Management Team
With each management team comes a unique perspective, ensuring our curriculum reflects the realities and demands of various sectors.
Mr. Haikal Akmar
UOA Academy Principal / Chief Learning
Haikal heads UOA Academy, the education arm of UOA Group in addition to his role as Chief Human Resources Officer of UOA Group. As the Principal and Chief Learning Officer at UOA Academy, he provides overall leadership and strategic direction in all aspects for the academy.
Mr. Aqmal Fikri
Head, UOA Academy
Aqmal is an experienced professional with a diverse background in Learning & Development, Higher Education, and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) management. He has held leadership positions at several leading institutions and is currently with UOA Group.
Driven by a passion for delivering solutions, Aqmal focuses on Talent Development & Management to support business sustainability and nurture talent to its fullest potential. Leveraging his extensive experience in the education industry across various organizations and cultures, he excels in articulating, planning, and delivering effective education systems tailored to meet organizational and business unit needs.
Aqmal’s commitment to excellence is evident in his career achievements and contributions to the field of education and talent development. As a dynamic leader, he continues to shape the future of learning and development in the ever-evolving business landscape.
Mr. Teoh Zhen Jie
Learning Specialist
As a key member of the team spearheading the establishment of the UOA Academy within the UOA Group, Teoh has already delivered over 100 hours of training despite being in the early stages of his career.
Holding certification as a trainer from the Human Resources Development Corporation (HRDC) in Malaysia, Teoh brings a wealth of knowledge and dedication to his role.
With a background in Psychology, Teoh places a significant emphasis on cultivating deep, meaningful, and trust-based relationships. Whether engaging in everyday conversations or navigating professional responsibilities, he is committed to understanding the essence of every individual he encounters.
Teoh’s core belief revolves around the idea that learning is a fundamental right rather than a privilege. He sees everyone as a student of life, where the only distinguishing factor is the level of advancement. Therefore, his personal and professional philosophy is rooted in the values of generosity, humility, and curiosity, shaping both his identity as an individual and his approach as a dedicated learning specialist.
Ms. Chai Yi Lin
BD and Marketing Specialist
Yi Lin plays an important role at UOA Academy, where her expertise spans across both sales and marketing realms. She excels at building relationships, closing deals, and exceeding customer expectations. Known for her attentiveness and patience, she consistently delivering exceptional support to colleagues and clients. Her contributions extend beyond sales operations.
Besides, Yi Lin also spearheads our comprehensive social media strategy and oversees all facets of our marketing campaigns. From meticulously designing posters to meticulously crafting engaging content, she ensures every detail is strategically aligned to effectively communicate our message to our target audience. Her multifaceted skills and dedication make her an indispensable asset to our team, driving success and growth for UOA Academy.
Ms. Illyana Ismail
Learning Administrator
Illyana is a dedicated administrative professional with extensive experience in managing various tasks within company environments. She excels in records management, client support, and ensuring policy compliance. Her strong communication skills facilitate effective interactions between staff and clients while maintaining adherence to company regulations and standards. Committed to the organization’s mission, Illyana provides exceptional administrative support to foster success and excellence.
Cik Nur Afiqah
Learning Administrator
Nur Afiqah plays a crucial role in overseeing the extensive operations at UOA Academy. She manages the entire HRDC operations, from Grant Application to Claim processes, and skillfully handles various aspects of UOA Academy’s operations, including Accounts reporting, Vendor identification and management, and Training room management & maintenance.
Recently, she has assumed significant responsibilities in accreditation, recruitment & admission processes, as well as student and stakeholder management for the TVET program. Afiqah’s diverse involvement highlights her dynamic leadership and expertise in ensuring the smooth functioning of UOA Academy across different operational areas.
UOA Academy Advisory Board
Meet the Visionaries Shaping the Future:
Puan Safrina Lasa
Sector Head for Tourism, FMCG, F&B and Retail - Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad.
Safrina is the Sector Head for the Financial Institution Professional Services, Fast Moving Consumer Goods (Retail, Tourism and Food Beverage (F&B) as well as the lead for companies based in Melaka and Negeri Sembilan
She has vast sales and marketing experience in the hotel and banking industries namely CIMB and OCBC, as well as recruitment and executive search background from PwC and Manpower Executive She went on to pursue a career in business development leading a team in a DRB Hicom subsidiary, and subsequently at POS Malaysia She currently sits as a member of the Industry Advisory Panel for Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) School of Human Resource & Psychology (SHARPS) and for Politeknik Metro Kuala Lumpur (PMKL) She is also serving as the Chair Person for Workforce Working Group Tourism Productivity Nexus under Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC).
Safrina holds dual Honours Degree in Economics Business Studies from the University of Sheffield.
Mr. Laurence Yap Tung Siong
Regional HR Advisor Huacomm Telecommunication Engineering (M) Sdn Bhd.
Laurence Yap has more than 20 years of experience in managing corporate learning, human resource development and talent management to enable organizational agility. He has over 11 industrial experiences including retail, hard drive media, pharmaceuticals, electrical engineering, contract manufacturing, conglomerate, IT, hospitality, solar energy and online payment.
Most of his employers are multi-national companies like First Solar, PayPal, Pfizer and Western. He has also worked with major local companies and SMEs including Berjaya Corporation Berhad, Carsem Semiconductor, Mydin Sdn Bhd, Dexon Electrical Engineering and Huacomm. His extensive experience in the industry has given him extensive knowledge and business acumen.
He is actively involved in the H.R. Community. He is the co-founder of the H.R. Leaders Circle which comprises 220 HR Directors in Malaysia. He is also a founding member of Hacking HR Malaysia, a US-based Global H.R. Network Group. He was named one of the Top 100 LinkedIn icons in Malaysia in 2018 and 2019 by the Malaysia Marketing Institute of Asia (MIA).
He holds a Master of Arts degree from the University of Malaya. He is currently pursuing his PhD in Talent Management.
Ms. Sam Khoo Chian Yi
Head - UOA Hospitality.
Sam Khoo is a seasoned professional with a wealth of expertise spanning more than a decade in property, retail, and hospitality management. With an impressive track record, she has consistently demonstrated her prowess in these sectors. Currently, as the Head of Hospitality at UOA Hospitality, Sam leads with a passion for excellence, leveraging her xtensive background to drive innovation and elevate the guest experience. Her leadership and commitment to delivering exceptional results make her a formidable force in the industry.
Dr. Loo Leap Han
Head of People, Infinity Logistics and Transport
Dr. Loo has over 23 years of experience in the HR industry, spanning manufacturing, infrastructure construction, and healthcare. Currently, he is the Head of People at Infinity Logistics and Transport (Group), where he oversees the people agenda. His responsibilities include the people and culture strategy and implementing group strategic human resources initiatives. Throughout his career, he has gained extensive experience in talent acquisition and management, employee competency gap analysis, HR financials and costing, organizational development and culture, employee engagement, HR practices and process improvement, and people development.
Under his leadership, the company achieved the Top 100 Asia’s Best Employer Brands 2019 by the World HRD Congress and the Employee Experience Awards 2021 for Best Onboarding Experience. He was featured as the cover story for Human Resource Magazine, Malaysia in 2019 and 2021, People Matters (Global) Magazine in 2020 and 2022, and ETHRWorld Magazine in 2022, where he shared his HR achievements, practices, and insights on future HR trends. Additionally, he has held many HR speaking engagements, authored articles on HR topics in magazines, and lectured at a private institution of higher learning for Ph.D., MBA, and degree programs.
Recently, Dr. Loo was awarded 501 Most Fabulous Global HR Leaders 2020 at the World HRD Congress, 40 Most Influential HR Leaders Across Southeast Asia 2022, 100 Most Influential HR Leaders from Southeast Asia 2023, Top Most HR Leaders Malaysia 2023 at the World HRD Congress, Most Iconic Global HR Leader 2024 at the World HRD Congress, and Top Most HR Leaders Malaysia 2024 at the World HRD Congress.
As an HR academic researcher, Dr. Loo’s research interests include organisational design, human resource management and practices, organisational behaviour, ethics studies, and workplace mobbing. He has published in several academic journals both locally and internationally. Dr. Loo earned his Doctor of Philosophy in Human Resource Management from the University of Malaya, Malaysia, with expertise in strategic human resource management, organizational culture, and firm performance.
