Board Of Directors

Datuk Yvonne Chia, a Senior Fellow Chartered Banker, was appointed to the Board as Non-Executive Chairman in January 2020. A trailblazer for women in the financial services, she was the first female CEO of any commercial bank in the country. She is highly feted in the financial services industry, among others, as one of the top 50 Businesswomen in the Mix by Forbes Asia in 2013 and a two-time finalist of CNBC Asia Business Leader 2009 and 2013.

She carries with her over 40 years of astounding track record and has held leading positions in both local and foreign organisations. She first began her career with Bank of America before serving as Group Managing Director/CEO of RHB Banking Group from 1996 to 2002 and Group Managing Director/CEO of Hong Leong Banking Group from 2003 to 2013.

A proven strategist and influencer/mentor, she is known for her value creation, leadership and engagement with various groups of stakeholders, customers, staff and the communities she serves.

Datuk Yvonne Chia is a keen promoter of educational, knowledge and personal development as tools for empowerment for entrepreneurship, critical thinking and financial independence. She spends time as a Trustee for Teach for Malaysia as well as The Merdeka Awards Trust and is an Honorary Professor of the University of Nottingham, School of Economics.

She is also the Non-Executive Chairman of Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia Berhad and Standard Chartered Saadiq Berhad, the Senior Lead independent director for Astro Malaysia Holdings Berhad and an independent director for Silverlake Axis Limited.

She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Analytical Economics (Upper Honours) from the University of Malaya.

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.

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.

Nelleita Omar is currently Research Director at The Centre, a centrist Malaysian think tank established in mid-2019 that researches and advocates for the effective delivery of publics services, sufficient safety nets coverage and better social relations. Within The Centre’s short history, it has produced research on gig workers’ hours, social protection coverage, attitudes & access towards reskilling, amongst many others. The Centre’s work has been quoted widely, including in Malaysia’s 2020 Economic Report.

Prior to her current role at The Centre, Nell was a management consultant for over fifteen years, first with the Boston Consulting Group and then independently in partnership with selected boutique consultancies. Her management consulting work spanned both the public and private sectors and covered a large range of topics, from corporate strategy to public policy setting.

From 2004 to 2009, Nell was a speechwriter and policy researcher for the then Prime Minister YAB Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Within her professional circles, she is known for her observational skills, eclectic intellectual interests and curiosity about how things really work.

Nell graduated from the London School of Economics with a BSc in Economics and an MSc in Development Studies, the latter as a Chevening Scholar. She grew up in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Nell was appointed as an Independent Board Member to Cradle Fund Sdn. Bhd. in May 2021 and serves as a member of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee.