Ms Claire Chiang is the Senior Vice President responsible for the strategic direction, management and operation of Banyan Tree and Angsana Galleries. She is also the Chairperson of the Banyan Trees Global Foundation. In 2010, she assumed the roles of Chairperson, China Business Development and Chairperson, Human Capital Development Task Force. Ms Chiang has served two terms as a Nominated Member of Parliament and is the Director and Non-Executive Chairperson of the Wildlife Reserves Singapore and Chairperson of the Wildlife Reserves Singapore Conservation Fund. She sits on the Global Governing Board of the Caux Round Table as Vice-Chair for Asia.

Chua Hong Koon is the Publishing Director at World Scientific Publishing Company. Hong Koon has more than 30 years of publishing experience working with major publishers like Pearson and Oxford University Press. He has published many types of books, from children’s books to assessment and reference books, school and higher education textbooks, trade and professional books, also Christian books. Hong Koon served as an Exco member of the Singapore Book Publishers Association for several years. He is currently an executive member of the National Book Development Council of Singapore. He has a Science degree and also a Law degree.

Mr. R Ramachandran has long been associated with the promotion of reading, writing, publishing and library development in his previous appointments as Director, National Library, Deputy Chief Executive, National Library Board and subsequently Secretary — General International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA). He has been a member of the National Book Development Council of Singapore since 1969, serving in various capacities as Hon. Secretary, Vice-Chairman and Chairman.

As a banker with 27 years of experience, Karen held senior management positions in coverage and corporate banking before leaving the industry in 2019. Karen started her career with DBS Finance and subsequently UOB where she held various positions in corporate banking and risk management. In 2004, Karen joined BNP Paribas as Vice President. She was appointed Managing Director and Head of corporate coverage in 2010, where she set up the bank’s China and Japan desk. In BNP Paribas, Karen was also an active ExCo member of the bank’s diversity initiative, Mixcity, promoting diversity and women rights within the organisation.