Certified Data Protection Officer

Thakurdas Naraindas is a seasoned professional with over 41 years of experience in the legal field and academia. He obtained his LL.B (Hons) from the University of Malaya in 1976 and completed his Masters in Law (Tax) from the University of Melbourne in 1980. Further enhancing his expertise, he spent two academic years at Harvard University, participating in the International Tax Program and serving as a Visiting Research Fellow and Fulbright Exchange Scholar. Thakurdas’s extensive experience spans various roles including senior practising lawyer, consultant, lecturer, and trainer. He has been actively involved in legal practice, advisory & consultancy work, tax planning, strategic legal planning, mergers & acquisitions, and commercial & corporate negotiations across several areas such as Commercial Law, Corporate Law, Taxation, Conveyancing, Asset Securitisation, Land Law, and Banking Law. Additionally, Thakurdas has a rich history of international training and consultation in regions like Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Brunei, Mauritius, and Malaysia for organizations such as ICLIF (Bank Negara Malaysia) and Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia. His training domains include Corporate Governance, Corporate Law, Contract Law, Tax Law, Forensic Risk Management, Procurement Fraud, Business Strategies, and High-Performance Leadership Skills. Currently heading M/s Jethwani Consultancy, Thakurdas continues to impart his vast knowledge through consulting and training services while also advising on business strategies for various enterprises.

Navin Manghan Dewandas is a seasoned professional with over two decades of experience in the education and training sector, currently serving as the Senior Manager of Business Development at BAC Education Group. His focus lies in Digital Transformation, Industry 4.0, and Digital Business, where he plays a pivotal role in providing educational and training platforms to a diverse audience. Navin excels in establishing and nurturing business relationships with prospective partners, stakeholders, corporate clients, and students. He is instrumental in creating business opportunities for BAC Education by devising innovative development strategies and driving new business leads from conception through closure. His extensive network includes collaborations with government bodies, GLCs, and MNCs, leveraging available grants and initiatives to advance Malaysian Human Capital Development. Prior to his current role, Navin was the Vice President of M.I.T Academy Sdn Bhd (Malaysian Institute of Technology Academy), where he managed legal matters, sales and marketing, recruitment, and established business prospects for the company's sales pipeline. During his tenure from 2016 to 2018, he significantly contributed to the company's success through leadership and teamwork in technical trainings across Malaysia. He also initiated the establishment of an International School under M.I.T's umbrella. In addition to his roles at BAC Education Group and M.I.T Academy, Navin serves as the Chief Business Development Officer for STEMERA Sdn Bhd, an EdTech startup owned by M.I.T Academy targeting international education markets. His vision for STEMERA is to create job opportunities and learning platforms that equip job seekers and students with skills necessary for digital transformation careers. This innovation has been showcased at prestigious international events such as the RISE Conference in Hong Kong and Blockchain Consensus in Singapore. Navin's passion for education, lifelong learning, and skills training is evident in his commitment to enriching lives through industry-relevant education that aligns with job market needs. As an HRD Corp Certified Trainer & Strategic Partner Consultant, he specializes in areas like Education Management, IR 4.0, Digital Transformation, TVET Skills Training for Corporate Clients among others. His training repertoire includes Negotiation Skills, Collaborative Intelligence, Customer Services, Financial Planning, Business Development, Digital Sales, Law & Compliance, Intellectual Property Rights Management, Psychological Safety in Workplaces, Branding & Marketing Strategies along with Entrepreneurship & Intrapreneurship Development.

Jeremiah R. Gurusamy is a distinguished Senior Partner at Messrs. Ramesh Dipendra Jeremiah Law, where he leads the Corporate Commercial and Banking & Finance practice groups. With an extensive career that began in the corporate sector in 1997, Jeremiah transitioned into legal practice in 1999 after being admitted as an Advocate and Solicitor. His early career was marked by his tenure at a leading financial institution in Malaysia, which laid the foundation for his expertise in banking and finance law. Over the years, Jeremiah has developed a robust portfolio, acting for diverse clients across various industries. His areas of specialization include corporate banking, project financing, real estate transactions, mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, privacy and personal data protection, and employment law. Jeremiah's reputation as a knowledgeable and engaging speaker is well-established. He frequently presents papers and conducts workshops on topics such as Joint Ventures, International Commercial Contracts, Service Level Agreements, Director’s Duties, Employment Disputes, Banking & Security Documentation, Personal Data Protection, and Company Law. His speaking engagements extend beyond Malaysia to countries like Singapore, Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and India. He is a regular speaker for regional organizations and professional bodies including the Malaysian Institute of Accountants and the Bar Council. In addition to his legal practice and speaking engagements, Jeremiah contributes to academia as a guest lecturer at universities and private colleges. He also plays a significant role in professional qualification examinations in Malaysia and contributes to the LLM Masters programme for an Australian and New Zealand based Law College. Jeremiah's leadership roles within professional associations are noteworthy. He served two terms on the Bar Council from 2015 to 2017 and currently holds positions such as Deputy Chairman of the Personal Data Protection Sub-Committee. Previously, he was Chairman of the Corporate & Commercial Law Committee of the Bar Council. His commitment to the legal community is further evidenced by his eight-year tenure on the Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee from 2009 to 2017. Jeremiah's academic credentials include a Bachelor of Law LL.B (Hons) from the University of London (1995), a Certificate in Legal Practice from the Legal Profession Qualifying Board of Malaysia (1997), and a Masters of Law (LL.M) from the University of Malaya (2003). Additionally, he is a certified panel Mediator with the Malaysian International Mediation Centre of the Bar Council and a Certified Integrity Officer by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.