Panel Sessions

Mdm. Rahayu Buang (Chief Executive Officer, KidSTART Singapore Limited, Singapore)

Mdm. Rahayu Buang has 30 years of experience in the social service sector. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore. She has worked on policies and programmes for young offenders, persons with special needs, family support, women’s development, and early childhood development within the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF). Between 2017 and 2020, she was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Yayasan MENDAKI, the pioneer self-help group that focus on education upliftment of the Malay/Muslim community in Singapore.  Since then, she has been the founding CEO of KidSTART Singapore Ltd, a non-profit organization that supports lower income families with the early development of their children from pregnancy until 6 years old.  

Mr. Omar E. Hamid (Co-Founder, LaunchGood, The United States of America)

Mr. Omar E. Hamid operates at the intersection of design innovation and Islamic values. Inspired by Muslim contributions to civilization while growing up in small-town Georgia, USA, Mr. Omar founded Alfenn, a branding agency, in high school. His project Sanda introduced the first chair designed to solve prayer space issues in mosques — which should be entering the market this year.
 
Mr. Omar also co-founded LaunchGood, now the world's largest faith-based crowdfunding platform — raising over $650M USD. Skipping the conventional college route, Mr. Omar dove into entrepreneurship full-time. He constantly imagines ways to make a positive impact, merging his design skills with his faith.

Mr. Zulhaqem Zulkifli (Co-Founder, Project Hills, Singapore)

Mr. Zulhaqem Zulkifli is co-founder of Project Hills, a ground up initiative dedicated to supporting underprivileged families and individuals in public rental housing estates in Singapore. Project Hills offers essential support and services to uplift communities in need. When he is not running around the rental estates, he dabbles in interfaith and cultural activities.

Panel Chair: Ms. Amalina Abdul Nasir (Vice President, MENDAKI Club, Singapore)

Ms. Amalina Abdul Nasir is the Vice-President of MENDAKI Club. She spearheads the career pillar called MARA which aims to be the career launchpad for Malay/Muslim youths to launch a sustainable and successful career. Aimed to be a hub of aspirational professional figures, she oversees the bespoke MARA Mentoring program, MARA Conversations and its flagship MARA Convention.

Her passion for youth empowerment permeates through both our community. Ms. Amalina sits on the Management Committee of the Muhammadiyah Welfare Home, the HR and Governance Committee of LBKM, a member of the Asatizah Youth Network (AYN), Youth Lead for National Youth Council’s Youth Panel, and the first Youth to be appointed to the Board of Governors of Singapore International Foundation. Nationally, Ms. Amalina sits on the IMDA Arts Consultative Panel, and a member of the Digital Resources Committee of the Singapore Computer Society. Believing in amplifying impact, Ms. Amalina participated in The Warmth of Mercy Humanitarian Mission to Turkey, Egypt and Jordan.

In 2023, Ms. Amalina was selected as part of the coveted ASEAN Youth Fellowship 2023 alongside other ASEAN youth leaders and, later named Singapore 100 Women in Tech.

Professionally, Ms. Amalina works as a Trust & Safety Policy Manager in a Tech MNC. Prior to this, she worked as a counter-terrorism expert at the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research. Ms. Amalina is a graduate of Madrasah Al-Ma’arif Al-Islamiah, before she pursued her Bachelors degree in Sociology at Singapore Management University. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies from Nanyang Technological University.

Dr. Syed Harun Alhabsyi (President of Lembaga Biasiswa Kenangan Maulud (LBKM), Singapore)

Dr. Syed Harun Alhabsyi is President of Lembaga Biasiswa Kenangan Maulud and  a Nominated Member of Parliament. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees, Singapore Institute of Technology and the National Youth Council. He is Vice-Chairperson of the Films' Consultative Panel under IMDA and the Review Commitee (Welfare Homes) under MSF. He is also Honorary Secretary of the Singapore Psychiatric Association.

In 2019, he was selected for the inaugural NCSS 40-under-40 leadership programme for emerging leaders in the social services sector and in 2023, he represented Singapore as one of its ASEAN Youth Fellows, as part of a leadership and networking programme for youth leaders of Southeast Asia. He was also part of the inaugural batch of community leaders selected for the TUNAS@M³ leadership programme.

A medical doctor and psychiatrist by training, he graduated from the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore, and had previously trained and worked in several restructured government hospitals and the public sector. He is currently in private practice as Consultant Psychiatrist and Medical Director at The Starfish Clinic of Psychiatry and Mental Wellness. He is a keen advocate for community-based interventions and collaborative care in mental health, and for better accessibility to mental health services.

Ms. Amina Rasul-Bernardo (President of the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy, The Philippines)

Ms. Amina Rasul-Bernardo is the President of the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy (PCID) and hosts the award-winning “She Talks Peace” podcast. She was one of three representatives of the Philippines in the ASEAN Women for Peace Registry.  She is also a member of the Board of Regents of the Mindanao State University (MSU), chairs the Multi-Sector Governance Council of the Office of the Presidential adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity, also serves as a board member of the University of the Philippines Foundation, Inc, Asia-Pacific Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, Equal Access International. She is also a member of the Trilateral Commission.

Previously, she served as Presidential Advisor on Youth Affairs and founding Chair of the National Youth Commission under President Fidel V. Ramos. Her roles include Commissioner of the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women, Director at PNOC and DBP, and Founding Director of LGGC and MinDA. She has been on advisory and trustee boards for the World Bank Mindanao Jobs Report, the Ramon Magsaysay Awards Foundation, and the Asia-Pacific Centre for the Responsibility to Protect.

She holds degrees in Economics, an MBA, and a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard. Her awards include the 2023 Intercultural Achievement Award, the 2019 N-PEACE Award, and recognition as “Muslim Democrat of the Year 2007” and one of the World’s 500 Most Influential Muslims. She has written extensively on the Mindanao conflict, Islam, and democracy.

Dr. Baptiste Brodard (Doctorate in Social Sciences and Religious Studies, University of Fribourg, Switzerland)

Born in 1986, Dr. Baptiste Brodard is currently a consultant in countering violent extremism in France. He previously served as a lecturer-researcher in Islamic Studies at Aix-Marseille University in France, and as an assistant professor in sociology at the International Islamic University Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur. He holds a PhD in Social Sciences and Religious Studies from the University of Fribourg (Switzerland) with a thesis titled “Islamic Social Work in Switzerland: Between Community Interests and Contribution to the Common Good”, and a Master’s degree in Social Sciences. He has worked in the fields of social work and development, notably as a counselor in prison and as a project manager for the United Nations in Algeria. His research focuses on faith-based organisations in Europe and contemporary Islam in Latin America. He was a postdoctoral researcher at the Universidad Veracruzana in Mexico. At the same time, he has traveled to around fifty countries to meet with Muslim communities.

Panel Chair: Dr. Hana Alhadad (Adjunct Faculty, National University of Singapore/Singapore Management University)

Dr. Hana Alhadad is an adjunct faculty member at the National University of Singapore and Singapore Management University. She is also a Senior Consultant at AWARE and a core team member of EveryChild.sg – a group dedicated to promoting the well-being and rights of children in Singapore. Dr. Alhadad serves as a Board member of Beyond Social Services and chairs their Programmes & Services Committee. She is on the Board of Visitors for SCDF and SPF, and is a member of the National Crime Prevention Council. 
 
With extensive expertise in arts-based community development and psychology, Dr. Alhadad specialises in child and family therapeutic playmaking. Her knowledge and background provides a comprehensive understanding of interpersonal neurobiology and the factors affecting child development and family dynamics. This expertise enables her to develop evidence-based strategies that promote the well-being children and families, emphasising the critical role of nurturing healthy relationships within inclusive and supportive communities.
 
Dr. Alhadad's work focuses on supporting various groups, including neurodivergent children and families, as well as addressing the mental health and well-being of children and youth, and single mothers. Her practice and research interests revolve around equity-centred, trauma-informed practice, child and adolescent mental health, and parent-child relationships and development.

Mr. Pongsak Yingchoncharoen (Mayor of Yala City Municipality, Thailand)

Mr. Pongsak Yingchoncharoen has served as mayor of Yala City Municipality for four consecutive terms since 2003. He has received numerous awards for both Yala City and himself. One of these awards is King Prajadhipok's Institute's "Golden Prajadhipok" in the categories of Best Transparency and People Participating in Supportive Activities in 2006, as well as Best Strengthening Peace and Harmony in the year 2012. Yala City was honored with the title "Good Governance" by the Department of Local Administration for three years in a row, from 2006 to 2008 and again in 2012.

Mr. Rakesh Sharanund Naidoo (Superintendent, National Partnerships Manager – Ethnic, New Zealand)

Mr. Rakesh Sharanund Naidoo is the National Ethnic Partnerships Manager with the New Zealand Police. Mr. Rakesh was the first person from an Ethnic community to be appointed as a Commissioned Officer in NZ Police and has supported them to be the leading organisation responding to diverse ethnic communities who come from approximately 230 different ethnicities speaking over 170 different languages.

Mr. Rakesh has contributed to the successful ethnic communities’ response to the Canterbury Earthquakes in 2011, Christchurch terrorist attacks in 2019 and implementing All of Government system level responses to address issues relating to hate, discrimination, exploitation, and security. His leadership extends beyond policing, creating meaningful connections across communities to enhance social cohesion. His work continues to shape how New Zealand Police and wider society engage with multicultural communities, fostering trust, fairness, and resilience.

Mr. Rakesh is respected for his governance insights including his Director roles with Sport New Zealand, New Zealand Football, advisor to the acclaimed Gandhi Nivas Family Harm programme and past Chair of the Wellington Interfaith Council. In 2023, he was recognised in the Kings Birthday and Coronation Honours and made a Member New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Ethnic communities and New Zealand Police.

Ustazah Liyana Rosli Asmara (Head, Harmony Center, Singapore)

Ustazah Liyana Rosli Asmara is the first female Head of the Harmony Centre, an interfaith initiative by the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS). She assists efforts to shape policies, assess Singapore’s social cohesion landscape, and strengthen interfaith understanding among Muslim stakeholders and other faith communities through strategic engagement and partnerships.

Ustazah Liyana has actively participated in key national and regional committees. This includes being Vice Chairperson II at the An-Nahdhah Mosque, a committee member at M³ @Jalan Besar , and the Racial and Religious Harmony Circle Workgroup, led by Singapore's Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth.  She is also a member of the World Council of Muslims for Interfaith Relations, Chicago and an alumna of the U.S. State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program on Women Leaders, Peace, and Security and Japan’s JENESYS Future Leaders Program, focusing on peacebuilding through education and culture.

Panel Chair: Dr. Mathew Mathews (Head of IPS Social Lab, Principal Research Fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, Singapore)

Dr. Mathew Mathews is Head of IPS Social Lab, a centre for social indicator research and a Principal Research Fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, National University of Singapore. To date, Dr. Mathews has led over 70 projects most of them addressing social policy issues. His work on social cohesion includes studies on race, religion, immigrant integration, inequality and contentious issues related to family and sexuality. 

Dr. Mathews also leads the IPS Programme on Race, Religion and Integroup Cohesion which helps organisations better navigate issues related to diversity and inclusion through customised research and training workshops. Dr. Mathews has been a board member of OnePeople.sg, a national organization to champion race and religious relations since 2012. He is also active in various other national organisations and committees including the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre and Money Sense Council.

Dr. Md Saidul Islam (Associate Professor and the Post-Graduate Coordinator of Sociology, School of Social Sciences and Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore)

Dr. Md Saidul Islam (PhD, York University, Canada) is an Associate Professor of Sociology and the Post-Graduate Coordinator at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. He has held prestigious academic positions, including as a former Visiting Scholar at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a Visiting Research Associate at the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus. His diverse research interests span international development, environmental sociology, and the intersection of Islam and politics in the context of modernity.

With a prolific academic career, Dr. Islam has published eight books and contributed to over forty scholarly articles and book chapters on these subjects. Among his notable works, he co-authored Islam and Democracy in South Asia: The Case of Bangladesh (Palgrave Macmillan, 2020) and Climate Change and Food Security in Asia Pacific: Response and Resilience (Palgrave Macmillan, 2021). In recognition of his groundbreaking contributions to sociology, the Canadian Sociological Association awarded him the "Early Investigator Award" in 2015, citing him as "the most influential young sociologist of the year." His teaching experience extends beyond NTU, having previously taught at York University in Canada, the College of William and Mary in the United States, and Nankai University in China.

Mr. Shamir Rahim (Founder, VersaFleet, Singapore)

Mr. Shamir Rahim is a serial technopreneur with a passion for artificial intelligence and internet technologies. Being the co-founder of GotSurge (acquired by Yinson Green Technologies) and founder of VersaFleet, he believes in empowering drivers & planners with best-in-class tech and automation.

Mr. Shamir is pursuing an industrial PhD in Operations Research and Analytics, and holds a Master of Science (MSc) in Supply Chain Management from the National University of Singapore (NUS). He earlier graduated from NUS as a University Scholar with a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Biomedical Science, and a Minor in Technopreneurship while on the NUS Overseas College program at the University of Pennsylvania & The Wharton School.

He was recognized as ‘Top 10 CTOs in Singapore’ (2024) by CEO Insights Asia; was conferred ‘Outstanding Young Alumni’ by NUS (2019); ‘Young Supply Chain Professional of the Year’ by Supply Chain Asia; and serves on several committees, including on the board of Defence Science & Technology Agency (DSTA), NUS ISS, and previously on the CPF Board of Singapore.

Ustaz Muhammad Tarmizi Abdul Wahid (President of Singapore Islamic Scholars & Religious Teachers Association (PERGAS), Singapore)

Ustaz Muhammad Tarmizi Abdul Wahid is currently the Honorary President of PERGAS (The Association of Islamic Religious Teachers of Singapore). He is an entrepreneur and a bestselling author. Ustaz Tarmizi graduated from the Al-Azhar University, Cairo, and serves on several boards, namely AMP (The Association of Muslim Professionals), SMCCI (The Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry), and others. 

He has also been serving with the Registry of Muslim Marriages as a Naib Kadi for over a decade, and currently sits on the MUIS Fatwa Committee. His dedication to community engagement, his passion for educational initiatives, and his belief in empathetic leadership has had a significant impact on the Islamic discourse in Singapore, promoting religious education, social cohesion, and spiritual growth.

Panel Chair: Ms. Nadia Yeo (M3 Tunas Leader, Singapore)

Ms. Nadia Yeo co-founded the Young Women in Leadership Dialogue, which offers a platform where women’s voices, particularly those from minority communities, can be amplified. Ms. Nadia believes that stories have the power to lead change and tell bold tales about the diversity and magnitude of the human experience. She is appointed to the pro-tem committee of the Wakaf Masyarakat Singapura, and was formerly a Board Director with the Malay Heritage Foundation. 

Ms. Nadia formerly provided legislative and policy advisory at the Ministry of Home Affairs, and specialised in the field of data privacy at the Personal Data Protection Commission. She is presently an in-house counsel.

Mr. Masagos Zulkifli (Minister for Social and Family Development, Second Minister for Health And Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs, Singapore)

Mr. Masagos Zulkifli is Singapore's Minister for Social and Family Development, Second Minister for Health and Minister in-charge-of Muslim Affairs.

Prior to entering politics, Mr. Masagos was working in Singapore Telecommunications Limited and last held the position of CEO, SingTel Global Offices. In 2006, he was elected as Member of Parliament for Tampines Group Representation Constituency and appointed Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Education. From 2008 to 2014, Mr Masagos held other positions in the Singapore Government, within the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs. He was appointed Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs in May 2018. From October 2015 to July 2020, Mr Masagos was Minister for the Environment and Water Resources. He took on his current appointment on 27 July 2020. 

Mr. Masagos graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering (First Class Honours), majoring in electrical and electronic engineering from the Nanyang Technological University. He obtained a Master of Science in electrical engineering from the National University of Singapore.

Ms. Amenah F. Pangandaman (Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management, Philippines)

Ms. Amenah F. Pangandaman is the Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) of the Philippines, the only female member of the Economic Team and the sole Filipina Muslim in President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Cabinet. 

As DBM Secretary, she chairs several key committees including the Development Budget Coordination Committee and the Government Procurement Policy Board. A strong advocate for inclusive economic growth in Mindanao, she co-chairs the Intergovernmental Relations Body, which focuses on empowering the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region. With over 20 years of government experience, she held key roles in both the Executive and Legislative branches, and served as Assistant Governor at the Central Bank.

Ms. Pangandaman is dedicated to modernizing the budget system, promoting digitalization, and achieving sustainable economic growth through strategic investments. She has received numerous awards, including "Public Servant of the Year" by the Asia Leaders Awards, and was named one of PeopleAsia’s “People of the Year” in 2023.
 
She holds a degree in Economics from the Far Eastern University and a diploma and master’s degree in Development Economics from the University of the Philippines. She also pursued an Executive Master of Public Administration at the London School of Economics.

Mr. Pongsak Yingchoncharoen (Mayor of Yala City Municipality, Thailand)

Mr. Pongsak Yingchoncharoen has served as mayor of Yala City Municipality for four consecutive terms since 2003. He has received numerous awards for both Yala City and himself.  One of these awards is King Prajadhipok's Institute's "Golden Prajadhipok" in the categories of Best Transparency and People Participating in Supportive Activities in 2006, as well as Best Strengthening Peace and Harmony in the year 2012. Yala City was honored with the title "Good Governance" by the Department of Local Administration for three years in a row, from 2006 to 2008 and again in 2012.

Panel Chair: Mr. Khairul Anwar Mohamed Abdul Alim (Deputy Chief Executive, Islamic Religious Council of Singapore, Singapore)

Mr. Khairul Anwar Mohamed Abdul Alim is the Deputy Chief Executive at the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS), a statutory board under the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) dedicated to serving the diverse needs of the Muslim community in Singapore. In this role, Mr. Khairul oversees the development and governance of over 70 mosques and religious education institutions, managing aspects such as finance, infrastructure, and programming.

With over a decade of professional experience, Mr. Khairul has held various technical and leadership positions, contributing to international business development, infrastructure project development, urban planning, and community development. His early career at International Enterprise (IE) Singapore involved supporting SMEs' internationalization plans in the Middle East and Africa. He later played a key role in Singapore's infrastructure development collaborations with foreign governments, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank.

During his tenure at the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), Mr. Khairul contributed to the master-planning of Jurong Lake District and led urban mobility, logistics, and development strategy efforts. Before joining MUIS, he served as Regional Director for Indonesia and Director for Southeast Asia at Enterprise Singapore, where he deepened Singapore businesses' engagement with Southeast Asian governments and businesses across various sectors.