The SME SDG Festival is a forward-thinking and progressive SME event focusing on enabling Malaysian enterprises to rebuild better in the new operating landscape - a carbon-neutral and resilient economy. Envisioned as the annual platform to gather leaders, experts, and the SME public on sustainability-related matters and coinciding with a self-designated sustainability month in Malaysia. The festival is part of a larger agenda to transform the local SME environment and will complement efforts to materialize a local SME Sustainability ecosystem.
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The SME SDG Festival aims to ignite awareness, enable quality networking, identify best practices, disseminate know-how, inspire action, and showcase innovative approaches in SME sustainability.
/ HIGHLIGHTS
1 day conference with topics that matter!
3 days of high-impact workshops by experts in the field!
12 Cutting-edge Workshops
Available!
Sustainable
SME showcase

SME SDG FESTIVAL

8th November
Opero Hotel Southkey, Johor Bahru
9.00 am – 5.00 pm {Malaysian time}
​
(Physical Event)
SME SDG WORKSHOPS
9th - 11th November
9.00 am – 6.00 pm
{Malaysian time}
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3 Day Series
(Virtual)
Register to Receive Your Complimentary Pass. Limited Seats Available!
* Five (5) complimentary passes only per organisation • Fifteen (15) complimentary passes for UNGC/GC Network Member.


Awaken, Activate & Accelerate
Beyond the current pandemic looms an even greater threat – climate change. A shift towards sustainable business practices is crucial to help SMEs in the advent of the carbon-neutral economy. SME sustainability is fundamentally different from corporate sustainability. A more elementary approach is required. Engaging SMEs call for awareness building, training, and know-how related to sustainability awareness. A local, fit-for-purpose approach is needed. There is urgency for SMEs to transform. We need to send out the signal to SMEs and become a beacon of support.
The 1 day conference and the 3 days virtual workshops will focus on achieving the following objectives :

awareness among SMES
towards advancing
the Sustainable Development Goals

ACTIVATE
SDG action among SMEs to
incorporate sustainability
practices within their operations and strategies.

ACCELERATE
networking and partnerships among SMEs to transition towards a more sustainable Malaysian economy.
AWAKEN
/ SUSTAINABILITY TOPICS TO BE COVERED
Sustainability Trade
Sustainable Supply Chain
Climate Action
Prosperous Work
Innovation For Circular Economy
Strategy & Leadership
Futures Thinking - The World SMEs Need

THE FESTIVAL AGENDA
/ THE 1 DAY SME SDG FESTIVAL
8th November (Tuesday) • 9.00 am – 5.00 pm {Malaysian time}
8:00am – 9:00am
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Registration
9:00am – 9:10am
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SME SDG FEST 2022 - #LEVELUP Welcome Remarks
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Mr. Edey Suresh, Johor State Director, UNGCMYB
9:10am – 9:30am
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Opening Keynote & Officiating Speech
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Dato' Haji Mohd. Noorazam Bin Dato' Haji Osman, Mayor of Johor Bahru City
9:30am – 9:40 am
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SME Guidebook Launch​
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Shanta Helena Dwarkasing, Director of Programs, UNGCMYB
9:40am – 10:10am
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Fireside 1: Identifying and Seizing Opportunities​
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Mr. Nicholas Piggott, Co-CEO, Nutrition Technologies
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Interviewed by Ms. Jess Yeoh, Lead of Research & Advocacy, UNGCMYB
10:10am – 10:40am Break
10:40am – 11:40am
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Panel 1: Overcoming the Challenges and Accelerating the Sustainability Journey
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Ms. Nargis Banu Kamal, Managing Director, ZincGrey Malaysia
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Mr. Tham Chee Aun, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ditrolic Energy
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Mr. Kiran Kumar, Senior Vice President (SVP), Biocon
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Moderated by Mr. Abel Benjamin Lim, Head of Development Economics, Bait Al Amanah
11:40am – 11:55am
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Keynote 2: GLCs Embracing ESG and Influencing Change in Supply Chain
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Datuk Syed Mohamed Bin Syed Ibrahim, President & CE, JCORP
11:55am – 12:30pm
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Fireside 2: Building Sustainable Supply Chain and Townships
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Mr. Gerard Soosay, CEO, Sunway Iskandar
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Interviewed by Ms. Lindy Tan, Executive Director of BCB Berhad
12:30pm – 1:30pm Lunch Break
1:30pm – 1:45pm
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Keynote 3: ESG Emphasis to Drive Sustainability in Organisations
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Mr. Marco Neelsen, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Port of Tg Pelepas (PTP)
1:45pm – 2:45pm
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Panel 2: Talent Sustainability – A New Attraction
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Dr. Kamal Amzan, CEO, Gleneagles Medini
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Dr. Sakina Sofia, Operations Director, EduCity Iskandar
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Mr. Kian Hoe Seah, CEO of Heng Hiap Industries Sdn Bhd
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Moderated by Ms. Adeline Chng, Senior Manager, Damansara Assets Sdn Bhd
2:45 pm – 3:15pm
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Fireside 3: Reaching the SME Grassroots with Sustainability​
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Mr. Peter Chua, Local Chapter President, JCI Johor Bahru Entrepreneur
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Interviewed by Kay Moris, Managing Partner, START IIX Sdn Bhd
3:15pm – 3:30pm
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Keynote 4: Improving Sustainability Stamina to Stay On-track
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Ms. Shanta Helena Dwarkasing, Director of Programs, UNGCMYB
3:30pm – 3:45pm Tea Break
3:45pm – 4:45pm
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Panel 3: Green Financing and Sustainable Grants for SMEs
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Mr. Roy Heong Beng Wai, Head of Strategic Partnership & Innovation, Alliance Bank
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Ms. Dafinah Hilmi, Director and Head of Commercial Banking, HSBC Amanah Malaysia Berhad
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Ms. Zakiah Mat Esa, Head of Sustainability & Strategic Management, SME Bank
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Moderated by Mr. Manohar Johnson, Assurance Partner, PwC
4:45pm – 5:00pm
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Closing Keynote: Agility is the New Era of Business
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5.00pm End of Festival
All speakers, panelists, and organisations are subject to change.

THE WORKSHOPS (Virtual)
Knowledge, Learning & Development:
The Challenge For Small and Medium Enterprises To Thrive In The New Normal
Most SMEs disappear in their early years because they do not have the ability to understand and respond to the challenges of global competitiveness, but as soon as they disappear, other enterprises are also created, and that gives a compensation effect, where the learning curve is cyclic. With the new normal brought on by the pandemic, the global climate emergency is expected to further disrupt
the business landscape to fundamentally change it for good. To compete, SMEs need to continuously upgrade their skills and knowledge as weapons of differentiation that can support their decisions, the successful implementation of best practices, and the development of better future positions.
The SME SDG Festival Workshops seek to introduce to the SME public, cutting-edge content that is most pertinent to the emerging landscape. Access to the 3-day Learning and Development event is FREE.
/ THE 3 DAY WORKSHOP PROGRAMME
9th November (Wednesday) - 11th November (Friday) • 9.00 am – 6.00 pm {Malaysian time}
9:00am – 11:00am
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Workshop 1: Pivoting Towards Building a Sustainable Business - Part 1
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Eden Strategy Institute
11:00am – 11:15am Break
11:15am – 1:00pm
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Workshop 2: Pivoting Towards Building a Sustainable Business - Part 2
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Eden Strategy Institute
2:00pm – 4:00pm
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Workshop 3: Utilizing Hybrid Business Processes for Sustainability - Part 1
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EY Malaysia
4:00pm – 4:15pm Break
4:15pm – 6:00pm
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Workshop 4: Utilizing Hybrid Business Processes for Sustainability - Part 2
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EY Malaysia
9:00am – 11:00am
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Workshop 5: Communicating Your Sustainability Practices - Part 1
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Institute of Public Relations Malaysia
11:00am – 11:15am Break
11:15am – 1:00pm
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Workshop 6: Communicating Your Sustainability Practices - Part 2
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Institute of Public Relations Malaysia
2:00pm – 4:00pm
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Workshop 7: Sustainable Business Performance Monitoring and Reporting - Part 1
4:00pm – 4:15pm Break
4:15pm – 6:00pm
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Workshop 8: Sustainable Business Performance Monitoring and Reporting - Part 2
9:00am – 11:00am
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Workshop 9: Financing to Help your Sustainability Journey - Part 1
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Alliance Bank
11:00am – 11:15am Break
11:15am – 1:00pm
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Workshop 10: Financing to Help your Sustainability Journey - Part 2
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Alliance Bank
2:00pm – 4:00pm
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Workshop 11: Sustainable Business Strategy - Part 1
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Taylor's University
4:00pm – 4:15pm Break
4:15pm – 6:00pm
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Workshop 12: Sustainable Business Strategy - Part 2
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Taylor's University
All workshop sessions are subject to change.

/ REGISTRATION

SME SDG FESTIVAL

8th November
Opero Hotel Southkey, Johor Bahru
9.00 am – 5.00 pm {Malaysian time}
​
(Physical Event)
Register to Receive Your Complimentary Pass for the conference. Limited Seats Available!
​
* Five (5) complimentary passes only per organisation • Fifteen (15) complimentary passes for UNGC/GC Network Member.
​
For the SME SDG workshops, please register using the respective workshop registration links found on workshop programme.