VERITAS Lecture Series

On 17^th October, the 16th VERITAS Lecture Series took the stage at the Opero Hotel Grand Ballroom, Johor Bahru, with a captivating theme: “Iskandar Malaysia: Connecting the Dots”. The event brought together influential industry leaders and stakeholders for a forward-thinking dialogue on the region’s future. YB Lee Ting Han, Chairman of the Johor State Investment, Trade, Consumer Affairs and Human Resources Committee, delivered an inspiring keynote, followed by dynamic panel discussions led by our President, David M. Hashim. The day was filled with innovation, collaboration, and a shared vision for progress. As a non-profit event, we’re proud to announce that the surplus funds and contributions from our generous sponsors will go towards supporting Rumah Perlindungan Kanak-Kanak TBQ Amal, as recommended by the Johor Menteri Besar Office.

The VERITAS Lecture Series 15 was entitled ESG for the Built Environment, it centered strategy development for the real estate and construction sector, with a memorandum of understanding signed between 27 Group and VERITAS Design Group, signifying a strategic alliance between both groups to engage in SESG consulting services for the built environment sector.

The event was a resounding success with speakers from the real estate sector, construction industry, and environmental bodies coming together to debate practices and policies for creating a better ESG dynamic within Malaysian business operations. We heard from Sr. Ahmad Farrin Mohktar, Senior Manager of Policy of Construction Industry Development Board, Mr. Faroze Nadar, Executive Director of the United Nations Global Compact for Malaysia and Brunei, Dr. Gary Theseira, Chairperson of Climate Governance Malaysian and Datuk N.K. Tong, President of Real Esate and the Housing Developers' Association Malaysia.

The panel moderation session was moderated by David Mizan Hashim, Group President of VERITAS which brought together all panel speakers for engaging in the discussion of these vital topics and looks forward to greater opportunities for the adoption of ESG practices within the Malaysian business community.

Morning session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0uhu-xbbfg
Afternoon session: https://youtu.be/pTySf4Cce98

Download the speakers' slides:

• Girish Ramachandran, Executive Direrctor of 27 Advisory and 27 Group - Sustainability and ESG Planning For Built Environment
• Dr Gary Theseira, Council Member of Climate Governance Malaysia - Climate Change and the Built Environment - Seeing Big Picture Opportunities in Local ESG Challenges
• Sr. Ahmad Farrin Mokhtar, Senior General Manager of Policy and Corporate Sector of Construction Industry Development Board - CIDB_s Initiatives In Making The Construction Industry More Sustainable and Productive Through ESG
• Ir. Ahmad Izdihar bin Supaat, Past President of Malaysian Green Building Council - Towards Net Zero - malaysiaGBC Carbon Score
• Choong Wai Hong, Chief Transformation Officer of OCBC Bank Malaysia - Climate Resilience and Sustainable Financing
• Datuk NK Tong, President of Real Estate and Housing Developer_s Association - ESG_ Remember To Look Under The Hood
• Mohd Razif Mohd Yusoff, Head of Safety and Sustainability of Sime Darby Property Bhd - Towards A Sustainable Township - Beyond The Bricks and Mortar
• Raymon Ram, Secretary General of Transparency International - Business Integrity Management As A Core Antecedent To Our National Anti-corruption Efforts
• Faroze Nadar, Executive Director of UN Global Compact Network Malaysia and Brunei - Rise of Sustainable Trade

On 18^th November 2021, VERITAS successfully hosted its annual VERITAS Lecture Series; virtually for the first time. This year’s theme for the one-day seminar was “Mind the Gap”, focusing on the role of the Malaysian Public Transportation System in socio-economic progress.

The online seminar explored the evolution of various types of public transportation systems (e.g MRT, LRT, HSR, ECRL, BRT, etc) starting from planning stage up till execution, as well as the importance of “the last mile” to achieve a fully integrated solution for the public.  Experts from policy and regulatory, finance, engineering, property development and design backgrounds shared their perspectives and exchanged ideas for the future. The seminar’s objective of building a close collaboration and cooperation among the various stakeholders, as a first step towards realizing the vision of a National Transport Plan 2019-2030, was indeed a success.

It was an honour to have with us renowned speakers such as Tan Sri Dato' Sri Ar. Hj. Esa Mohamed (Chairman at MyHSR Corporation), Mr Mark Staib (Executive Director and the Chief Operating Officer of PETRA Transit Systems), Datuk Isham Ishak (Secretary General, Ministry of Transport Malaysia)  and VERITAS award-winning architect and Principal; Ar. Ng Yiek Seng. Over 600 attendees from corporate, private public, academia and civil-society sectors attended the full-day conference.

The event was well-received, with high scoring feedback accompanied by congratulating remarks from all the delegates.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWu5gwb7UHU&list=PLrsljArVIO4XfJO5nj4Bdia-VZzTFm4dm

VERITAS Lecture Series 13 was entitled “FORWARD: Moving Penang Into The Future”. The keynote speaker was YB Zairil Khir Johari, Penang EXCO for Public Works, Utilities and Flood Mitigation and other speakers were Szeto Wai Loong, Project Director, SRS Consortium Sdn Bhd, Dato’ Toh Chin Leong, Chairman, REHDA Penang, Dennis Eiszele, Technical Director for City & Places, Jacobs Engineering Group (M) Sdn Bhd, Faez Jumabhoy, Managing Director, Real Estate Sector Head, CIMB Investment Bank Berhad, Ar. Ng Yiek Seng Principal, VERITAS Architects Sdn Bhd, Feisal Noor Vice President, Buildings + Places, AECOM, Audrey Teo Loh Chief Architect, MMC GAMUDA KVMRT, and Girish Ramachandran Executive Director 27Advisory.

VERITAS Lecture Series 12 was entitled “People Property and Place”.The keynote speaker was YB Khalid Samad the Minister of Federal Territories and other speakers were Ee Soon Wei of APW, Cha-Ly Koh of Propetypricetag.com, Adrian Yap of Freeform, Norzaini Nordin Deputy Senior Director, KL City Hall and Principal Lillian Tay from VERITAS Design Group. Among the special guests were Kuala Lumpur Mayor, Datuk Nor Hisham Ahmad Dahlan and City Hall Director of Planning, Datuk Hj. Mahadi Che Ngah.

VERITAS Lecture Series 11 was entitled “Transport Oriented Development, compact connecting city- living”, and it was held on 8th November 2017 at KLCC Convention Centre. The keynote speaker was Mr. Yusrizal Daud from Suruhanjaya Awam Darat(SPAD) and other speakers were Firdaus Effendy Mokhtar from PRASARANA, Ishmael Ho from HO CHIN SOON RESEARCH SDN BHD, Dennis Eiszele from JACOBS, Matthew Holloway from GRIMSHAW and Principal Ng Yiek Seng from VERITAS Architects.

VERITAS Lecture Series 10 was entitled "School – House Educational Institutions – Building Communities" and was held on 22 September 2016 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center. The topic explored the symbiotic relationship between property development and educational institution. The speakers were Ng Yiek Seng (VERITAS), Dato' Lim Si Boon (Tenby), Tony Liew (Taylor's University), Martin George (Epsom College), Faez Jumabhoy (CIMB Investments), Christoper Boyd (Savills), Dr. Norma Hudson (International School of Kuala Lumpur), Dato' Felician Teo (Eaton International) and Datuk Haji Mahadi bin Che Ngah (Perbadanan Pembangunan Kg. Bahru).

VERITAS Lecture Series 9 was entitled "Recent Trends In Malaysian Hospitality" and was held on 18 August 2015 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center. The keynote speaker was Dr. Nirwan Noh of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia and the other speakers were Mr Paul Matthew Wiste of Jumeirah Group, Mr. Sen Soon-Mun of Horwath HTL, Mr. Faez Jumabhoy of CIMB Investment Bank, Ms. Lillian Tay of VERITAS Design Group and Mr. Lai Voon Hon of IREKA Corporation.

VERITAS Lecture Series 8 was entitled "Metropolis; Transport Oriented Development (TOD) for Kuala Lumpur" and was held on 2^nd October 2014 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center. The keynote speaker was Puan Nor Fanim Mohd Amin of Suruhan Jaya Pengankutan Awan Darat (SPAD) and the other 5 speakers were Mr. Ng Yiek Seng of VERITAS Design Group, Cik Izzati binti Tan Sri Mohamad Salim of Malaysian Resourses Corporation Bhd (MRCB), Ms Audrey Teo Loh an architect experienced in TOD, Mr. Ho Chin Soon of Ho Chin Soon Research Sdn Bhd and Mr. Allen Folks of AECOM Asia.

VERITAS Lecture Series 7 was entitled "Very Tall Buildings for Developers & Consultants." It will be held on the 25^th of June 2013 at the Impiana Hotel Kuala Lumpur. The five international line up of speakers for the day includes Ame Engelhart, Associate of Skidmore Owings & Merrill LLP, David Malott AIA, Principal of Kohn Pederson Fox Associates, Lillian Tay, Principal of Veritas Design Group, David Chin Shan Lee of AECOM Asia Company Limited and Arvind Menon, Deputy Director for Mechanical Services of Ranhill Bersekutu Sdn Bhd.

VERITAS Lecture Series 6 was entitled "Branding for Developers & Consultants" and it was held on 26^th June 2012 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. The four keynote speakers were Dr KK Johan of Brand Laureate www.thebrandlaureate.com, Mr. SP Lee of Dentsu www.dentsu.com.my, Mr Amit of BBDO Proximity www.bbdo.com.my/ and Mr. Karthik Siva of Global Brand Forum and they presented a detailed overview of "Brand".

VERITAS Lecture Series 5 was entitled "Property Market Outlook in the Klang Valley for Developers & Consultants" and it was held on 28^th June 2011 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. The two keynote speakers were Mr. Christopher Boyd of CB Richard Ellis www.cbre.com and Mr. Ho Chin Soon of Ho Chin Soon Research www.hochinsoon.com, and they presented a detailed overview of the Property Market in the Klang Valley - Past Performance & Predictions and Greater KL- MRT Blue Line & Circle Line.

VERITAS Lecture Series 4 was on PAM 2006 Contracts "Main Changes Affecting Developers & Consultants" and it was held on 9^th December 2010 at the Uptown Conference Centre. It was conducted by lawyer Ms. Tan Swee Im and contract specialist Mr. Michael McIver, and they presented a detailed overview of the latest PAM 2006 Contract, Comparison of Key Features in PAM 2006, PWD 203, FIDIC Red Book, CIDB and the structure of VO, EOT, L&E claims – making and defending them.

VERITAS Lecture Series 3: "Sustainable Design for Architects" was held on 22 November 2008 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center. It was conducted by IEN Consultants Sdn. Bhd. and the speakers were CK Tang, Poul Kristensen and Regina Ng. They spoke on sustainable practices and turning vision into reality by injecting life into buildings through innovative design and facilities management.

VERITAS Lecture Series 2: "PAM 2006 Contracts for Architects" was held on the afternoon of 18^th July 2008 at the Menara Getah Asli Auditorium. It was conducted by Mr Harbans Singh and he presented a detailed overview of the latest PAM Contract formats.

The Inaugural Lecture Series was entitled "Branding" and it was held in 2007 at the Westin Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. The keynote speaker was Mr Shaun Hasbollah he presented a detailed overview of "Branding Strategies".