27-28 August 2025
Suwon
Our advisory boards includes leading experts from across the semiconductor and MEMS sectors including 5G, IoT, Advanced Packaging, AI, Automotive Electronics, and Power Semiconductors.
Founding Partner & COO
At the helm of The MAX Group, a global consulting firm serving the semiconductor industry, with over 25 years of experience in the semiconductor industry, Ariel possesses a proven track record of collaborating with leading Front-End and Back-End factories. His expertise encompasses operational turnarounds and business transformations of semiconductor companies such as Atmel, Plessey Semiconductor and more, resulting in substantial financial returns. Ariel excels at motivating teams with a positive attitude and a strong passion for semiconductor manufacturing. Ariel serves as a member of the Board of Directors at Lynceus.ai, SEMI Fab Owners Alliance, and GaAs Power Systems for many years. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering and a Master in Engineering Management from the Ohio State University. Outside of his professional career, he is an avid motorsport enthusiast, actively supporting his son’s racing career in pinnacle GT categories in Europe.
We are MAX, for over two decades we have been creating faster and smarter global operations!
Our business philosophy and our key to success are founded on never taking your business for granted and always following you every step of the journey where everything happens, sharing responsibility for any outcomes. Our expert teams will work in perfect synergy with you, zealously improving your bottom line. Clients credit us for accelerating their factories’ path for demonstrating world-class performance results – higher productivity and output, shortened Cycle Times, and reduced Operational Costs. As tough as the challenge may be, we will bring skills and cutting-edge tools to help you succeed.
The MAX Group is a leading global consulting firm with special expertise in Benchmarking and Operational Improvements in the Semiconductor industry. While primarily focusing on the Semiconductors and Electronics industries, we are proudly serving our Clients operating in wide variety of industrial spaces including Automotive, Aerospace, Bio-Medical and more.
We provide services ranging from Manufacturing Efficiency & Productivity Improvements to Management Consulting and Organizational Transformations, M&A, New Facility Design & Build and IT Consulting. The MAX Group has over two decades of experience as change agents improving manufacturing operations from startup phase to a mature factory. Exposure to world-wide organizations and our multi-national professional talent enabled us to develop a unique range of operational solutions that help your business MAXimize profit.
Managing Director
Sharon Ko is the Managing Director of Analog Devices Malaysia, where she leads the company’s operations in the region. With over 30 years of experience in the semiconductor and electronics industry, Sharon’s career has spanned several prestigious companies. She began her professional journey in semiconductor manufacturing with Siemens Components, before taking on various senior management roles at National Semiconductor, where she contributed to development, technical research, engineering, and manufacturing operations. Sharon’s expertise in semiconductor technology is underscored by her impressive portfolio of 11 international patents, reflecting her innovative contributions to the field. Her leadership and accomplishments have earned her numerous accolades, including being named ‘Malaysia’s Best Employee’ in 2004 awarded by the Prime Minister of Malaysia. Following this, Sharon led the global Engineering Team and was later appointed as the General Manager in Carsem, showcasing her leadership and strategic vision in the semiconductor industry as one of the pioneers in the industry to implement automation in assembly manufacturing. Sharon also currently sits on the Board of Governors for the American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce.
Analog Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADI) is a global semiconductor leader that bridges the physical and digital worlds to enable breakthroughs at the Intelligent Edge. ADI combines analog, digital, and software technologies into solutions that help drive advancements in digitized factories, mobility, and digital healthcare, combat climate change, and reliably connect humans and the world. With reported revenues of more than $12 billion in FY22 and more than 24,000 people globally working alongside 125,000 global customers, ADI ensures today’s innovators stay Ahead of What’s Possible. Learn more at www.analog.com and on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Senior Director, Nvidia AI Technology Centre And AI Nation
Prof Simon See is currently the Solution Architecture and Engineering Director, Chief Solution Architect and Global Head for NVIDIA AI Technology Center, NVIDIA Corporation. He is also an Adjunct Professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Conventry University, and Universitas Indonesia (UI). In addition, he serves as a distinguished fellow in Fudan University and Adjunct Scientist at A*STAR’s Institute of High Performance Computing (IHPC). Previously, Prof See was the Chief Scientific Computing Advisor for BGI (China) and held appointments at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) and King-Mong Kung University of Technology (Thailand). Prof See is currently involved in several international computational, mathematical science projects and national AI initiatives. Since March 2018, he servd as a Steering Committee member of NSCC’s flagship High Performance Computing Conference – Supercomputing Asia (SCA). He has recently been appointed as the Executive Director of the ASEAN Applied Research Centre (AARC).
Prof See’s research interests are in the area of High Performance Computing, Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Computational Science, Applied Mathematics and Simulation Methodology. He has published over 200 papers in these fields and won various awards. Prof See is also a Fellow member of IEEE, member of SIAM, IET, AAAI and on the Advisory Team of AIP (AI Professional Association) and have served as a committee member for more than 50 conferences.
Prof See graduated from the University of Salford (UK) with a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Numerical Analysis in 1993. Prior to joining NVIDIA, Prof See worked for SGI, DSO National Laboratories, IBM, International Simulation Ltd (UK), Sun Microsystems and Oracle. He is also providing consultancy to several national research and supercomputing centers.
Since its founding in 1993, NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) has been a pioneer in accelerated computing. The company’s invention of the GPU in 1999 sparked the growth of the PC gaming market, redefined computer graphics, ignited the era of modern AI and is fueling the creation of the metaverse. NVIDIA is now a full-stack computing company with data-center-scale offerings that are reshaping industry.
SVP and Managing Dir., Infineon Technologies Kulim Sdn Bhd
Mr. Ng Kok Tiong: A Visionary Leader in the Semiconductor industry as the Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Infineon Technologies (Kulim) Sdn. Bhd, Mr. Ng Kok Tiong has been instrumental in spearheading Infineon’s first and only wafer fabrication plant in Asia, as well as the world’s largest 200mm Silicon Carbide Power Fab. Under his leadership, the Kulim site has transformed into a world-class wafer fab facility, employing over 4,000 people and driving growth, efficiency and excellence in the region.With an illustrious career spanning over 35 years in the semiconductor industry, Mr. Ng has accumulated extensive expertise in both front-end and back-end operations. He is an active contributor to the industry, serving in various associations such as the Semiconductor Fabrication Association Malaysia (SFAM) and the Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association (MSIA). His thought leadership has earned him a platform to share his insights at numerous industry forums in Malaysia and the region.Beyond his industry accomplishments, Mr. Ng is committed to nation-building. Infineon Kulim has been appointed as the Mission Based Project (MBP 1.2) Champion for NIMP 2030, an initiative by Malaysian government aimed at attracting more wafer fab investments to Malaysia.A graduate of the National University of Singapore, Mr. Ng holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical and Electronic Engineering (1989). He is married with three daughters. Born in Malaysia, he is fluent in English and Malay, and conversational in Mandarin and German.
Here at Infineon, we combine entrepreneurial success with responsible action to make life easier, safer, and greener. Barely visible, semiconductors have become an indispensable part of everyday life. We play a key role in shaping a better future – with microelectronics that link the real and the digital world. Our semiconductors enable efficient energy management, smart mobility, as well as secure, seamless communications in an increasingly connected world. Infineon designs, develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of semiconductors and system solutions. The focus of its activities is on automotive and industrial electronics, communication and information technologies, IoT, sensor technology and security. The product range comprises standard components, software, customer-specific solutions for devices and systems, as well as specific components for digital, analog, and mixed-signal applications.
Semiconductors Segment VP • Sales
Henri Berthe, a seasoned professional with 20 years of experience at Schneider Electric, leads the global Semiconductor Segment, driving sustainability and digitization. Previously, he was VP of Universal Enclosures, overseeing a global business focused on high-quality, standard, and connected enclosures. Before that, he served as VP of Digital Energy in MENA and Africa, deploying digital technologies and electrification solutions. Henri’s expertise spans energy management, digital power, and building management systems. He holds a master’s degree in Sales and Marketing from ESTA Belfort, France. In May 2024, he joined the Regional Advisory Board of SEMI South-East Asia and the Global Counsel of the Semiconductor Climate Consortium.
Schneider Electric is the global industrial technology leader, driving sustainable impact.
We are a powerhouse of electrification, automation, and digitization. The unique combination of our electrical and automation technologies intersect with our leadership in software, services and sustainability to rapidly accelerate sustainable impact.
Schneider’s purpose is to create Impact by empowering all to make the most of our energy and resources, bridging progress and sustainability for all. At Schneider we call this Life Is On.
Our mission is to be the trusted partner in Sustainability and Efficiency.
Energy management, Industrial Automation, Sustainability and Consulting Services, Industrial Software.
Senior Director GF Operations India/Malaysia
Yvonne Keil is Senior Director of GF Operations Malaysia & India, leading all Manufacturing Hubs of Globalfoundries, the world’s largest US based semiconductor foundry with manufacturing sites in Singapore, Europe and US. She is located in Penang.
With her roots in Europe Yvonne joined the board of the German high-tech-cluster Silicon Saxony beginning 2021 and was part of the advisory board of SEMI Europe from 2021-2024.
Yvonne brings over 20 years of semiconductor experience in Manufacturing, Automation, Global Supply Chain and Procurement.
The graduate engineer studied electrical engineering at the TU Dresden and the KTH Stockholm with a focus on automation technology, machine learning and artificial intelligence. She has worked at AMD since 2005 and joined GlobalFoundries 2012.
GF is one of the world’s leading semiconductor manufacturers and the only one with a truly global footprint. We are redefining innovation and semiconductor manufacturing by developing feature-rich process technology solutions that provide leadership performance in pervasive high growth markets. As a steadfast partner, with a unique mix of design, development and fabrication services, GF works collaboratively alongside our customers to bring a broad range of innovative products to market. With a global customer base, a talented and diverse workforce and an at-scale manufacturing footprint spanning three continents, GF is delivering a new era of more.
VP GM
Over 33 years in Semiconductor, Hard Disk Drive and EMS industry. Group VP/GM of ST Micro Malaysia GM/Country Manager of ON Semi Malaysia VP of FlexMobile Asia (Flextronics) responsible for Mobile Phone operations in Asia. Business Unit/Program Management Director in Solectron (EMS) responsible for the PnL of 8 accounts. General Manager of Priority Plus (a local Malaysian EMS). Production Manager in Seagate Recording Heads Operations in Penang. Started career in National Semiconductor Penang as Process Development Engineer after graduating from USM with a First Class Honours Degree in Applied Physics (Faculty gold medal) and MBA from USM. Awarded Honorary Doctor of Engineering from UTEM. VP of MSIA and Regional Advisory Board member of SEMI SEA.
At ST, we are more than 50,000 creators and makers of semiconductor technologies mastering the semiconductor supply chain with state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities. An integrated device manufacturer, we work with more than 200,000 customers and thousands of partners to design and build products, solutions, and ecosystems that address their challenges and opportunities, and the need to support a more sustainable world. Our technologies enable smarter mobility, more efficient power and energy management, and the wide-scale deployment of cloud-connected autonomous things. We are committed to achieving our goal to become carbon neutral on scope 1 and 2 and partially scope 3 by 2027. Further information can be found at www.st.com.
SVP Global Flash Backend Operations
KL Bock joined Western Digital or known as SanDisk in June 2010 after 21 years in Motorola and STATSChipPAC. He brings with him more than 30 years of vast experience in various functions inclusive of QRA, Operations, Supply Chain, factory GM, greenfield construction and start-up in China & Malaysia. He is currently the SVP of Western Digital Global Flash Backend Operations, managing the end-to-end Supply Chain, Operations, Fulfillment and Packaging Technology Development of both the captive factories and contract manufacturing with footprint across six countries.
KL has a proven track record in transforming conventional factory to “Lean 6 Sigma Automation – achieved industry pioneer in fully integrated Lights-Out manufacturing and industry pioneer in vertically integrated Wafer-In-Drive-Out manufacturing.” With this transformation, all the captive factories, SanDisk Semiconductor Shanghai (SDSS) and SanDisk Storage Malaysia (SDSM) has been designated the Lighthouse status, with SDSS being recognized as the first factory to achieve in one cohort, both the Advanced 4IR Manufacturing Lighthouse and China 1st Sustainability Lighthouse and SDSM being recognized as the Asia 1st Sustainability Lighthouse and Malaysia 1st Advanced 4IR Manufacturing Lighthouse by the World Economic Forum.
KL has received numerous awards such as Executive of The Year for Malaysia Management Excellence Award, featured in CEO Magazine and also was appointed as a 4IR Technical Advisor for MIDA, a beacon to share the 4IR journey to various industry captains. He is also a Certified Chief Master Coach by ITD World and SEMI SEA board member and Regional Advisory Board member of SEMI SEA.
KL holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electronic Engineering from Tunku Abdul Rahman University and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from University of Keele, United Kingdom.
Western Digital Corporation is an American data storage company renowned for its innovative solutions. With a wide range of products including hard drives, solid-state drives, and data center solutions, Western Digital prioritizes data security and protection, consistently pushing the boundaries of storage technology to meet evolving customer needs.
CEO Global Business, SIngapore
Jennifer Zhao formerly EVP and GM for Advanced Optical Sensors Division of ams OSRAM. She served as SVP, Global Sales and Marketing at Nexperia and held multiple management positions at NXP Semiconductors and Tyco International before that. Jennifer has managed various businesses including System Management, Logic and Microcontrollers and worked with leading OEM’s worldwide in Mobile and Consumer, Automotive and Industrial segments. Formerly Jennifer manages a global team with R&D, Operations, Marketing and Application resources in US, Europe, Greater China and South East Asia.
GigaDevice Semiconductor Inc. (SSE Stock Code 603986) is a global leading fabless supplier. The company was founded in April 2005 with branch offices in many countries and regions worldwide, providing local support at customers’ fingertips. Committed to building a complete ecosystem with major product lines – Flash memory, MCU, sensor and power as the core driving force, GigaDevice can provide a wide range of solutions and services in the fields of industrial, automotive, computing, consumer electronics, IoT, mobile, networking and communications. GigaDevice management system has achieved ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certification. Constantly looking to expand the technology offering to customers, GigaDevice has also formed multiple strategic alliances with leading foundries, assembly, and test plants to streamline supply chain management. For more details, please visit: www.gigadevice.com
Head of R&D, Power Modules in Asia
LW has 40 yrs of work experience with more than 35 years in semiconductor industry and 4 years in the Fibre Optics industry. He is currently the Head of Wolfspeed R&D for Power modules in Asia. He has worked in different countries in numerous positions from President, CTO, GM, VP of QA, Engineering & Facilities from Wafer Fab to Test including companies like Amkor, Carsem, Motorola, ST Micro, Hitachi and Finisar. He has also played Strategic Roles representing multiple sites, working with global teams as well as in having in depth & hands-on Operations/Engineering, Quality management background. In addition, he has also collaborated and participated actively with suppliers, government agencies and local institutions in various projects including Grants & Pioneer incentives, technical competencies development Programs with local Universities and Polytechnics. LW is also a member in the Semi SEA Regional Advisory Board since 2016.
Wolfspeed (NYSE: WOLF) leads the market in the worldwide adoption of Silicon Carbide and GaN technologies. We provide industry-leading solutions for efficient energy consumption and a sustainable future. Wolfspeed’s product families include Silicon Carbide materials, power-switching devices and RF devices targeted for various applications such as electric vehicles, fast charging, 5G, renewable energy and storage, and aerospace and defense. We unleash the power of possibilities through hard work, collaboration and a passion for innovation. Learn more at www.wolfspeed.com.
Wolfspeed® is a registered trademark of Wolfspeed, Inc.
Vice President Operations
Ir Bernard Limis currently the Vice Presidentand co-founder of Appscard Group AS and Appscard Global Research & Innovation Center, a technology startup company working on biometric smartcard with R&D and Operation facility based out Penang, Malaysia. He has over 27 years’ experience and have held various senior management rolesin manufacturing in different industry. He was also co-founder in multiple technology startup companies in Penang. He obtained his bachelor’s degree (B. Eng (Hons) In Electrical & Electronics) at Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom and is currently pursuing his Doctorate in Business Administration at Wawasan Open University. He is a Professional Engineer and Fellow of Institution of Engineers, Malaysia, a senior member of the IEEE and an Associate Fellow of ASEAN Academy of Engineering and Technology (AAET). Ir Bernard is currently the Management Council of Penang Skill Development Center, the Chair-elect IEEE Malaysia Section, the Chairman of The Institution of Engineers Malaysia (Penang Branch), Executive Committee of IEM, IEM Council Member, Committee Member of IEM Material Engineering Technical Division. At IEM, he is also the Deputy Chair of Standing Committee of activity. Ir Bernard is also an ASEAN Engineer Register (AER) Executive Committee and the permanent member for the technical committee on Innovation Management (NSC Y/TC11).
For more information please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernard-lim-18893510/
APPSCARD is a Norwegian company with its global operation based out of Malaysia. Appscard provides the World’s first “Government Grade Biometric Computer on Card”. The solution integrated in an ISO-standard smart card format with a large and physically flexible fingerprint sensor designed for use throughout entire populations. A complete local ID-system that does not compromise security or user privacy and works conveniently and securely for very close to 100% of any given population. APPSCARD replaces all of today’s identity keys, including pin codes, passwords, code tokens, simple non-biometric access cards, signatures, physical keys etc, all of which are easily compromised. And, the system is not dependent on databases or communication lines, only the user’s biometrics. Thus, all dominant sources of the massive challenges facing us today are effectively removed.
For more information please visit: www.appscard.com
Executive Director
With over two decades of experience in the semiconductor industry—ranging from fab start-ups and technology development to manufacturing and executive leadership—Wee Seng now helms the Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association (SSIA), where he drives talent development, business growth, and sustainable practices. He also serves on multiple advisory committees, including Singapore Polytechnic’s School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, NTU’s School of Materials Science and Engineering, Industrial Transformation Asia-Pacific (ITAP), and Enterprise Singapore’s Smart Manufacturing and Environment & Resources Standards Technical Committees. Beyond the industry, Wee Seng is deeply committed to community outreach as a District Councillor with North East CDC. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Nanyang Technological University and a Master of Science in Management of Technology from the National University of Singapore.
Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association (SSIA) is the voice of Singapore’s semiconductor industry and is committed to support this important sector in Singapore in order to facilitate substantial growth of the whole semiconductor economy of the country. SSIA brings together industry players, academia, and government agencies. Major activities focus on industry and talent outreach and continuing education, as well as to collectively address industry needs. SSIA is a platform for members to reach out to new business opportunities, industry alliances, and partners. It provides networking and relationship opportunities beyond the boundaries of Singapore. SSIA members today include companies and organizations throughout all parts of the complex and comprehensive value chain – IC design companies, Manufacturers, Fabless companies, Equipment suppliers, Photovoltaic and LED companies, EDA and material suppliers. Training and service providers, IP companies, Research institutes and Academia, as well as individual members.
Deputy Vice President
Noorazidi is currently attached to Inari Technology Sdn. Bhd. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Inari Amertron Berhad) as Deputy Vice President for OTSP (Operation Technology and Strategic Programs) and EHS (Environment, Health and Safety). Possessing a Mechanical Engineering degree from University Of Nevada, Reno, USA, Azidi started his career in the semiconductor related high-volume manufacturing, process engineering, automation system design, Industry 4.0 and environment sectors for the past 30 years with experience working with multinational companies like AMD, Hewlett Packard, Agilent and Avago. Beside transforming Inari into digitalization and cyber-physical-system adoption, Azidi has strong relationship with local academia (secondary and tertiary levels) for the work on developing new industrial-ready talents in the preparedness, exposure and pre-experience prior to joining the industry. Established strong collaborations with government agencies such as MPC, MIMOS, MIDA and MITI for the internal adoptions of advanced technology development and supporting local SME productivity and business developments.
Inari Amertron Berhad is an investment holding company with wholly-owned subsidiaries involved in the Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) & electronics manufacturing (EMS) industries. Products manufactured involved the RF filters module in mobile communications, optoelectronic products segment, sensors and indicators in automotive segment and others. Manufacturing capability includes prost wafer processing operations, surface mount technology, package assembly and full RF and electrical test capabilities.
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