Top HR Leaders APAC: The People Behind the Workplaces We Admire
- Apr 20
- 12 min read
Updated: May 19
| April 2026 Edition
It rarely starts in a boardroom.
More often, it begins in conversations, a leader choosing to listen a little more closely, a team being given the space to speak up, a decision being made with people, not just performance, in mind. Across APAC, these moments are quietly shaping the workplaces we admire today.
Behind them are HR leaders who are doing far more than managing functions. They are building cultures from the inside out, guiding organisations through uncertainty, and rethinking what it truly means to support people at work. In a region as diverse and fast-moving as APAC, their role has never been more important, or more human.
This list brings together a group of leaders who are influencing that change in meaningful ways. Some are driving transformation at scale, others are strengthening culture in ways that may not always be visible, but are deeply felt. All of them share a common thread, a commitment to creating workplaces where people can grow, contribute, and feel a sense of belonging.
What makes this list special is not just who is on it, but what it represents. Different industries, different markets, different journeys, yet a shared belief that people remain at the centre of every organisation’s success.
As you explore the names ahead, think of this not just as a list, but as a collection of stories in progress. Stories of leadership, resilience, and quiet impact, shaping the future of work across APAC, one decision at a time.
Peck Kem Low
Chief HR Officer and Advisor (Workforce Development), CHRO Office and Workforce Development | Public Service Division, Prime Minister’s Office
Peck Kem Low brings a unique combination of private and public sector experience to her role as Chief Human Resources Officer and Advisor (Workforce Development) for the Public Service Division, Prime Minister’s Office, Singapore.
She began her career in quality engineering before moving into HR leadership roles across global technology companies, including Hewlett Packard, Agilent Technologies, Western Digital, and Avago Technologies. These roles gave her exposure to working across Asian, European, and American markets, shaping her global perspective on people and culture.
In the public sector, she previously served as Divisional Director at the Ministry of Manpower, where she contributed to building HR and leadership capabilities at a national level. In her current role, she focuses on strengthening HR capabilities and developing HR talent across Singapore’s public service.
Beyond her organisational role, Peck Kem Low has played a significant part in advancing the HR profession globally. She is currently President of the World Federation of People Management Associations (WFPMA), where she is the first Singaporean and only the second woman to hold the position. She also serves as President of the Singapore Human Resources Institute (SHRI) and is the Immediate Past President of the Asia Pacific Federation of HR Management (APFHRM).
Her contributions have been recognised through multiple accolades, including being named among Southeast Asia’s 100 Most HR Influencers and Asia’s Top 50 HR Leaders in 2024, as well as Global 100 HR Leaders Hall of Fame 2025.
Ku Sim Ling (AuntyHR)
HR Influencer | Former Corporate Services Director
Ku Sim Ling, widely known as “AuntyHR,” brings over 20 years of experience in the workforce solutions industry. She previously served as Corporate Services Director at a multinational organisation in Malaysia, where she led corporate and HR-related functions.
In 2023, she made a career shift to become a full-time HR influencer, focusing on making workplace topics more accessible and relatable. Through her content, she addresses workforce challenges, promotes education, and encourages more open conversations around workplace practices.
She has built a strong digital presence, with over 184K followers on Instagram and 194K on TikTok, where her content combines practical HR insights with a simplified and engaging approach to reach a wider audience.
She was nominated for the TikTok Awards Malaysia 2024 under the category of Education Creator of the Year, reflecting her growing influence in the digital learning space. Her work combines practical HR insights with a simplified and engaging approach to reach a wider audience.
In addition to her corporate and content experience, she has served as a panel member of the Malaysian Industrial Court, representing employers. She holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in Electronics, majoring in Computer, from Multimedia University, and is an HRDC TTT-certified trainer.
She is also the founder of the #DilarangBodoh (“Don’t be stupid”) campaign under Bimbo Society, focused on promoting self-awareness and continuous learning in the workplace.
Monir Azzouzi
Founder & Managing Director, Futuresparx I Group CHRO, Cyberjaya Education Group
Monir Azzouzi brings over 20 years of experience across HR and business leadership roles spanning Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. He is currently the Founder and Managing Director of Futuresparx, where he focuses on digital transformation, organisational development, and the future of work.
Prior to this, he held leadership roles including Chief of HR, IT, and Corporate Services at Gotoko, and was part of the HR leadership teams at organisations such as Gojek and Maxis. His experience also includes board-level roles across the technology and media sectors.
His areas of expertise include digital transformation, employee experience, organisational strategy, and the application of AI in HR. He is also the author of “ChatGPT-Powered HR,” reflecting his work in integrating technology into people practices.
Monir has received multiple recognitions, including the Asian Human Capital Award by Temasek, LinkedIn Rising Star Award, and being named among Asia’s Top 10 Voices and the World’s Top 25 CHROs. He has also been recognised as the #1 Most Influential HR Leader in Southeast Asia (Indonesia). He holds an MSc in Management of Innovation & Business Development from Copenhagen Business School and has completed executive education at Harvard Business School in Business Analytics and Big Data. He is also an ICF-certified coach and HRDC-certified professional.
Roshan Thiran
Founder and Kuli, Leaderonomics Group
Roshan Thiran is the Founder and “Kuli” (labourer) of Leaderonomics, a group of social enterprises focused on growing leaders, transforming organisations, and building stronger communities across Asia. With a career spanning global giants and diverse industries, he brings deep, hands-on experience in leadership and organisational development.
He began his professional journey at ExxonMobil before spending 16 years at General Electric (GE), where he worked across the United States, Europe, and Asia in roles spanning finance, aviation, media, and leadership development. During his time at GE, Roshan played a key role in transforming a struggling aviation business in Malaysia into a global benchmark and was later part of GE’s renowned Crotonville leadership institute. He subsequently joined Johnson & Johnson as Director of Global Talent Management, contributing to global leadership pipelines, succession planning, and talent strategies.
Today, Roshan partners with CEOs, CHROs, and leadership teams to drive culture transformation, leadership development, and organisational renewal. Through Leaderonomics, he has helped organisations build accountable cultures, strengthen leadership benches, and navigate change in an AI-driven world. Known for his engaging style, he blends corporate insight with storytelling, practical frameworks, and a strong focus on purpose-driven leadership.
Dr. Susan Peisan Chen
Founder & CEO, co:grow
Dr. Susan P. Chen is a senior HR leader and Founder & CEO of co:grow and TalentSkope, boutique consultancies that bring a fractional and tech-forward approach to startups and scaling companies. With over 18 years of HR leadership and consulting experience, she has supported organisations across industries, from oil and gas in Norway to financial services and gaming in Asia, including AIG, Visa, and Riot Games.
Her transition into Southeast Asia’s startup ecosystem saw her lead talent development and organisational transformation at Viva Health, Accenture, and Gojek. Today, she partners with founders and leadership teams across APAC to design people strategies that connect headcount to revenue, unlock growth, and build resilient organisations.
Susan is known for challenging traditional HR thinking, a perspective she explores in her book, The Death of Best Practices. Her work blends a growth mindset and strengths-based coaching with commercial pragmatism, positioning HR as a driver of survival, acceleration, and scale.
Alongside her consulting work, Susan is a keynote speaker, angel investor, and certified leadership coach, with over a thousand coaching hours across executives, teams, and founders. She is passionate about co-creating solutions, building trust, and shaping HR into a true strategic partner for the next generation of businesses.
Handi Kurniawan
Group SVP Human Capital, Bank Mandiri, Indonesia
Handi Kurniawan is Group SVP Human Capital at Bank Mandiri, Indonesia’s largest bank by assets, where he leads human capital strategy and talent management initiatives.
With over 25 years of experience, he has worked across banking, multinational corporations, and diverse industries in Asia. His career includes leadership roles at organisations such as Standard Chartered, Sinar Mas, Jardine Matheson, General Electric, and Shangri-La Group.
He has led large-scale initiatives in talent management, leadership development, and workforce capability building, supporting organisational growth and transformation. His experience spans multiple geographies, having lived and worked in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Beijing, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the United States.
Handi has been recognised as one of the 100 Most Influential HR Leaders in Southeast Asia. He holds an MBA from the University of Western Australia and a Master of Arts from the University of Michigan.
Angelina Chua
Human Resources Director, APAC, COFCO International
Angelina Chua is a global HR leader with over 25 years of experience across Asia Pacific, the Middle East, the United States, and Europe. As Human Resources Director, APAC at COFCO International, she leads people and culture strategies across a large, geographically diverse workforce.
She has partnered closely with CEOs and boards to drive transformation initiatives, including mergers and acquisitions, operating model redesign, and workforce integration. Her work has contributed to cost optimisation, improved organisational agility, and stronger alignment between business and people strategies.
Angelina has led HR for organisations with up to 24,000 employees and has extensive experience building regional and global teams across China and Southeast Asia, including eight years based in China.
Her scope of work has extended beyond HR into areas such as corporate governance, general and employee insurance, corporate social responsibility, and data protection, reflecting her broader business involvement.
She is focused on talent development, employee engagement, and leadership advisory, with a strong emphasis on building inclusive and high-performing cultures.
Hanif Sulaiman
Senior Director Human Resources, Benchmark Electronics (M) Sdn. Bhd.
Hanif Sulaiman is a senior HR practitioner with close to three decades of experience across multiple industries, particularly within manufacturing environments. As Senior Director Human Resources at Benchmark Electronics (M) Sdn. Bhd., he plays a key role in aligning HR strategy with business objectives.
Over the past decade, he has been actively involved in business strategic planning, particularly in areas related to strategic human resources and operational execution. His experience includes managing both unionised and non-unionised environments, overseeing large workforces comprising direct and indirect labour.
He has led initiatives across talent acquisition, retention, succession planning, and industrial relations, while also implementing cost-saving strategies that have resulted in measurable business impact. His work has contributed to strengthening productivity, improving people management practices, and supporting organisational growth.
Known for his hands-on leadership style, he has worked closely with senior management teams to drive HR transformation from an administrative function to a strategic business partner. He is also recognised for maintaining strong ethical standards and exercising sound judgement across a wide range of HR responsibilities.
Thiagarajan Veeran (Raj)
Director Human Resources, Dexcom
Thiagarajan Veeran (Raj) is Director Human Resources at Dexcom Malaysia, where he leads the country HR function and partners with global operations leadership to build organisational capability and support business growth. He brings extensive experience across multinational manufacturing organisations, including Micron, Western Digital, and Sanmina-SCI, combining operational understanding with strategic HR leadership.
At Dexcom, he has played a key role in scaling the organisation, focusing on leadership development, workforce capability, and employee experience. His work has contributed to building a high-performing organisation while maintaining a balance between performance and employee support.
Beyond his corporate role, he has contributed to national and industry initiatives. He led the PIKAS programme in Batu Kawan, Penang, a public-private partnership developed in collaboration with the government to support industries during a critical period.
He is also actively involved in the HR community, contributing as a judge for national HR and employee experience awards. He holds an MBA and continues to focus on evolving trends in leadership and the future of work.
Phoebe Pun Pei Yuen
Head of HR, Radium Development Berhad
Phoebe Pun Pei Yuen is Head of HR at Radium Development Berhad, with over 30 years of experience in human resources. She has played a key role in transforming HR into a strategic function within the organisation, supporting business decision-making and long-term growth.
At Radium, she has led the digitisation of HR processes, reducing manual processing time by over 40% and improving efficiency and accessibility for employees. She has also strengthened learning and development frameworks, while promoting a culture of autonomy and continuous feedback.
Her work has focused on talent development, internal mobility, and leadership pipeline building, contributing to improved employee engagement and retention. She has also implemented initiatives to support diversity, equity, and inclusion across different stages of employees’ careers.
Phoebe is a strong advocate of holistic wellbeing, covering physical, emotional, financial, and social aspects. Beyond the organisation, she contributes to talent development and leadership building, supporting the growth of future HR leaders.
Helen Snowball
Chief Human Resources Officer, Thai Union Group
Helen Snowball is the Chief Human Resources Officer at Thai Union Group, bringing over two decades of global leadership experience across Asia Pacific, Europe, and Australia. Known for driving large-scale business and cultural transformation, she has built a strong track record across both high-growth organisations and established global enterprises.
Prior to joining Thai Union in 2026, Helen served as Chief People Officer at PropertyGuru, where she played a key role in scaling the organisation and embedding future-ready people strategies. She also spent over five years at JLL, including as Chief Human Resources Officer for Asia Pacific, where she led a team of 400+ HR professionals and supported a workforce of over 45,000 employees across 18 countries. Her work focused on aligning business strategy with innovative people solutions, enhancing employee experience, and building leadership capability at scale.
Helen began her career in commercial and sales roles with Kraft Foods in the UK and Coca-Cola Amatil in Australia, before transitioning into HR leadership. This diverse background gives her a unique blend of commercial acumen, strategic vision, and digital fluency.
Today, she partners closely with business leaders to shape people-first strategies that drive sustainable performance, organisational transformation, and long-term impact.
Ozge Yurtsever
Director, Global HR Business Partner, Corporate Functions & Global OD and Special Projects Lead | DKSH
Ozge Yurtsever is the Director, Global HR Business Partner for Corporate Functions and Global OD & Special Projects Lead at DKSH. A strategic HR leader, she is known for driving large-scale transformation initiatives, enabling organisational effectiveness, and aligning people strategies with evolving business priorities.
With a global career spanning EMEA, Asia, and Latin America, Ozge brings deep cross-cultural expertise across industries including pharma, FMCG, banking, and electronics. Prior to her current role, she held key leadership positions at Ferring Pharmaceuticals and Astellas Pharma, where she led regional HR strategies, talent development, and change management across complex, multi-market environments.
Her work is grounded in strong business partnering, with a focus on building high-impact talent programs, strengthening leadership pipelines, and fostering employee engagement at scale. Passionate about people analytics, Ozge leverages data-driven insights to shape meaningful workforce strategies and decision-making.
A certified change practitioner and organisational coach, she brings a thoughtful, analytical, and people-centric approach to shaping resilient, future-ready organisations.
Hetal Doshi
CEO, O-Psych Sdn Bhd | Founder of People@Work Movement
Hetal Doshi is an accomplished Organizational Psychologist, Certified Professional Coach, and the CEO of O-Psych. She is also the Founder of the People@Work Movement, a national initiative focused on advancing workplace well-being through measurable and scalable solutions.
With over 20 years of experience, Hetal is a highly sought-after psychological strategist and facilitator, known for applying data-driven and evidence-based approaches to large-scale organisational transformation. Her proprietary “Butterfly Effect” methodology enables rapid yet sustainable change, balancing performance with individual well-being while minimizing disruption to team dynamics.
A recognised thought leader, Hetal is regularly featured across television, radio, print media, and leading leadership, HSSE, and HR conferences. Her work bridges the gap between science and practice, making well-being both actionable and impactful.
At the core of her work is the People@Work Index, a first-of-its-kind, validated tool that measures psychosocial risk, employee well-being, and psychological safety within organisations.
Having worked with leading organisations, including Fortune 500 companies and government-linked entities, Hetal continues to reshape how leaders understand and approach workplace well-being, making it measurable, practical, and central to business and cultural growth.
Khim Tan
CEO, Pinnacle Connexion
Khim Tan is a recognised voice in HR, culture, and talent across Southeast Asia, with over 30 years of executive experience spanning banking, insurance, FMCG, professional services, technology, stockbroking, and retail credit. She has held senior leadership and Group HR roles at organisations such as Alliance Bank, AIA, British American Tobacco, PwC, Maybank, Courts, and TA Enterprise. Her expertise spans mergers and acquisitions, divestments, organisational and cultural transformation, succession planning, talent management, as well as HR digital and AI transformation.
She is an ICF Certified Coach, a Gallup CliftonStrengths Coach, and a certified Hogan and DiSC practitioner, as well as an HRD Corp accredited trainer. She is currently pursuing a PhD focused on AI adoption, mindset, and workforce innovation performance. A frequent speaker at business and HR conferences, Khim also leads training on AI, the future of work, and culture and leadership transformation.
Her recognitions include Top 10 Voices in HR, Leadership and People Strategy in Malaysia 2026, Asia’s Top 50 HR Leader 2024, Top 25 Mentor 2023, Top 10 CHROs in APAC 2022, along with multiple honours across Southeast Asia for HR leadership.
Shameem Farouk
Adjunct Professor, Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU)
Dr. Shameem Farouk has over 20 years of experience in Human Capital management across major Southeast Asian corporations in industries including financial services and telecommunications. She previously served as Executive Vice President and Human Capital Director at a leading regional financial institution, where she led large-scale workforce transformation and the democratization of artificial intelligence (AI) and technology capabilities.
She has pioneered several AI-driven initiatives, including the development of a generative AI decision-support model for sales teams, enabling broader access to strategic insights traditionally limited to senior leaders and consultants. She has also led enterprise-wide AI upskilling efforts, where over 50% of certified participants were women, many from non-STEM backgrounds, reflecting her strong commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion in technology.
Beyond her corporate leadership, Dr. Farouk has contributed to shaping Malaysia’s Financial Sector Future Skills Framework and has introduced innovative learning methodologies to build future-ready capabilities. She is an active global speaker on digital transformation and AI in the workforce, including at Harvard Business School and other international platforms.
Dr. Farouk is a U.S. Department of State Fulbright Research Fellow and conducted research on workforce transformation at INSEAD in San Francisco. She holds a Doctorate in Education specializing in Human Performance Technology, as well as an MBA and a Master of Science in Education, all from Indiana University.
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