Speakers' Bio
Ms Wu Choy Peng
Ms Wu Choy Peng is Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Information Officer at Info Infocomm Development Authority (IDA).
As Deputy Chief Executive (Industry), Choy Peng is responsible for developing the info-communications (infocomm) industry and to enhance the competitiveness of Singapore's key economic sectors through the use of infocomm technologies. Her charter is to develop and implement strategies that will strengthen and grow Singapore's infocomm industry thus contributing to the nation's fast growing economy and establishing Singapore as one of Asia 's most dynamic and vibrant infocomm hubs. Choy Peng is also responsible for developing the capabilities of the local infocomm industry to support economic growth in Singapore.
In addition to Choy Peng's industry development portfolio, she is the Government Chief Information Officer (Government CIO). As Government CIO, Choy Peng and her team of 640+ IT professionals play the roles of the Chief Information Officer, Chief Technology Officer and e-Government Programme Manager for the Singapore Government. She and her team perform the following functions:
• Provide technical leadership for the IT Masterplan in Government and the direction for IT exploitation in Government;
• Set IT standards, policies, guidelines and procedures for the Government;and the infocomm security of critical Government and national infocomm infrastructures;
• Conceptualise, develop, implement and manage Government-wide IT infrastructure and application systems.
The Government Chief Information Office (GCIO) also provides IT professional manpower resources to some 30 ministries, statutory boards, government departments and organisations of state. The GCIO team at these government agencies performs the roles of the Chief Information Officer and Chief Technology Officer to the agencies. The team also manages the IT infrastructures, systems and services at the agencies.
Before her current appointment, Choy Peng was the CIO of the Ministry of Education for 2 years. During her stint in MOE, she was responsible for the growth of the IT Department from 8 IT officers to 40 IT officers. She was also responsible for the implementation of the IT infrastructure in the 360 schools under MOE's Masterplan for IT in Education.
In her 10+ years in the previous National Computer Board, Choy Peng has worked in various departments and divisions. She was also involved in some major IT initiatives, such as the Electronic Road Pricing System, IT 2000 Masterplan, Library 2000 Masterplan, Government Call Centre, and the eCitizen Centre.
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Mr Arvind Agarwalla
Mr Arvind Agarwalla is the CEO and founder of Vedika Software Pvt Ltd in Calcutta, India, FACT Software International Pte Ltd of Singapore and FACT System Malaysia Sdn Bhd of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Mr Agarwalla was born in Calcutta, India. He graduated in 1983 with a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree from St Xavier's College. His first job was as manager of a gas station in Calcutta for four years. Although he turned a money losing operation into a profit maker, he was not satisfied with the challenges that this occupation provided, so he founded Vedika Software in 1987. As the prime mover behind the new company, he was responsible for the overall administration, vision, and management of Vedika.
The company is the developer of the revolutionary realtime accounting software called FACT. The application allows companies to manage virtually all of their accounting and inventory accounts on a “real-time” basis.
PERKS is another first in the Payroll and HR segment. Despite the complexities of payroll in each country, PERKS is used today by companies in several countries, without customisation.
Mr Agarwalla moved the international sales and support headquarters to Singapore in 1993 as part of an expansion plan for the company. Today, FACT is sold and supported in 16 countries locally, with more than 100,000 companies depending on FACT to maintain their accounts. The FACT Group is on a rapid growth trajectory. Companies have been incorporated recently in Dubai, Nepal and the Philippines, making FACT's direct presence in six countries. Plans are afoot to open new markets.
In an effort to share his knowledge of the IT industry, Mr Agarwalla writes for well-known newspapers and magazines. Mr Agarwalla is frequently invited to speak on IT as well as entrepreneurship at diverse forums. He has a deep interest in engaging with students. As a consequence, the FACT Group of companies offers internships to students from all disciplines of studies and proactively hires fresh graduates.
Mr Agarwalla lives in Singapore with his wife Vandana and his two young daughters. In his spare time, Mr Agarwalla enjoys photography, driving, reading and listening to music.
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Mr Jan Verplancke
Jan Verplancke is Chief Information Officer, Group Head of Technology & Operations. He joined Standard Chartered in March 2004, and is based in Singapore. Jan is responsible for all systems development, technology support and banking operations. Jan has been instrumental in driving productivity gain and innovations.
In 1986, he joined Levis Strauss Brussels, where he focused on the introduction of personal computers through Western European affiliates. In 1994, he then relocated to San Francisco as Chief Architect – setting global technology standards and contracts. In 1999, he was appointed Head of Systems for the Youth Category in the USA and in addition was also responsible for automation and process improvement.
He joined Dell as CIO, EMEA in 1999 where he achieved considerable cost reductions and process improvements. He was responsible for the expansion of Dell business in terms of new markets and consolidation of back-office operations, running teams in Slovakia, Bangalore to name a few. He helped Dell to leverage lower cost in the hubs around the world. Jan was also responsible for setting up several new operations worldwide with full back-office processing, fulfillment, call center and web servicing.
Belgian by birth, Jan is married with 3 sons and a daughter. His hobbies include astronomy, music and horseback riding.
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Practice Professor Steven Miller
Dr. Miller is the founding Dean of the School of Information Systems (SIS) at Singapore Management University, and also serves as Practice Professor of Information Systems. He oversees the education, research and public service efforts of the school. He also chairs the SMU-Carnegie Mellon University steering committee that manages the joint relationship for establishing and nurturing the School of Information Systems.
Dr. Miller actively participates in the promotion of innovative IT research and applications in Singapore through participation in the National Grid, the National Infocomm Awards, the National Young Scientist Awards, the Tan Kah Kee Young Inventors' Awards and the Singapore Computer Society Executive Committee. He supports regional IT application and innovation through participation in the Asia CIO 100 awards and the MIS Asia IT Excellence Awards.
Dr. Miller has held previous positions with Carnegie Mellon University, Fujitsu, RWD Technologies, and IBM. He has a Bachelors of Engineering Degree in Systems Engineering (Magna Cum Laude) from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia , PA. He has a Masters of Science in Statistics and a Ph.D. in Engineering and Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA.
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Ms Cho Lai Peng
CHO Lai Peng is a first year student at SMU School of Information Systems. She graduated with a Diploma in Internet Computing from Temasek Polytechnic. Lai Peng firmly believes there is a bright future for IT trained professionals and hence chose to specialise in Information Technology. She sees boundless diversity of opportunities for IT professionals with business knowledge in almost every function of the business world. Therefore, instead of pursing a conventional IT degree program, Lai Peng chose to embark on the SMU Bachelor of Information System Management, a degree program that trains students in both technology and business skills.
Lai Peng has an enviable track record of working with a number of companies from across a wide range of industries - education, shipping, airfreight, and manufacturing. Every employment has not only created value to the respective firm, but has also broadened and enhanced Lai Peng's understanding of the competencies that are sought after by employers.
About the Moderator
Mr Andrew Wong
Andrew Wong is currently a first year student with the School of Information Systems.
A former student of Anglo-Chinese Junior College, Andrew was an Arts stream student. Proving that backgrounds are no barrier to an IS degree, he is now currently enjoying his course in Information Systems Management in SMU. He is also an avid sportsman, and currently plays competitive floorball in the SMU floorball team.
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