Meet the judges of the South East Asia Property Awards (Malaysia) 2016
Meet the judges of the South East Asia Property Awards (Malaysia) 2016
8 reasons why Malaysia’s premier real estate industry awards will be the most prestigious yet
Malaysia’s real estate industry is gearing up to be introduced to the year’s finest developers and developments – the South East Asia Property Awards (Malaysia) 2016 – and the judges who are playing a huge role in the programme’s success.
In its three-year history, the Awards have gathered the country’s most respected industry experts and leaders to join the judging panel and bring their industry expertise to assess the year’s finest real estate, and this year is no exception.
The 2016 central panel of judges, comprising prominent leaders in their respective fields, spent hours and hours inspecting each submission and visiting the eligible properties to ensure that they truly represent the best of Malaysia’s property sector.
“The annual South East Asia Property Awards (Malaysia) is the convergence of amazing people who have contributed at great length in elevating the Malaysian property industry locally and internationally,” says 30-year property veteran Prem Kumar, executive director of Jones Lang Wootton, and the chairman of the judges.
“It is a showcase of the year’s best properties and investments, which have gone beyond mere financial gains and specific attributes pertinent to the difference and enhancement it has created in the property industry,” he continues. “The Gala Dinner brings the people of the property industry together along with the finest properties to promote trendsetting, innovation and sustainability.”
Here are the eight judges who will prove why the South East Asia Property Awards (Malaysia) 2016 promises to be the most prestigious competition yet:
1–Prem Kumar
Prem Kumar, executive director of Jones Lang Wootton, is this year’s chairman of the central panel of judges. He has 30 years of experience in providing real estate professional services. Prior to becoming a proprietary partner and executive Director of Jones Lang Wootton in February 1998, he was the resident partner at the Johor Bahru office in 1992, a position he held until 2002. He started his career as a graduate valuer with Jones Lang Wootton in Kuala Lumpur, gaining experience in undertaking valuation of various types of properties including, amongst others, office buildings, hotels, industrial premises, plantations, townships, development land, ongoing development projects as well as plant and machinery. Besides valuations, he also has extensive exposure to the entire spectrum of real estate professional services such as agency, property management and research and consultancy.
On finding the best in Malaysia real estate, Kumar says: “A winning development should be one which has transcended beyond the norms especially in terms of innovation and creativity in design and architecture, sustainability, space planning, optimisation, and environmental aspects.”
2–Khalil Adis
Born and raised in Singapore but right at home in Malaysia, Khalil Adis is a bestselling co-author of Get It Right Iskandar – the first book ever written on investing in Iskandar Malaysia. He was formerly editor for Asia’s industry-leading publication Property Report, interviewing the movers and shakers of the industry, including Mah Bow Tan (Singapore’s former National Development Minister), Dato’ Ahmad Fuad Ismail (former Mayor of Kuala Lumpur) and YB Datuk Peter Chin (Malaysia’s former Minister for Energy, Green Technology & Water). He is the founder of property consultancy firm Khalil Adis Consultancy Pte Ltd.
3–Siva Shankar
The immediate past president of the Malaysian Institute of Estate Agents, Siva Shanker is a registered estate agent with the Board of Valuers, Appraisers & Estate Agents Malaysia. He has more than 30 years of experience in the property industry, having worked in both large international property consultancies as well as small local outfits. After several senior roles in large multinational property consultancies, Siva formed his own real estate firm, Linear Estates, which operated from 2004 to 2010 until its merger with PPC International Sdn Bhd in 2011, becoming the entity’s CEO-Agency.
Shankar has been an active member of Malaysian Institute of Estate Agents for many years and was voted President for the Year twice in 2013 and 2015. In recognition of his excellent services to the industry, he was awarded the Estate Agent of the Year 2014 award by the Board of Valuers, Appraiser & estate Agents Malaysia. In January 2016, Siva moved to the corporate sector and accepted a position as head of investment at Axis REIT Managers Berhad.
4–Karen Tan
Karen Tan is the founder and managing director of Pocket Projects, a creative development consultancy and management company which conceptualises and manages niche urban development projects. She is the creator of the Lorong 24A Shophouse Series, an award-winning development project in Singapore that exemplifies the company’s approach of combining sensitivity to architectural heritage and local context with a modern design aesthetic.
Tan draws upon her extensive experience in real estate investment banking at Citigroup, London and investment management at First Base, a boutique developer in London. She holds a BSc in Economics and a Masters in Real Estate Economics and Finance from the London School of Economics.
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5–Chris Tan Chur Pim
Chris Tan Chur Pim founded Chur Associates, a legal boutique that delivers friendly solution for its clients from Corporate Advisory to “everything real estate”. Tan is a regular guest speaker for corporate, academic and public events, a guest commentator at a radio station, as well as frequent article contributor for local and overseas media publication, online and offline, in English, Chinese and Malay. He has authored eight books to date covering law, property investment, estate planning, tax and entrepreneurship. Tan is the youngest recipient of the FIABCI Medal of Honour back in 2010 when he was a serving International Board Member of FIABCI presiding over the affairs of the young members in the world.
6–Dr. Mohd Zulhemlee An
The president of Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia, Ar. (Dr) Mohd Zulhemlee An received the Bachelor of Architecture from University of Arkansas in 1988. He has 27 years of experience in the field of architecture. He joined Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia in 2003.
7–Low Han Hoe
Starting his career as a valuer with Jones Lang Wootton in 1991, Low Han Hoe was subsequently seconded to the Property Management Department in 1995 and attained his registration in 1997 with the Board of Valuers, Appraisers and Estate Agents. He later has stint at CB Richard Ellis (formerly Regroup Associates) and Dijaya Property Management Services.
He began his own practice in 2002 focusing on real estate transactions, and later joined DTZ in January 2011, successfully facilitating transactions for Shell, MUI, QSR (KFC), among others. Today he is the senior manager for investment advisory services at DTZ Nawawi Tie Leung Sdn Bhd.
8–Blaine Robert
At an early age, Blaine Robert has shown great interest in design and home décor. After graduating from the University in Calgary in 1988, he moved to Tokyo to specialise in freelance design inspired by Japanese architecture and minimalism. After his stint in Japan, Robert eventually established his practice in Kuala Lumpur called Blaine Robert Designs, where he is the creative director. His path to Malaysia took him through several countries in the Asia-Pacific region, where he picked up eclectic design elements and inspiration from the various cultures in which he found himself designing.
On his design philosophy and signature “adventurous and left-field” design, Robert shares: “Clearly understanding the core or inner workings of design before creating something interesting on the outside, brought to light the realisation that the inner workings of design set the palette to creating something beautiful. If it doesn’t work inside, it can’t work outside.”
The esteemed central panel judges of the South East Asia Property Awards (Malaysia) 2016 have been working together in the last few months to deliberate on the hundreds of nominations submitted to the country’s biggest and most credible property tilt.
“We are honoured to have such an outstanding roster of judges for the third edition of the South East Asia Property Awards (Malaysia),” says Terry Blackburn, founder and managing director of the Asia Property Awards, which is celebrating its 11th year.
“To determine the best of the best in Malaysian real estate, we need the expertise of these industry leaders who enjoy the highest reputation in fairness, transparency and credibility – three things that our free-to-enter awards system is known for around the region.”
After the announcement of the official shortlist of nominees at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur on 21 July, the Winners and Highly Commended will be revealed at the black-tie Gala Dinner and awards presentation ceremony on Thursday, 11 August at the InterContinental Kuala Lumpur, official hotel venue of the awards.
The event will be boosted by the support of title sponsor Hansgrohe, a leading global manufacturer of innovative and designer bathroom products, official media partner Property Report, host of the high-level, international real estate networking conference Property Report Congress Malaysia, as well as the network of 16 million real estate consumers of awards organiser PropertyGuru Group, including Malaysia’s No. 1 property portal, PropertyGuru.com.my.
The top winners in Malaysia are expected to move on to compete in Singapore with their ASEAN peers at the South East Asia Property Awards grand finals in November.
To book tickets, contact [email protected] or visit the official website.
Click here for the full shortlist of the South East Asia Property Awards (Malaysia) 2016
Source: Property Report