Dato’ Seri Cheah, formerly a financial journalist, co-founded Value Partners in Hong Kong in 1993 and has headed the firm since inception. He played a key role in running Value Partners’ funds, currently totaling in excess of US$15 billion, making the firm one of Asia’s largest independent asset management firms. Value Partners has a long record of superior investment performance and has won more than 250 performance awards since its founding. The firm, which had started in 1993 with assets under management of less than US$5 million, is currently the only fund management company of its type listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Dato’ Seri Cheah currently serves as an Independent Non-executive Director of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, a member of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Business School Advisory Council, as well as Convenor of Advisory Council for The Malaysian Chamber of Commerce (Hong Kong and Macau). He was previously a member of the Financial Services Development Council (FSDC) of the HKSAR (from February 2015 to January 2019) and a member of the New Business Committee of FSDC (from 2013 to 2018). In August 2016, Dato’ Seri Cheah was conferred Darjah Gemilang Pangkuan Negeri (DGPN), one of the highest civil honours granted by the state of Penang in Malaysia to recognize exceptional individuals. The DGPN award comes with the title of “Dato’ Seri”.

Vivek Pathak is IFC’s Global Head and Director of Climate Business.
In this role, he facilitates business growth, provides thought leadership, new product development and facilitates all work related to climate business. He is responsible for identifying new business opportunities for climate business and facilitating the mobilization of capital into this space.

Prior to his current appointment, Mr. Pathak was IFC’s Regional Director for East Asia and the Pacific, leading advisory and investment operations across 18 countries, which in fiscal year 2020 reached US$4.2 billion in long-term investments, including funds mobilized from other investors. He has extensive emerging markets experience in principal investments, restructuring and risk management. Earlier in his career, Mr. Pathak was Global Head and Director for Investment and Credit Risk, responsible for global coverage of credit risk, investment risk, integrity risk, pricing and credit/equity training. Prior to that he oversaw IFC’s portfolio in the Middle East and North Africa and led business development in frontier markets in the Middle East and North Africa.

Before IFC, Mr. Pathak worked at Bank of America and ABN AMRO Bank in new business and risk management.

Saniza is an experienced lawyer specialising in Alternative Dispute Resolution. Qualified as a Fellow of the Chartered Instituted of Arbitrators, she is a Hong Kong accredited mediator and an accredited adjudicator in Kuala Lumpur. Saniza has a multifaceted legal career. After a stint as a barrister in London, she relocated to Hong Kong and worked in-house at Credit Suisse Investment Banking and BNP Paribas where she specialized in derivatives and hedge funds.

She is a Founding Sponsor of the Malaysian Chamber of Commerce, the Chairlady of the University of Hong Kong LL.M ADR Alumni Association, a Founding Patron of M+ Museum and a Member of Asia Society HK Arts and Culture Council.


Saniza earned a LL.M (Distinction) in Arbitration and Dispute Resolution from the University of Hong Kong and received her LL.B (Hons) from the University of Wales, United Kingdom. She was called to the Bar of England of Wales by the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn.