GBTA APAC Conference 2023 - Speakers
Explore the GBTA APAC Conference 2023 – Speakers below and stay tuned for more announcements coming soon.
Abdel Abatouy
Chief Technology & Information Officer (CTIO), Asia
As CTIO for FCM Travel in Asia, Abdel leads the company’s security, information and customer-facing technology solutions. He oversees the company’s strategic IT investments and optimises IT footprints to ensure the global technology and security efforts are aligned with FCM’s business strategy and long-term goals. With a track record spanning over 16 years in the financial and insurance sector, Abdel has held key positions in information technology where he demonstrated his ability to lead teams, drive innovation and deliver high-quality solutions.
Abdel Abatouy
Chief Technology & Information Officer (CTIO), AsiaKoreen Barbara
Global Travel Manager
McDonald’s
Koreen Barbara is responsible for managing the McDonald’s Travel Program. Traveler experience is at the forefront of all her work ensuring the right technology, solutions and partners are available to meet the demands of the modern business traveler today and tomorrow.
Her career covers more than 23 years in the travel industry gaining experience and insights across the globe working in Australia, London, Chicago and now Singapore. She has had much success in managing global and regional travel programs delivering value, transformation, innovation and focusing on continuous evolution.
Koreen Barbara
Global Travel Manager McDonald’sMs Beh Siew Kim
Chief Financial & Sustainabilty Officer, Lodging
Capitaland Investment Ltd / The Ascott Limited
Ms Beh Siew Kim is the Chief Financial & Sustainability Officer, Lodging, CapitaLand Investment with a concurrent role as Managing Director, The Ascott Limited. She oversees all aspects of Lodging’s finance, treasury, and investors relations functions, lead Lodging’s sustainability efforts. In addition, she has an oversight on the Ascott’s business and operations in Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Japan and Korea. The Ascott Limited achieved GSTC Recognised Status in November 2022. She is also the non-executive director on CapitaLand Ascott Trust (CLAS), a sponsored trust by The Ascott Limited.
Prior to this, Ms Beh was the Chief Executive Officer of the Managers of CLAS, listed on SGX, the largest hospitality trust in Asia Pacific. Under her leadership, CLAS has also been recognised for its excellence in sustainability and corporate governance. CLAS was named the ‘Global Sector Leader – Hotel’ in the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark, ranked 1st in the Singapore Governance and Transparency Index for REITs and Business Trusts and was also the first hospitality trust globally to issue a sustainability linked bond in April 2022.
Ms Beh has over 25 years of experience in investment, financial and corporate planning, development, compliance and audit.
Ms Beh Siew Kim
Chief Financial & Sustainabilty Officer, Lodging Capitaland Investment Ltd / The Ascott LimitedPhilipp Bonkatz
General Manager Singapore, Malaysia & Brunei
Lufthansa Group
Philipp has graduated in Aeronautical Engineering and Logistics in Germany and has ever since worked in various operational and commercial departments with airlines and airport.
With an extensive knowledge in the field of Revenue Management, Pricing and Commercial Offer Design he has significantly contributed in developing this important field for the Lufthansa Group. For the SWISS Geneva hub he has been introducing one of the first branded fares products for legacy airlines. Being based in Moscow, Russia Philipp has been responsible for the business development of the region before he became the General Manager for Lufthansa Group in Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei - with a strong focus on Sustainability and Digital Transformation.
Philipp Bonkatz
General Manager Singapore, Malaysia & Brunei
Lufthansa Group
Phil Boyle
SVP, Managing Director, Asia
Jack Morton Worldwide
Phil leads the Jack Morton team across Asia, creating extraordinary brand experiences and events for some of the world’s most exciting brands. As a northern English lad lost in Asia for nearly 20 years, most of that time in China, Phil has seen huge changes in the industry… embracing each change with open arms and an open mind in this crazy, fast-moving and awe-inspiring industry we have all come to love.
Phil Boyle
SVP, Managing Director, Asia Jack Morton WorldwideAndrew Chan
MBA is the Founder and CEO
ACI HR Solutions (ACI)
Andrew Chan, MBA is the Founder and CEO of ACI HR Solutions (ACI) and is responsible for the firm’s operations and strategic direction.
He has worked in many facets of the industry, commencing his career as a Travel Agent in Australia and subsequently joining the airline industry, working with Cathay Pacific Airways and Singapore Airlines in customer service and business development roles. Andrew furthered his experience by entering the hospitality sector, working for brands such as Stamford Hotels & Resorts and the Carlton Hotel Group, and later joining Hospitality Marketing Concepts (HMC) as their Director of Business Development, overseeing all sales and marketing activities in Australia, New Zealand and Asia. In 2005, Andrew took his wealth of industry experience into the world of Executive Search, and was appointed CEO of TMS Asia Pacific where he has established himself as one of the leading HR, Talent and Recruitment experts in travel, tourism and hospitality sector.
A polished and engaging presenter, Andrew has addressed intimate audiences to mega events at travel and hospitality conferences, events, trade shows, as well as educational institutions. He is frequently invited for his commentary by the media, and regularly contributes his expertise on recruitment and HR best practices in industry publications. Andrew is an active member of several industry associations including PATA, HSMAI, ACTE and SKAL International Singapore. He holds a MBA from the University of South Australia and is a past President of HSMAI Singapore and of SKAL International Singapore.
Andrew has twice been recognized as the Recruitment Entrepreneur of the Year, in 2016 and 2019.
Andrew Chan
MBA is the Founder and CEO ACI HR Solutions (ACI)Mritunjaya Mohan
Senior Manager - Corporate Travel
Palo Alto Networks
Global Award-winning Business Travel Leader, Competent professional with approximately 22 years of experience in Business Travel, A versatile and design thinker with a proven track record of Travel business Process management, Quality operations, Supplier relationship management, Research analysis on travel data, Team management, Global Air and Hotel sourcing, Travel procurement , Travel dashboard ,Sustainability in Business Travel and Travel expense management system.
Mritunjaya Chandra Mohan
Senior Manager – Corporate Travel
Palo Alto Networks
Poh Chi Chuan
Executive Director – Exhibitions & Conferences
Experience Development Group
Mr Poh Chi Chuan is the Executive Director of the Exhibitions & Conferences Division, where he oversees the healthy development of the exhibitions and conferences events in Singapore to support the needs of Singapore’s key industry clusters.
Prior to this role, he was the Acting Chief Technology Officer of the Singapore Tourism Board, and in this capacity, he is responsible for spearheading and implementing transformation initiatives within the Board and for the tourism sector, providing counsel and direction in all transforming, technology, data related issues as well as creating a culture of agility and innovation within the Board.
Chi Chuan joined STB in 2004 as Manager in the International Group before moving on to Market Access, and headed STB’s overseas office for Western China. From 2007 –2009, he was the Assistant Director managing the China/North Asia markets. In 2010 he became Deputy Director of the Tourism Concept Development team and was promoted to Director in 2012. In 2015, he took on the responsibility of Director, Tourism Concept Development which involved overseeing the cultural precinct developments in Chinatown as well as Little India. He also championed masterplans of new tourism zones and developed innovative tourism initiatives. These included leading the conceptualisation of the Mandai nature-themed project.
In 2017, he became Director, Digital Transformation and worked to strengthen enterprise digital and data science capabilities for both STB and key industry partners. This includes gathering, analysing data / trends and getting new insights on tourism performance, sharing market intelligence and consumer insights, as well as engaging stakeholders on digital collaborations. He also oversees the driving of innovation initiatives to co-create quality solutions for the industry with the private sector, to push the technology boundaries and future proofing the tourism sector to tackle the challenges up ahead.
Chi Chuan was a recipient of the National Day Awards Public Administration Medal
(Bronze) in 2016. Chi Chuan graduated from the Nanyang Technological University with a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) in 1999. He then obtained his Masters in Public Management with the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, in 2017, where he also received the Dean’s Leadership Award (Gold).
Poh Chi Chuan
Executive Director – Exhibitions & Conferences
Experience Development Group
Michael Chiay
Co-founder & CEO
Trransfer
Michael Chiay is CEO & Co-Founder of Trransfer, a technology provider to the travel and events industry. Trransfer’s solution connects travel partners and corporates to a range of private ground transportation options, deploys proprietary technology and round-the-clock control process to power the entire lifecycle of a trip, enabling partners to provide safe, reliable and trackable end-to-end journey planning.
Before founding Trransfer, Michael held executive positions at global travel and meetings organisations, including TBR Global Chauffeuring, CWT, MCI and JTB.
From 2013-2016, Mchael was an appointed member of the Hong Kong Economic Development Commission, Working Group on Convention and Exhibition Industries and Tourism, where he actively contributed strategic advice and visionary direction to the Hong Kong SAR Government on growth focus and policy making.
With 20 years of experience in travel and technology, Mr. Chiay is a widely recognized subject matter expert in the industry, is frequently quoted in major trade publications and speaks at industry forums.
Michael Chiay
Co-founder & CEO
Trransfer
Mark Cuschieri
Executive Director
Global Head of Travel
UBS
Mark Cuschieri is Executive Director, Global Head of Travel for UBS Group AG. He has been with the firm since 2007 and is responsible for setting the vision and overall strategic direction of the global travel program in over 50 countries.
Mark is a 30-year veteran in the corporate travel industry, as a Travel Buyer and Supplier. Prior to joining UBS, Mark held leadership roles at American Express and Expedia Inc., across a diverse range of industry sectors in both Europe and International markets.
Mark is President for GBTA, elected in August 2023. He previously served as Vice Chair of GBTA and President of the Institute of Travel Management (ITM) board of directors.
Mark Cuschieri
Executive Director Global Head of Travel UBSDean Fowles
Unit Head – Travel
Asian Development Bank
Dean Fowles is currently the Head of Travel and Expense at the Asian Development Bank in Manila, with an extensive background of over 15 years working throughout Asia. He has worked in simplifying complex programs, managing operations across different countries, handling mergers and acquisitions, and dealing with unique travel environments.
He's also been instrumental in improving policies and setting up systems like Concur Travel and Expense. Beyond work, Dean enjoys exploring the region and supports local charitable causes.
Dean Fowles
Unit Head – Travel Asian Development BankPetrina Goh
Head of Commercial,
SEA & Hong Kong, CWT Meetings & Events
Petrina Goh is the Head of Commercial for SEA & HK at CWT Meetings & Events, the global M&E division of CWT. She leads a team of planners, designers and operations specialists to help companies create meetings and events—whether live, virtual, or a hybrid—that are highly participative, digital and data-driven.
Petrina joined CWT M&E in 2015 as a Business Development Executive. In 2017, she was promoted to the role of Senior Business Development Manager, before being promoted to Singapore Commercial Director in 2019 and taking on her current role in 2022. She has over 16 years of experience in the hospitality and events industries, having previously worked at the MCI Group and Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts.
Her motto in both work and life is to "Pursue Greatness Anyway", as she enjoys taking on new challenges and being a creator and influencer in building new connections and
Petrina Goh
Head of Commercial, SEA & Hong Kong, CWT Meetings & EventsChavi Jafa
Senior Vice President Head of Commercial and Money Movement Solutions, Asia Pacific
Visa
Chavi Jafa is the Head of Commercial and Money Movement Solutions for Visa Asia Pacific. She was appointed in April 2023 and in this role, Chavi is responsible for expanding Visa’s network beyond consumer-to-merchant payments, driving new business opportunities and enabling new ways to move money for clients and partners across the region. This includes business-to-business (B2B), peer-to-peer (P2P) and government payment solutions, including the near real-time P2P network Visa Direct, and the cross-border corporate payment network B2B Connect.
Prior to this, Chavi was the Head of Business Solutions for various regions like Asia Pacific as well as India and South Asia.
Before joining Visa, Chavi worked with Citi’s Transaction Banking business, managing various cash management and commercial card products for Citibank globally. She is a career banker and payments expert, having worked across geographies including New York, India and Singapore.
In addition, Chavi led key relationships across corporate and public sector organisations. She was also part of the founding team that set up IDFC Bank, India’s largest project finance company as the Head of Payments and Strategic Alliances. She led the bank’s innovation businesses including mobile payments and alternate lending data.
Chavi has a Masters from Columbia University, majoring in International Finance and Economics and an MBA. She spends her free time running workshops for graduate students as well as mentoring early stage startups.
Chavi Jafa
Senior Vice President Head of Commercial and Money Movement Solutions, Asia Pacific VisaCorinne Janssen
Asst. Vice President, Sales (Southeast Asia & Australasia)
Shangri-La Group/Sales Team
Corinne has spent her life traveling the world, working in progressively more senior hospitality sales & marketing roles in 9 countries before making Singapore her 10th, five years ago. Originally from The Netherlands, she says she feels more at home in Asia where at least she is not always the shortest person in the room.
Corinne Janssen
Asst. Vice President, Sales (Southeast Asia & Australasia) Shangri-La Group/Sales TeamDr. Carl Jones
World-Renowned Futurist
Founder & CEO of the Future Today Institute
Dr Carl Jones is an Advisory Board member for APAC with GBTA and an Independent Industry Consultant. In these roles, Carl advises organisations and individuals on various aspects of corporate travel & expense management, including strategy, processes, procurement, sustainability and best practices. Carl was most recently the Managing Director for Southeast Asia at SAP Concur, where he led a multinational commercial team with sales, pre-sales, client success and cloud channel partnerships. As the major global technology provider of corporate travel and expense software, he was passionate about driving new innovations for the Asia Pacific region.
Carl also set up the Committee for Sustainability in Asia Pacific with GBTA early 2022, leading this group as Vice Chair and helping to drive forward this critical agenda as it develops in Asia through webinars and facilitation of dialogue with all aspects of sustainability in the industry, such as airlines, hotels, and offset providers. In this capacity he was recognised at the global GBTA annual conference 2023 with a Business Travel Services Award – APAC for his contribution for both sustainability and broader leadership of the GBTA association in Asia.
An industry veteran who has held various regional leadership roles in Asia Pacific countries including Singapore and Thailand, Carl brings with him 20 years of experience in the travel and payments industry in Asia. Prior to SAP Concur, Carl was Vice President, Global Client Management and Global Business Consulting Asia Pacific with American Express Global Business Travel; prior to that Head of Solutions Group Asia for CWT, and various roles in Corporate Payment Services in American Express.
Carl holds a Bachelor of Physics from the University of Oxford and a PhD in Applied Physics from the University of Manchester, as well as a Master's Degree in International Relations from the Nanyang Technological University of Singapore.
Dr. Carl Jones
GBTA Advisory Board Member, APAC Travel & Expense Industry ConsultantBee Kim, Soh
Travel Manager
Illumina Inc.
Bee Kim, Soh has 29 years of travel industry experience in the following TMC, GDS & Travel Manager roles. She has held Travel Manager roles in banking, pharmaceutical & genomics industries.
Bee Kim, Soh
Travel Manager
Illumina Inc.
Peter Koh
GBTA APAC, Regional Chair
Executive Director
Head of APAC Integrated Travel & Expense
Goldman Sachs
Peter Koh Singapore Peter Koh is the APAC Head of Integrated Travel and Expense at Goldman Sachs, managing the APAC Travel and Expense program and is responsible for driving commercial effectiveness within the region. Peter brings over 20 years of experience in corporate travel management and has worked in Travel, Technology and Finance industry.
He is currently serving as the chairperson for GBTA APAC Advisory Board. Peter earned a BA in Business Management from Northumbria University and an MBA from University of Dubuque.
Peter Koh
GBTA APAC, Regional Chair
Executive Director
Head of APAC Integrated Travel & Expense
Goldman Sachs
Aurélie Krau
#MissionNomad
Aurélie is well known for her digital nomad lifestyle, her public speaking appearances and for driving change in the Travel ecosystem and in the way we work. She has 13 years experience advising Fortune 500 companies in the rollout of their travel technology products. She enjoys exploring how organizations can blend the physical and digital worlds to drive better business outcomes. Her sweet spot is deeply understanding the intersection of technology and human behaviour, in particular Millennials and Generation Z.
In the travel industry, she has led projects to redesign travel technology interfaces and sales funnels to speak to the needs of younger generations as well as addressing the increased blurring of business and leisure travel.
Aurélie comes full of energy with a passion for success and getting the best out of those around her.
She offers advisory and consulting services as well as public speaking coaching.
Her latest role involved developing and leading the Customer Success department of online workspaces and meetings booking platform hubli. Previously, she held roles at business travel consultancy Festive Road, Carlson Wagonlit Travel, American Express and the Global Business Travel Association and has been a regular speaker at industry events.
Aurélie was listed by the Buying Business Travel Hotlist in 2023 for her championing of 'Working From Anywhere' and as “One to Watch” back in 2016.
Aurélie Krau
Innovation Consultant & Founder
The Nomad Hours
Will Kataria
Senior Director & General Manager, Asia Pacific
Cvent
As Senior Director & General Manager, Asia Pacific, Will Kataria oversees Cvent’s APAC business expansion and day to day operations. He is a 17 year veteran with Cvent and founded the Singapore office in 2016. His team consults and guides event organisers and marketers across Asia as they evaluate the role technology can play in helping to market and manage their in-person, virtual, and hybrid events, and maximise the impact of their Total Event Program.
Will is passionate about the events industry and offers over 2 decades of Event Technology consultancy experience. He has travelled worldwide to meet with global-leading organisations and Fortune 100 companies to help guide their event program strategy, he often shares his meetings and events industry expertise as a speaker at conferences around the world. One of Cvent’s top priorities is to digitisation and sustainability at events. Will co-chairs that role within Cvent to strategize and drive awareness in achieving sustainable events.
Will Kataria
Senior Director & General Manager, Asia Pacific
Cvent
Steve Kwa
Former Head of Security
Faith-Based / Non-Profit Organisation
Steve has close to 15 years of experience in security and risk management of which he spent the last 7 years as the security manager of a faith-based, non-profit organization based out of Singapore where he manages a diverse portfolio of functions from intelligence to crisis and resilience. One of the many hats he wore, was to be responsible for safeguarding travelers spreaded across the globe in diverse environments, from business meetings in big cities, large-scale conferences and pilgrimages, to humanitarian relief work in remote and sensitive areas.
Steve Kwa
Former Head of Security
Faith-Based / Non-Profit Organisation
Paljor Lama
Managing Consultant, Advito
Based in the Gold Coast, Australia, Paljor is a Managing Consultant on Advito's Traveller Engagement team. With 13 years of experience in communications and marketing, including six in the travel industry, he has a proven track record of driving effective engagement strategies to achieve program compliance, cost savings and enhance traveller satisfaction. With a keen interest in digital tools and technologies, Paljor serves as his team’s subject matter expert in the digital employee experience to provide robust guidance across digital platforms including online booking tools, on priorities such as sustainability, savings, policy compliance, traveller wellbeing, DE&I, and more.
Paljor’s traveller engagement strategies are tailored to meet each client's specific needs and follow company brand guidelines and tone of voice, creating a familiar and trusted voice of authority that’s easy for travellers to relate to.
Paljor Lama
Managing Consultant, AdvitoEwan Lim
APAC Travel Operations Lead / Global Category Lead Hotels
Johnson & Johnson Travel & Meeting Services
Ewan Lim have been active in the travel industry for 25 years. He has worked his way through travel operations (corporate ticketing), travel sales, account management and a travel buyer. He has worked with some of the major players in the industry, like American Express GBT, Carlson Wagonlit, BCD Travel, Samsung Electronics and Johnson & Johnson.
Outside of work, Ewan is passionate about volunteering at animal shelters, helping children with special needs and is active on the soccer field. He is currently the APAC Travel Manager and Global Category Lead for Hotels, for Johnson and Johnson and have been with the organization for 5 years.
Ewan Lim
APAC Travel Operations Lead / Global Category Lead Hotels
Johnson & Johnson Travel & Meeting Services
Barry Lin
Regional Security Manager, ASEAN
Google
Barry is an accomplished security and risk management professional who has worked in the Public, Finance and Technology sectors. He has more than 15 years of experience in strategic security operations, risk and threat management and Travel safety & security. He is also the co-chair to the new GBTA Risk committee (APAC). Barry is married with two daughters and enjoys spending time with his family, adventure motorcycling, and spinning (stationary cycling).
Barry Lin
Regional Security Manager, ASEAN GoogleMichelle Low
Vice President, Global Supply Chain
Michelle Low is a renowned industry expert in the global mobility and serviced apartment sector. She is currently Global Vice President of Supply Chain of Synergy Global Housing, a leader in serviced accommodation program management offering a curated network of quality short and long term lodging options around the globe. In this role, she is responsible for leading the development and implementation of the global sourcing strategy for Synergy's growing worldwide network of vetted supplier partners.
Michelle Low
Vice President, Global Supply ChainRebecca Malzacher
Vice President
International SOS
Rebecca has worked in the health & security travel risk management field for nearly 20 years, she’s also been an expatriate, a ‘trailing spouse’ & mother to Nicholas, a ‘third culture kid’. She is well placed to co-chair the new GBTA Risk Committee. Rebecca is a Vice President with International SOS and oversees the marketing, corporate affairs & the International SOS Foundation activities for the business outside of the Americas.
Rebecca Malzacher
Vice President International SOSRajeev Menon
President, Asia Pacific (excluding China)
Marriott International
Having spent over 20 years of his career with Marriott International, Rajeev is currently President for Marriott International, Asia Pacific excluding China (APEC). He is responsible for the overall business performance and development of the company across 22 countries and territories in the Asia Pacific region with over 530 operating hotels & resorts under 24 unique brands. Marriott also has the largest construction pipeline in the region with over 300 hotels under development. Rajeev is a passionate hotelier and has risen through the ranks, with a career in hospitality spanning over three decades.
Before being promoted to the APEC President in October 2019, Rajeev served as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) for APEC from March 2015 through September 2019. Under his leadership, Marriott was recognized as one of the top performing International hotel companies in APEC and has received numerous awards, including the best employer award for several years. From August 2007 till February 2015, Rajeev served as Area Vice President for South Asia, as well as Pakistan, Malaysia, and Australia during various periods of his assignment.
Rajeev joined Marriott International in April 2001 as General Manager of the Renaissance Mumbai Hotel and Convention Center and Marriott Executive Apartments, Mumbai. In 2004, he moved back to Sydney, Australia where he served as the General Manager of Sydney Harbour Marriott and Country General Manager for Australia.
Before joining Marriott International, Rajeev served in management positions with the ITC Welcomgroup Sheraton Hotels in India, Stamford Hotels & Resorts and Radisson Hotels & Resorts in Australia.
Rajeev has been recognized over the years through numerous awards including Young General Manager of the Year in 2003 by the Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association, GM of the Year by Marriott International and Hall of Fame Award in 2017 for his contribution to the hotel industry in India.
A lifelong learner, Rajeev completed his education in Hotel Management in New Delhi and as of 2018, completed the Advance Management Program (AMP) from Harvard Business School, Boston.
Today, apart from overseeing Marriott’s business in APEC, Rajeev also holds the position of Vice Chair on the Tourism Committee and is a member of the Board of the US/ASEAN Business Council. He is also a member of the Board of the Singapore Hotel Association and previously held the position of Deputy Chairman of the NSW Accommodation Division on the Board of Australian Hotels Association (AHA) between 2005 and 2007.
Originally from India, Rajeev has lived in multiple major cities around the globe over the last 30 years – moving between Sydney, Delhi, Mumbai. In his current role, Rajeev and his family are based out of Singapore.
Rajeev Menon
President, Asia Pacific (excluding China) Marriott InternationalNathan Milner
Content Display and Booking Channels
American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT)
Nathan Milner is the Director for Content Display and Booking Channels for American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT). He’s part of a global team responsible for GBT’s air, hotel and ground distribution and content strategies. His role includes NDC strategy, GDS and OBT relations and supplier content strategy. Nathan and his team work closely with Amex GBT’s product/technology team along with client management to ensure Amex GBT’s Marketplace delivers value to Customers, Travelers, and Suppliers.
Previously, Nathan worked at Sabre Travel Network, where he led Sabre’s strategic relationships with the major travel management companies within Australia and New Zealand. Prior to Sabre, Nathan held numerous senior positions within the travel industry, including in the hotel wholesaling, corporate and retail travel sectors.
Outside work Nathan’s passions are travel, good food, and all things outdoors.
Nathan Milner
Content Display and Booking Channels American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT)Han Misti
VP, Regional Security Manager (SEAA)
Credit Suisse
Han is an accomplished security professional who has taken a variety of high-pressure roles in the public sector as well as finance, tech and manufacturing industries within the APAC region. He has more than 20 years of experience in strategic and operational planning with advanced security services teams, specialising in Threat Assessment, Risk Management and Travel Security. He is a husband, a father of three and someone who loves golf just a little more than he wants to admit.
Han Misti
VP, Regional Security Manager (SEAA) Credit SuisseSuraj Nair
Co-founder
TravelSpends
Suraj NAIR is co-founder of TravelSpends - a Travel Analytics, Technology and
Consulting company.
In his current role, Suraj has ownership of business P&L. curating the product
portfolio of SaaS offerings and spearheading growth strategies.
Prior to TravelSpends, Suraj was Co-Head of Thomas Cook – Business Travel and
has diverse experience working with organizations like American Express, Carlson Wagonlit & InterGlobe.
Suraj is an innovator, an influencer and industry shaper who has a keen interest in
nurturing & growing the travel eco-system.
Suraj Nair
Co-founder TravelSpendsSuzanne Neufang
Chief Executive Officer (CEO), GBTA
Suzanne is a transformation-focused executive who has led product, service and organizational innovation through times of great change, and has held leadership roles within the travel industry for the past 20 years.
Suzanne Neufang
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
GBTA
Patricia Nordstrom
Senior Director of Corporate Partnerships
Plug and Play Asia Pacific - Singapore
has worked in the Innovation and Venture Capital space for her entire career, building up connections in the investment and entrepreneurial ecosystem of Singapore and the Asia Pacific. Currently working as the Senior Director of Corporate Partnership for Asia Pacific at Plug and Play Tech Center she is spearheading the launch of multiple new locations and initiatives focused on developing synergies between market leaders and entrepreneurs. Having lived in Europe, South America, China, Singapore and Australia, she is native in; English, Spanish and Swedish, and can speak basic French and Portuguese.
Patricia Nordstrom
Senior Director of Corporate Partnerships Plug and Play Asia Pacific – SingaporeIngrid Picard
Head of Commercial Corporations and Resellers APAC
Amadeus
With 20 years’ working across various cloud-based Expense Management, Duty of Care and Online Booking solutions in EMEA and Asia-Pacific, Ingrid has a unique breadth of experience in new business ventures, business development, marketing, partnership and strategic leadership.
Ingrid is currently Head of Commercial Corporations and Resellers APAC for Amadeus, where she is responsible for the commercial strategy for Amadeus portfolio of products and services for Corporations and TMCs. With her experienced team, she identifies and designs technology solutions so businesses can achieve better travel management in areas such as logistics, cost control and process efficiencies, focusing on areas such as traveller centricity, collaboration, security, and sustainability.
Ingrid has been operating at senior management level for over two decade and has sound advisory and committee chair experience.
Ingrid has a Master Degree in management from the University of Angers, France and an Associate Degree from the University Technology of Rennes II, France. Ingrid is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).
When not traveling or engaging with customers, Ingrid likes to spend time at the beach or on the sky slopes with her husband and 2 daughters.
Ingrid Picard
Head of Commercial Corporations and Resellers APAC AmadeusBrenda Quek
Associate Director at EY
Asia-Pacific Travel Meetings & Events Program and Engagement Leader
I am part of Supply Chain Services for EY as the Asia Pacific Travel, Meetings and Events Program and Engagement Leader, managing 4 regions namely Asean, Greater China, Oceania and Korea to drive consistency and operations excellence to the EY Travel, Meetings and Events Program.
I have previously worked for Credit Suisse where I managed the Asia Pacific travel program and had the opportunity to join the Private Banking Marketing team to look after marketing and sponsorship activities as well. I also worked for BNP Paribas where I managed all events, branding and sponsorship activities for Wealth Management. Prior to Credit Suisse and BNP Paribas, I have worked in the hotel industry.
Brenda Quek
Associate Director at EY
Asia-Pacific Travel Meetings & Events Program and Engagement Leader
Paul Rogers
Asia-Pacific Operations and Supplier Manager | Supply Chain Services – Travel, Meetings and Events Services
EY
Paul is part of EY's Global Supply Chain Services team, and manages operations and procurement for EY's travel, meetings and events program within the Asia-Pacific region.
Based in Australia, Paul has almost 15 years industry experience and has worked as both a seller within leisure travel, and corporate travel, and as a buyer within the Oil & Gas, Mining, and Professional Services industries.
Before joining EY, Paul spent three years in Mongolia where he established and led business operations, including mobility and travel for a globally significant mining project. He was also a member of the Australian Government's G20 Taskforce, which was responsible for aircraft, ground, and hotel operations for visiting heads of state.
Paul holds an MBA from the University of Queensland.
Paul Rogers
Asia-Pacific Operations and Supplier Manager | Supply Chain Services – Travel, Meetings and Events Services
EY
Bertrand Saillet
Managing Director, FCM Travel Asia
Capitaland Investment Ltd / The Ascott Limited
Bertrand is the Managing Director for the Flight Centre Travel Group in Asia, after being in the role of General Manager for FCM Asia since 2015. Bertrand started his career in the telecom industry in Europe working for Orange and then moved to the aeronautical giant Airbus to lead the sales and marketing department of their IT division. He held multiple global management roles within Amadeus, an IT leader in the travel industry before joining FCM.
Bertrand Saillet
Managing Director, FCM Travel AsiaSandeep Shastri
Senior Director, Airline Distribution at Sabre Asia Pacific
Vice Chair of the GBTA Sustainability Committee in Asia Pacific
Sandeep has extensive experience in Travel Technology, Aviation, Online Travel, Travel Management Companies, and the Payments Industry. He has successfully led various commercial functions in global companies like Sabre, Qantas, Expedia and American Express, and helped transform diverse businesses across Asia Pacific. Currently he is the Senior Director, Airline Distribution at Sabre Asia Pacific responsible for growing distribution partnerships with Airlines across the Asia Pacific region. He also has fiduciary responsibilities as a board director on Sabre's joint ventures in Brunei, Laos, and the Middle East. Sandeep has a passion for diversity & inclusion and sustainability, both of which he is actively engaged in within Sabre and the community.
Sandeep is the Vice Chair of the GBTA Sustainability Committee in Asia Pacific.
Sandeep has a diverse academic profile: He is an executive MBA from INSEAD Singapore and Tsinghua University and alumnus of IIM Kolkata.
Sandeep Shastri
Senior Director, Airline Distribution at Sabre Asia Pacific Vice Chair of the GBTA Sustainability Committee in Asia PacificSandeep Shastri
Senior Director, Airline Distribution at Sabre Asia Pacific
Vice Chair of the GBTA Sustainability Committee in Asia Pacific
Sandeep has extensive experience in Travel Technology, Aviation, Online Travel, Travel Management Companies, and the Payments Industry. He has successfully led various commercial functions in global companies like Sabre, Qantas, Expedia and American Express, and helped transform diverse businesses across Asia Pacific. Currently he is the Senior Director, Airline Distribution at Sabre Asia Pacific responsible for growing distribution partnerships with Airlines across the Asia Pacific region. He also has fiduciary responsibilities as a board director on Sabre's joint ventures in Brunei, Laos, and the Middle East. Sandeep has a passion for diversity & inclusion and sustainability, both of which he is actively engaged in within Sabre and the community.
Sandeep is the Vice Chair of the GBTA Sustainability Committee in Asia Pacific.
Sandeep has a diverse academic profile: He is an executive MBA from INSEAD Singapore and Tsinghua University and alumnus of IIM Kolkata.
Bryan Tan
Graduate from Temasek Poly (TP) and Singapore Management University (SMU)Cinn Tan
Chief Commercial & Marketing Officer
Pan Pacific Hotels Group
Ms Cinn Tan is the Chief Commercial & Marketing Officer of Pan Pacific Hotels Group, she oversees revenue performance management, branding and communications, digital marketing and commercial strategies of the global portfolio across 30 cities in Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America.
She brings more than 25 years of hospitality management experience from international hotel chains and has extensive overseas working experience in different countries. Cinn was previously Senior Vice-President of Sales & Marketing for Jin Jiang International Hotels, and Vice-President of The Ascott Group overseeing the group’s commercial functions.
Cinn Tan
Chief Commercial & Marketing Officer Pan Pacific Hotels GroupEugene Tan
General Manager – Sales and Client Value Management, Asia
Eugene is a key member of the CTM leadership team in Asia. He leads the sales, client value management, and implementation units across the region.
Eugene started his career in 1999 as an Account Manager in a software house providing training and onsite support for the company’s suite of software packages. Eugene first foray into travel started with a leading global GDS. Since then, he has accumulated more than 20 years of experience in the GDS and TMC industry, holding various leadership roles across numerous business functions from product, account management to commercial and sales.
Hence, he has extensive knowledge in connecting corporations' needs with tailored travel solutions. He excels at simplifying business travel through technology and maximizing value by cross-leveraging on CTM global network partnerships.
Eugene Tan
General Manager – Sales and Client Value Management, AsiaTimothy Tan
Senior Vice President
Global Corporate Travel Management & Procurement, UOB Group
UOB Travel
With more than 19 years of experience across Asia Pacific in the travel industry, Timothy brings with him a wealth of hands-on expertise and know-how in the corporate travel segment. Previously, he held key senior country and regional positions in sales and account management across travel services companies such as Abacus International, BCD Travel and Sabre Travel Network. He currently manages the corporate travel program at United Overseas Bank where coming into a post pandemic corporate travel environment, he aims to drive cost and operational efficiencies while striving to enhance the corporate traveller experience through strategic collaboration with global and Asia-based industry partners.
Timothy Tan
Senior Vice President Global Corporate Travel Management & Procurement, UOB Group UOB TravelBen Wedlock
Senior Vice President, Global Sales, Asia Pacific
As the Senior Vice President of global sales for Asia Pacific, Ben brings extensive cross-cultural experience to his role – he moved from his native Australia to Hong Kong three years ago and had led teams across Hong Kong, Singapore, China and Taiwan.
His deep understanding for Asia and its intricacies — coupled with his wealth of knowledge across the broad spectrum of travel management — will allow Ben to design innovative and customized solutions that deliver tangible value for global, regional and national clients, while addressing the different market nuances in Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan and Singapore.
Ben Wedlock
Senior Vice President, Global Sales, Asia PacificAndy Winchester
Asia Pacific Travel Manager
Bloomberg
Andy Winchester is the Asia Pacific Travel Manager at Bloomberg. where he is responsible for delivering a high quality and seamless traveler centric travel program. Andy has a background of over 30 years in the travel industry and has formerly held travel manager positions with Morgan Stanley in APAC and AIG in EMEA. He also has an extensive background in Account Management at Carlson Wagonlit Travel and Qantas in the UK.
Andy Winchester
Asia Pacific Travel Manager
Bloomberg
Nicola Winchester
Asia-Pac Travel, Meetings and Events Leader and Global Card program Leader
Director EY Asia Pacific Services Ltd (HK)
Nicola joined EY in 2013 having previously worked for Citigroup where she managed the Global Airline and Corporate Card Programs for the EMEA/APAC regions. Nicola has over 25 years of background in the travel industry sector which includes working for some of the worlds’ major airlines such as Qantas, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic where she led the Global & Multi-National Sales Team.
She has also worked in leadership roles in a global Travel Management Company with responsibility for leading client management teams focused on managing spend, delivering savings and restructuring travel programs for large global clients.
Today Nicola is part of EY’s global Supply Chain Services team with subject matter expertise in card, travel and meetings programs at every level. She oversees a team who are focused on delivering exceptional client service, change management and program optimization through innovation and digitalization. This also incorporates managing risk and compliance within one of the worlds largest Travel and Meetings programs.
