Sponsored by Workday, Wolters Kluwer, Cleartax, xSuite, Prophix, Tungsten Automation, Pagero; 10 October 2024, InterContinental Kuala Lumpur
The 3rd DigitalCFO Asia Malaysia Symposium 2024, held at the InterContinental Kuala Lumpur and generously sponsored by Workday, Wolters Kluwer, Cleartax, xSuite, Prophix, Tungsten Automation, brought together an exceptional gathering of finance professionals and thought leaders. This year’s symposium featured insightful sessions and discussions centred on modern financial leadership, strategic technology adoption, and sustainable transformation in an era of rapid change.
Adapting Leadership to Meet Emerging Challenges
The event began with a welcoming address from Ryan Kwa, Managing Director of DigitalCFO Asia, setting an engaging and dynamic tone. Ramanathan Thiagarajan, CFO of Airasia MOVE, followed with an engaging keynote on how CFOs are transforming leadership styles to address today’s organisational and strategic complexities. He highlighted the evolving role of CFOs, who now guide transformative change across all levels of business, positioning them as pivotal players in shaping future success.
The symposium’s first panel discussion, moderated by Junaidy Ab-Mutalib of JM & Co, featured Diana Cheang, the Regional CFO, Fosroc, and Paul Puspanathan, the Director, Supply Chain & Global Finance Operations, Baker Hughes. They discussed the role of financial leaders in managing risks amid geopolitical tensions and economic fluctuations, exploring strategies to ensure business continuity as the global landscape grows increasingly unpredictable.
Embracing Technology for Financial Transformation
As digital transformation continues to redefine finance, Linh Chu, Value Manager at Workday, presented on the benefits of leveraging modern financial planning tools. Her session focused on how forward-thinking finance teams can overcome uncertainty by adopting advanced methods that enhance resilience and strategic agility.
Highlighting the role of AI-driven automation, Tony Cheung, Global Vice President of Enterprise Accounts & Strategic Alliances at xSuite, showcased how Accounts Payable Invoice Automation (APIA) is revolutionising business processes globally. Cheung’s insights emphasised the efficiency gains that come with intelligent finance automation, empowering CFOs to optimise productivity and foster strategic growth.
Driving ESG and Compliance Initiatives
In a session that resonated with the growing focus on sustainability, John Teoh, Chief Sustainability Officer from GDEX Berhad, discussed the critical importance of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reporting. Teoh underscored how CFOs can lead organisations in ensuring compliance and achieving sustainability goals, reflecting the role of finance leaders as key drivers of ethical business practices.
Ayush Hingar, strategy lead from ClearTax, then presented on Malaysia’s Phase 1 e-Invoicing initiative. Following this, a panel including Ang Kok Ching, CFO, Qualitas Health, Nor Adni Ismail, CFO, Multimedia University, Suraya Mahmud, Head of Group Reporting & Corporate Planning, Malaysian Airlines, and Daphne Looi, Regional Sales Director, Workday, explored how digitalisation is revolutionising FP&A (Financial Planning & Analysis) to drive strategic growth, showcasing the strides Malaysian companies are making in the digital finance landscape.
Cultivating Agile and Inclusive Leadership
The symposium also addressed the importance of agility and inclusivity in modern leadership. Hillary Chua, Managing Director at Opus Group, shared her insights on how CFOs can lead with agility, leveraging advanced technology to keep pace with today’s dynamic business environment. Her presentation was followed by Alex Chow, Senior Strategic Advisor from Tungsten Automation, who explained the ways AI and Intelligent Automation empower organisations and support more adaptive financial operations.
A lively panel moderated by Rodica Belocosov, the Vice President of People, MoneyLion, featured Rachel Hong, Head of Finance at Jollibee Malaysia, Farouk Abdul Khalid, ex-Chief People Officer, Al-Ikhsan Sports Sdn Bhd, and Adrine Ong, Finance Director, Classic Fine Foods Malaysia. They discussed the need for finance leaders to adapt work cultures for the next generation, focusing on flexibility, inclusivity, and creating spaces where future talent can thrive.
Female finance leaders also took centre stage in a dedicated panel moderated by Joyce Loh, Group CFO, Kliqxe Group. Panellists included Phoebe Toh, CFO, Knight Frank Malaysia, Azleen Waris, Group Financial Controller, EDOTCO Group, and Jessica Tan, CFO, Safran Landing Systems. This discussion explored how women in finance are championing diversity, fostering organisational change, and bringing fresh perspectives to the field.
Anticipating the Future of Finance
The symposium concluded with a forward-looking panel on the impact of AI and digital innovations in finance, featuring senior leaders such as Chen Fong Tuan, the Senior Executive Vice President Group Human Capital, Maybank, Jessica Low, CFO, SAP Malaysia, and Izzad Shamsudin, CFO, KPJ Healthcare Bhd, moderated by Brandon Lee Kim Leng, Finance Director, S5 Agency World Ltd. This session offered attendees a preview of the digital future shaping finance, from AI advancements to emerging trends in digital finance transformation.
The 3rd DigitalCFO Asia Malaysia Symposium 2024 concluded on an exciting note with a lucky draw, offering attendees a final chance to win exclusive prizes. Three lucky winners were announced, adding an element of fun and celebration to an already inspiring day of insights and networking. This engaging finale left participants with memorable experiences and a sense of anticipation for future DigitalCFO Asia events.
As the 3rd DigitalCFO Asia Malaysia Symposium 2024 came to a close, participants left with new insights, valuable connections, and an inspired outlook on the future of finance. The event underscored the importance of agile leadership, technological innovation, and sustainable practices as essential pillars for financial leaders aiming to navigate and thrive in a fast-evolving world.
