Management Team

Datuk Dr Abdul Rahim Nik

A forest hydrologist by training, Datuk Dr Abdul Rahim Nik has served on several government and professional bodies such as the Malaysian Forestry Research and Development Board, the Malacca Green Technology Council, the Approval and Implementation Committee of Iskandar Malaysia, the WWF Malaysia Advisory Council and the International Union of Forestry Research Organisation in Vienna. He was also involved in the organization and operations of various national councils, including the Green Technology and Climate Change Council, the National Biodiversity Council and the National Water Resources Council.

Dr Abdul Rahim is currently the CEO of MTC, a post he assumed on 16 November 2015. He was formerly the Deputy Secretary-General (Environment) of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment where he coordinated and supervised policy issues related to environmental management, climate change, forestry, biodiversity, wildlife and marine parks. Prior, he was the Deputy Director-General (Operations) of the Forest Research Institute Malaysia.

He is also a Fellow of Academy Science Malaysia, and has published more than 100 technical and semi-technical papers as well as edited more than 15 books.

Richard Yu

Richard Yu has spent a good part of his working life providing strategic direction, thought leadership funding and re-engineering advisory and human capital advisory to many highly reputable organisations in the country and overseas.

Richard has handled strategy development and implementation, corporate finance as well as workforce planning and talent management for various industries' clients in the course of his 26-year career history. He has also acted as advisor on areas like corporate finance, strategy and policy development, human resource and talent management, project management, risk management and ethics to various organisations and governments, both in Malaysia and overseas.

Prior to joining MTC on 4 January 2016, he was the Senior Director of the Bank Negara Malaysia/Securities Commission's Asian Institute of Finance (AIF) where he contributed to the development of AIF by ensuring that it is recognised as a valued brand in Asia.

Khairul Anwar

Khairul Anwar started his career with MTC in 2008 as the Regional Director of MTC Dubai office. Khairul graduated with a BBA in International Business from Northwood University (USA) and holds an MBA in Strategic Management from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. His current role as Director of Market Promotions Division (HQ) involves global trade promotion initiatives while overseeing the regional offices. Khairul has more than 15 years of experience working in Multinational companies specializing in marketing, business development, projects and customer service spanning over the logistic, automotive and commodity industries.

Noraihan Abdul Rahman

Noraihan graduated with B.Sc. (Hons) degree in Business Administration majoring in Marketing from University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America in 1994. She started her career with the Malaysian Timber Council in 1995 and is currently holding the position as Deputy Director in the Market Promotion Division. Her responsibilities include strategic planning and implementation of the trade promotion activities for Malaysian timber products overseas.

Sheam Satkuru-Granzella

Sheam graduated from Kings College University of London with an LL.M in Corporate & Commercial Law in 1991 and was called to the English Bar in 1993 (Inner Temple). She joined MTC London in 1995 and was appointed MTC Director for London in 2007. Her responsibilities include the marketing and promotion of the Malaysian timber industry in Europe, ensuring unfettered market access for the Malaysian timber industry to Europe. She has actively contributed to addressing the challenges, development and implementation of policy and marketing strategies for the Malaysian and tropical timber/forestry industries, enhancing the recognition of MTC's efforts in Europe. Sheam is the first lady Vice Chair of PEFC International since 2011.

Azmir Husni Mohamed Nor

Azmir Husni Mohamed Nor was appointed the Director for MTC's Dubai office effective 1 June 2016. He replaced Mr. Khairul Anwar who returned to take up a role at MTC headquarters. Azmir is not new to MTC, as he had served in MTC Dubai for three years as Assistant Manager before moving into the academic sector in 2008 as a Lecturer as well as Head of Communications at HELP University. His other working experiences include being a Public Relations Officer and Assistant Manager at the National Education Fund Corporation.

Tan Ting Wai

Tan Ting Wai joined Malaysian Timber Council on 10 October 1994 and currently is the Director of MTC Guangzhou. He started his career in MTC as an Officer in Management Information System (MIS) Unit. Prior to MTC Guangzhou posting, he held the position of Manager in Public & Corporate Affairs Division from 1997-2012. In October 2012, he was assigned to Guangzhou, China and helped set up MTC Guangzhou as a wholly-own foreign enterprise, responsible for trade promotion and marketing. Tan Ting Wai graduated with a Degree in Computer Science from Campbell University from North Carolina, USA in 1994.

Hamidah Abdullah

Hamidah graduated with a Diploma in Wood Technology from the Universiti Teknologi Mara (formerly Institut Teknologi Mara) in 1992, and joined MTC soon after. She is currently Director in the Industry Development Division. She has been involved in spearheading the development of Malaysia's glued-laminated timber industry and sits in various technical committees including ISO's Committee on Timber Structures.

Dr. Eric Ng

Eric graduated from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia with a B.Sc (First Class Honours) in Plant Biochemistry and later obtained his PhD in Plant Physiology from University of Cambridge (UK). He has been in charge of Strategic Planning Division since 2015, having been the Director of Trade Promotion Division (from 2012 - 2015) and Policy & Strategic Planning Unit (from 2010 - 2012). He has been with MTC since 1995 and had previously served MTC in Dubai (1999 – 2008) and Shanghai (2008 – 2009). Prior to joining MTC, he has more than 7 years of experience in banking, audit, research and development in both public and private sectors.

Lau Li Har

Lau Li Har joined MTC in July 2000 after graduating from Universiti Putra Malaysia with a Bachelor Degree in Forestry majoring in the Wood Industry. She later received her Master of Science (Techno-Economy) from the same University in 2014. She is assisting the Division's Director in planning and implementation of projects to augment the supply of raw materials, expanding the technology base of the industry as well as to enhance the use of timber among local specifiers and manufacturers.

Alexis Chang

Alexis graduated from the University of Edith Cowan in Perth, Australia with a Bachelor's Degree in Business. She possesses extensive experience in international trade, industry relations, communications as well as marketing and promotions, having worked for more than 12 years with a wide spectrum of stakeholders from various industries. She has worked in the Malaysian Timber Council in various positions and has been involved in project managements, forestry and policy matters related to the timber industry as well as discussions on legality and sustainability compliance such as FLEGT VPA, amongst other forums.

Mohamed Azly Yusof

Ruby Nair

Ruby Nair graduated in Personnel Management from University of Strathclyde UK in 1995 and was professionally certified as a HR Auditor by Open University Malaysia in 2012. She joined MTC in 1993 and has been working for the senior management in MTC for 23 years. She has more than 30 years of work experience with an emphasis on HR and administration during most of her career. Ruby had also embarked in the fields of sales, marketing, accounting and counselling across various service industries ranging from higher & professional education, cosmetic & beauty, wooden & antique furniture, hospitality and hotel development. She is currently holding the post of Director HR & Admin and her current responsibilities includes establishing the HR Division in MTC and setting up of MTC India Office in Bangalore.

Rachael Wong Pooi Chow

Rachael Wong is a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). She completed her ACCA in Emile Woolf College in London. Since returning from London in 1987, she has worked in the O&G, IT and retail industries. Her experience includes finance and cash management, procurement, legal and HR. Prior to joining MTC, she was with Carrefour as Finance Manager for seven years, where she helped set up their IT systems for procurement, financial reporting and payment. Rachael joined MTC in 2003 as Finance Director.