Asia-Pacific Communications Awards

John Saunders’ work experience spans a variety of communications management roles in both private and public organisations in the United Kingdom and New Zealand. Currently he is freelancing as a senior communications manager. Previously he has worked for the Asia New Zealand Foundation, New Zealand’s leading non-government authority on Asia, as Director Communcations. John has also worked for the Inland Revenue Department, Tait Electronics, AMP Superannuation, Radio New Zealand, TVNZ and International Computers Limited in the United Kingdom.

Rajesh is an accomplished people practices leader, working as a Director in Deloitte. With about 2 decades of leadership experience with leading global brands such as ING, Thomson Reuters and HSBC, Rajesh has an inherent flair and eye for developing creative and innovative best practices. In 2011-12, Rajesh had catapulted ING’s Investment Management business in the league of ‘Top 50 Best places To Work’. He leverages internal communication to drive organisational themes and influence employee behaviors. A firm believer in keeping communication simple, consistent, transparent and inspiring, under his leadership, ING had received several recognition and awards. Rajesh has been actively speaking at leading Emerging Markets summits at London, Barcelona, Istanbul, Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia and India and also at leading Business Schools in Asia.

Google. Working closely with Google’s Asia Pacific public policy team, she drives advocacy
efforts related to ASEAN and Vietnam to shape the future of the Internet and mobile policy in
Southeast Asia so that digital economies in the region can thrive.
Before joining Google, Claudia was the Regional Director of Government Affairs for Seagate
Technology in Asia Pacific. She led Seagate's public policy and government affairs programs,
and she was also Vice Chair of the ICT Committee in the US-ASEAN Business Council.
Prior to Seagate, Claudia spent a large part of her career at the trade and investment
promotion agencies of Singapore, Japan and New Zealand. In between her government roles,
Claudia had a business development stint on e-payments in the private sector that developed
her interest in fintech.
Claudia serves as a judge for Asia Pacific's leading awards for communications and public
affairs, such as the Gold Standard Awards by Public Affairs Asia and the Asia Pacific
Communications Award by Asia Pacific Association of Communication Directors (APACD).
She graduated from the National University of Singapore with a B.A. Honors degree (Upper
Second Class) in Japanese Studies, and a B.A. (Merit) in Sociology and Japanese Studies.
She speaks English, Chinese (Mandarin, Cantonese) and Japanese.

Rachael joined Roche Diagnostics in 2013 as Head of Communications for Asia Pacific. Prior to this she was a Regional Director for Edelman Public Relations where she ran the Health Practice. Rachael moved to Singapore from Sydney, Australia to take up this role in 2008. In this role, she managed a team in Singapore and oversaw teams throughout the region to run marketing and communications programs for clients in the Healthcare sector, including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, diagnostics, consumer health and government.

Prior to relocating to Singapore, Rachael was the External Communications Manager for Bayer Australia. Previous to that she worked for a leading Australian public relations firm where she managed clients from a broad range of industries, including healthcare, telecommunications, television, automotive and the arts.

Rachael graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Mass Communications) and has a Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing Management from Macquarie Graduate School of Management.

Jason Kendy leads UBS’s internal and external Corporate Communications and Branding operations in Japan as well as Korea. Prior to joining UBS in 2011, he worked for 10 years at Merrill Lynch as its head of Japanese communications, branding, and reputation management. During his more than 25 years in Japan, he has advised a range of multinationals including Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank, Lehman Brothers, United Airlines, MUFG, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Matsushita Electric, and Japan Tobacco. Earlier in his career, Jason also spent three years advising U.S. based corporations in New York. He is a fluent speaker of Japanese and has recently become an avid student of blues guitar.

Bill currently works Texas Instruments as Asia Marketing Communications Director, responsible for all advertising and PR activities for Texas Instruments in Asia Pacific region. He built more than 15 years working experience in marketing and high tech industry. He has worked for leading high tech companies, including Texas Instruments, Sun Microsystems, Dell, and Compaq, in various marketing and technical support positions. Bill got his MBA degree from Richard Ivey Business School in Canada, and his Master degree from Chinese Academy of Sciences. Bill served as final judge in the 2nd and 3rd ROI festival.

Based in Hong Kong, Azmar Sukandar oversees The Nature Conservancy’s (TNC) Asia Pacific regional external and internal communications strategies and activities. She works closely with senior executives in the region as well as global and in-country teams to increase the impact of TNC awareness to target audiences and potential partners, raise the visibility for Asia Pacific projects and enhance the cohesiveness of messaging and communications across the region. Prior to joining TNC, Azmar headed up the Asia Pacific communications office for the Financial Times and also worked with Time and FORTUNE magazines and Microsoft’s MSN division. She holds a B.A. in International Relations and B.Sc. in Communications from Boston University, and a Master’s degree in media and communications from the London School of Economics.

Rob is the Chief Communications Officer Asia Pacific for UBS based in Hong Kong. In this role, he has oversight for internal and external communications as well as branding in the region. He is a member of the Asia Pacific Executive Committee. He has previously worked as the Head of Corporate Communications Asia ex-Japan for Nomura Group Holdings and as Head of Marketing and Corporate Affairs Asia Pacific for Merrill Lynch. Prior to joining the financial industry, Rob enjoyed a 17-year career in journalism writing for and editing magazines and newspapers in Hong Kong, Australia and the UK. For the past 10 years, he has been the President of Hong Kong-based charity, the Pam Baker Foundation, which focuses on the education needs of displaced children in Asia. Rob received a Bachelor’s Degree from University College London and a Masters in History from Monash University in Australia. Born in the UK, Rob is an Australian citizen who has lived in Hong Kong for 23 of the past 27 years.

Karen Khaw is the Head of Corporate Communications & Corporate Marketing for Asia Pacific at BNY Mellon responsible for leading both teams in amplifying the brand, developing communication strategies and enhancing the clients’ experience through digital initiatives. Having joined BNY Mellon in 2011, she was previously the Director of Corporate Communications, Asia Pacific before taking on her current role. Moving to Hong Kong from Sydney in 2006, she has over 18 years of Asia Pacific experience in advising, leading and realizing marketing and communications strategies in financial and professional services.

Before joining BNY Mellon, Karen had held various integrated communications and marketing roles at global companies including Societe Generale, law firm Baker & McKenzie, as well as having broad experience within the retail and institutional businesses of two of Australia’s major banks, Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Westpac Banking Corporation. At the end of 2014, she completed her first book project and published “Press * to engage” to share her other passion on the topic of employee engagement. In 2014, she led the BNY Mellon team to winning VMA’s inaugural Internal Communications showcase award.

Karen graduated with a Bachelor of Economics degree from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia and holds a MBA from the Macquarie Graduate School of Management.

Andrew leads Communications for Microsoft in Asia. He is responsible for promoting, protecting and defending the Image & Reputation of Microsoft, as well as building new communication capabilities and leading a highly-committed team of communications professionals in the region. Between 2007 and 2012 Andrew was Chief Marketing Officer for Microsoft in Asia-Pacific. Andrew moved to Asia in 2003 after over a decade with Microsoft UK, where he held a number of senior management business and marketing roles.

Before joining Microsoft in 1992, Andrew was an Account Director with Saatchi & Saatchi in London. Andrew holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) degree in Marketing from Lancaster University in the UK and post-graduate executive education from Harvard Business School and Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Chicago. A British citizen, he is married with two children and a permanent resident of Singapore.

A result oriented professional with around 20 years of experience specialising in Marketing Communications. Currently expatriated as Vice President and Regional Director, Corporate & Marketing Communications, Asia Pacific at Amadeus Asia Ltd. Based at the Asia Pacific regional headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand.

I have pretty solid experience in conceptualising, strategising, implementing and managing marketing & communication functions in global markets with a strong focus on Asia Pacific. A creative planner, strategist & implementer with clear demonstrative abilities in creating brand awareness, brand building and managing the reputation of the organisation both externally as well as internally.

Expertise in strategising marketing objectives in line with business goals along with planning and implementing corporate communication goals, thus ensuring corporate branding and communication guidelines are followed.

Based in Tokyo, Christopher Domitter took up his current position in May 2015, having previously worked for Standard Chartered in Kuala Lumpur as country head of corporate affairs in Malaysia. He joined Standard Chartered back in 2006 as head of corporate affairs Japan, then in 2010 in Seoul as senior vice president for Korea, then in 2013 in Hong Kong as senior manager, regional corporate affairs. Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Christopher has considered Japan his home for over 20 years, travelling extensively to photograph for clients such as Sports Illustrated, the International Olympic Committee and Swatch, as well a range of Japanese and regional publications, such as Action Asia, Outdoor Japan, Ski Japan, and Tokyo Journal.

Charmaine Glase has been in the role of Senior Communications Manager for Diageo since June 2017. Prior to this she was the Senior Communications Manager at Wine Australia. Charmaine worked for seven years in consumer PR roles at a number of Sydney’s leading independent public relations agencies including Liquid Ideas and The Cru Media, working across clients such as Singapore Airlines, Pernod Ricard, Treasury Wine Estates, and Carlton and United Breweries.
Charmaine also spent several years working for one of Australia’s leading radio broadcasters Southern Cross Austereo (then known as Austereo) and has worked at major arts festivals, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Adelaide Fringe Festival and Adelaide Festival of Arts.
Charmaine holds a Bachelor of Arts (Communication Studies) and a Post Graduate Certificate in Public Relations, and she’s the Country Coordinator for APACD’s Australian chapter.

Amy Ovalle oversees Global Communications for The Asia Foundation, the premier international development non-profit working in Asia, including editorial, electronic, publications, digital, design, photography, media relations, events, advertising and crisis communications.

Daliea Mohamad-Liauw oversees regional internal and external communications for Herbalife, including the Herbalife Family Foundation in Asia Pacific. In this role, she is responsible for driving Herbalife’s communications strategy and programs in Asia Pacific region to establish the company’s voice as a leader in nutrition through relationships with media and other key opinion leaders, across multiple platforms.

Before joining Herbalife in 2012, she has held a number of global and regional communications positions in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia – Temasek Holdings (the investment arm of Singapore’s Ministry of Finance), Royal Philips Electronics (semiconductors division), Nortel Networks, Burson-Marsteller and has served as a senior advisor of Pelham Bell Pottinger Asia Pacific.

Daliea holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Finance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA.

Penny Shone took on her current role as managing director of communications, global growth and operations at GE in 2011: she is responsible for leading the global communications strategy and function, developing people, capabilities and resources to build GE's reputation and engage with stakeholders in 180 countries outside the US, and particularly in growth markets. Previously, Penny was managing director, regional head of public affairs and communications at Citigroup.

Michael Chapnick is the principal communications advisor to the APEC Secretariat, member economies and host teams. He is responsible for communicating APEC’s key messages, engaging stakeholders and supporting APEC member economies to build awareness and understanding of policies and outcomes. This includes oversight of communications, public affairs, media, outreach, publications, corporate affairs and online activities.

Michael Chapnick holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Michigan’s Ford School of Public Policy and Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Beloit College. He is based in Singapore.

Pierre Goad is Group Head of Communications at HSBC Holdings plc. He was appointed a Group Managing Director in 2015 and a Group General Manager in 2014. He was first appointed Group Head of Communications in 2014. He held the dual role of Group Head of Human Resources and Communications from January 2015 to August 2016 when he returned full-time to Communications. He was appointed a Board Director of HSBC Bank Canada in 2015. Pierre rejoined HSBC in 2011 as Co-Head of Communications from Zurich Insurance Group in Switzerland where he was Head of Corporate Communications. Pierre has extensive international experience and has held a series of strategy and communication roles at HSBC in London and Hong Kong, where he joined the bank in 2001. He was also a correspondent and editor at the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., The Wall Street Journal in Canada, and The Asian Wall Street Journal in Hong Kong and Singapore. He is a Canadian and British citizen and Hong Kong permanent resident.

Pierre is on the Board of the European Association of Communication Directors (EACD) and is founding President of the Asia-Pacific Association of Communication Directors (APACD).

Shravani Dang’s work experience spans a variety of industries and both for- and non-profit organizations: technology/software, global NGO, financial, industrial and conglomerate. Currently she is Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications for the $4 billion Avantha Group-a leading industrial transnational.

Previously she worked with Fidelity (AUM $4.3 trillion) where she was Head and Associate Director – Corporate Communications. Her responsibilities included Communications, Crisis & issues management, Public Affairs, Living Art, Fidelity Foundation and Community Affairs and Diversity. Shravani also worked with CSC (India) NYSE: CSC, Revenues $13.0 billion, Fortune 200, as Head of Country (General Manager) for Corporate Communications. Responsibilities included Public Affairs, CSR, Community Affairs and Diversity, Crisis & issues management.

Shravani’s experience in the not-for-profit sector was as Manager Communications, Coordination, Resource Mobilization and External Relations with CARE India (Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere).In CARE she was part of an international team assessing the flood situation in Assam and was involved with the Elton John AIDS awareness project as well.

Shravani has had a brief stint as Faculty in Delhi University where she taught Mass Communications. A prolific writer, she has over 1000 published contributions. Shravani graduated with honours in Sociology which has given her a deep understanding of the diverse pan- Indian cultural context as well as global human connects. She also founded the Creative Writing Workshop.