It rarely starts in a boardroom. More often, it begins in conversations, a leader choosing to listen a little more closely, a team being given the space to speak up, a decision being made with people, not just performance, in mind. Across APAC, these moments are quietly shaping the workplaces we admire today. Behind them are HR leaders who are doing far more than managing functions. They are building cultures from the inside out, guiding organisations through uncertainty, and rethinking what it truly means to support people at work. In a region as diverse and fast-moving as APAC, their role has never been more important, or more human.
This list brings together a group of leaders who are influencing that change in meaningful ways. Some are driving transformation at scale, others are strengthening culture in ways that may not always be visible, but are deeply felt. All of them share a common thread, a commitment to creating workplaces where people can grow, contribute, and feel a sense of belonging. What makes this list special is not just who is on it, but what it represents. Different industries, different markets, different journeys, yet a shared belief that people remain at the centre of every organisation’s success.
As you explore the names ahead, think of this not just as a list, but as a collection of stories in progress. Stories of leadership, resilience, and quiet impact, shaping the future of work across APAC, one decision at a time.
Peck Kem Low
Chief HR Officer and Advisor (Workforce Development), CHRO Office and Workforce Development, Public Service Division, Prime Minister’s Office
Peck Kem Low brings a unique combination of private and public sector experience to her role as Chief Human Resources Officer and Advisor (Workforce Development) for the Public Service Division, Prime Minister’s Office, Singapore. She began her career in quality engineering before moving into HR leadership roles across global technology companies, including Hewlett Packard, Agilent Technologies, Western Digital, and Avago Technologies. These roles gave her exposure to working across Asian, European, and American markets, shaping her global perspective on people and culture. In the public sector, she previously served as Divisional Director at the Ministry of Manpower, where she contributed to building HR and leadership capabilities at a national level. In her current role, she focuses on strengthening HR capabilities and developing HR talent across Singapore’s public service.
Beyond her organisational role, Peck Kem Low has played a significant part in advancing the HR profession globally. She is currently President of the World Federation of People Management Associations (WFPMA), where she is the first Singaporean and only the second woman to hold the position. She also serves as President of the Singapore Human Resources Institute (SHRI) and is the Immediate Past President of the Asia Pacific Federation of HR Management (APFHRM). Her contributions have been recognised through multiple accolades, including being named among Southeast Asia’s 100 Most HR Influencers and Asia’s Top 50 HR Leaders in 2024, as well as Global 100 HR Leaders Hall of Fame 2025.
Ku Sim Ling (AuntyHR)
HR Influencer and Former Corporate Services Director
Ku Sim Ling, widely known as “AuntyHR,” brings over 20 years of experience in the workforce solutions industry. She previously served as Corporate Services Director at a multinational organisation in Malaysia, where she led corporate and HR-related functions. In 2023, she made a career shift to become a full-time HR influencer, focusing on making workplace topics more accessible and relatable. Through her content, she addresses workforce challenges, promotes education, and encourages more open conversations around workplace practices. She has built a strong digital presence, with over 184K followers on Instagram and 194K on TikTok, where her content combines practical HR insights with a simplified and engaging approach to reach a wider audience. She was nominated for the TikTok Awards Malaysia 2024 under the category of Education Creator of the Year, reflecting her growing influence in the digital learning space.
Her work combines practical HR insights with a simplified and engaging approach to reach a wider audience. In addition to her corporate and content experience, she has served as a panel member of the Malaysian Industrial Court, representing employers. She holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in Electronics, majoring in Computer, from Multimedia University, and is an HRDC TTT-certified trainer. She is also the founder of the #DilarangBodoh (“Don’t be stupid”) campaign under Bimbo Society, focused on promoting self-awareness and continuous learning in the workplace.
Monir Azzouzi
Founder & Managing Director, Futuresparx
Monir Azzouzi brings over 20 years of experience across HR and business leadership roles spanning Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. He is currently the Founder and Managing Director of Futuresparx, where he focuses on digital transformation, organisational development, and the future of work. Prior to this, he held leadership roles including Chief of HR, IT, and Corporate Services at Gotoko, and was part of the HR leadership teams at organisations such as Gojek and Maxis. His experience also includes board-level roles across the technology and media sectors. His areas of expertise include digital transformation, employee experience, organisational strategy, and the application of AI in HR. He is also the author of “ChatGPT-Powered HR,” reflecting his work in integrating technology into people practices.
Monir has received multiple recognitions, including the Asian Human Capital Award by Temasek, LinkedIn Rising Star Award, and being named among Asia’s Top 10 Voices and the World’s Top 25 CHROs. He has also been recognised as the #1 Most Influential HR Leader in Southeast Asia (Indonesia). He holds an MSc in Management of Innovation & Business Development from Copenhagen Business School and has completed executive education at Harvard Business School in Business Analytics and Big Data. He is also an ICF-certified coach and HRDC-certified professional.
Roshan Thiran
Founder and Kuli, Leaderonomics Group
Roshan Thiran is the Founder and “Kuli” (labourer) of Leaderonomics, a group of social enterprises focused on growing leaders, transforming organisations, and building stronger communities across Asia. With a career spanning global giants and diverse industries, he brings deep, hands-on experience in leadership and organisational development. He began his professional journey at ExxonMobil before spending 16 years at General Electric (GE), where he worked across the United States, Europe, and Asia in roles spanning finance, aviation, media, and leadership development. During his time at GE, Roshan played a key role in transforming a struggling aviation business in Malaysia into a global benchmark and was later part of GE’s renowned Crotonville leadership institute. He subsequently joined Johnson & Johnson as Director of Global Talent Management, contributing to global leadership pipelines, succession planning, and talent strategies.
Today, Roshan partners with CEOs, CHROs, and leadership teams to drive culture transformation, leadership development, and organisational renewal. Through Leaderonomics, he has helped organisations build accountable cultures, strengthen leadership benches, and navigate change in an AI-driven world. Known for his engaging style, he blends corporate insight with storytelling, practical frameworks, and a strong focus on purpose-driven leadership.
Dr. Susan Peisan Chen
Founder & CEO, co:grow
Dr. Susan P. Chen is a senior HR leader and Founder & CEO of co:grow and TalentSkope, boutique consultancies that bring a fractional and tech-forward approach to startups and scaling companies. With over 18 years of HR leadership and consulting experience, she has supported organisations across industries, from oil and gas in Norway to financial services and gaming in Asia, including AIG, Visa, and Riot Games. Her transition into Southeast Asia’s startup ecosystem saw her lead talent development and organisational transformation at Viva Health, Accenture, and Gojek. Today, she partners with founders and leadership teams across APAC to design people strategies that connect headcount to revenue, unlock growth, and build resilient organisations.
Susan is known for challenging traditional HR thinking, a perspective she explores in her book, The Death of Best Practices. Her work blends a growth mindset and strengths-based coaching with commercial pragmatism, positioning HR as a driver of survival, acceleration, and scale.
Alongside her consulting work, Susan is a keynote speaker, angel investor, and certified leadership coach, with over a thousand coaching hours across executives, teams, and founders. She is passionate about co-creating solutions, building trust, and shaping HR into a true strategic partner for the next generation of businesses.
Handi Kurniawan
Group SVP Human Capital, Bank Mandiri
Handi Kurniawan is Group SVP Human Capital at Bank Mandiri, Indonesia’s largest bank by assets, where he leads human capital strategy and talent management initiatives. With over 25 years of experience, he has worked across banking, multinational corporations, and diverse industries in Asia. His career includes leadership roles at organisations such as Standard Chartered, Sinar Mas, Jardine Matheson, General Electric, and Shangri-La Group.
He has led large-scale initiatives in talent management, leadership development, and workforce capability building, supporting organisational growth and transformation. His experience spans multiple geographies, having lived and worked in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Beijing, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the United States. Handi has been recognised as one of the 100 Most Influential HR Leaders in Southeast Asia. He holds an MBA from the University of Western Australia and a Master of Arts from the University of Michigan.
Angelina Chua
Human Resources Director, APAC, COFCO International
Angelina Chua is a global HR leader with over 25 years of experience across Asia Pacific, the Middle East, the United States, and Europe. As Human Resources Director, APAC at COFCO International, she leads people and culture strategies across a large, geographically diverse workforce. She has partnered closely with CEOs and boards to drive transformation initiatives, including mergers and acquisitions, operating model redesign, and workforce integration. Her work has contributed to cost optimisation, improved organisational agility, and stronger alignment between business and people strategies.
Angelina has led HR for organisations with up to 24,000 employees and has extensive experience building regional and global teams across China and Southeast Asia, including eight years based in China. Her scope of work has extended beyond HR into areas such as corporate governance, general and employee insurance, corporate social responsibility, and data protection, reflecting her broader business involvement. She is focused on talent development, employee engagement, and leadership advisory, with a strong emphasis on building inclusive and high-performing cultures.
