Speakers 2

COO

Sarawak Convention Bureau

Amelia, one of the pioneers of Sarawak Convention Bureau (SCB), the first convention bureau in Malaysia has over 13 years of experience in branding, marketing & PR. She has contributed towards a total win of 14 awards for Sarawak in creative marketing campaigns, assisted the destination in securing national and international Business Events (BE) over the last 10 years; which have inevidently translated to both economic and legacy impacts that cover significant ground beyond the general Tourism umbrella of Sarawak.

Prior to joining the Sarawak Convention Bureau, Amelia’s background came from Communication Design where she specialised in Graphic Design and Event Management in both San Francisco and Sarawak.

As the current Chief Operating Officer of SCB, she is responsible for the development of the Bureau’s strategies, high level government liaison, ensuring execution of operational policies, fostering employee alignment with organisational goals, whilst functioning as the main representative of SCB. With her prolific talents and jet-setting work values, she has spearheaded various organizations in refining their branding, marketing, and PR efforts.

To date she has won 4 internationally acclaimed professional awards and was recently selected as 1 out of 2 recipients globally for the European School of Management and Technology Berlin (ESMT Berlin) Women’s Scholarship for Executive Transition Programme.

Topic: Association Day Forum 1: Association Development – Investing in a Sustainable Future

Managing Director – Asia Pacific

Royal Caribbean Cruises

Angie Stephen is a 20-year veteran of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL). She is currently Managing Director for Royal Caribbean’s operations in Asia Pacific. She oversees all commercial and operational activities for the company’s brands, Royal Caribbean International and Azamara Club Cruises in the region.

Prior to this, Stephen was Associate Vice President of Market Development for Greater China, in charge of developing sales distribution, brand marketing and partnerships. She was also previously based in Miami, Florida at the RCL Global Headquarters, where she has held many leadership positions within the sales and marketing organization, including District Sales Manager, Trade Strategy, Training & Event Planning and Marketing Operations.

Topic: Asian MICE Cruise Conference | MICE Onboard 1: Fun & Frivolous?

Manager

Osaka Convention and Tourism Bureau

Asako-san has been working with the convention and Tourism Bureau for 15 years which she was in-charged of leisure section for 5 years and MICE section for another 10 years. She was assigned to manage both corporate and association meetings where she could accumulate her experience in the industry and gain knowledge from the two sectors.

Under her leadership, Osaka Convention and Tourism Bureau has launched the first MICE event called “Osaka MICE Business Alliance” six years ago, and the event has a significant effect on the local MICE industry.

Topic: ASEAN MICE Forum 1: Building A Sustainable MICE City – What We Need To Do To Get It Right?

VP Sales & Commercial, Greater China and Southest Asia

Costa Cruises

Bernie Ye joined Costa Cruises as VP Sales & Commercial of Costa China in May 2017. He is leading the company’s commercial operations in the rapidly evolving Chinese cruise industry. His role also extends to overseeing Costa Cruises’ sales and commercial business in Greater China and Southeast Asia.

As a leader with a hollistic perspective and international vision, Bernie has led the Costa Cruises’ sales team through its further expansion in Greater China and Southeast Asia, deploying his forward-thinking leadership skills and rich sales experience to grow the cruise industry in these markets.

Prior to joining Costa Cruises, Bernie gained rich and extensive experience in sales, marketing and management by working for a range of renowned multinational companies in China, including Abbott and Coca-Cola.

Bernie Ye holds a Master of Business Administration from China Europe International Business School.

Topic: Asian MICE Cruise Conference | MICE Onboard 1: Fun & Frivolous?

Sustainability Advocate, MICE Strategist and Hospitality Consultant

David Barrett is a MICE Strategist for five Accor hotels in Bangkok and Consultant Events for The Slate in Phuket, and provides marketing communications services to HLA Lifestyle Wellness Centre in Yangon and a portfolio of non-tourism international clients. He is a seasoned Business Events professional with 30 years’ experience in Thailand’s tourism industry. He is also an interesting mix of 2 parts sales addict, 1 part out-of-the-box creative entrepreneur and 1 part passionate tree planter, topped off with a sense of humour when posting on his social channels. His wealth of experience includes:

• Board Member of TICA (Thailand Incentive & Convention Association), served as Co-Chairman on its Marketing Committee for many years.
• Consultant and Board Member of TIWA Thai Indian Weddings Association
• Member of the Permaculture Association
• Founder & Shareholder of PIGS Co Ltd and DBC Asia – sales, marketing and communications agency
• Creator of the Diethelm Events brand, with 13 years of service at Diethelm Travel Group
• Executive Director Events at Amari Hotels for 5 years
• Represented Cunard Cruises, Forte Hotels and Reed Travel Publications in Thailand in early 1990s

Topic: Keynote Lecture: Sustainability – Future Proofing Your Business

Vice President – Corporate & Incentive Sales

Silversea Cruises

Freddy Muller is a 26 year veteran in the hospitality industry, while most of his career he has enjoyed working in the cruise industry; he had the opportunity of working in Hotels, Resorts, and Charter Air. Some might say his careers started when he did his homework in his grandfather’s office at a hotel in Venezuela, but the reality was at Celebrity / Fantasy Cruises in reservations. Within a year he got a taste of the Corporate & Incentive market and has been involved in this market ever since. Currently he is the Vice President of Corporate & Incentive Sales at Silversea Cruises.

Topic: Asian MICE Cruise Conference | MICE Onboard 2: Crazy Rich Cruisers

Director, Asia

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection & U River Cruises

General Manager, Tokyo Office, Convention Business Division
Congress Corporation

Director
Enterprise Promotion Centres Pte Ltd

Ms Tan is the leading director of Enterprise Promotion Centres (EPC), set up in 1989 by the Singapore Economic Development Board to promote enterprise development. She leads the team in providing association management services, event management, corporate training and outsourcing solutions. Ms Tan helps set up new associations as well as provides full-fledged Association Management Services (AMS) to existing associations locally as well as internationally. She champions the initiative to partner associations in organizing international and local industry events; and collaborates with overseas organizers to promote and event manage exhibitions & conferences internationally and in Singapore. In addition, Ms Tan works closely with government agencies to operationalize proprietary programmes and training courses to upgrade and grow industries as well as improve productivity.”

Topic: Association Day Forum 1: Association Development – Investing in a Sustainable Future