People | Veritas Design Group (2024)

FPAM, AAIA, MIID

VERITAS Design Group President

David Mizan Hashim is the Founder, Group President and Director of the VERITAS Design Group, one of Asia’s largest multi-disciplinary design firms which he established in 1987, and which now has offices in 8 countries and is based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

His academic credentials include a Bachelor degree in 1983 from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a Master in Architecture in 1986 from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design (GSD), both located in Cambridge, Massachusetts in the USA. Upon graduation, he was awarded the prestigious Aga Khan Travel Fellowship for research in Islamic architecture.

David is a Fellow of the Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM), a Member of the ASEAN Architects Council (AAC), the Association of Consulting Architects of Malaysia (ACAM) and the Malaysian Institute of Interior Design (MIID). He is also an Associate Member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). His past committee positions include Council Member of the Harvard Club of Malaysia and the GSD Alumni Council, Vice President of the MIT Club of Malaysia and he is on the Board of Trustees for the Asian School of Business (ASB). He is a founding member of the Malaysia-India Business Council (MIBC) and has been included in the list of ‘Who’s Who in the World’.

David has been very active in the promotion of global trade in services, and has spoken on this subject around the world on behalf of the International Trade Centre (ITC), the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) and the Malaysian Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI).

He has also been very involved in the promotion of entrepreneurship and was a founding member and twice President of the Malaysian Chapter of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) and President of the Malaysian Chapter of the World Entrepreneurs’ Organization (WEO). His other passion is environmental protection: David has been Vice President since 2018 of RIMAU, an NGO dedicated to the protection of the critically endangered Malayan Tiger.

David won the prestigious Most Outstanding Malaysian Award from the Junior Chamber of Commerce in 1999 in the category of Entrepreneurial Accomplishment and led VERITAS to receive the 1999 Enterprise-50 Award for the best-run medium sized firm by Anderson Consulting. Over the years David has received innumerable forms of recognition including Brand Laureate Professional of the Year Award and Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award from the KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific. In 2005 and again in 2008, he was among the 5 finalists in the Ernst & Young Malaysian Master Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

David has been either Principal-in-Charge or provided guidance in all award-winning architecture, planning, interior design and landscape design projects by VERITAS, in Malaysia and overseas. He personally curated and edited the VERITAS Monograph which was published in 2022.

David, his projects and his writings have been featured widely in local and international publications and he has spoken at innumerable conferences, universities and professional forums around the world. He plays an active role in the local and international architectural and entrepreneurship speaking circuit and remains active as a mentor to many aspiring young architects and entrepreneurs today.

David has been married to Asha Vadivelu since 1995 and they have 4 children (Arran, Mikka, Xien and Temor). He stays fit by road-cycling, scuba-diving, skiing, running and fitness training and feeds his spirit of adventure with wide-ranging international travel.

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FPAM, MIID

VERITAS Group Vice President

Lillian Tay is the Vice President of VERITAS Design Group, an award-Lillian Tay is Vice President of VERITAS Design Group and Director at VERITAS Architects, a leading Malaysian architectural firm established in 1987. Trained at Princeton University, USA, Lillian worked at KPF, New York before returning to Kuala Lumpur where she has been a director at VERITAS since 1995. Lillian overseas design direction at VERITAS besides leading many award-winning projects in workplace and hospitality design, high-rise residential, high-density mixed developments, master-planning and urban design.

Her architectural design works are known for their innovative use of local materials on tall buildings, design approach with a distinctive cultural expression while grounded in enduring principles of modern architecture with practical performance-driven rigour to achieve building deigns that are grounded on to to local culture and climate, and culture expression of celebration of sustainable.

Besides architecture practice, Lillian is acknowledged for her contribution to professional development at the Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM). As PAM President 2019-20, her goal and continuing focus is to promote the expertise of Malaysian architects and enhance opportunities for Malaysian professionals to serve our local community and contribute meaningfully to nation building.

Ar Lillian Tay is the first woman architect presented with Malaysian Institute of Architects’ PAM Gold Medal for Design Excellence (2023) for her architecture works and contribution to the profession in Malaysia. She is a frequent speaker at industry forums and contributes regularly as guest critic and Industry Advisor at the school of architecture at University Malaya and UTAR in Kuala Lumpur.

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Principal

P. Tech (GT), LEED AP BD+C, GMAP, GREAP, GBIF, MyCRESTF, CSP, CSPS

VERITAS Environment Sdn Bhd

Ts. Ahmad Thibri Mashri currently serves as the Managing Director & Principal of VERITAS Environment Sdn Bhd. With more than 12 years of experiences in the sustainability industry, he is well-versed in sustainable building design, system and process such as good passive design, highly efficient Air-Conditioning and Mechanical Ventilation (ACMV) system, renewable energy system, commissioning, energy audit and energy optimization processes, site planning and management, sustainable material selection and purchasing as well as water efficient system.

He has been facilitating and managing a long list of sustainable development projects pursuing green building certifications such as GreenRE, GBI, Green Mark and LEED as well as energy efficiency targets which brought him to consult the design and project team in achieving energy, water and resource-efficient building. Among the reputable projects are PNB Merdeka 118 (GBI & GreenRE), Pavilion Damansara Heights (Green Mark), MyTown (GBI & LEED) and KL Sentral District Cooling Plant (Energy Audit). Besides, he also consults corporations on their ESG and sustainability journey i.e. setting ESG goals, developing and articulating sustainability framework, roadmap and action plan as well as embed ESG commitments into operating model and structure.

On top of his focus in sustainability consultancy services, Ts. Ahmad Thibri Mashri also regularly contributes to the industry via his involvements in seminars and talks as panel speaker and moderator.

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Principal

APAM, LAM, GREM

VERITAS Architects Sdn Bhd

Alif Arif Iskandar Abd Wahab studied architecture at the University of Sheffield, UK and from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) where he graduated with First Class Honours and is the recipient of the Gold Medal student award from UKM.

Before joining VERITAS Architects Sdn Bhd, Alif worked in several award-winning practices and projects in London and Unit One Design, Kuala Lumpur. His extensive experiences in the award-winning projects enabled him to develop a keen sense of aesthetics that marries form, function and buildability. His works in London has been displayed in the Royal Academy of Arts UK as well as written a paper on the relationship between architecture and the innovation capabilities of a nation.

Alif is a corporate member of Malaysian Institute of Architects and a GreenRE Manager. He joined VERITAS Architects at the end of 2013, became an Associate in 2014 and in 2021 he was promoted to become a Principal of VERITAS Design Group.

Currently in VERITAS Design Group his expertise and skill is honed to deliver complex mixed stratified developments in particular super high rises (50 storeys and more), hospitality, office, retail and residential typologies. He has worked with various Hospitality brands such as Ascott, SO Sofitel, Jumeirah, Marriott and Accor group. In VERITAS he is also the lead Architect for several MNC clients such as HSBC and Shell. Alif is currently leading the VERITAS Design Group venture in the United States in particular, the Net Zero Apartment and retail street mall typology.

Alif is also passionately involved in Architectural Education and developing the careers of young architects. He has spoken in several universities such as Taylor’s University, UKM, IUKL and UniTAR. He has also been interviewed by BFM on mentoring young architects and invited to speak in the Asia Young Designer’s Award as well as Zak World of Facades conference in 2018.

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Country Principal

IAI, GP

VERITAS Indonesia

Andrew Tirta was born and raised in Jakarta. Andrew has previously worked in both the UK and South East Asia since 2000. Some of the practices Andrew Tirta was born and raised in Jakarta. Andrew has previously worked in both the UK and South East Asia since the year 2000. Some of the practices he worked for were Ken Yeang, Ross Lovegrove, Serie Architects, and Marks Barfield Architects. He has been back working in Jakarta since 2009.

Andrew received his M. Arch degree with Project Distinction from the Architectural Association Design Research Laboratory in London, where he studied under Tom Verebes, Brett Steele, and Patrik Schumacher.

Andrew has been involved in a number of international exhibitions and competitions. He also teaches as lecturer, tutor, and critic in various places. Some of the institutions he has visited are the Architectural Association, the Royal College of Arts, and Institut Teknologi Bandung.

Andrew is a registered architect in Indonesia, and a Greenship Professional at Green Building Council Indonesia.

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Principal

APAM, LAM

VERITAS Architects Sdn Bhd Johor

Anthony Lau Yin Hon graduated from the University of Technology Malaysia (UTM) with a First Class Honours in Bachelor of Architecture. He joined VERITAS Architects at end of 2017 as Architect and was promoted to Associate in 2019. He is a Corporate Member of the Board of Architects Malaysia (LAM) and the Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM).

Anthony is experienced in a wide range of building projects from the low rise and super high-rise residential projects to offices, commercial, mixed-use developments as well as hospitality projects. He believes his strength lies in planning, conceptualization, and design of complex programs whilst achieving the efficiency and quality of spaces. He is also passionate about resiliency and sustainable design.

Although born and raised in Sarawak, Anthony has been based in Johor since 2006. He heads the Johor office currently with his team-leading projects in the southern region of Malaysia. Anthony sees potential times ahead for the VERITAS Johor office, especially with the Iskandar Development Region.

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Principal

VERITAS Design Group

Azril Amir Jaafar is an architect with over 20 years of experience with special interest in environmentally sustainable design solutions. He is a Principal & Director of VERITAS Design Group, one of Asia’s largest design firms with headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. Azril is also a corporate member of Malaysian Institute of Architects, Green Building Index Facilitator, Green RE Technical Advisory Panel, CIDB Construction Industry Standard reviewer, JKR Technical Working Group member and IATA certified Airport Terminal Planner & Designer.

Graduated from the University of Manchester, UK, his student works won International Student Design Competition, South Korea (1997), CDM Competition, Salford, England (1998). He worked in Brock Carmichael, Liverpool, Holford Associates Manchester and TR Hamzah & Yeang, Kuala Lumpur before joining VERITAS.

In 2011 he was selected as one of the 30 emerging young Malaysian Architects in Malaysia, in a ‘30 under 40’ publication by the Malaysian Institute of architects (PAM).

He led VERITAS’s ventures to the middle east market which saw the successful completion of several projects including the award-winning Bareeq Tower - CNBC Arabian Properties Award - the most outstanding design (2007).

His outstanding sustainable design works had been demonstrated in the PKNS HQ project. The project has obtained US LEED and Malaysian Green Building Index Platinum ratings, as well as won 11 other awards including FIABCI (silver) World Prix D’Excellence Award 2019, ASEAN Energy Award 2018, Dubai Cityscape Global Awards 2017, and PAM Gold Award 2017.

Among VERITAS’s notable project led by Azril is Saloma Link – an iconic pedestrian bridge that becomes a significant public realm attraction in Kuala Lumpur. The link is part of the efforts in encouraging pedestrian mobility and promoting sustainable urban design in the city. Saloma Link has won PAM Gold Award in 2022.

Recently, Azril has further explored the low energy design solutions in a different context and scale where he led a team of consultants to deliver a new flagship PETRONAS Leadership Centre. The project has achieved US LEED and Malaysian Green Building Index Platinum ratings. The project has also won Gold award from Malaysian Society for Occupational Safety and Health (MSOSH) 2019 and 2 PAM Silver awards in 2023.

As a trained airport terminal designer, Azril was involved in a 70 MPPA low-cost carrier terminal in Kuala Lumpur design competition, proposals for the new Kota Kinabalu Airport, Kuching airport and the upgrading of Kota Baharu airport.

Many of Azril’s works have been published in local and international publications. He has spoken widely on design and sustainable architecture as well as being featured in various digital & print media, radio, and television programs.

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Principal

VERITAS Interiors Sdn Bhd

Bianca June Purkis graduated from the University of Portsmouth, England with Honours, receiving a Bachelor of Interior Design in 2009. She joined VERITAS Interiors in 2014 as a senior designer and was promoted in 2021 to Associate. In 2023 Bianca was promoted to Principal, replacing Shamsuddin Wahap who retired after 30 years helming the company.

Bianca specialises in residential design but also has extensive experience in a variety of project types, from hospitality and commercial offices to mixed-use developments. Bianca is most in her element when, in the conceptualisation phase of a project, she exhibits passion and exceptional commitment to Client satisfaction.

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Principal

VERITAS Architects Sdn Bhd

Edward Chew joined the VERITAS Design Group in 2001-2004 as a Senior Architect and returned in 2011 as an Associate. He was recently promoted to the position of Principal at VERITAS Design Group. Edward received his architectural degree from the University of New South Wales Australia.

At VERITAS, Edward has been instrumental in supervising the elevated and underground MRT stations for Gamuda KVMRT as well as overseeing the design of the M101 tower on Jalan Tun Razak; a mixed-use development. Apart from managing his portfolio of projects, Edward is in charge of enhancing knowledge of technology and statutory requirements among our colleagues.

Inspired by his new role, Edward remains active in running projects and passionate about design and architecture.

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Principal

VERITAS Architects Sdn. Bhd. Penang

Eric Tham has been a Principal of VERITAS Design Group since 2005. He received his architectural degree in 1988 from the New York Institute of Technology, USA. He worked in New York with the Department of Housing Preservation and Development before returning to Malaysia in 1993. His extensive work experience includes both professional practice as well as site work having been the Chief Resident Architect for VERITAS’ Rawang-Ipoh Double Tracking project. Currently based in Penang, Eric leads VERITAS’ projects in the northern region of Malaysia.

Eric is well experienced in a wide range of building projects ranging from offices, commercial, mixed-use developments to leisure and residential projects. He believes his strength lies in planning, conceptualization and design of complex programs. He actively strives to implement these skills in the course of his work and its challenges. He is currently involved in several luxury residential projects in Penang as well as international resorts and hospitality projects in Maldives and Vietnam.

He sees productive times ahead for the VERITAS Penang office and is eager to broaden and expand the firm’s activities to take on new challenges both locally and abroad.

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MIP, LPBM

Principal & Director

Principal
VERITAS Planning Sdn Bhd

TPr. Fazelyna Rashid joined VERITAS in 2008 as a graduate town planner, in 2012 was promoted to senior planner/ project manager, Associate in 2014 and as a Principal and Director in 2018. She is a corporate member of the Malaysian Institute of Planners since 2015. She received her Town and Country Planning Degree from Universiti Teknologi MARA (Upper Class Hon.) in 2006 and subsequently Postgraduate Certificate in Planning, Policy & Practice (RTPI) at London South Bank University in 2008. Whilst studying in London, she worked as a part-time architectural assistant at Stanhopegate Architecture and Urban Design.

Her passion in urban design has led her to take up part-time Landscape Architecture course with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia whilst working with VERITAS and graduated in 2016. At VERITAS, her main involvement extends from conceptualization of master planning, urban redevelopment, transport-oriented development (TOD), sustainable urban planning, management and realization of projects (Planning Permission approvals).

The diverse experience together with professional and project management skills, has acknowledged her to lead and run VERITAS Planning.

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Country Principal

VERITAS Japan LLC

Hisaya Sugiyama hails from Tokyo and studied architecture in the US with a short stint in France. His 30+ years of professional experience has evolved around the design, planning, project management as well as teaching in the architecture field. For 10 years with Kohn Pedersen Fox of New York and later of Tokyo, he gained a deep insight into large scale work place towers, hotel and mixed-use projects (World Bank, Roppongi Hills, Grand Hyatt Tokyo, JR Central Towers, Shanghai World Financial Center). He was Representative in Japan for RTKL International, where he worked in its Tokyo office for seven years on the retail and entertainment , healthcare, and mixed-use sectors. (Diamond City / Aeon regional shopping centers, DFS Galleria Okinawa, Yatsu Hoken Hospital Renovation, Hayashibara City Mixed-Use project). He also helped TrizecHahn Japan during its short existence in Tokyo develop two regional shopping centers for Seibu and Aeon, being exposed to a polar-opposite set of values, which drive developer's business decisions.

He founded an architectural consulting service, Quincy Studio Inc. in Tokyo in 2006. Hisaya was involved in community revitalization efforts sponsored by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan. as project manager of the group of architects working together on a few locations. This group won the MIPIM Award, 2011 in the future project category, very first to be conferred to an entry from Japan, the night before the Great East Japan Earthquake. The groups' efforts soon shifted to rebuilding of tsunami devastated coastal communities of the Tohoku Region, and Hisaya was a conference speaker at MIPIM 2013 to discuss and entice international investment for these efforts.

In the following years, Hisaya expanded the domain of professional activities to China, Cambodia, Indonesia and Bangladesh, working on an underground shopping center, a mixed-use complex, an office tower, residential developments, and even a few Japanese themed gardens. This international reach further cultivated his understanding of different ways of doing business in design and construction, and has augmented his managerial resilience to draw the best results regardless of the unexpected encountered in the course of a project.

He has a Master of Architecture degree from the Graduate School of Design Harvard University (1989), Bachelor of Science in Arts and Design from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1985), and a Certificate of French Language and Civilization from University of Paris (1984). He is licensed in the State of New York, USA; an Accredited Professional of LEED, and was President of the American Institute of Architects Japan Chapter in 2011-12. Currently he teaches architectural design at Kokushikan University and design firm management at Meiji University.

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AILAM

VERITAS Landscape Sdn. Bhd

Khalifah Jamaluddin is the Principal of the VERITAS Landscape Sdn Bhd which has offices based in Kuala Lumpur and Project Office in Iskandar Puteri, Nusajaya.

His academic credentials include a Bachelor degree in 2002 from the Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) in Landscape Architecture. Prior to that, he was studying in Agricultural Diploma at same university. Khalifah is a corporate member of the Malaysian Institute of Landscape Architects (ILAM). His past committee positions include Treasurer and President of Landscape Architecture Alumni Club (KASEL) UPM.

Prior to joining the VERITAS Design Group, he has been working in various projects in Malaysia and Middle East from design development till full completion.

Among the projects that have been expedited by him are the landscape works for Putrajaya International Convention Centre, University Malaysia Sabah, Sasana Kijang for Central Bank of Malaysia(BNM) and recently the Legoland Malaysia, where this project has won the Merit Award of Malaysia Landscape Architects Awards 2015. For Middle East projects he were actively doing residential projects at Jumeirah Villa Dubai and Dubai Safari Park of UAE.

Khalifah has been Principal-in-Charge of numerous award-winning landscape design projects by VERITAS, in Malaysia.

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Country Principal

VERITAS Design and Planning India Pvt. Ltd

Mahendra‘s 29 years of experience as a registered architect with graduation from Sir JJ College of Architecture, Mumbai university, Mahendra have been one of the key initiator of India operation and joint founder of VERITAS Design and Planning India LTD. is associated with VERITAS Design Group.

Mahendra‘s had worked on diversified projects, with Indian as well as international firms ,his design intent goes back to fellow ship days with working on projects of Organic architecture to current contemporary Architecture.

He had worked with well-known Companies, Government authorities, Architectural practices of India & International. BARSYL, Indian railways, Transstadia, Design forum, SSHA, ABM, RSP, DSP, Jindals, BAYER. His architectural services had variety of projects, which involves Soccer stadium (fifa), Industrial, Transportation (Principle architect for Panvel station), IT Parks, R&D Center (Reliance), SEZ (Reliance) NET ZERO Building (BAYER) Residential (Lodha/Supreme/JSW)

Currently he represents VDG group in India as a Director for VERITAS Indian operations as we as his independent practice and visiting faculty for various colleges in Mumbai for design. He is been associated with various companies from USA & JAPAN as well for technology partner.

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Principal and Managing Director

APAM

VERITAS Planning Sdn Bhd
VERITAS Architects Sdn Bhd

Ng Yiek Seng joined VERITAS in 1997 as a graduate architect, in 2002 was promoted to Associate and then Senior Associate in 2006. He is a corporate member of the Malaysian Institute of Architects and became Principal of VERITAS Design Group in 2007.

Ng was awarded a Public Services Department (JPA) scholarship to study architecture at the University of Sheffield where he obtained his Bachelor of Architecture (Hons) in 1994 before proceeding to the University of Greenwich, London where he completed his Post Graduate Diploma Architecture in 1997.

At VERITAS, he has been involved in several rail and public transportation projects including Putrajaya Sentral, the Rawang-Ipoh Double Tracking project and most recently the Kuala Lumpur MRT project. He has also led several master-planning projects for new township developments and university campuses.

Apart from his projects in VERITAS, Ng is in charge of maintaining the firm’s ISO certification which was obtained in 2004 for the MS ISO 9001:2000 certification for “the provision of architectural design, consulting and contract administration/management services for all types of building projects”.

In 2011, Ng was selected for the prestigious “30 under 40” list of leading young architects in Malaysia compiled by the Malaysian Institute of Architects.

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Principal and Managing Director

RIBA

VERITAS Design Group
VERITAS Architects United Kingdom

Peter Stocker is a Principal of VERITAS Design Group and Managing Director of VERITAS Architects (UK) Ltd.

He studied architecture at Cambridge and Havard Universities and following a role in the establishment of VERITAS in 1987-1988, he joined the pioneering UK modenmist practice York Rosenberg & Mardell (YRM).

He became an associate at YRM in 1990 and a Director in 1995, focusing on healthcare, education and other complex Institutional projects with multiple stakeholders both in UK and overseas.

He has been continuously involved in the briefing and Design of projects across several sectors where the revenue consequences of capital expenditure, organizational change issues, and the sustainable enhancement of the workplace environment gave formed key elements of the brief.

He left YRM in 2009 to pursue an international agenda and acquired MPA Design Strategy and Planning. This became part of VERITAS Design Group in 2016 and was re-branded as VERITAS Architects (UK) Ltd.

In addition to experience of working in Malaysia over 30 years, he also has extensive experience in Europe, the middle East, India and Africa.

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Principal

CQS FRISM, FRICS AAIQS, ACIArb MAE

VERITAS Contracts Sdn Bhd

Richard Raymond graduated with a Bachelor of Building from University Technology Sydney in 1993 and obtained a Masters of Business studies from University New Castle in 2012.

He is a Registered Quantity Surveyor in Malaysia and has been working in the construction industry for more than 25 years. He has been involved in projects using both the conventional form of contract and design-and-build method ranging from RM2m to RM2b in value.

Raymond has also worked with international consultants, project managers and contractors both in Australia and Malaysia. Being an experienced quantity surveyor, Raymond has a wide range of knowledge and skill in various facets of the construction industry. Nevertheless, his true passion and expertise lie within the area of estimating/costing, the development of construction technologies, and construction law.

He is also a Registered Building Practitioner with the Building Commission of Western Australia andis an Accredited Expert Witness of the Academy of Experts UK.

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Country Principal

AIA

VERITAS Architects USA

Richard’s 30 years of experience as a registered architect includes 10 years with Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, an international architectural, engineering and planning firm. Richard opened SOM’s Hong Kong office, creating new project opportunities while directing the firm’s Asian strategic business development operations.

Richard later served as Development Director for AIG Real Estate’s Asian projects before rejoining SOM as Director of their Miami office tasked with developing new client relationships and large project opportunities throughout the Caribbean, Central and South America.

Returning to Portland in 2001, Richard worked with SERA Architects as Principal and later as International Director for Sienna Architecture Company before starting Green Touch Design offering green design, sustainable planning and community development services. Richard now serves the VERITAS Design Group, headquartered in Malaysia as International Principal of the Portland office in the US.

Richard has been a Guest Speaker on sustainable land use planning and green design at Universities and professional organizations around the world, participating in numerous design charettes overseas while leading teams to China, Vietnam, the Philippines and the Caribbean.

Coupled with Richard’s Spanish and French fluency, his international knowledge includes eighteen years residency in the Philippines, Argentina, France, England, Switzerland, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Africa and Hong Kong. In 2010, Richard was appointed the Philippines’ Honorary Consul General to Portland.

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Principal

APAM, LAM, GBI

VERITAS Architects Sdn Bhd

Ar. Syah Kamaruddin joined VERITAS Architects in 2012 as a Project Architect, and was promoted to an Associate in 2016, and later as a Senior Associate in 2018.

Syah Kamaruddin is a Corporate Member of the Board of Architects Malaysia, and the Malaysian Institute of Architects.

At VERITAS, Syah Kamaruddin focuses mainly in special hospitality projects, sustainable high-rise buildings and bespoke residential properties. His focus is also to ensure comprehensive sustainability design solution within the VERITAS Design Group.

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Country Principal

MSIA, APAM

VERITAS Architects Singapore

Tan Cheng Kok is the Principal of VERITAS Architects Singapore.

Graduated from National University of Singapore in 1987, Cheng Kok is a Registered Architect in Singapore and Malaysia. He also received his Master of Science (Project Management) in 1996 from the same university.

Upon graduation, he joined Chao Tse Ann & Partners Pte Ltd in Singapore and was subsequently made a Partner/Director in 1994. Cheng Kok also co-founded CTAP Architects in Malaysia in 1992 and has been actively practicing in both countries.

With over 30 years of experience, he has been involved in a wide range of projects from Hospitality projects, both City & Resort Hotels to landed and high-rise Residential Developments, Commercial and Mixed Developments in China, Vietnam and Sri Lanka apart from Singapore and Malaysia.

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Principal

PEPC, MCSCE, MIEM, MMIM, PEng

VERITAS Contracts Sdn Bhd

Yap Yuen Thye has many years of experience in the construction industry. Yap studied civil engineering at University of Windsor, Canada where he graduated with First Class Honours and is the recipient of the President’s Roll of Scholars awards from the university.

Upon completing his undergraduate studies in 1984, he was employed in Ranhill Bersekutu Sdn Bhd a multi-disciplinary CSME Malaysian engineering consulting practice. Starting out as a civil & structural engineer in 1984, he advanced up the ranks to ultimately become the CEO/Director of the company in 2002 where he stayed on until retirement in 2016.

Yap effectively spent 32 years in Ranhill Bersekutu with 15 years as CEO/Director, building a locally home grown company into a company with regional/global outlook. Yap drove it’s diversification overseas with projects in UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Khazakhtan , Libya, South Africa, Phillipines, Vietnam and Myanmar. He also assisted in listing the company on the Malaysian KLSE in 2002. Iconic projects such as the 88 Storey Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur International Airport 1 & 2, Sungai Selangor Water Supply Scheme, Medini Iskandar City, 4100MW Sultan Azlan Shah 1-2-3 Power Station, Kuantan Deepwater Port Expansion, 1000-bed UM Health Metropolis, Saudi Arabia King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and UAE Al-Reem Island City of Lights were amongst the well-known projects he has overseen. In his tenure in the company he also developed overseas offices in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Libya, Vietnam, Philippines and Myanmar.

Upon his departure from Ranhill Bersekutu in 2016, Yap was co-opted by a global American consulting conglomerate AECOM, with 90,000 employees worldwide to lead in driving and managing their Malaysian engineering operations where he was involved in Tun Razak Exchange (TRX), SG-JB Rapid Transit System (RTS), Mass Rapid Transit 1 (MRT1) and Melaka Gateway Development to name a few prominent projects.

Yap is a corporate member of the Institute of Engineers Malaysia, member of the Malaysian Institute Of Management and member of Canadian Society of Civil Engineers. Being a firm believer and advocate of the ‘power of positive thinking’ and ‘drive for excellence’ he was conferred in 2007 as a Black Belt proponent for the Six Sigma Continuous Improvement Program by Motorola University. In 2008, he was awarded the Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Award for Outstanding Entrepreneurship by Enterprise Asia. In 2010, he was recognised and featured in Malaysian Government Ministry of Works agency i.e. Professional Services Development Corporation’s Endeavour journal as a key player of the Malaysian engineering services industry.

Yap has a strong passion for sustainability and resiliency as a core theme in driving solutions. Central to this is Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) adherence and compliance in line with global expectations in particular with the world view on the impact of climate change and Net Zero 2050.

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Advisor

Christopher Bachran is currently a Managing Director of Alliance International Services Limited, a company providing hospitality & property development advisory services for land use projects specializing in hospitality, resort, retail and integrated developments. The company delivers solutions in the planning and development of hospitality, property and tourism including conceptual planning, project/development oversight and sales & marketing feasibility. Bachran draws on a distinguished career working globally in both established and developing markets.

Prior to re-joining Alliance International Services Limited Mr. Bachran was the Deputy Managing Director of IMC Octave Living, a hospitality and real estate company focussed on the delivery of Leisure, Lifestyle, Hospitality, Tourism and Residential Property Development for large mixed-use integrated land developments.

When Bachran first arrived in Shanghai, China in 2004 he served as the President of Jin Jiang International Hotel Management Company Ltd based in Shanghai, where he directed Jin Jiang’s Hotel Management Company in establishing a foundational set of international standards, policies and procedure based on global hospitality best practices. He has more than 40 years’ experience in the hospitality industry having held the position of Chief Operating Officer for the Asian Region for Radisson Hotels Pty. Ltd. from November 1997 to February 1999, in addition to various positions for Sheraton Asia-Pacific Corporation from January 1985 to November 1997; these included, Vice President and Director of Development and Operations Support - Asia, Vice President - Area Manager, Malaysia, and Director of Development - North Asia.

Bachran has also held the position of Managing Director of Faber Hotels Holdings Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia from November 1999 until he was appointed as Group Managing Director of Faber Group Berhad in May 2000. Faber Group’s main areas of business was in hospitality, property development and medical care facilities; Faber Group was the owning partner of a number of Sheraton properties in Malaysia and Hanoi, Vietnam, and was a partner with Sheraton in the Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur. At Faber Group, Mr. Bachran also worked closely with the Universal Studios Recreation Group developing the feasibility and land-use program for a future South-East Asian park. Immediately prior to his appointment in China, Bachran was the Vice President and Director of Development of Hektar Klasik Sdn. Bhd, a company that develops destination land-use projects in Malaysia. While in the US in 1999, Mr. Bachran as President of Bachran Enterprises Inc., consulted on the Boca Rotan Resort project along with Projects International.

Bachran holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Business Administration from St. Martin's College, USA. Bachran is originally from the island of Oahu, Hawaii where he first entered the hospitality business.

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Advisor

Datuk Seri TPr. Haji Mahadi Che Ngah graduated with a Bachelor's in Urban and Regional Planning from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in 1983 and later earned a Master's in Urban Development from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow in 1990. He began his 40-year career with the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) in April 1983 as a town planner, gaining extensive experience in urban and rural planning. He eventually rose through the ranks to become the executive director (planning) until his retirement in 2019.

In 2020, he came out of retirement to serve as the 13th Mayor of Kuala Lumpur, a position he held from October 1, 2020, to March 31, 2023. Currently, Datuk Seri TPr. Haji Mahadi Che Ngah is the vice-chairman of Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan and a board member of MRT Lingkaran Sdn Bhd, a unit of Mass Rapid Transit Corp Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) responsible for the MRT Circle Line (MRT3) project.

With four decades of industry experience, Datuk Seri TPr. Haji Mahadi Che Ngah possesses a profound understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing our company and the broader marketplace. His strategic vision and leadership skills will be crucial in steering VERITAS through its next phase of growth and innovation.

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