Embracing Tech Innovation & Sustainability for Business Growth
As businesses navigate an era of rapid technological advancements and growing sustainability demands, the ability to adapt, innovate, and transform is more critical than ever. Join us for an engaging panel discussion and networking session, featuring academic experts, industry leaders, and entrepreneurs as they explore how businesses can harness emerging technologies and sustainability trends to unlock new opportunities, drive growth, and maintain a competitive edge.
Connect with fellow professionals, academia, entrepreneurs, and industry experts in the networking session, where you can exchange insights, explore collaborations, and expand your professional network.
Panelists
Professor Simon Schillebeeckx
Dr. Simon J.D. Schillebeeckx is Assistant Professor of Strategy & Entrepreneurship at Singapore Management University. Prior to joining SMU, Simon obtained a PhD in Management from Imperial College London, worked in sustainable innovation consulting, and read Corporate Social Responsibility (MA, Nottingham University) and Commercial Engineering (BSc & MSc, Catholic University of Leuven). Simon’s research focuses on the intersection of digitization and sustainability. Outside academia, Simon co-founded the Global Mangrove Trust (GMT), a non-profit that uses blockchain and remote sensing to support mangrove reforestation and Handprint, a fast-scaling venture on a mission to integrate positive impact in every business transaction.
Professor Pradeep Varakantham
Professor Pradeep Varakantham is a Professor of Computer Science, the Director of the CARE.AI Lab, and the Coordinator of the BSc (Computer Science) Artificial Intelligence Track at the ApproveSchool of Computing and Information Systems, Singapore Management University. He is also a Lee Kuan Yew Fellow and also the co-founder of AACHARYA.AI, an edutech startup focus on training Machine Learning talents.
Charles Koh, Chief Digital Officer, Sembcorp and Platform Founder, GoNetZero
Charles drives Sembcorp’s digitalisation journey, focusing on building and scaling key digital capabilities across its businesses. He is also platform founder of GoNetZero™, the company’s carbon management business.
With over 25 years of experience in digitalising businesses, Charles has held senior roles across consulting, energy, financial, hospitality, logistics and retail sectors in companies such as Temasek Holdings, McKinsey & Company and PepsiCo. Before joining Sembcorp, he led the Future Ready and Future of Work platforms at DBS Bank, a leading financial services group in Asia. He was responsible for 5G, blockchain and Internet of Things applications in cross-industry ecosystems and digital fulfilment via conversational artificial intelligence at the bank. Charles also founded a tech start-up and guided it to profitability.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in economics and management from London School of Economics.
Doreen Goh, Head, Channel and Ecosystem, HPE Singapore (HP Enterprise Singapore)
Doreen Goh heads the Channel and Partner Ecosystem business for HPE Singapore.
In her role, Doreen is responsible for driving business growth through developing strategic partnerships and fostering partner ecosystem collaborations in the areas of Artificial Intelligence, Hybrid Cloud and Networking.
As the Channel Leader, her focus is on developing go-to-market strategies that combine the partner ecosystem strength and HPE's industry leading edge-to-cloud technology solutions to deliver impactful business outcomes for both small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large companies in Singapore. With Singapore serving as a regional hub, Doreen also has keen interests in partnering with Singapore companies to expand their digital innovations regionally and doing so in ways that can also contribute to their sustainability goals.
Doreen has over 17 years of professional experience in the technology sector. Prior to leading the Singapore Channel business, she led the commercial and SME segment sales in Singapore and had more than 10 years of experience leading the Compute business for HPE in Asia Pacific and the transformation of the printing business for Epson Southeast Asia.
Doreen has a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management (Honours) from the Singapore Management University. She completed her Executive Program at the Columbia Business School in 2018 and is a three-time Finalist for the Channel Asia Women in ICT Awards from 2021 to 2023. Doreen is a Professional Member at the Singapore Computer Society.
Moderator
Karen is the Founder and CEO of Alterpacks. She was awarded a Leadership Scholarship from Singapore Management University, where she earned a Master of Science in Innovation. A strong advocate for education and the power of collaboration, Karen has built a career that bridges media, marketing, and technology.
She began her professional journey as a current affairs journalist after graduating from the National University of Singapore with a degree in Mathematics and an Honours degree in History. Over the years, she has worked with leading global media organizations, specializing in content creation, branding, and promotions. Her work has earned over 50 international accolades, including awards from Promax Asia, Promax Australia, Promax International, the London International Advertising Awards, and the New York Festivals.
Karen later transitioned into marketing communications and business strategy, leading initiatives in mobile gaming, VR, and app development across APAC. With over 18 years of experience in media, she has successfully led teams in creative direction, marketing, and strategic growth, helping organizations unlock their full potential.