The World CIO 200 Summit – Malaysia Edition 2025 concluded successfully on April 29, 2025, at M Resort & Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, gathering an exclusive community of CIOs, senior IT executives, and digital transformation leaders to explore the future of enterprise technology under the theme “Dawn of a New Decade: Gathering of CIOs & Technology Leaders.”
Hosted by the Global CIO Forum, the event served as a strategic platform for exchanging insights, fostering collaboration, and honoring the contributions of outstanding IT leaders across Malaysia’s digital ecosystem.
Inspiring Leadership and Strategic Conversations
The summit commenced with a welcome address by Anushree Dixit, Chief Strategy Officer of GEC, who emphasized the critical role of visionary CIOs in shaping digitally resilient and future-ready organizations.
This was followed by a keynote address from Ts. Saiful Bakhtiar Osman, Head of IT – Shared Services at PNB Commercial Sdn. Berhad and the official Country Ambassador for the World CIO 200 Summit. He highlighted Malaysia’s growing prominence as a hub for innovation and digital leadership in the region.
The Malaysia edition of the World CIO 200 Summit 2025 brought together the nation’s leading IT minds through a series of dynamic panel discussions.
Panel Discussion 1: The Next Decade of IT Leadership
Moderated by Dr. Mohamed Ariff Ameedeen, CIO of Universiti Malaysia Pahang, this session explored what will define bold and unstoppable CIOs over the next decade. With insights from Dzulastra Latib (P&O Insurance), Megat Azmir Amir Megat Iberahim (Selangor Dredging Berhad), and Zulfika Dahalan (Ekuinas), the panel emphasized the delicate balance between innovation, risk management, and achieving tangible business outcomes.
Panel Discussion 2: Key Technologies Driving CIO Priorities
Jason Heng, Head of IT at YTL Communications, led a discussion on the evolving role of CIOs in shaping sustainable, ethical, and transformative tech agendas. Panelists Mohd Hanapi Bisri (Petra Energy), Julian Wong (The Ascott Limited), and James Thang (HELP Education Group) explored the impact of AI, automation, and cloud on enterprise priorities.
Panel Discussion 3: The Business Value of IT
Moderated by Zainol Zainuddin of ipay88, this final session focused on aligning IT investments with broader business goals. Speakers Dr. Ahmad Khalid Khairi (Uzma Group), Mohd Rezal Zakaria (FIS Group), and Azizi Rashdi (Sapura Energy) discussed how IT leaders can drive measurable business impact beyond tech delivery.
Keynotes from Technology Visionaries
The event featured impactful vendor keynotes from industry-leading technology providers.
Dr. Julian Lo, CTO at IGSGlobal Solutions, delivered a compelling address on maximizing return on AI investments, emphasizing data-driven business outcomes.
Brian Chang, Solutions Architect and Advisor at Fortinet Malaysia, shared insights into securing the digital future through converged cybersecurity strategies, while Keith Lee, Cloud Business Director at Sangfor Technologies, outlined transformative innovations in cloud infrastructure and IT modernization.
Recognizing Excellence: CIO 200 Awards Ceremony
A defining moment of the summit was the CIO 200 Awards Ceremony, which celebrated outstanding CIOs across four distinguished categories: Next-Gen, Leader, Master, and Legend. The awards honored technology executives who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and impact in driving digital transformation within their organizations.
The recognition of these leaders reflects the strength, diversity, and depth of Malaysia’s IT leadership community.
The event concluded with closing remarks from James Thang, CIO at HELP Education Group and one of Malaysia’s recognized technology leaders, who reflected on the day’s insights and emphasized the importance of continued collaboration to navigate the challenges and opportunities of the next decade.
