SEA'S ONLY VACCINE CONFERENCE FROM DISCOVERY TO DELIVERY

Rebecca Skinner is the Director of Research and Industry Development for mRNA Victoria. Rebecca is an executive leader with expertise and deep government experience extending across the innovative industries with a focus on delivering strategy and policy for economic outcomes. Rebecca’s career has spanned industry development and participation roles within government, at the former national biotechnology centre of excellence – the Australian Stem Cell Centre based at Monash University and at the academic think tank, the Australian Council of Learned Academies. Rebecca holds a Bachelor of Science (Biology) from Murdoch University, a Graduate Certificate in Public Policy and Management from Monash University and is a recent alumnus of the Australia New Zealand School of Government and the McKinsey & Company Executive Leadership Program.

Dr. Bo Ying has over a decade of experience in nucleic acid-based therapeutics and drug development. He founded Abogen, a biotechnology company focused on curing untreatable diseases using mRNA technology. Under his leadership, Abogen developed a proprietary mRNA platform that led to the approval of China’s first mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. Prior to this, Dr. Ying held various roles in leading biopharmaceutical companies, specializing in drug formulation and manufacturing. He earned a bachelor’s from Fudan University and a Ph.D. from Northeastern University. He has authored numerous patents and published in top journals, and served as president of the Chinese-American BioMedical Association.

Leon Cruz is a licensed pharmacist and Senior Manager, Head of Production (Pharmaceutical Division, Klang) at Duopharma. He leads sterile injectables and oral solid dosage operations, driving compliance, efficiency, and growth through strategic initiatives projects, and international tech transfers. With expertise in EU GMP Annex 1, contamination control, and quality-by-design, Leon has successfully guided facility qualifications and CAPEX programs. Passionate about people development, he champions multi-skilling, cross-functional empowerment, and a culture of accountability. He is also a Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, and active Industry Advisory Panel member.

Dr. Nupur Sengupta, Senior General Manager at Biological E Ltd. is a dynamic leader in the field of vaccines and bio-pharmaceuticals, specifically an Expert in Bacterial Vaccines, is driven by her passion for advancing global health.

With a PhD in Structural Biology, an MBA, and over 15 years of industry experience, she blends deep scientific expertise with strategic business acumen to build impactful collaborations that bring life-saving vaccines and drugs to communities worldwide. Currently at Biological E Ltd. in the Global Alliance and Partnership Management for Vaccines, Nupur plays a pivotal role in forging partnerships, steering innovative projects, and ensuring that critical vaccines reach those who need them most.

Beyond her professional journey, she is also a classical dancer, a curious traveller, and a nature photographer - interests that fuel her creativity and well-rounded outlook on life.

Dr. Wang Haomeng, an associate senior researcher, obtained his Doctor of Philosophy in Fermentation Engineering from Tianjin University of Science and Technology. He serves as a supervisor for the Biology and Medicine specialty at Fudan University. Dr. Wang has published more than 10 SCI-indexed papers and holds 15 authorized invention patents. He joined CanSino Biologics Inc. in August 2015. Currently, he is the head of the Product Development Center at CanSino Biologics Inc and assuming responsibility for the overall CMC (Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls) work of the group. His research mainly focuses on polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccines and nucleic acid vaccines.

Professor Petro Terblanche holds the position of Chief Executive Officer of Afrigen Biologics (Pty)Ltd based in Cape Town, South Africa. Afrigen hosts the WHO Global mRNA technology development and transfer Hub and has developed a mRNA technology platform which is being transferred to 15 partners in LMICs as part of a global program to build capacity and capabilities in LMICs to design, develop and produce mRNA vaccines for access and health security. Prof Terblanche is the author of more than 200 scientific publications and conference papers in public health. Petro holds several Board positions and serves on a number of scientific advisory boards in the academic and public health sector. She was recently acknowledged as one of the legends of science by the Academy of Sciences South Africa.

Dr. Bussakorn Mahakkanukrauh, MD; is a board-certified physician in Dermatology and Family Medicine with over 25 years of clinical experience. She previously served on an Institutional Review Board and was a training assistant in a dermatology residency program.For the past 11 years, she has worked in the pharmaceutical industry, focusing on medical affairs, scientific strategy, and public health. Passionate about turning innovation into real-world impact, she is dedicated to improving health outcomes and access to preventive care.

Dr. Badarulhisam is currently the Chief Scientific Officer at Pharmaniaga Berhad. He is responsible to spearhead product development and regulatory strategies for the company, inclusive of product ideation, development, trial, registration and product life cycle management. Among others, he is currently leading the team for various biopharma and vaccine development program, either through in house development or through technology transfer from several international strategic partners.

Dr Badarulhisam qualified as a Biochemical Engineer. He received his PhD from the Johns Hopkins University, USA and MSc and Advanced Diploma from the University College of London, UK.  His area of expertise is in the fields of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology.  Dr. Badarulhisam developed his early career as a lecturer at the Department of Bioprocess Engineering, University Technology of Malaysia and he is still active academically. He has served as a Professor (adjunct) at Chemical Engineering Department, University Putra Malaysia and he is also a member for the Board of Academic Advisory, School of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and a few other universities. He has served as an industrial advisor to several Bioprocess Engineering Programs in major universities in Malaysia and co supervises Masters and PhD students in various aspects of Biopharmaceutical Plant Design, Biologics Drug Development and Process Optimizations.

Pei-Yin is leading the Early Development team at Hilleman Laboratories. She is a trained virologist with more than 10 years of experience in vaccine development. She obtained her PhD from University of Wisconsin-Madison, and pursued her postdoctoral training at Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health and the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she gained Biosafety level-3 training. Her industry experience started when she joined Sentinext Therapeutics in Malaysia, developing vaccines against enteroviruses. After successfully transitioning an Enterovirus A71 vaccine into Phase I clinical trial at Sentinext, she joined Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), A*STAR, Singapore to develop therapeutic antibodies against viruses. She joined Hilleman Laboratories in 2021 as a Senior Scientist, and is currently the Senior Manager at Hilleman leading the Early Development team that encompasses Analytical Development and Preclinical teams.

Edwin Simjaya is a distinguished expert in technological innovation with a 15-year track record of driving digital transformation. As the Head of the AI & Software Center, he spearheads the strategic implementation of cutting-edge artificial intelligence, software systems, and Digital Twin technology for a major publicly listed company, turning visionary concepts into impactful, operational realities.

His leadership in corporate innovation is highlighted by his exceptional achievement as the two-time winner of the prestigious Kalbe Innovation Convention, receiving the top honor in both 2023 and 2024.

A firm believer in empowering others, Edwin is also a dedicated teacher and a Certified Coach. He is a sought-after keynote speaker at international and national conferences, known for his ability to demystify complex technologies and inspire audiences with a clear vision for the future of industry.

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Professor Waranyoo Phoolcharoen is a leading expert in plant-based biopharmaceuticals, with academic credentials from Chulalongkorn University, Mahidol University, and Arizona State University. Since 2010, she has led pioneering research in molecular pharming at Chulalongkorn University, harnessing plant biotechnology to produce pharmaceutical proteins targeting infectious diseases. In 2018, she co-founded Baiya Phytopharm, a trailblazing company that accelerates drug development using advanced plant-based platforms. This technology significantly reduces production timelines and costs. Committed to innovation and global health, Professor Phoolcharoen’s work continues to transform the field of vaccine and therapeutic protein development in Southeast Asia and beyond

Mr. Vipul Doshi has been in pharmaceutical Industry from more than four decades with diverse leadership and operational expertise across development, manufacturing, R&D, GXP quality assurance (QA) and manufacturing operations (parenterals, solid dosage forms, biotechnology, transdermal, biologics and vaccines).

He has been leading the Quality and Regulatory affairs function in the Pharmaceutical Companies of high credentials. Throughout his career he has been providing passionate global leadership and pioneered in guiding the companies to meet the Global Regulatory, Quality Standards and Compliance requirements.

He has been a Great Contributor in developing and implementing Quality attributes and Culture of Excellence based upon a set of core values and ethical practices, which integrate and improve business operations and enhance the compliance within the Organization.

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Dr. Nakorn Premsri, appointed Director of NVI Thailand in February 2019, has extensive experiences in health promotion, disease prevention and control as well as public health program management, having served 16 years at the Department of Disease Control. As NVI Director, he manages national policies and strategies for vaccine security, research funding, production, and vaccination for national self-reliance. He fosters collaboration with national and international partners, and strengthens vaccine expertise. Dr. Nakorn proposed the ASEAN Vaccine Security and Self-Reliance (AVSSR) initiative, endorsed in 2019, and coordinates the AVSSR Strategic and Action Plan 2021-2025 to ensure regional vaccine security

Dr. Kanitha Patarakul, MD, PhD is an Associate Professor in Medical Microbiology at the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand. Her research focuses on bacterial vaccine development, particularly for leptospirosis. She has led multiple projects advancing subunit, DNA, and mRNA vaccines targeting key Leptospira antigens. Her work includes immunogenicity and protective efficacy studies in animal models, and the identification of novel vaccine candidates through proteomic and in silico approaches. She also explores adjuvant formulations and delivery systems to enhance vaccine responses. Her goal is to develop effective, next-generation vaccines for leptospirosis and other bacterial infections of public health importance.

Fitriana is a seasoned executive with over 15 years of experience in international business and strategic partnerships within the biopharmaceutical industry. As Vice President of International Partnerships and Commercial at Bio Farma, she leads global initiatives to expand market reach and foster impactful collaborations, particularly in the field of vaccines. She holds an MBA from the Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) and actively engages with key global health organizations such as WHO, GAVI, PAHO, UNICEF and DCVMN. Fitriana is also a respected speaker at international forums, advocating for equitable vaccine access and sustainable partnerships across the global health ecosystem

Alain is leading the R&D department at Hilleman Laboratories. He has been in the vaccine industry over 20 years. Alain has an MD from the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium. He worked for several years as a District Medical Officer under the Ministry of Health of Zambia. Subsequently, he completed his residency in Internal Medicine at UT Houston, a Master of Public Health degree at the UT School of Public Health and a Fellowship in Adult Infectious Diseases at Baylor College of Medicine. Alain held several academic positions in the Department of Medicine at Baylor College in Houston, TX.

His pharmaceutical industry experience started at MSD and GSK Biologicals, he later joined Sanofi Pasteur in December 2006. Alain was located in Singapore from 2008 to 2018 as Regional Head of Clinical R&D/Medical Affairs Asia Pacific. Alain joined MSD in 2018 as Associate VP in Global Clinical Development leading the respiratory vaccine teams. Alain is now CSO at Hilleman Laboratories, a biotech company with the mission to find public health solutions for lower and middle income countries.

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Dr. Saluja is the Head of Clinical Development at International Vaccine Institute (IVI), whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver safe, effective, and affordable vaccines for Global Health. He has 20 years of experience working in industry, academia and resource-limited settings in both patient care and clinical research. He joined IVI in 2017 and his main areas of research includes epidemiology studies, pre-clinical research, and vaccine clinical trials (phase I-IV). In his current role, he is responsible for capacity building in terms of trainings and infrastructure in low- & middle-income countries, designing clinical trials, grant writing, regulatory interactions, overseeing departmental activities like medical writing, study startup, study execution, regulatory submissions, pharmacovigilance and impact evaluation. He has many publications in national and international Journals to his credit. Dr. Saluja has received many awards & recognitions from academia and industry alike.

As the Director of the Mahidol Vivax Research Unit (MVRU) at the Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, I lead a research team of > 30 staff including junior scientists, postdoctoral fellows and graduate students.  We are one of a few research groups that consistently work on the P. vivax parasite, which cannot be continuously cultured in laboratory.  I have established the first field-based membrane feeding assay for evaluation of transmission blocking immunity against P. vivax.  This method has been used to evaluate vaccine candidates and naturally acquired immunity in endemic populations. Our capacity to conduct research on P. vivax biology has contributed to the progress on P. vivax transmission blocking vaccine.  The first P. vivax human challenge study in Thailand has been established by my team in collaboration with Oxford University.  This study will increase our capacity to evaluate the new vaccine candidates and drugs against all stages of P. vivax.  To better understand the immune response against malaria infection is important for better vaccine design and evaluation.

Dr. Ahmed is a renowned senior public health and management professional with a strong professional experiences in strategic planning, program design, implementation, partnership & capacity building, resource mobilization and policy advocacy with Government, NGOs/CSOs, private sectors. He is working over 30 years in national and international settings with international NGOs, UN Agencies, Government, private sector & leading CSO both in Bangladesh and international assignments with varieties of cross-cultural settings in South and Central Asia. He has provided leadership in health sector including Immunization, maternal, child health & new-born health (MNCH), Sexual & Reproductive health, Family Planning, HIV/AIDS, Nutrition program & utilization of Digital Health services. He has proven experiences in implementing nationwide immunization, digital health services, program development, performance based framework, fund raising & strengthening health systems.

Dr. Seyed Reza Banihashemi is a Ph.D. in Clinical Immunology from Tarbiatmodares University in Tehran, Iran, and also a Vaccinologist. He is currently the deputy of R&D and Assistant Professor of the Immunology Department at Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute. He has extensive experience in vaccine research and development, with a focus on immune responses bacterial and viruses’ vaccines. He is main researcher and developer of the Razi Cov-Pars protein recombinant COVID-19 vaccine (the first intranasal covid-19 vaccine) and he is the manufacturer of the Nano emulsion adjuvant system related to this vaccine. He has published several research papers on topics such as vaccine development, immune response evaluation, and adjuvant and drug delivery system. He is also a reviewer for prestigious scientific journals in the field of microbiology and immunology.

Prof. Takafumi Tsuboi earned his M.D. from Ehime University School of Medicine in 1980 and his Ph.D. in Parasitology in 1986. He became an Associate Professor in the Department of Parasitology at Ehime University in 1997. In 1998, he identified the first candidate antigen for a Plasmodium vivax transmission-blocking vaccine (TBV), collaborating with Mahidol University in Thailand to develop the TBV. In 2003, he became a Professor at the Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, where he expanded his research to include genome-wide discovery of novel malaria vaccine candidates using an advanced wheat germ cell-free protein translation system.

Sebastian started his procurement career with HP/Agilent Technologies as the Regional Procurement Manager. He then moved on to join Microsoft & Alcatel Lucent as Head of Procurement to transform their procurement organization in Asia Pacific region.

Since 2014, Sebastian works for a Healthcare Agency in Singapore, reporting to the CEO as Head of Procurement (CPO). He led a team of supply chain and procurement officers for the nation’s fight against Covid-19 pandemic. In recognition of his contribution to this national effort, he received a Special Mentioned Covid-19 Award from the Supply Chain Asia in 2022 and was conferred a Public Administration Medal by the Singapore Prime Minister’s Office in 2023.

The World Business Research (USA), Insights Success Magazine (Ireland) and Business Social (UK) had interviewed him on various procurement topics ranging from procurement leadership, innovation, transformation, digitalization, etc.

Sebastian is the Chairman for The Procurement Council under Supply Chain Asia and sits in its Advisory Board as well as a Board Member of the Scientific Committee for the International Public Procurement Conference. He is an adjunct lecturer for the MBA classes in Singapore and overseas.

William Feng is an accomplished professional with a robust background in biotechnology and adjuvant development. Holding a master’s degree in biotechnology management from National Taiwan University, he has leveraged his expertise to excel as the Director of Business Technology & Adjuvant at Amaran Biotech in Taiwan. In this role, he leads the AB-801 Program, overseeing the production of high-grade QS-21 adjuvant. QS-21 is a critical component in vaccines such as GSK’s Shingrix® and Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine. With over 20 years of experience, William combines his deep knowledge of biotechnology with strategic leadership in business technology, managing key systems to drive innovation and compliance in biopharmaceutical manufacturing.

Luigi Bonfatti is Executive Advisor at RVMC (Regionalized Vaccine Manufacturing Collaborative). As member of RVMC Leadership he is focused on industry and industry associations engagement.

Before joining RVMC, Luigi has been supporting Chiesi Farmaceutici, Italian largest pharma company, in managing the integration of its largest acquisition to date (a fully fledged rare disease company) and adjust its operating and governance business models.

Prior to that, Luigi has spent 25 years at GSK Vaccines in a variety of senior roles in business development, supply, marketing and strategy of growing importance. During the last 8 years at GSK he created and grew a self-standing business unit in charge of integrations, divestments and strategic partnerships. As general manager of this business unit, Luigi was overseeing commercial and industrial partnerships and product transfers allowing him to have a unique end-to-end understanding of the vaccine industry and value chain.

Luigi holds a chemical engineering degree from Polytechnic School of Brussels University as well as an MBA from Solvay Business School.

As the Head of Medical Affairs for the India and Southeast Asia (I-SEA) region at Takeda, Dr Goh Choo Beng plays a crucial role in shaping the company’s scientific narrative across core therapeutic areas, including gastrointestinal and inflammation, rare diseases, plasma-derived therapies, oncology, neuroscience and vaccines. His strategic vision focuses on aligning Takeda’s current therapies area and robust R&D pipeline with the unique healthcare needs of the I-SEA region, ensuring access to cutting-edge therapies for patients.

With over two decades experience in the healthcare industry, Dr Goh is a seasoned medical leader and strategist. Driven by a passion for patient-centred care, he actively engages with healthcare professionals, regulatory bodies, and patient advocacy groups. This engagement enriches his understanding of the unique challenges within the I-SEA region, fuelling efforts to advance scientific knowledge and significantly improve health outcomes. Dr. Goh’s dedication reinforces Takeda’s position as a trusted leader in advancing transformative therapies and improving patient outcomes throughout the region.

Dr. Mohd Azlan Bin Zaharudin is the Director of the Malaysian Vaccine Project Office (MVPO) under the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI). In this role, he oversees the coordination and implementation of strategies related to Malaysia's National Vaccine Development Roadmap (NVDR). His responsibilities include leading efforts in vaccine ecosystem development and facilitating collaborations to advance vaccine innovation in Malaysia.

Prior to his role at MVPO, Dr. Mohd Azlan was part of the Strategic Technology and S&T Application Division of MOSTI, where he focused on the biotechnology sector. His work in this division provided him with valuable insights and experience that he now applies to his current position.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, from Ethiopia, is the eighth Director-General of the World Health Organization. In May 2017, Dr Tedros became the first WHO Director-General elected from among multiple candidates, as well as being first person from the WHO African region appointed to head the world’s leading public health agency. Dr Tedros, a biologist, infectious disease and public health expert, was re-elected unopposed to a second five-year term in May 2022, during the COVID-19 pandemic, after being nominated by more than 20 WHO Member States.

An accomplished Vaccine Manufacturing Expert with over 23 years of experience, recognized for a deep commitment to public health and ethical leadership.  

Possesses extensive expertise in vaccine and sterile manufacturing, paired with a proven ability to build and lead high-performing operational teams. Skilled in executing long-term, strategic visions with exceptional organizational, planning, and execution abilities. Adept at navigating complex challenges while inspiring and engaging teams, supported by a sharp strategic and analytical mindset.