Dato J’ Palaniappan is a distinguished figure in the realms of workforce development, innovation, and industry collaboration within the ASEAN region. With a multifaceted contribution spanning both public and private sectors, he has played instrumental roles in shaping policies and initiatives aimed at enhancing the region’s human capital and economic resilience.

Currently serving as the Executive Chairman of the ASEAN Future Workforce Council (AFWC), Dato Palaniappan leads efforts to anticipate and address the evolving challenges and opportunities in the future world of work across Southeast Asia. His expertise extends to the Expert Group of Bridging Innovation and Learning in TVET (BILT), under UNESCO UNEVOC, where he contributes to advancing technical and vocational education and training to meet industry demands and foster innovation.As a Council Member of the ASEAN TVET Council (ATC) and an Alternate Council Member of the ASEAN Employers Confederation (AEC), Dato Palaniappan actively engages in regional dialogues and collaborations to promote skills development and employment opportunities. He also lends his insights to the Advisory Panel of The ASEAN Migration Outlook, providing guidance on labor migration policies and practices

Within Malaysia, Dato Palaniappan holds key positions in various industry associations, including Council Member of the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) His involvement in the Employers and industry Federations underscores his commitment to advancing the interests of employers and fostering a conducive environment for economic growth. With a solid academic background, Dato Palaniappan brings a blend of expertise in both technical and legal domains. He holds a Masters in Science in Quality & Productivity Improvement from the National University of Malaysia, complemented by a Bachelor of Jurisprudence (Hons) from the University of Malaya and a Bachelor of Economics (Hons) from the National University of Malaysia.

In addition to his leadership roles in the public and industry sectors, Dato Palaniappan serves as the Managing Director of Satake Technologies Sdn. Bhd, where he leverages his wealth of experience to drive innovation and excellence in technology-driven solutions. He also serves as a Director of the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRDCorp), contributing to the strategic direction of workforce development initiatives in Malaysia. Through his diverse engagements and unwavering dedication, Dato J’ Palaniappan continues to be a catalyst for positive change and sustainable development in the ASEAN region and beyond.

Mr. Stephen Yee is the Deputy Executive Director, of Corporate Training and Workforce Transformation Group at Singapore National Employers FederationHe is an active member of the Future of Work under IOE and is also involved in providing feedback and information on the ASEAN Future of Work published in 2015.

He is now appointed by members of the Term Chair of ASEAN Future of Work (AFWC) for the period 2023 to 2024 and also the founding member of the AFWC since its inception. He is the advisor for the Singapore Training and Development Association. He is on the Governing Council of the Singapore Institute of Management Society and the Honorary Treasurer since 2019.

 

SNEF is registered as a trade union under the Trade Unions Act. It is the national trade union of employers, the counterpart of the National Trades UnionCongress (NTUC), representing the interests of all sectors of the economy. It is an independent, autonomous non-profit organisation funded by membership fees and revenue from consultancy, training, research and other activities.