Board Of Directors

Datuk Yvonne Chia (YChia), a distinguished Fellow Chartered Banker, personifies an unwavering drive and an infectious sense of optimism. Her illustrious banking career commenced with her ground-breaking appointment as the inaugural female CEO of a commercial bank in Malaysia, setting a precedent for the entire region.

Throughout her journey, YChia has adeptly navigated intricate mergers, spearheaded technology integration, established thriving greenfield businesses, and successfully managed high-growth ventures and crises. Her exceptional track record of consistently delivering outstanding performance has garnered her esteemed accolades, including esteemed recognition from Forbes and the CNBC Asia Business Leaders Awards.

YChia is not only a revered industry figure but also a mentor who generously shares her profound insights across diverse forums and leadership development platforms. She fervently champions the cause of diversity, equity, and inclusion as powerful catalysts for driving transformation in the future of work. With her agile mindset, forward-thinking philosophy, and remarkable ability to adapt to change, she remains at the forefront of emerging trends in ESG, AI, and disruptive technologies.

Beyond her role as a trailblazer in the banking sector, YChia assumes the chairmanship of Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia and Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd. She also serves as a board member of Silverlake Axis Ltd and holds a pivotal Trustee position for leadership development innovation through Teach For Malaysia and the Merdeka Award Trust Foundation (until December 2022). Furthermore, she proudly holds the honorary title of Professor (Economics) at the esteemed University of Nottingham.

Datuk Ts. Dr. Mohd Nor Azman Hassan is currently the Deputy Secretary General (Technology Development) of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. He was appointed to the board of Cradle as an Non-Independent Non-Executive Director in April 2019 and serves as a member of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee (NRC).

He oversees the policies and development of science, technology and innovation ecosystem to support the socio-economic development of the country. His previous positions were in the areas of higher education, power sector and technological development including industrial related technologies such as renewable energy, advanced materials and manufacturing, biotechnology and nanotechnology. He possesses extensive engagements within the industry particularly involving the SMEs and often communicates to them on government’s policies and programmes relating to STI.

Datuk Ts. Dr. Azman holds a doctoral degree from Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, USA in the field of renewable energy technology and is trained in conducting Life Cycle Analysis (LCA).

Dr Azman is also a registered Professional Technologist (Green Tech) with the Malaysian Board of Technologist.

Syarqawi Muhammad is currently the Principal Assistant Secretary for The Government Investment Companies Division under Ministry of Finance Malaysia where he administering budget allocation under development and operating expenditure and overseeing corporate related matters for SPV companies under MOF.

Joining the board of Cradle as Non-Independent Non-Executive Director in August 2021, Syarqawi is the perfect entrant as he bagged outstanding experience as an Administrative and Diplomatic Officer (PTD) since 2005 and held various positions along the way.

In 2013, Syarqawi was appointed as Consul for Education and Training (JPA) at the Consulate General of Malaysia in Frankfurt, Germany and affiliated with the German’s Education and Arts Ministry, German’s Universities and various companies namely BMW, BBraun, SGL Carbon, Osram and others.

Born in Kuala Terengganu, Syarqawi holds a Master of Muamalat Administration (Islamic MBA) from Islamic University of Malaysia and his expertise mainly covers waqf project development model where he orchestrates the establishment of Malaysian Waqf Foundation, higher education students’ development program, training development as well as corporate governance.

Datin Norazah Razali joined the board of Cradle as an Independent Non-Executive Director in September 2017. She serves as the Chairperson of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee.

Datin Norazah graduated with an LLB (Hons) from the International Islamic University Malaysia and received an MBA from the Imperial College Business School, University of London.

She began her career with the legal firm of Messrs. Sidek, Teoh, Wong & Dennis as a solicitor and was called to the Malaysian Bar in 1994. She left legal practice in 1997 to pursue her MBA studies in the United Kingdom. Upon obtaining her MBA, she returned to Southeast Asia to join Booz, Allen & Hamilton in Singapore in 1998 before joining the global management consultancy firm of Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in 2000. She was based in BCG’s Kuala Lumpur office and served BCG’s clients across the region. Datin Norazah held several leading roles at BCG before being named its Partner and Managing Director from 2010 – 2017. She currently remains a Senior Advisor with BCG Kuala Lumpur in its Public Sector practice.

Datin Norazah brings a breadth of 20+ years of experience as a strategy and management consultant having supported and advised businesses and organisations across the region. Her experience ranges from large scale business and organisational transformation, industry restructuring, talent and leadership development as well as governance.

Her other directorships include in public listed companies; MISC Berhad and Sime Darby Property Berhad where she chairs the Board Governance and Risk Committee as well as the Nomination and Remuneration Committee, respectively. She is also actively involved with several digital-based ventures in Malaysia and the UK as advisor and investor.

Tan Kar Hing has served as the Member of Parliament for Gopeng since December 2022. Previously, he served as the Simpang Pulai State Assemblyperson. Throughout his term as the 10-year state assemblyperson, he was elected as a Perak State Executive Council Member, which made him the Chairman of the Perak Tourism, Culture, and Arts Committee. He was also on the Perak Public Transport Committee, which worked with the state government and the Ministry of Transportation to support urban short-distance bus services.

He graduated from the University Putra Malaysia with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He actively participated in student movements as well as national democracy and human rights movements. Then he also went to the Konrad Adenauer School for Young Politicians (KASYP). He is interested in advancing national agricultural and food security reforms through sustainable development policies, as well as creating a new national development agenda and a new development path that narrows the gap between rich and poor in cities and towns through innovative urban planning.

Faizah Mohamed Amin was appointed Independent Non-Executive Director in September 2019. She serves as the Chairperson of the Audit Committee and is a member of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee.

A seasoned technocrat, she brings over 20 years cross-industry credentials, ranging from local conglomerates and multinational corporations. She lists distinguished accomplishments in leadership roles, inclusive of multiple national flagship and international ventures. A large part of her career was spent in TM Berhad, holding diverse senior leadership roles. She joined UMW Group, as its President of UMW Technology in 2014. In 2018, she was appointed as the Managing Director of HP Inc, Malaysia.

Among her widely recognized achievements, include the development of Malaysia’s first-generation Internet, Malaysia’s first National Public Cloud, Madinah Knowledge Economic City (the first smart city in Saudi Arabia), Bahrain Twin Tower and Malaysia’s first Digital Twin Manufacturing Facility for Tier 1 Aero Plant. She was also instrumental in turning around HP in Malaysia and under her leadership, HP rejuvenated its focus on local market with a tagline “Global Brand, Local Soul”, which enabled the global technology group to win Malaysia’s Excellence Marketing Award and Malaysia’s Excellence HR Award in 2019.

Faizah graduated from Brock University, Canada.