancellor, Islamic University of Technology
Bangladesh 

Prof. Dr. M. Anwar Hossain is the First Vice Chancellor of Islamic University of Technology (IUT) in Dhaka, an international university established by Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and a Member of the Board of Governors, SEACO Foundation.  He is also the Second Vice Chancellor of Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, a private sector university in Bangladesh, the Founder President of Bangladesh Society of Mechanical Engineers and President of Institution of Engineers (IEB), the apex body of all engineers in the country.  

Prof. Dr. M. Anwar Hossain has contributed significantly towards the development of engineering education and profession in Bangladesh, primarily in the capacities of Professor, Head and Dean of Mechanical Engineering at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).  He was an active member of the Executive Council of World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO), Commonwealth Engineering Council (CEC), Federation of Engineering Institutions of South & Central Asia, and Federation of Engineering Institutions of Islamic Countries.  He was also engaged in teaching and research activities for about three years at Mosul University in Iraq and for about one year at University College, London as a Commonwealth Academic Staff Fellow. 

Prof. Dr. M. Anwar Hossain obtained his MSc and PhD degrees from Cornell University in the United States.