International Think Big Summit 2022

ITBS 22 Speakers

In 2021, we broke the silence by exploring taboos. In 2022, we moved beyond the framework of "is" to explore what "might be", and envisioned better alternatives to live, work and socialise with changemakers worldwide.

Our Speakers

Jay Wallace Website

Prof R. Jay Wallace
Topic: Life Without Regrets: A Mere Dream or Possibility?

Professor of Philosophy and Judy Chandler Webb Distinguished Chair for Innovative Teaching and Research at the University of California, Berkeley.

His research has focused on responsibility, moral psychology, normative ethics, and the theory of practical reason.

Chan Soon Seng Website

Chan Soon Seng
Topic: Malaysian Pedagogy: Made to Oppress

CEO of Teach For Malaysia, an independent, not-for-profit organisation on a mission to give all children in Malaysia the opportunity to attain an excellent education.

He envisions a holistic education system to best prepare students for the 21st century and enable them to thrive.

Nurul Izzah Website

Nurul Izzah Anwar
Topic: Malaysia's Promised Lands: Doomed to Fail?

Vice President of the People's Justice Party. Currently, she is the KEADILAN Spokesperson for the Ministry of Women, Family, and Community Development.

Nurul Izzah has consistently fought for the principles of social justice and a people-centric governance.

Yasmin Al-Douri Website

Yasmin Al-Douri
Topic: WWW: Whose World Web?

Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Responsible Technology Hub, an initiative focusing on including young voices in the debate around making technology more responsible.

She is also a Business Program Manager at Microsoft where she focuses on Responsible AI. She was named Young Global Changemaker 2022 by the Global Solutions Initiative and received the Volunteer of the Year Award 2021.

Datin Noor Azimah Website

Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim
Topic: Malaysian Pedagogy: Made to Oppress

The Chairman and founder of the Parent Action Group for Education Malaysia (PAGE), a national society to defend and ensure that “pupils are to be educated in accordance with the wishes of their parents”, as stated in the Education Act 1996.

She was named among The Edge’s Ten Inspiring Malaysians in 2013. She was on the Ministry of Education National Education Advisory Council 2018-2020.

Alan Marshall Website

Dr. Alan Marshall
Topic: Unfettered Growth: A Race to the Bottom

Lecturer in Environmental Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Mahidol University.

Marshall started the Ecotopia 2121 and Frankencities projects. His works were said to be “stunning”, “imaginative”, curious and creative", "adventurous", "impressive", "visionary", and "monumental" by National Geographic, Forbes, and more. He is also an award-winning writer of science fiction.

Nick Khaw Website

Nick Khaw
Topic: Unfettered Growth: A Race to the Bottom

Economist and Head of Research at Khazanah National. He is also Co-Head of Dana Impact, an allocation within Khazanah to undertake strategic investments for the nation. Nick is also a trustee of the Khazanah Research Institute.

Prior to Khazanah, Nick served as an economist in Malaysia’s Economic Planning Unit, where he was directly involved in several national development initiatives.

Joe Tyler Website

Joe Tyler
Philosophical Coaching (Pre-Summit)

Philosophy Wizard and Coach for the Philosophy Foundation in London for over a decade and guest speaker at Fulbright University's Philosophy Club.

He also led his own conversation club in supporting people of all ages to express ideas about controversial issues at Saigon, Vietnam.

Halmie Website

Halmie Azrie Abdul Halim
Topic: Malaysia's Promised Lands: Doomed to Fail?

Researcher for Democracy and Governance at the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS), a prominent think-tank based in Kuala Lumpur.

He has posited his thoughts on regional democratic trends, local political analysis, youth empowerment, multiculturalism and institutional reforms at numerous platforms.

Carl Mitcham Website

Prof Carl Mitcham
Topic: WWW: Whose World Web?

Philosopher of engineering and technology, Colorado School of Mines and Renmin University of China.

He was awarded the Abbot Payson Usher Prize of the Society for the History of Technology, International World Technology Network (WTN) award for Ethics, and a Doctorate Honoris Causa from the Universitat Internacional Valenciana, Spain.

Dennis Goerlich Website

Dr. Dennis Goerlich
Topic: Unfettered Growth: A Race to the Bottom

Program Manager at the Hamburg-based THE NEW INSTITUTE, and heads the program team at the Global Solutions Initiative, a global collaborative enterprise comprised of a network of world-renowned think tanks.

He previously headed the Global Challenges Centre at the Kiel Institute for the World Economy where, among other things, he managed the T20 process during Germany’s G20 presidency. His work focuses on the changing organisation of work, sustainability in global value chains, and the G20.

Aliff Naif Website_1

Aliff Naif Mohd Fizam
Topic: Malaysia's Promised Lands: Doomed to Fail?

Chief Coordinator of a youth-led leftist organisation, Social Democrat Organisation, as well as the president of International Islamic University Malaysia Student Union.

Aliff is also a proponent for intellectual activism movement, as well as the recipient of Young Philosopher of the Year 2021 Award. He has written numerous articles on student activism, sociology, philosophy, and politics, published in Malaysia and Indonesia.

Sharan Raj Website_1

Sharan Raj
Topic: Malaysia's Promised Lands: Doomed to Fail?

Socialist and a former Central Committee for Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM), as well as human rights social activist, environmentalist and infrastructure policy analyst.

He is also prominent writer on various major publications in Malaysia including Malaysiakini, The Malaysian Reserve, The Vibes and Free Malaysia Today on issues ranging from social policies, environmental sustainability to healthcare.

Universes (Topics)

Life Without Refrets A Mere Dream or Possibility?

Life Choices/Regrets

From the Great Reshuffle to the general restlessness of society, we are increasingly faced with alternative life choices.

Overwhelmed with life choices, regrets and paths not taken, how should we live in the face of ‘what-if’s?

Unfettered Growth A Race To The Bottom

Capitalism/Growth/Burnout

The current climate state, widespread burnout and a general decline in mental health have clearly shown that our obsession with economic and material growth is harming us.

How can we break away from the current growth paradigm?

WWW: Whose World Web?

Technology/Cyber Future

We know they're coming: Web 3, decentralised blockchain, Internet powered by AI, the Metaverse...

What do these mean to Internet users? How should we prepare for the cyber future? Are we headed towards a cyber utopia or dystopia?

Malaysian Pedagogy: Made to Oppress

Education System/Pedagogy

Rigid marking schemes? Mere regurgitation of facts? Student ranking system? These are just some of the many oppressive features we have internalised as normal.

How can we conceive what's ideal for educating us Malaysians and our children? Can we even free our enslaved minds?

Malaysia's Promised Lands Doomed to Fail?

Politics/ Governance

If every political system makes its moves based on utopian ideals, why are we still living in a world where corruption, poverty, and marginalisation still prevail?

Does the fault lie with how we and our politicians think about utopias? What does a Malaysian utopia look like? Is it even possible to reach?

Thinkathon CRITICAL THINKING HACKATHON

CRITICAL THINKING HACKATHON

First ever Critical Thinking Hackathon in Malaysia. Teams compete to put their thinking skills into work to solve real-life, ethical issues.
Best team award goes to Masalah Trolley! Best speaker award goes to Wei Ken!

Summit Agenda

Main Summit
Dec 3

Pre-Summit
Nov 26

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