Koen van Gurp is a seasoned recruitment expert with over 25 years of experience in the industry. He began his career in corporate recruitment in the Netherlands, working with global brands such as Heinz, Unilever, and Siemens. In 2008, he relocated to Kuala Lumpur and founded TalentSquare, a regional Executive Search firm specializing in senior management and niche recruitment across Asia for multinational companies. Koen and his team are driven by the mission to “recruit to retain,” emphasizing long – term fit over short – term fixes. He is a strong advocate for data – driven and science – based recruitment practices, integrating psychometric assessments into the hiring process through a strategic partnership with Thomas International (now Compana). TalentSquare’s approach helps organizations make smarter, evidence – based hiring decisions that support sustainable growth and leadership development. Koen regularly shares his insights on leadership hiring, talent strategy, and the evolving role of assessments in modern recruitment through conferences and industry forums.

Hein Jan Lapidaire was raised in the Netherlands. Following his studies, he held several management positions in the hospitality industry before joining Thomas International in 1996 as a Senior Consultant for the Netherlands. Over the years, he has played a key role in growing and leading the Dutch sales team and also served in various positions, including Corporate Trainer and Vice President.  In 2015, Hein Jan relocated to Sydney to establish the Thomas International office and team for Australia and New Zealand (ANZ).  In 2017, he moved to Kuala Lumpur to head the Thomas regional support center for the Asia – Pacific (APAC) region. Under his leadership, the Kuala Lumpur team earned multiple accolades in the Psychometric Vendor of the Year awards.  As of January this year, Thomas transitioned its Asia operations to Hein Jan’s private company, Compana International.  Hein Jan is deeply passionate about supporting organizations and individuals in enhancing self – awareness, boosting employee engagement, and cultivating strong organizational cultures. He is an accredited trainer and practitioner in numerous psychometric assessment tools and regularly facilitates workshops and speaks on topics such as personal performance improvement, intelligent selling, emotional management, and building high – performance teams. In his free time, Hein Jan enjoys playing tennis or paddle, and exploring the rich culinary and hospitality culture of Malaysia.

Mint Lee Chia Huay brings over 20 years of extensive experience in human capital management. Throughout her career, she has held key HR roles across both local and multinational companies, spanning a wide range of industries including solar panel manufacturing, construction and engineering, IT services, oil and gas trading, and HR consultancy.Mint holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Commerce from Liverpool John Moores University. Her expertise covers the full spectrum of human resource functions, including talent acquisition, compensation and benefits, learning and development, employee and industrial relations, performance management, coaching, succession planning, HR strategy, and leadership development.Known for her strategic mindset and collaborative leadership style, Mint is a trusted business partner to senior leadership teams. She plays a critical role in driving organizational effectiveness, guiding change management initiatives, and fostering a high – performance workplace culture.  Passionate about continuous learning and professional development, Mint is also committed to sharing her knowledge and experience to empower the next generation of HR leaders.

Jackie is currently responsible for guiding the strategic direction and execution of the Directors Development & Certification Framework at ICDM, concentrating on the essential skillsets, competencies, and mindset necessary for boards to tackle emerging governance challenges. She also plays a role in co – facilitating board evaluations for a variety of organizations across different sectors, including both public and private companies, to enhance board effectiveness, promote diversity, and improve dynamics and culture within the boardroom. Recently, she has developed an interest in sustainability, having completed the ESG Competent Boards Program, and is now tasked with creating sustainability initiatives and integrating ESG across ICDM’s offerings for boards and C-suites. In her current position, Jackie is dedicated to increasing operational efficiency and promoting greater outreach and sustainable business growth both locally and regionally through strategic alliances, business development, market positioning, and brand distinction for ICDM’s training and advisory framework. She also manages the Research & Advocacy team, which is responsible for fostering thought leadership and driving change through advocacy on boardroom issues while maintaining robust relationships with key stakeholders. Her enthusiasm lies in the realm of people and talent, as she aims to cultivate a collaborative team that prioritizes inclusivity, open communication, and a culture of innovation and creativity. In her former position as CFO at the World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) Foundation, her breadth of experience encompassed not just financial management but also extended to strategic planning, information technology, human resources, business development, marketing, and communication, where she has spearheaded significant projects on a global scale. Jackie is a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA).