Project Team
Mr Wai Kiong CHAN, CEO and Senior Consultant
Kiong has significant experience in leadership and management development in the public service. In addition, he has designed, developed, and delivered numerous courses in management, leadership, business, international studies, and strategy. Kiong has taught courses ranging from Certificate and Diploma levels to Master degree level. In the last several years, Kiong has performed the role of a senior human resource development professional in a large government organisation (12,000 staff) in Australia. In 2002 his team’s leadership development project was awarded the State Gold Award for Excellence in Corporate and Support Services in his government department. Kiong has trained numerous public servants from throughout Australia, and from New Zealand, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, the Cook Islands and Fiji. In 2005, Kiong chaired the review of all human resource development and training in a large government department in Australia, in response to two government reports, and was involved in the development of over 30 different education and training products. Kiong speaks a variety of languages including English, Indonesian, Malay, Teochew Chinese, Hokkien (Taiwanese), Cantonese, and basic Mandarin. Kiong was educated in Australia, and his qualifications include Certificate IV in Workplace Assessment, Bachelor of Business, Graduate Diploma in Adult and Vocational Education, Master of E-Commerce and Master of Business Administration (MBA). Kiong is the President of the Australia Malaysia Business Council (Qld).
Ms Shona Leppanen-Gibson, General Manager and Senior Consultant
Shona has extensive experience in marketing, public relations, media management, government, e-commerce, strategy, planning, and education and training. She has worked for the Australian government, and several universities and educational institutions, as well as clients in the private and government sectors. Shona has trained numerous public servants in leadership and management. Shona has researched and written numerous parliamentary speeches, managed highly successful marketing campaigns, planned and organised many major events, and written numerous newspaper articles and media releases on a wide range of topics covering issues such as the economy, international relations, government, business and industry, and society. Shona has a very strong understanding of Asian and international affairs, and is the current Senior Vice President of the Australia Malaysia Business Council (Qld). Shona’s frequently travels to Asia, and her knowledge of Asian cultures and Asian political economy has on a number of occasions resulted in her being invited to brief senior Australian diplomatic and government officials being posted overseas. Shona studied in Australia and has won several scholarships, academic awards and writing awards. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Media) with First Class Honours, and a Master of Electronic Commerce.
Mr Vicknaraj Thanarajah (Raj), Senior Consultant
Raj has extensive experience in commercial and litigation law in Malaysia and Australia. He is admitted as an Advocate & Solicitor in Malaysia and a Solicitor in England & Wales. Prior to joining the Firm he practised as a solicitor at Abdul Raman Saad & Associates (ARSA), a city firm located in Kuala Lumpur where he focused on banking, company, IT and IP issues, which included domestic and cross border work. His cross border work has enabled him to work on projects in Saudi Arabia, Iran, Indonesia, Hong Kong, India and Thailand. He also worked as a legal consultant at a Brisbane law firm Cooper Grace & Ward on Corporate and Commercial issues focusing on IT and IP. Raj also has experience in the following areas: Judicial Review in Communication & Media Industry, Advisory, Negotiation in E-commerce & Information Communication Technology Contracting, IP Commercialisation Corporate Transactions (Joint Ventures, Share Sale), Advisory Government & Policy (Strategic Management of Intellectual Property, E-Government, Information Security, Privacy & Data Protection). He was the co-author and part of the editorial panel in Abdul Raman Saad (Ed) Personal Data & Privacy Protection, LexisNexis Malayan Law Journal, 2005, ISBN 967-962-654-7 and is on correspondent panel and a country reporter for Malaysia in Privacy Law Business International Newsletter; published by Privacy Law & Business, United Kingdom. Raj has research extensively on Comparative Constitutional Rights in Malaysia and Australia. Raj was educated in Malaysia and holds and Bachelor of Laws with Second Upper Honours from the Anglia Ruskin University in United Kingdom, a Masters of Law from University Malaya and a Specialised Masters of Electronic Law from University of Melbourne, Australia. Raj speaks a variety of languages including English, Indonesian, Malay, Hokkien (Taiwanese), Cantonese and Tamil. Raj is a committee member of the Australia Malaysia Business Council (Qld).
