Agenda

Get ready for half a day of inspiration, learning, and networking with a lineup of innovative speakers and dynamic discussions ​

9:05 AM

Opening & Welcome Remarks

MSA Festival & Awards 2026 Organizing Chairperson

Sandeep Joseph

Organising Chairperson, CEO, Ampersand Advisory

9:10 AM

Special Session

The AI Era: What It Means for Marketers

In this session, Meta will share how we are building personal AI that is open, useful, and accessible to everyone; how that AI is moving beyond the screen and into the physical world through wearable devices; and what this shift means for the marketers and agencies building the brands of tomorrow.

Baptiste Lejeune

Head of Agencies, Meta

9.35 AM

Featured Session

The Zero Headcount Media Company

In this session, Tim opens up exactly how the business runs and makes the case that the AI era is not a threat to agencies. It is the biggest repositioning opportunity they have had in a decade.​

In this session, Tim opens up exactly how the business runs and makes the case that the AI era is not a threat to agencies. It is the biggest repositioning opportunity they have had in a decade.

Timothy Tiah

Co Founder & Executive Director of Colony Co-Working Space

10:00 AM

CMO Breakfast Grill ☕️

Life of a CMO — challenges, opportunities and how media agencies can help

Rather than simply predicting the future, this session will provide delegates with an authentic boardroom perspective on how the role of the CMO is evolving, the challenges keeping marketing leaders awake at night, and what clients will expect from agencies and media partners in an AI-driven, data-led world. Most importantly, the discussion will explore how agencies can evolve beyond execution to become indispensable strategic partners that help CMOs navigate complexity and deliver sustainable business growth.

Tai Kam Leong (Moderator)

Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), ASTRO

Andrew Pinto

Vice President of Brand & Marketing, Unifi, TM

Abdul Sani Abdul Murad

Former Group Chief Marketing Officer, RHB Banking Group

Amy Gan

VP, Marketing, Etika Sdn Bhd

10:35 AM

Debate

The Great Presidential Debate

Claudian Navin Stanislaus (Moderator)

Former President, Malaysian Associaiton of Advertisers

Datuk Ahmad Izham Omar

Asst. Honorary Secretary, Film Producers Association of Malaysia (PFM)

Nicholas Sagau

President, Malaysian Digital Association

Mary Koh

President, Outdoor Advertising Association Malaysia (OAAM)

Sheila Shanmugam

President, Media Specialist Association

Tan Kien Eng

President of 4As Malaysia

Chan May Ling

Council Member, Malaysian Advertisers Association

11:05 AM

SPECIAL Session

Beyond the Klang Valley: How Regional Television is Reshaping Brand Growth in Malaysia

Kushairi Abang

Chief Executive Officer, Sarawak Media Group Sdn Bhd

11:20 AM

Panel Discussion

Everyone Says Omnichannel. Nobody Plans OOH First. Why?

Shilpesh Gandhi (Moderator)

Head of PMX, Publicis Media

Carmen Tu

Co-Founding Partner, Focus Media China

Jeff Cheah See Heong

Chief Executive Officer, Seni Jaya Corporation Berhad

Muhamad Fariz Mustafa

Chief Operating Officer, Big Tree

11:40 AM

SPECIAL Session

Affinity

Akshay Nandoskar

Director SEA, mCanvas

11:45 AM

Solo Session

MEDIAVOLUTION: Beyond AI — Why Fandom Is the Next Competitive Advantage

As AI makes media buying smarter, content creation faster and lower-funnel conversion more efficient, these capabilities are rapidly becoming table stakes. They help brands optimise demand—but they don’t create it.

The next evolution of media belongs to brands that build something AI cannot replicate: genuine fandom.

In this keynote, Astro CEO Henry Tan challenges media specialists and marketers to move beyond reach, algorithms and audience targeting, and instead focus on building identifiable communities that drive advocacy, loyalty and sustainable business growth.

Drawing on Astro’s unique ecosystem—from Connected TV, Astro GO, sooka, NJOI and SYOK to KULT’s creator network—Henry will demonstrate how premium IP, homegrown talent and real fandom create measurable impact across every stage of the customer journey.

Because AI is the new baseline. Fandom is the new differentiator.

Henry Tan

Group Chief Executive Office, ASTRO

12:05 PM

SPECIAL Session

Measuring Success in Malaysia's Fragmented Media Landscape

Amresh Kumar

Director of Sales, Southeast Asia, Nexxen

12:15 PM

SPECIAL Session

Talk on Ambient media

Carmen Tu

Co-Founding Partner, Focus Media, China

12:25 PM

SPECIAL Session

Silverpush

Hitesh Chawla

CEO & Founder, Silverpush

12:35 PM

special session

Google : What is AI Actually Changing?

Rohan Dhanuka

Sector Lead, Google

1:00 PM

Closing Ceremony

Sandeep Joseph

Organising Chairperson, CEO, Ampersand Advisory

Shilpesh Gandhi

Head of PMX, Publicis Media

Maaz A. Khan

Regional Client Partner (APAC) WPP Media

Fan Chen Yip

Executive Director Yellow Paper Plane

All sessions, speakers, topics, and timings are subject to change without prior notice

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