Officers
President: Elisabeth Montgomery, PhD, President of Interlingua LLC, is a Global Career Development Facilitator known for her impactful contributions to career education from grade 1 through retirement. With a strong background in business, sociology, and career development, she has pioneered global success initiatives across the United States, Central and South America, China, and the Pacific Rim. Dr. Montgomery served ten years as Shenzhen Nanshan District’s Senior Foreign Advisor and Foreign Principal on Internationalizing public-school curricula in collaboration with the South China University of Science and Technology (SUSTECH). Recently, she has integrated world systems climate change insights into career education programs, focusing on economic development programs and workforce security in partnership with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and experts in Circular Economy and Stockholm Resilience Centre on Planetary Boundaries. Contact Dr. Montgomery at President@AsiaPacificCDA.org. 
President-Elect: Poh Li Lau, PhD, APCD Journal Editor, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling, Faculty of Education at the University of Malaya. She received her BA and PhD in Counseling from the University of Malaya, Malaysia. She completed a 2-year post-doctoral scholarship in Counseling Psychology at Indiana University Bloomington. Her research interests include career counseling, positive psychology, resilience and well-being, cross-cultural, online counseling and creativity in counseling. She is responsible for teaching and learning in undergrad and postgrad counseling programs. She is also a registered counselor in Malaysia. Contact Dr. Lau at PPresident@AsiaPacificCDA.org.
Past President: Allan Gatenby, FRIM CMF, is a thought leader in career and talent development. He started career in career development as a school-based career adviser in 1978. After a very successful career as an educational leader, Mr. Gatenby opened a private practice in career & talent development. Since then, he has held leadership positions in CDAA, APCDA, ACPi and currently the Chairman of the Board of Governors, Institute of Career Certification International, Chair of the APCDA Committee Council & By-Laws & Procedures Committee and member of APCDA Board. Recipient of APCDA Presidents Award 2020. Contact Mr. Gatenby at PPresident@AsiaPacificCDA.org
Treasuarer: Ma. Leonila “Nila” Urrea, PhD, is a licensed teacher, guidance counselor, and psychometrician in the Philippines. For decades, she built her career in the educational setting, immersing herself as a teacher, guidance counselor, and administrator from preschool to adult education. Her research interest is in human resilience and career development. She volunteers as a mental health psychosocial support counselor to individuals in crisis. As an officer of the Association of Placement Practitioners of Colleges and Universities (APPCU), she focused on continuing professional development programs for career guidance practitioners. Contact Dr. Urrea at Treasurer@AsiaPacificCDA.org
Secretary: Mrs. Effrosyni (Sini) Parampota is a distinguished international career guidance practitioner, researcher, and consultant with over 20 years of experience. She sits on several national and international technical committees and working groups on career guidance, including APCDA, NCDA and EduCluster Finland Academic Advisory Council. She is also NCDA’s 2024 International Practitioner of the Year award recipient for her contributions in career counseling, research and building a robust career development ecosystem in the State of Qatar. Actively advancing global career development, she advocates for diversity and inclusion through her independent consulting, policy contributions, and pioneering initiatives supporting women, people with disabilities and practitioners in challenging environments. Contact Mrs. Parampota at Secretary@AsiaPacificCDA.org
Board of Directors
Officers and Staff serve on the Board, plus:
Dr. Natalie Kauffman, Committee Council Chair
Mr. Baktiar Hasnan, Area Council Chair
Dr. Brian Schwartz, Area Council Representative
Ms. Gaini Yessembekova, Committee Council Representative
Dr. Roberta Borgen, Area Council Representative
Journal Editor
Journal Editor: Poh Li Lau, PhD, is a senior lecturer in Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling at University of Malaya. She received her BA and PhD in Counseling from the University of Malaya, Malaysia. Her research interests include career counseling, positive psychology, resilience and well-being, special needs programs, cross-cultural and psychological testing. She is responsible for in teaching and learning, evaluation activities in undergrad and postgrad counseling program, and consultation projects. She is also a registered counselor in Malaysia. Contact Dr. Lau at Journal@AsiaPacificCDA.org
Committee Chairs
Awards & Scholarships Committee Co-Chair for Awards: Prof. (Dr.) Narender K Chadha is an emeritus Professor at Manav Rachna International University, Past President of APCDA, former Head, Department of Psychology, University of Delhi; and former Director, Department of Adult, Continuing Education and Extension; and Chairman, Board of Research Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Delhi, India. Dr. Chadha was awarded the National Career Development Association, USA presidential award, June, 2017 and Global Practitioner of the Year Award in 2015. Dr. Chadha received the Lifetime Achievement Award from APCDA in 2019. Contact Dr. Chadha at Awards@AsiaPacificCDA.org
Awards & Scholarships Committee Co-Chair for Scholarships: Tuan Anh Le, is one of the first-generation career professionals in Vietnam. He is the author of 5 bestselling books on career and personal development topics. His strength is to use social media to interact and convey career messages to clients. He has a career blog with 4 million views, a career podcast with 250K listeners and a career TikTok channel with 150K followers. He is the career manager at AV Careers – a company that provides online career services. He is also a guest lecturer at many prominent universities in Vietnam. Contact Mr. Le at Scholarship@AsiaPacificCDA.org
Awards & Scholarships Committee Co-Chair: Ma. Leonila “Nila” Urrea, PhD, is a licensed teacher, guidance counselor, and psychometrician in the Philippines. For decades, she built her career in the educational setting, immersing herself as a teacher, guidance counselor, and administrator from preschool to adult education. Her research interest is in human resilience and career development. She volunteers as a mental health psychosocial support counselor to individuals in crisis. As an officer of the Association of Placement Practitioners of Colleges and Universities (APPCU), she focused on continuing professional development programs for career guidance practitioners. Contact Dr. Urrea at Scholarship@AsiaPacificCDA.org 
Accreditation, Bylaws & Policies Committee Chair: Allan Gatenby is a thought leader in career and talent development. He started career in career development as a school-based career adviser in 1978. After a very successful career as an educational leader, Mr. Gatenby opened a private practice in career & talent development. Since then, he has held leadership positions in CDAA, APCDA, ACPi and currently the Chairman of the Board of Governors, Institute of Career Certification International, Chair of the APCDA Committee Council & By-Laws & Procedures Committee and member of APCDA Board. Recipient of APCDA Presidents Award 2020. Contact Mr. Gatenby at Bylaws@AsiaPacificCDA.org
Ethics & Standards Committee Co-Chair: Vandana Gambhir Chopra, PhD, is Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology, Keshav Mahavidyalaya, University of Delhi, and the Former Area Director of India for APCDA. She started her professional career as a medical physician, excelled and later received her doctorate in Psychology. Known as an expert in Psychometrics, Organizational Behavior, Human Resource Management and Vocational & Career Counseling, she helps corporations with their employee wellness and productivity through training and assessments. Her field of involvement in psychology research work spans across career competencies, personality, social psychology, competency mapping, positive psychology, and consumer behavior and geriatrics mental health. Contact Dr. Chopra at Ethics@AsiaPacificCDA.org
Membership Committee Co-Chair: Kunimitsu Kuki has been with Kanebo Cosmetics for 38 years, where he currently works as a Career Consultant. He lives in Nara, Japan, but attended high school in the U.S. and, as a marketing manager, spent many years living in different Asian countries. In addition to helping employees of Kanebo find career satisfaction. he is eager to share his love of Japan and its traditions with non-Japanese who work in Japan or visit Japan. Contact Mr. Kuki at Membership@AsiaPacificCDA.org
Membership Committee Co-Chair: Natalie Kauffman, M.S., NCDA Certified Career Counselor™, FCD-I, NCC, NCCC, GCDF-I, has been providing comprehensive career counseling, education & transition solutions to the global community for more than 35 years. Her digitally fluent and face-to-face experiences continually infuse the eight domains of wellness as well as aequanimitas. Her career development work has traversed business, government, education & NPO settings. She is also an active member of the National Career Development Association Global Connections Committee. Ms. Kauffman’s M.S. in Applied Behavioral Counseling with a Career Counseling concentration is from The Johns Hopkins University. Contact Natalie at Membership@AsiaPacificCDA.org 
News Committee Co-Chair: Momoko Asaka. CEO of Veriteworks, graduated in Arts in Library and Information Science from Keio University, Japan. JCDA Certified Career Development Adviser, JPA Certified Psychologist, Mental Health Legal Advisor, Health and Productivity Management Advisor. Started an independent business after working as a medical corporation staff, HR staff of a large company, an HR director of a private IT company. She has participated in all the conferences since 2013 and held many leadsership roles. She hopes to contribute to the welcoming community spirit of APCDA. Contact Momoko Asaka at News@AsiaPacificCDA.org.
Nominations & Elections Committee Chair , Mr. Allan Gatenby is a thought leader in career and talent development. He started career in career development as a school-based career adviser in 1978. After a very successful career as an educational leader, Mr. Gatenby opened a private practice in career & talent development. Since then, he has held leadership positions in CDAA, APCDA, ACPi and currently the Chairman of the Board of Governors, Institute of Career Certification International. Contact Mr. Gatenby at Nominations@AsiaPacificCDA.org.
Program Committee Co-Chair: Sujata Ives, PhD, is the National Career Development Association’s 2023 Diversity Initiative Award recipient! She is a Past-President of the Maryland Career Development Association and Community Coordinator of the World Council on Global and Intercultural Competency. Dr. Ives passionately supports global diversity issues concerning interculturalism, ethics, and equity that stem from her participation in NCDA’s Leadership Academy. After twenty-five years of professional experience in education, health, and private practice; eighteen global military dependent moves on three different continents; a myriad of publications and international presentations, Dr. Ives works to promote cultural humility and one -ism: Humanism. Contact Dr. Ives at Program@AsiaPacificCDA.org
Program Committee Co-Chair: Muhammad Basit Rana, is a seasoned Career Developer and Human Skills Expert with over 26 years of experience in various management roles within esteemed conglomerates in the UAE and Pakistan. As the Founder & Chief Architect at HR WALAY and the Director at HR WALAY Institute (SMC-Pvt) Ltd, he is dedicated to catalysing impactful learning initiatives, empowering individuals, and organizations to thrive. HR WALAY is an HR Family that is a trusted resource for fresh graduates and seasoned professionals alike where business can find cost-effective solutions that drive positive change. He holds a Master’s Degree in HRM from the Institute of Business & Technology – BIZTEK, Karachi, and certifications as a Certified Human Resource Practitioner (CHRP) from Concord Certification Corporation (Canada) and a Certified Professional Trainer (TTT) from the Pakistan Industrial Technical Assistance Centre (PITAC). Contact Mr. Rana at at Program@AsiaPacificCDA.org
Public Relations Committee Co-Chair: Gaini Yessembekova, Director of the Career and Advising Center of Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan, has over 25 years of experience in higher education. She earned a master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Management from the University of Warwick, the United Kingdom. As director of the career center, she promotes lifelong skills through workshops and professional development programs to prepare students for a world of increased volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. She is currently working towards the expansion of cooperation with potential employers and companies, broad interaction with schools to inform on labor market trends, and establishing a National Association of Career Centers. Contact Ms. Yessembekova at PublicRelations@AsiaPacificCDA.org
Public Relations Committee Co-Chair: Ani Titus is passionate about ensuring every student has access to honest, experience-based guidance. As the Co-Founder of Ask A Student, she helped build a global peer mentoring network that connects prospective learners with current students across universities and colleges worldwide, not just for studying abroad, but within India as well. Ani works closely with schools, parents, and counselors, helping students make confident and informed academic choices. She believes in empathy-based advising, community support, and empowering students through real student voices rather than marketing-driven information. Contact Ms. Ani Titus at PublicRelations@AsiaPacificCDA.org
Research Committee Co-Chair: Serene Lin-Stephens, PhD, is a senior lecturer and manager of the Postgraduate program in Career Education and Development at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia. Serene has been a career and vocational researcher, educator and practitioner for over 20 years. She has taught in the Master of Rehabilitation Counselling program at the University of Sydney and facilitated the embedment of career development learning in curricula at over 20 courses at Macquarie University, University of Wollongong, and Western Sydney University. She also led the glossary project at APCDA (Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, and Korean). Dr. Lin-Stephens is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a former Australian Representative of APCDA. Contact Dr. Lin- Stephens at Nominations@AsiaPacificCDA.org.
Research Committee Co-Chair: Poh Li Lau, PhD, is also our Journal Editor. is a senior lecturer in Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling at University of Malaya. She received her BA and PhD in Counseling from the University of Malaya, Malaysia. Her research interests include career counseling, positive psychology, resilience and well-being, special needs programs, cross-cultural and psychological testing. She is responsible for in teaching and learning, evaluation activities in undergrad and postgrad counseling program, and consultation projects. She is also a registered counselor in Malaysia. Contact Dr. Lau at Research@AsiaPacificCDA.org
Area Representatives
Australia Representative: Felicity Brown is the Principal Consultant of Maia Careers & Training, an executive and career coaching and training consultancy serving clients throughout Asia. Felicity has more than 25 years’ international experience working in corporations, government and higher education. Originally from Australia, Felicity has lived and worked in Asia for 15 years including Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, Hong Kong and now in Vietnam. A life-long learner, Felicity completed a Master degree in Career Development in 2014, is an ICF qualified coach and accredited in both the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality assessment and Strong Interest Inventory career assessment tools. She is a professional member of the Career Development Association of Australia and the Asia Pacific Career Development Association. You can contact Ms. Brown at Australia@AsiaPacificCDA.org.
Azerbaijan Representative: Toghrul Alakbarov is an experienced personal development trainer, coach and mentor. Mr. Alakbarov is currently Head of Career Guidance Sector at State Employment Service of Azerbaijan. As a Fulbright scholar, he did his master’s degree in the field of Workforce Education and Development at Bowling Green State University. Moreover, he got a professional ICF certified coaching education from Adler International Learning. Mr. Alakbarov is passionate about human capacity development and for the last 10 years he has been engaged in plenty of educational, social and community building initiatives throughout Azerbaijan. You can contact Mr. Alakbarov at Azerbaijan@AsiaPacificCDA.org.
Bangladesh Representative: Dr. Mohammad Khalid has worked in Business Development, Human Capital Development, and Training and Logistics Management for the last 40 years at home and abroad in Multinational Corporations. He is on the faculty of the MBA & EMBA Program at Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology (AUST), Bangladesh and has directed similar academic programs at other institutions. He is also a well-known keynote speaker at national and international conferences. Contact Dr. Khalid at Bangladesh@AsiaPacificCDA.org
Cambodia Representative: Ms. Bory You is a leader in career development, human capital strategy, and women’s entrepreneurship. As Founder and Chairperson of TEDP and an advisor to the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training, she advances career services, TVET, and workforce empowerment across Cambodia and ASEAN. With extensive banking, governance, and training experience, she champions inclusive economic growth, leadership development, and sustainable opportunities for youth and women. Contact Ms. Bory You at Cambodia@AsiaPacificCDA.org
Canada Representative: Dr. Roberta Borgen (Neault), CCC, CCDP, GCDF-I, is the President of Life Strategies Ltd. and a highly acclaimed thought leader in career development, both in Canada and internationally. With extensive experience as a journal editor, article reviewer, and principal researcher across academic, government-funded, and private practice settings, Dr. Borgen brings a unique and comprehensive perspective to the field, addressing the needs of diverse stakeholder groups.
Contact Dr. Borgen at Canada@AsiaPacificCDA.org China
East China Representative: Junlin Chen (National Certified Counselor, NCC, USA) achieved his bachelor’s and first master’s degrees from Anhui University in China, majoring in Biological Science and achieved his second master degree from Colorado State University, majoring in Counseling and Career Development. He had worked in Anhui University as a student affair coordinator for five years. Now, he is a self-employed career counselor in Nanjing, China. His helping philosophy is believing everyone having the ability to become themselves. . Contact Mr. Chen at EastChina@AsiaPacificCDA.org
Hong Kong Representative: Matthew Sin is the Chairman of the Life Development Institute and Honorary President of the Hong Kong Life Planning Association. Through his work, Matthew has impacted over 600 schools and 100,000 individuals across Greater China. His “Train the Trainer” model empowers educators, social workers, and professionals to guide others in finding meaningful careers and purposeful lives through structured, research-based career development practices.. Contact Mr. Sin at HongKong@AsiaPacificCDA.org
Macau Representative: Jacinta Ho is the Founder and Managing Director of JC Human Resources Consulting, awarded the “Best HR Consultancy Firm” in Macau by the Global Brands Magazine from UK. She has more than 20 years of expertise in Macau’s hospitality industry and retail sector and is a regular speaker at local and overseas universities, NGOs and corporations on career matters and human resources policies and practices. Ms. Ho holds a Master of Business Administration in Management & Finance from Chaminade University of Honolulu. She is President of the Macau GBAHR Association, Vice President of the Association of Macau Philippines Employment Agencies, Chief Supervisor of China Macau & Portugal (Macau) Tourism and Commodity Exchange Promotion Association, and formerly the Chair of the Human Resources Committee at the British Chamber of Commerce in Macao. Contact Ms. Ho at Macau@AsiaPacificCDA.org
North China Representative: Chunyu Li is currently a partner at New Elite Development Program in Beijing, China and a distinguished expert of Chinese Ministry of Education. He graduated from the Chinese Academy of Science at Peking University and was a former counselor at Capital Normal University for 5 years. He joined NEDP in 2010 as a College Business Department Director. As a host of NEDP, he worked on the 2018 APCDA conference in China with Tsinghua University. Having developed more than 10 training programs of career development, he has trained more than 10,000 career development facilitators, which come from 1000 Universities in China. Contact Mr. Li at NorthChina@AsiaPacificCDA.org
South China Representative: Mr. Xiao, Lianyu (aka Shawn), is the Director of Whereabouts Academy, which is a career-facilitating-based educational platform focused on developing the global competence for K-12 and college students. A Global Career Development Facilitator, focus on facilitating K-12 students prepare for the college placement and college students prepare for the job placement.
Contact Mr. Xiao at SouthChina@AsiaPacificCDA.org
Taiwan Representative: Chao-Mei Chiang, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling, National Taiwan Normal University, is a licensed and registered counseling psychologist in Taiwan and has over ten years of clinical practice and supervision. Dr. Chiang’s research interests include: (a) multicultural, social justice, and counseling psychology training, (b) violence and trauma issues, and (c) intersections between gender and socio-cultural contexts. In addition to teaching and research, Dr. Chiang provides supervision and consultation for guidance counselors, who work at elementary and junior high schools, and counseling psychologists. Contact Dr. Chiang at Taiwan@AsiaPacificCDA.org
West China Representative: After over 35 years in organization development building participative management cultures in the USA, UK, Europe and China, Dr. Brian Schwartz founded Suzhou Success Partners Consulting Company (social entrepreneurship model) in China in 2013 to provide employment readiness training and assessment to youth and consulting services to companies and government agencies throughout China. Dr. Schwartz has developed online tools to assess career fit and talent management strategies for individuals and organizations using CareerDNA, TalentDNA and TeamDNA products and services. He is currently working on projects in Singapore, the Netherlands, Malaysia, Canada, India, Vietnam and Australia. He specializes in training career counselors and coaches, career and executive assessments, career and life design counseling/planning/management, career coaching, talent management consulting, executive coaching, organization development consulting and career transition counseling. Contact Dr. Schwartz at WestChina@AsiaPacificCDA.org.
India
North India Representative: Ms. Pooja Khanna is an educator, career coach, and founder of Find Your True North, an AI-enabled career discovery platform that helps youth align their values, interests, and personality with future-ready career pathways. With over two decades of experience in higher education and coaching, she works at the intersection of education, employability, and well-being. Passionate about youth development, she focuses on building resilience and purpose in students to help them navigate the complex world of work with confidence and clarity. Contact Ms. Khanna at NorthIndia@AsiaPacificCDA.org
South India Representative: Mr. P. Rajeevan, is a seasoned career practitioner with over 25 years of experience in career counseling, development, and training. Serving as a State Vocational Guidance Officer with the National Employment Service Department in Kerala. He has pioneered initiatives like the Career Development Centre, providing free career guidance services. With advanced qualifications in psychology, sociology, and career counseling, Rajeevan has delivered over 3,256 career lectures and has been honored with the Chief Minister’s Award for his contributions to youth career development in Kerala. He is also a career columnist writing articles in well known regional newspapers in India. Contact Mr. Rajeevan at SouthIndia@AsiapacificCDA.org
Indonesia Representative: Professor Dian Ratna Sawitri, Ph.D., is the Dean and a professor at the Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP), Indonesia. Her research specializes in career and educational psychology. She earned her bachelor’s degree from UNDIP, a master’s from the University of Indonesia, and a Ph.D. from Griffith University. A former Fulbright Visiting Scholar at UWM-Milwaukee, she also serves as an adjunct professor at Griffith University. Beyond academics, she enjoys singing and music.
Contact Dr. Sawitri at Indonesia@AsiaPacificCDA.org.
Japan Representative: Kimiko Kato, specialises in career counseling and human capital development for over 20 years. She is currently an independent career counselora and supports the clients of various generations and backgrounds. Before going independent, she worked for HR & Organisation consulting firm and provided consulting services regarding HRM system and development, leadership, diversity management etc.
She holds an MA in Communication from University of Pennsylvania. She is a National Certified Career Counselor and Career Development Adviser, Instructor, and Supervisor certified by Japan Career Development association. She is a member of the Japan Career Development Association. Contact Ms. Kato at Japan@AsiaPacificCDA.org
Kazakhstan Representative: Liliya Tleukenova, is the General Manager of the Career and Advising Center of Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan. Liliya, is a dynamic and results-driven professional with expertise in career development, program management, and international cooperation. Experienced in designing and implementing employment and professional development programs, providing career guidance, and delivering career-focused workshops. Skilled in fostering strong partnerships between students and employers to enhance career opportunities. A strategic communicator and collaborator, committed to continuous improvement and empowering individuals with the skills needed to succeed in today’s workforce. Contact Ms. Tleukneova at Kazakhstan@AsiaPacificCDA.org
Korea Representative: Boyoung Kim, PhD, is an Associate Professor at The Catholic University of Korea in the Department of Psychology. She earned a Doctorate in Counseling and a Master’s in Education from the University of Korea and has been teaching since 2018 at The Catholic University of Korea. She is happy to be able to share what is happening in her country through the APCDA website. Contact Dr. Kim at Korea@AsiaPacificCDA.org.
Malaysia Representative: Baktiar Hasnan is a Career Advisor at Multimedia University (MMU) Career Connect with 20 years of experiences in leadership training, career coaching, and personal development at various universities. He earned a Bachelor of Human Sciences (Honors) in Psychology from International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) and is a HRDF certified trainer who has completed Nurturing Expert Talent (NEXT) 1.0 – Talent Corp Malaysia Career Counselor Training, NCDA’s Facilitating Career Development Training, as well as Solution Focused Career Coaching. Mr. Hasnan is also a social services provider involved in youth leaders development and social services for various NGOs. Contact Mr. Hasnan at Malaysia@AsiaPacificCDA.org
Nepal Representative: Nanda Kishor Mandal, Founder/Director of Skill Lab, an AI- enabled, ready to deploy digital career center with pre-in-built suite of resources. Skill Lab is on a mission to democratize access to career guidance, career readiness and linkages with the future opportunities by introducing a career guidance platform within the schools, colleges and companies. Skill Lab currently works in Nepal, Philippines and Bangladesh to enable education to employment transitions. He has a proven track record of working with private sectors, national and international development agencies, government agencies and civil societies. He formerly worked with the International Labour Organization to strengthen Employment Service Centers in Nepal for the Government of Nepal. He formerly studied with INSEAD, an international business school. Contact Mr. Mandal at Nepal@AsiapacificCDA.org
New Zealand Representative: Jennie Miller, empowers individuals through transitions, restructuring, redundancy, and retirement planning. Formerly President and now Treasurer of CDANZ, she draws on two decades of corporate experience and a decade in career counseling to apply an open, action-focused approach benefiting students, job seekers, and organizations. Jennie believes that fulfilling careers uplift communities, inspiring positive, productive change. Contact Ms. Jennie at NewZealand@AsiapacificCDA.org
Pakistan Representative: Muhammad Basit Rana, is a seasoned Career Developer and Human Skills Expert with over 26 years of experience in various management roles within esteemed conglomerates in the UAE and Pakistan. As the Founder & Chief Architect at HR WALAY and the Director at HR WALAY Institute (SMC-Pvt) Ltd, he is dedicated to catalysing impactful learning initiatives, empowering individuals, and organizations to thrive. HR WALAY is an HR Family that is a trusted resource for fresh graduates and seasoned professionals alike where business can find cost-effective solutions that drive positive change. He holds a Master’s Degree in HRM from the Institute of Business & Technology – BIZTEK, Karachi, and certifications as a Certified Human Resource Practitioner (CHRP) from Concord Certification Corporation (Canada) and a Certified Professional Trainer (TTT) from the Pakistan Industrial Technical Assistance Centre (PITAC). Contact Mr. Rana at Pakistan@AsiapacificCDA.org
Philippines Representative: Mrs. Ayza Q. Figuro, brings over a decade of experience in career development and student success to her role. With a strong foundation in human relations and higher education, she specializes in empowering students through leadership initiatives, industry partnerships, and personalized career coaching. Passionate about fostering inclusive environments, Mrs. Figuro is committed to preparing students with the skills and confidence needed to excel in a competitive job market. Contact Mrs. Figuro at Philippines@AsiaPacificCDA.org.
Singapore Representative: Ms. Charlotte George, Singapore Representative, Head of Employment and Student Affairs at Kaplan Singapore and adjunct lecturer at Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), has been a professional in Career Development and Planning for almost two decades as a coach in career, transformational coaching, life coaching, transition and coaching for change. Ms. George is passionate about what she does well – working with people, helping them discover themselves, enabling and empowering them. Like her peers, she enjoys a good dose of knowledge exchange and keeping a breast with new happenings within the CD world. She is currently the President Elect of PCDA and hopes to lead the association to the next league. Contact Ms. George at Singapore@AsiaPacificCDA.org. 
Sri Lanka Representative: Mr. Sangjeli Sothinathan is an accomplished professional with over a decade of experience in vocational education, career guidance, and community development. As a Career Consultant at Skill Bridge Consulting Pvt. Ltd. and Career Guidance Practitioner, he actively promotes vocational pathways and leads awareness programs, job fairs, and entrepreneurship workshops that empower youth across Sri Lanka. He is the recipient of the Outstanding Career Practitioner Award (APCDA, 2025) and the Young Researcher Award (International Academic Excellence Awards, India, 2021). Contact Mr. Sangjeli at SriLanka@asiapacificcda.org
USA Representative: Jenn Leard, MEd, NCC, is a certified Counselor and Coach with 16+ years of combined consulting industry, career development and higher education experience. She currently serves as Director, Coaching & Education in the Career Development Office at Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School. Previously, Jenn served as the Associate Director of Career Advising & Student Engagement at Goucher College, Manager of Career Counseling in the College of Business at Colorado State University, Team Lead with The Corporate Executive Board (now Gartner), and Consultant with Rich Feller & Associates. She earned her Masters of Education from Colorado State University in Education and Human Resource Studies, Counseling and Career Development specialization. Jenn is inspired to empower people across all stages of career development and transition to strategically navigate and thrive in the changing, global world of work. Contact Mrs. Leard at USA@AsiaPacificCDA.org.
Vietnam Representative: Ms. Thuy Tran, is a dedicated career development advocate with over two decades of diverse professional experience. As the Founder of SiF Careers, she currently provides culturally sensitive career guidance tailored to Vietnam’s unique needs. Her expertise spans strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and the implementation of innovative development programs. Thuy holds a Masters in Education Studies from the University of Queensland and a Bachelor’s from HCMC University of Pedagogy. She is deeply committed to empowering individuals through career education and support.
Contact Ms. Thuy Tran at Vietnam@AsiaPacificCDA.org
Staff
Arun Mittal, Executive Director, is a management consultant with more than 20 years of experience in the education industry, where he has worked on Business Development, Strategic Planning, and New Market Development. In 2020, Arun established the National Program on Career Awareness (NPOCA), a social initiative to encourage career education in Indian schools. Over 900 schools and 80,000 Indian students are supported by the effort across Asia. Arun is an alumnus of University of Delhi and the Indian Institute of Management in Calcutta. Contact Mr. Mittal at Arun@AsiaPacificCDA.org
Marilyn Maze, PhD, Financial Administrator, has organized the annual APCDA Conference since its inception, conducted numerous research projects on hot labor market and career counseling issues, and presented at international conferences. Dr. Maze received NCDA’s Eminent Career Award in 2022, became an NCDA Fellow in 2017, NCDA’s President’s Award in 2016, and the NCDA Credentialing Commission Service Award in 2016. She received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Maryland Career Development Association in 2010. Dr. Maze formerly developed the ACT Profile (previously called DISCOVER). Contact Dr. Maze at Marilyn@AsiaPacificCDA.org
Emily Rose L. Lizada, Administrator, is a Career Advisor in the Office of Placement and Career Services at Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines since 2011. She is a licensed Psychometrician. Emily is a recipient of Excellence Award for Professionals in Ateneo de Manila University for school year 2017-2018. She is an active professional and formator in Ateneo serving as Retreat Guide in the Office of Campus Ministry and core team member/Homeroom Adviser for Introduction to Ateneo Culture and Tradition (InTACT) – formation subject for first year students. Emily worked as Guidance Counselor and Student Activity Coordinator at John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University from 2001 to 2011. She finished her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and MA Ed Psychology and Guidance (completed academic requirements) at the University of San Agustin. Contact Ms. Lizada at Emily@AsiaPacificCDA.org.
Grace Koamesah, Administrative Assistant, graduated from Universitas Ciputra Surabaya, Indonesia with a degree in Psychology. She coordinated the 2022 APCDA Conference as an intern. She has worked as a teaching assistant in Quantitative Research Methodology in Universitas Ciputra Surabaya. In 2019, she was a psychologist assistant who helped in the process of both cognitive and personality assessments in Universitas Ciputra Psychological Services Center (UCPSC). Grace has an interest in exploring clinical psychology and career development through research and practices around the world. Contact Grace at Grace@AsiaPacificCDA.org.
Le Tuan Anh, Technical Editor, is described above under the Awards & Scholarships Committee. Contact Mr. Le at TuanAnh@AsiaPacificCDA.org