Speakers & Trainers

Keynote Speaker

Associate Professor (Practice) Gog Soon Joo, Senior Director, Centre for Skills-First Practices, SUSS-IAL

Associate Professor (Practice) Gog Soon Joo is Senior Director (Special Project) at the Singapore University of Social Sciences-Institute for Adult Learning, where she leads the Skills-First projects. Formerly, Chief Skills Officer and Chief Innovation Officer at SkillsFuture Singapore where she led transformation projects in enhancing the continuing education system.

Soon Joo is highly sought after thought leader in skills development and lifelong learning. She works with global research institutions, think-tanks, and technology solution partners in shaping the skills ecosystem.

Her research interests include skills policy, skills ecosystem, skills-first practices for inclusive economic development, and longevity economy.

She serves as council member at the WEF Global Future Council for Human Capital Development, and member of the Singapore College of Islamic Studies steering committee.   

She is an alumnus of Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, University College London and Oxford University in the UK, and George Washington University and Singularity University in the US, and HEC-Paris in France.

Mr Brian Liu

Co-Founder: Future.Pro | Founder: Be The Good

Brian has over 20 years' experience in people management, strategy and talent development. The first decade of his career was in management consulting with EY, where he covered an extensive breadth of industries across the private, public and non-profit sector. His multi- industry portfolio centered around projects in Strategy & Operations as well as the People & Organization space. He led regional training programs for the consulting division and was the Asia lead for a number of industry communities of practice. He eventually left consulting to channel and focus his energy on his conviction in the people and leadership development space, where he has held global and regional roles in organization development, talent, learning and leadership development. He was running global talent projects for Bose, after which he moved to Lazada where he took on a senior HR leadership role as Senior Vice President, Head of Learning and Organization Development for the Lazada group.

His latest adventure has him leaving corporate roles to embark on a path less traveled as founder and Chief Learning Guy for his own boutique learning and leadership development practice Be the Good. He continues to partner with corporates, SMEs and public/non-profit sector organizations, focusing on building leaders and talent to thrive in the hypergrowth digital future of work.

Ms Karen Tay

Founder and CEO of Inherent

Karen Tay is Founder and CEO of Inherent, which drives strategic alignment and leadership capability building for organisations navigating rapid growth and technological change. She has advised and coached leadership teams across Silicon Valley and Singapore and has served in operating roles as Head of Strategy and Operations at Iterative Health (scaling after a $180M Series B raise), and Head of Global Technology Talent at the Economic Development Board (EDB) and PMO Smart Nation Office. She has also served as a fractional executive (people, talent, and operations) in growth-stage technology companies across AI, healthcare, and IoT.

Karen began her career as a Singapore Administrative Officer, in the Prime Minister’s Office Strategy Group, EDB, MOE and MOF. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa, Summa Cum Laude from Princeton University, where she was awarded best thesis with implications for U.S. Foreign Policy, and currently serves as a faculty expert at Singularity University, where she teaches executive programs on technology and public good.

Karen is also an ACC-certified coach (International Coaching Federation) and is trained in narrative-based trauma care (Allender Center), and spiritual direction (Soul Shepherding Institute).

Inherent has published research with Princeton University, and has served organizations such as Google, The Economist, AirBnB, Novi Health, Resaro.AI ↗ (opens in new tab), Igloo, Abbott Health, Singapore Management University and Ministry of Digital Development and Information.

Ms Lim Min Lin

PCC-certified executive and life coach (International Coaching Federation)

Min-Lin Lim is a PCC-certified executive and life coach (International Coaching Federation) and CPCC-certified Co-Active coach who has built a portfolio career around career transitions, leadership development, and creative nonfiction writing. Through her coaching practice, she supports professionals navigating career pivots, leadership transitions, and periods of reinvention. She facilitates workshops on growth mindset, career ownership, and professional transitions for organizations across Singapore, and is the creator of "A Quiet Turning," a Substack publication exploring sabbaticals and career reinvention with over 200 subscribers.

Min brings 17 years of corporate experience to her work, including six years at LinkedIn where she led customer success teams across Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. Prior to LinkedIn, she held management consulting roles at firms like Capco and KPMG, and technology roles at Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

Her facilitation philosophy centers on creating psychologically safe spaces where participants can explore authentic career questions, balancing inspiration with practical application to ensure actionable outcomes that honor the complexity of individual career journeys.

Beyond her professional roles, Min is an avid traveler, reader, writer, and painter. She believes that a rich life outside of professional work deepens her ability to support others in creating careers that serve their whole lives, not just their resumes.

Ms Kirstie Marshall

Professional Skills Trainer | Workplace Communication & English Language Specialist

Kirstie Marshall is a professional skills trainer and English language specialist with over 10 years of international experience. She specialises in workplace communication and helping professionals build confidence, clarity and interpersonal communication skills. Her practical, interactive training equips participants with techniques they can immediately apply in the workplace. Kirstie holds an MSc in Educational Studies from the University of Glasgow, is Cambridge CELTA qualified, and is a current IELTS Speaking Examiner in Singapore.

Mr Ryan Lim

Founding Partner | Bestselling Author

- Founding Partner of QED Changemakers

- Author of "Business of Networking"

Ryan Lim is the Founding Partner of QED Changemakers, a platform that brings together over 3,500 senior leaders, including C-Suite executives and Board Directors, from across Asia. Known for his ability to convene trusted, high-powered communities, Ryan has been a driving force in creating spaces where leaders engage meaningfully and collaboratively.

With a career spanning decade in entrepreneurship and leadership, Ryan is passionate about building ecosystems that challenge conventional thinking and drive collective action for a better future. His work with QED Changemakers has given him firsthand insights into the power of effective networking and the art of fostering genuine relationships that transcend mere transactions.

Beyond his professional achievements, Ryan is a sought-after speaker, sharing his expertise on leadership, business systems, and the nuances of relationship-building. He believes that success lies not just in what you know, but in how you connect with others.

When he’s not building communities or writing, Ryan enjoys spending time with his family, exploring philosophy, and discovering new worlds and ideas through the works of fellow writers.