DR HAMIDAH MARICAN recently joined Dubai Consult Sdn Bhd as its Principal Consultant leading the Talent Development team. She has more than 15 years experience working with Fortune 500 companies including Intel, Shell and BP as a senior manager, organisational development consultant, facilitator and trainer leading global and regional leadership development initiatives.

She offers insights and solutions that take into account cross-cultural and diversity dimensions critical in the current dynamic business environment.  

Her working experience spans many countries and includes China, Philippines, Thailand, Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam, India, Costa Rica, USA, UK, UAE, Pakistan, Brunei and Malaysia. This broad cultural experience has proven to be a valuable resource.

Dr Hamidah mentors, advises, and coaches leaders on key strategy issues that improve market performance and gross profits by focusing on Inclusive Leadership skills. Her early involvement with Diversity & Inclusion at the workplace in Asia has made her a much sought after resource and speaker at many international as well as local conferences. She champions and provides coaching and advice to Human Resource Managers and Senior Leaders on the development of under-represented groups and talent pool which includes women at the workplace.

In addition to her busy schedule, she finds time to support environment related initiatives which she champions with her 16 year old daughter, Nur Hafizah. Her work with an environment NGO, YAWA, has positioned her to provide insights on creating an environment friendly workplace and home. Dr Hamidah has previously participated in the Women @ Work Summit as a speaker and facilitator.

BATHMAVATHI KRISHNAN is President of the Association of Women with Disabilities. An accident in 1975, while she was an undergraduate at the university of malaya, left her wheelchair-bound. Despite her disability, Bathmavathi finished her degree, found a job, learnt to drive, and leads an active life, even participating in sports. She has tirelessly advocated the rights of disabled persons, and braved many challenges in trying to change negative attitudes towards people with special
needs. In recognition of her tireless efforts, she has received many National Awards.

MABAL TAN is the President for Shell Malaysia’s Women’s Aspiration Network
(SWAN) which aims to support and encourage women in Shell Malaysia to achieve their full potential. she has worked in Shell in various leadership capacities over the past 20 years. She is currently the General Manager for Shell’s Shared Services Center in Kuala Lumpur and a member of the company’s Country Leadership
team. Mabal is married and has two teenage daughters. Besides holding a full-time job and being a full-time mum, mabal takes a special interest in supporting the development of abused and abandoned children.

KHAIRIAH TALHA has extensive experience as an urban planner and has managed her own consulting firm since 1997. she is the secretary General of the Eastern Regional Organisation for Planning and Human Settlements, a sub-organisation of the United Nations’ International Federation for Planning and Housing and is a Past-President of the malaysian institute of Planners. Khairiah has been involved in several regional planning masterplans for the peninsula and was involved in developing the KL City Plan 2020. she recently organised a MBPJ workshop on making our cities more livable.