A Cambridge Alumni, was a senior sustainable development specialist with the World Bank for 12 years, and is now focusing on green economy in his private capacity. He recently formed a joint-venture with a Fortune 500 company to promote sustainable global food production in the region, and was on the board of the Global Aquaculture Alliance. Dr Shahridan is also the key founder of LOKA, a successful social enterprise which houses and develop 42 lifestyle brands of mostly startup SMEs.
Brings a wealth of experience in the business scene where he has successfully grown and diversified the business of KFM Holdings Sdn Bhd, a facilities management specialist providing a whole array of intra-industry services, including asset management, construction, trading and information technology, both domestically and globally. Rizal was also the director of IRIS Corporation Berhad. Active in the NGO scene as well, Rizal has been in office as the President of the Penang Malay Chamber of Commerce for the last 9 years. Currently serving as the President of the Malaysian Malay Chamber of Commerce, Rizal has also managed to create the platform to group 52 National Economic NGO’s, with total 600,000 members, which actively engages the Federal Government in the formulation of economic related policies and implementation.
Carries with him 24 years of entrepreneurial experience in conceptualizing, operationalizing and nurturing a host of companies in multiple industries. A holder of BBA in Finance and BSc in Economics, his hands-on approach and intimacy with start-up to matured companies provides the ability for invaluable and insightful perspectives towards understanding the risk and capabilities of SMEs, and any business in general.