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PENANG, 9 JUNE 2026 – The Penang State Government today officially launched the Talent Focus Group (TFG), a new government-industry initiative that serves as a collaborative platform for HR practitioners to advise and advocate for the Penang State Government on talent-related strategies, with a specific focus on strengthening the talent pipeline in Penang to support Penang’s continued economic growth and competitiveness in an increasingly AI-driven environment. The launch took place at the Penang Career Discovery Day (PCDD) x Penang HR Forward Forum 2026, which aimed to explore career opportunities, emerging technologies and the evolving future of work in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Spearheaded by InvestPenang, the agency will serve as the lead coordinator for TFG, overseeing the planning and implementation of initiatives, facilitating stakeholder engagement and supporting the execution of talent-related strategies aligned with Penang’s economic and workforce development priorities.

The TFG has three key objectives:

1. To serve as a collaborative platform between industry, academia and government to address talent-related challenges and strengthen workforce sustainability in Penang.
2. To strengthen Penang’s talent ecosystem through initiatives that support talent attraction, development and retention in line with the state’s economic growth priorities.
3. To position Penang as a preferred destination for careers and talent development through strategic partnerships, employer branding and workforce-focused programmes.

To achieve these objectives, TFG will focus on three key areas:

1. Talent Attraction and Retention – through CampusConnect, a university outreach initiative that engages institutions of higher learning across Malaysia to promote My Penang, My Workplace.
2. Talent Supply and Skills Development – through stronger collaboration between industry and academia to enhance graduate employability and workforce readiness.
3. Peer-to-Peer Learning – through HRConnect, a platform that enables HR practitioners to exchange ideas, share best practices and discuss emerging workforce trends.

The TFG is chaired by Mr. Mohamed Anwar Rahaman Saar, Country HR Lead, Motorola Solutions Malaysia, and supported by leaders from leading multinational corporations and local companies operating in Penang as follows:

1. Ms. Sharifah Khatijah Syed Jaafar, Director, People Strategy Business Partner, Smith+Nephew Operations Sdn Bhd
2. Dato’ Goh Guek Eng, Chief Executive Officer, Hotayi Electronic (M) Sdn Bhd
3. Ms. Janniece Loh Paik Hoe, Chief Culture Officer, Sophic Automation Sdn Bhd
4. Ms. Shaidatul Akhmar Abdullah, Human Resources Director, ASE Penang
5. Mr. Mohammad Hanafiah Sulaiman, Senior Human Resources Director, Benchmark Electronics (M) Sdn Bhd
6. Mr. Zainul Hanifa, Senior Human Resources Manager, Inari Technology Sdn Bhd
7. Ms. Gowre Saseedaran, Director of Talent Acquisition APAC, Intel Technology Sdn Bhd

YAB Tuan Chow Kon Yeow stated, “One of the critical factors to the success of every investment project is talent. As industries become more technology-driven and increasingly shaped by AI, the demand for skilled, adaptable and future-ready talent has never been greater. This is why the Penang State Government remains committed to strengthening STEM education, expanding TVET pathways, enhancing industry-academia-government collaboration and promoting lifelong learning opportunities to ensure our workforce remains relevant and future-ready in this ever-changing environment.”

The launch was officiated by the Chief Minister of Penang, YAB Tuan Chow Kon Yeow, during the PCDD x Penang HR Forward Forum 2026, organised by InvestPenang with the support of the Penang GBS Focus Group (Penang GFG), Penang Silicon Design @5km+ (PSD@5KM+) and TFG.

More than 500 students, graduates, young professionals, returnees, HR practitioners, industry leaders and academics gathered at the event today to explore career opportunities, emerging technologies and the evolving future of work in the age of AI. Featuring over 30 career and AI showcases, the event brought together talent, industry, academia and policymakers on a single platform to discuss how AI is transforming workplaces and the skills needed for the jobs of tomorrow.

Beyond career exploration, PCDD 2026 introduced an AI Showcase to provide students and young talent with greater exposure to emerging technologies and the growing role of AI in shaping the future economy. By connecting participants with industry practitioners and real-world AI applications, the initiative helped bridge the gap between technology, talent and industry while encouraging greater awareness of the skills required for the jobs of tomorrow.

Held concurrently, the Penang HR Forward Forum 2026 brought together HR practitioners and industry leaders to discuss talent development, workforce transformation and the impact of AI on the workplace. The forum provided a platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration on strategies to build a resilient workforce capable of meeting future industry needs.

Today’s events underscored Penang’s commitment to strengthening its talent ecosystem through closer collaboration between industry, academia and government. Together, the Penang GFG, Penang PSD@5KM+ and the newly established TFG will continue to play an important role in preparing talent, industry and institutions for the future of work in an increasingly AI-driven economy.

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About InvestPenang
InvestPenang is the Penang State Government’s principal agency for the promotion of investment. Its objectives are to develop and sustain Penang’s economy by enhancing and continuously supporting business activities in the State through foreign and local investments, including spawning viable new growth centers. To realise its objectives, InvestPenang also runs initiatives like the SMART Penang Center (providing assistance to SMEs), Penang CAT Center (for talent attraction and retention), Global Business Services (GBS) Focus Group (promoting and developing digital economy), and Penang Silicon Design @5km+ (establishing a unique and interconnected ecosystem for IC design and technology enterprises). For more information, please visit https://investpenang.gov.my/ and follow InvestPenang’s social media channels: Facebook; LinkedIn; WhatsApp Channel and TikTok.

For media enquiries, please contact:
InvestPenang
Elaine Cheah / Ong Yih Hwa
elaine@investpenang.gov.my / yihhwa@investpenang.gov.my
T: +604-646 8833