Overview
While AI is widely celebrated as a driver of innovation and societal change, capable of reshaping industries and solving pressing social and environmental challenges, the reality is that most AI investments are stuck in pilot stages, bogged down by inflated promises and a failure to scale (McKinsey, 2024). This session moves beyond proof-of-concept purgatory to equip organisations with the knowledge and tools to put AI into practice and achieve impact. By spotlighting real-world applications and tackling the barriers to AI adoption, the AI for Public Good community provides a platform to scale credible solutions and transform AI’s untapped potential into measurable public good.
This event confronts the uncomfortable truths about artificial intelligence (AI), cutting through the hype to reveal both its transformative potential and its current limitations. While AI is widely celebrated as a driver of innovation and societal change, capable of reshaping industries and solving pressing social and environmental challenges, the reality is that most AI investments are stuck in pilot stages, bogged down by inflated promises and a failure to scale (McKinsey, 2024).
Yet, the power of AI to deliver measurable impact is undeniable. In areas such as healthcare, education, climate change, and economic development, scaled adoption can drive unprecedented social and economic benefits. Generative AI is already revolutionising federal agencies in the United States, enhancing transportation, citizen services, healthcare, and energy. In Singapore, the National AI Strategy 2.0 is accelerating adoption through close collaboration between the government and industry, pushing boundaries within both the public and private sectors.
This session moves beyond proof-of-concept purgatory to equip organisations with the knowledge and tools to put AI into practice and achieve impact. By spotlighting real-world applications and tackling the barriers to AI adoption, the AI for Public Good community provides a platform to scale credible solutions and transform AI’s untapped potential into measurable public good.
Agenda:
4:00pm - 4:10pm: Opening remarks by SGInnovate and AWS
4:10pm - 4:25pm: Keynote on Singapore's National AI Strategy 2.0
Goh Hanyan, Director, Smart Nation Strategy Office and Director, Policy & Strategy, National AI Group, Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI)
4:25pm - 5:15pm: Panel discussion on AI for Public Good
Phway Pann, Head – Public Sector Industry Partners, Asia Pacific & Japan, AWS
Serene Ho, Senior Digital Development Specialist, The World Bank
Emir Nurov, CEO & Co-Founder, Resync
Michael Tan, Senior Partner and Strategy Lead – Gov+, NCS Group
Moderator: Jerry Lui, Assistant Director of Partnerships, SGInnovate
5:15pm - 6:00pm: Networking and end of event
Schedule
Date: 19 Feb 2025, Wednesday
Time: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM (GMT +8:00) Kuala Lumpur, Singapore
Location: 32 Carpenter Street, 059911
Speakers
Speaker's Profile:
Emir Nurov , CEO and Co-Founder, Resync
Emir Nurov is the CEO and Co-Founder of Resync, a company specializing in AI-powered energy management solutions for smart buildings. Founded in 2017, Resync delivers cutting-edge platforms that focus on energy efficiency, smart building optimization, and sustainability for enterprises across Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Before founding Resync, Emir worked as an R&D Engineer at REC Solar, where he successfully commercialized multiple products for mass production. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. With a deep passion for technology and sustainability, Emir has been instrumental in driving Resync’s mission to empower businesses with innovative and data-driven energy solutions.
Moderator's Profile:
Jerry Lui, Assistant Director of Partnerships, SGInnovate
Jerry Lui is the Assistant Director of Partnerships at SGInnovate, where he plays a pivotal role in nurturing Singapore's deep tech ecosystem. Passionate about technology and innovation, Jerry engages with startups, corporates, investors, and international partners to cultivate a vibrant community centered around AI, quantum tech, sustainability, and advanced manufacturing. With an MSc in Management of Technology, he focuses on fostering corporate-startup collaborations and developing strategic initiatives that align with industry needs. An advocate for impactful technology, Jerry enjoys sharing insights on emerging trends and strategies during keynote talks and panel discussions. His mission is to inspire collaboration that drives sustainable solutions and advances the deep tech landscape in Singapore and beyond.
Speaker's Profile:
Michael Tan, Senior Partner and Strategy Lead – Gov+, NCS Group
Michael Tan is a Senior Partner and Strategy Lead at Gov+ within NCS Group. He leads and nurtures key client accounts within the NCS Government Strategic Business Group, while also spearheading regional expansion efforts. Previously, he served as Managing Director and Partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in Singapore, leading the Public Sector Practice across Southeast Asia. Michael excels in blending business acumen with public policy to drive national and sectoral competitiveness. He co-founded BCG's Climate & Sustainability Hub for Innovation in Asia, focusing on decarbonizing different sectors. Michael began his career at the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), facilitating business growth and foreign direct investments. He holds a MSC in Management Science and Engineering and a Bachelor's in Economics from Stanford University.
Speaker's Profile:
Phway Pann, Head – Public Sector Industry Partners, Asia Pacific & Japan, Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Phway is a seasoned leader at Amazon Web Services (AWS), specializing in fostering strategic partnerships with Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) to address the unique needs of public sector customers across Asia Pacific and Japan (APJ). Her work focuses on driving digital transformation in healthcare, government, and education by leveraging AWS’s partner ecosystem. Phway holds a background in Finance and began her career in investment research, working with venture capital and hedge funds. She has deep expertise in navigating regulated industries and leveraging technology and partnerships to accelerate growth for ISVs, helping them expand beyond their home countries. Her passion for digital transformation and her ability to create scalable frameworks have positioned her as a trusted advisor in the public sector technology space, enabling mission-critical solutions that drive better outcomes for citizens across the region.
Speaker's Profile:
Goh Hanyan, Director of Policy and Strategy, National AI Group, Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI)
Goh Hanyan is the Director of Policy and Strategy at MDDI’s National AI Group (NAIG), which leads a whole-of-government effort to achieve Singapore’s AI objectives, such as through the implementation of Singapore’s refreshed national AI strategy. She holds a concurrent position at MDDI’s Smart Nation Strategy Office (SNSO), which steers and coordinates Singapore’s Smart Nation agenda. Before joining MDDI, Hanyan served as the Director of the Economy and Sustainability directorate at the Prime Minister's Office Strategy Group. Prior to that, Hanyan spent 10 years at the Singapore Economic Development Board
