Mr. Joe Sidek, George Town Festival, Penang Founder and Producer

“How the George Town (Arts) Festival has changed Penang & international collaboration opportunities”

With over thirty years of experience in the world of culture and creativity, Joe Sidek has established himself as one of Malaysia’s leading advocates of the arts. An industrialist by trade and an entrepreneur by nature, Joe has organized countless cultural performances across Malaysia; these have included government-sponsored events. His innovative expertise, business acumen and especially his visionary passion led to his appointment as Festival Director of the George Town Festival in 2010. Joe has spent the last six years raising the profile of the festival and has been invited to speak around the region. Joe is currently working on several projects including a new “Connecting The Light” to be premiered in Adelaide in 2017, and Kulit, a production to be premiered in 2018. He has also initiated an international “Arts For Humanity” campaign to raise funds to support the arts. 

Mr. Daniel Lim, Programme Manager, Think City, Malaysia

 “Community Based Urban Rejuvenation Through Greening Projects”

As a Programme Manager, Daniel Lim spent the last six years pioneering projects to activate spaces within the George Town World Heritage Site (GTWHS) through place recreation under the banner of Think City – a Malaysian government-funded community oriented urban regeneration organization. Aside from regenerating spaces, his passion in advocating community engagement has led him to oversee numerous other grants and programs across Malaysia in addition to those in Penang. Daniel’s present role involves the setup, management and execution of Think City’s rejuvenation initiatives in downtown Johor Bahru. He is currently working together with local stakeholders in the early stages of several demonstration projects aimed at highlighting the potential of public space usage. 

Ms. Tita (Larasati) Dwinita Bandung Creative City Forum (BCCF) 

“Co-Creation, Community Engegagement and Bandung Creative City Development”

Dwinita (Tita) Larasati was born and bred in Jakarta, Indonesia, and moved to Bandung when she started studying industrial design at the Faculty of Art and Design at the Institute of Technology Bandung (ITB). She pursued her studies in the Netherlands at the Design Academy Eindhoven and the Delft University of Technology. Her research interests include sustainability, bamboo and natural fibers, community development and creative potential-based area development. After acquiring her doctoral degree, she returned to Bandung in 2007 and started teaching and conducting research at ITB. In 2008, along with about 45 creative communities and individuals, she co-founded Bandung Creative City Forum (BCCF) and now serves as BCCF’s General Secretary. In 2014, she was appointed to lead Indonesia’s Creative Economy Committee. Tita successfully supported Bandung becoming a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the field of Design.

Mr. Muhammad Ajie Santika, Startup Bandung

“Smart City and Startup Community Development”

Muhammad Ajie Santika is the CEO of Game Developer Company (Tinker Games) and Co-Founder of Coworking Space (Co & Co Space) based in Bandung. In 2015, Ajie initiated the Startup Bandung Community with 19 startup companies from Bandung and has become its coordinator. With six years of business experience, Ajie has traveled to London, Hamburg, Hong Kong, Singapore, San Francisco and Tokyo to promote his business, learning about creative cultures and collaborating with the creative and digital communities in each city. Ajie believes that the capabilities and potential of human resources in Bandung is huge and with the right direction they can rise and shine globally. Ajie also mentors several startups in Bandung and Jakarta while actively creating programs to accelerate the industry, especially in the creative and digital space. His presentation will also touch on the Bandung Smart City initiative.

Ms. Jacqueline Yean Yee Fong, Tanoti Crafts

“Borneo744: Malaysia's First Entrepreneur Town”

Jackie spent 14 years as an investment banker at CIMB before she gave up her career in banking to fully dedicating herself to her craft business and creative community development in Kuching, Sarawak (Malaysia). As a self-proclaimed 'enjoypreneur', she is a firm believer of working only on projects for which she has passion – her philosophy being that if you do something you love, it will not feel like work and the money will eventually come. Her initial project, Batik Boutique Hotel, is a TripAdvisor Hall of Famer and she now has a collection of 3 unique hotel properties under her management. She co-founded Tanoti Sdn Bhd, the country's most progressive songket weaving house, investing in research and innovation as much as it focuses on preservation of the heritage craft. Jackie is one of the protagonists of Borneo744, Malaysia's first Blue Ocean Entrepreneurs Township. Her vision is to be a catalyst for a thriving creative economy from an active ecosystem of creatives.

Ms. Jumhaila Monette Amellabon, United Architects of the Philipplines, Creative Cebu Council

“AA Streetware Cebu: Reactivating the City’s Historic District”

Ms. Jumhaila Monette Amellabon (Jumax) focuses on modern approaches using vernacular materials and construction methods. She is the Principal Architect of Arkitekto Kolab Design Studio in Cebu and Vice President for United Architects of the Philippines. She is interested in upcycling and repurposing waste materials to new materials as a materials designer for CREMIS, a Cebu-based company who focuses on waste management and material recycling innovation. She received a B.Sc. in Architecture from the University of San Carlos, and went on to complete an M.Sc. in Urban Design in the same university. In mid-2016, Jumax played a key role in an international collaborative research and education project between London’s Association School of Architecture (AA Visiting School of Architecture), Creative Cebu Council, Think City Malaysia and Fundacion Metropoli. 

Ms. Kae Batiquin, Create Cebu, Creative Cebu 

“Create Cebu, and the civic art empowerment movement”

Kae is an active member of the Creative Cebu Council and is one of the founders of the art-advocacy and urban development group Create Cebu. She is a graduate of English Literature from the Ateneo de Manila University in Manila, Philippines, and the International Christian University in Tokyo, Japan. Entering the world of design from the marketing angle, she and her team successfully launched the Debbie Palao brand in 2008, winning Best Promotional Materials in four consecutive Magna Awards granted by the Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation. Kae is currently the Manager for the Holistic Coalition of the Willing’s first Gallery-Store in Cebu (which espouses holistic practices in design and production and promotes the craft communities of the Visayas). Kae also works as the design consultant and content generator for Cebu Best and the AEO International Food Corporation.

Mr. Nirandorn Potikanond, Chiang Mai Sunday Cycling Club

“Contraflow Bike Lane and Bicycle Road in Chiang Mai Municipality”

Khun Nirandorn holds a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Chiang Mai University, a Diploma of Ing-Agra in animal reproduction from Kezen University, Germany, and a PhD on animal feed from the University of Göttingen, Germany. Khun Nirandorn was head of the Chiang Mai Sunday Cycling Club for 15 years before becoming its advisor. He has biked extensively in Germany, Thailand and Laos and has an interest in bicycle transit systems and bike security traffic systems.

Mr. Suradech Taweesaengsakulthai

Organization: Khon Kaen City Development 

“The Khon Kaen Model”

Khun Suradech has been the CEO and President of Cho Thavee Dollasien PCL since 1995. He also is the co-founder and Chairman of Kaen Think Tank (KKTT) Co., Ltd. He established this holding company by bringing together key business people in Khon Kaen who are willing to work together to develop the city, initially focusing on building an international convention center and a tramway to address traffic congestion. The initiative has since been coined the “Khon Kaen model” and has recently been adopted by a group of like-minded business entrepreneurs in Phuket. Khun Suradech has significant experience in engineering-led innovation and is also a conference speaker, university lecturer and much sought after advisor. 

Asst. Prof. Dr. Peeradorn Kaewlai

Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Thammasat University, Advisor to TCDC

“Co-Create Charoen Krung: A Community Engagement in Creative Place-Making”

Ajarn Peeradorn is an expert in the field of urban development and research. He leads a team of researchers at Thammasat, which was the first group that focused on creative city research in Thailand. Ajarn Peeradorn has been actively working with the government and entrepreneurs on projects that increase a city’s economic competitiveness. Recent projects include Bangkok Skyline, an elevated walkway connecting Ratchaprasong and Pratunam Districts, Development Guidelines for Creative Village in Rural Thailand, and Thailand’s Design and Innovation Promotion Policy and Planning. In 2012, Ajarn Peeradorn was appointed as an advisor to the Thailand Creative and Design Center (TCDC) on the relocation and programming of the New TCDC. Since then, he and his team have been working with TCDC in exploring the potential of Charoen Krung District as a new creative precinct of Bangkok, and how the new TCDC can be a catalyst in urban revitalization.

Montinee (Tik), Yongvikul , Policy and Development Director, (TCDC)

“Policy Co-Creation – Policy Support for Creative District Development”

Montinee Yongvikul received a Bachelor degree in Economics from Thammasat University and a Master’s degree in Communication from Chulalongkorn University. She started her career as an economic journalist at Manager newspaper for 6 years. Then joined the research team of SME group before becoming the staff member of Chief Economic Policy  Adviser to Prime Minister Office in 2001. She participated in project of OTOP (One Tambon One Product) and played the important role in the establishment of Thailand Creative & Design Center (TCDC). Currently, she is the Policy & Development Director of TCDC, in charge of content management and international collaboration project.

Assistant Professor Dr. Pitiwat Wattanachai, Deputy Director, Chiang Mai University Science and Technology Park (CMU STeP)

“Chiang Mai University Science & Technology Park – Catalyst for Innovative Change” 

Ajarn Pitiwat is responsible for the construction of the Chiang Mai University Science & Technology Park (CMU STeP) in Mae Hia. He received a Bachelor degree of Civil Engineering and a Masters Degree in Structural Engineering from Chiang Mai University before completing a PhD in International Development Engineering from the Tokyo Institute of Technology in Japan. He has led many R&D and collaborative projects and is currently overseeing the development of the new science park, a 20,000-square meter facility for R&D collaboration that is scheduled for completion in late 2017.

Assistant Professor Dr. Poon Thiangburanatham  Director, Urban Planning and Development Center, Faculty of Engineering, Chiang Mai University

“Making Chiang Mai’s Urban Transport Smarter”

Ajarn Poon is a director of the Excellence Center for Urban Planning and Development (ECUP), Chiang Mai University. He holds an MSc and Ph.D in Construction Management from the University of Colorado at Boulder and an MSc in Transport Engineering from the University of Colorado at Denver. Ajarn Poon is a registered professional engineer in Thailand with more than 18 years of experience in civil engineering and construction management, and more than 10 years of experience in transport and urban planning. He was the recipient of the best research award from the Thailand Research Fund for the Mae Hong Son Living Museum Project (2009-2012). He has served as a national consultant for international development agencies such as the World Bank and Asian Development Bank and has experience working at local government levels up to the ASEAN regional level.

Asst. Prof. Komson Teeraparbwong

Organization : Faculty of Architecture, Chiang Mai University

“The future of the past? Some reflections on working with the Nimman group & the Chiang Mai World Heritage project”

Ajarn Komson is a lecturer at the Faculty of Architecture, Chiang Mai University. He graduated from Chulalongkorn University, Faculty of Architecture and subsequently received a Royal Thai Scholarship to study abroad at the Architecture & Urban Design Program, GSAPP, Columbia University, New York, (USA), and the graduate program at The Architectural Association, London (UK). His academic interests are in urban design and planning in relation to the role of urban morphology (human settlements and their formation) and built-up environments, and how these create and change a city's characteristics. Working with different communities in Chiang Mai, he is interested in their development, transformation and lifestyles and has been supporting Chiang Mai initiatives to join various UNESCO programs. He has also worked with communities in other cities in Southeast Asia and around the world.  

Marisa Marchitelli, independent film producer, journalist

“Smoke: A Crisis in Northern Thailand”

Marisa Marchitelli talks about her acclaimed documentary “Smoke: A Crisis in Northern Thailand”, which explores the impact of the haze problem on health, the environment and the economy. Smoke is one of the most significant environmental problems in Northern Thailand and Marisa will also explore how this problem relates to the relationship of the city’s population to the environment. Marisa was born in Bangkok and is of Thai, Italian and American heritage. She has been living in Chiang Mai for the past 7 years working as a filmmaker and photographer. She began exploring the haze problem after feeling the health impact during the smoke season of 2015.

Yasmine Ostendorf, Green Art Lan Alliance

“Design and Response-ability; creativity in times of climate change”

Yasmine Ostendorf is an independent researcher/curator with over ten years of professional work experience in the international cultural field. She researches, curates, educates, connects, facilitates, and writes about art, design and culture that positively contribute to society, i.e. work that explores, questions and addresses our social and environmental responsibilities. She has extensively worked on international cultural mobility programs and topics relating to art and the environment having worked for expert organizations such as Julie’s Bicycle (UK) and Cape Farewell (UK). She is the founder of the Green Art Lab Alliance, an international network of 35 creative agencies across Europe and Asia engaged with social and environmental issues.

Đoàn Kỳ Thanh, Hanoi Creative City

“Hanoi Creative City – A creative hub in Hanoi”

Thanh is an Architect and the Founder of Hanoi Creative City, a creative hub in Vietnam. He is also the Vice President of the Vietnam Creative Entrepreneurs’ Club and founder of Zone 9 – a Creative Art Model. He is a photojournalist, university lecturer and the founder and director of Avant Architecture and Investment Consultancy. In addition, he is content advisor for the reality TV show “Siêu Thủ Lĩnh” (VTV6) and creative director for the project “Cocobay Da Nang Travel and Leisure Complex”. Thanh has a degree in architecture and completed further studies in architecture, sustainability, urban planning, and heritage conservation.

Nati Sang, Founder, Makerspace Thailand

“Chiang Mai –City of Makers”

Nati Sang is an entrepreneur, inventor, venture capitalist, educator, certified LEGO facilitator and former Buddhist monk. He created Makerspace Thailand in Chiang Mai as a community innovation lab that provides the tools, knowledge, and opportunity necessary for anyone to be an innovator. He is also the CEO of Infinati Industries, an innovation consultancy and think tank.