Rob is a seasoned industry advisor with over 20 years of experience leading transformation across the Education and Public Sector. As Director, Industry Advisor for Education, Rob works closely with national ministries, institutional leaders, and policy makers to shape forward-looking strategies that strengthen education systems, promote digital equity, and build institutional resilience. His deep regional expertise—particularly in Southeast Asia—combined with a practical understanding of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, enables him to guide leaders in navigating the evolving intersection of policy, pedagogy, and innovation. Rob is a trusted voice in engagements focused on modernizing education, fostering public-private collaboration, and unlocking the societal potential of technology.
Ahmad Solihin Yusoff is the Chief Executive and Managing Director of the German-Malaysian Institute (GMI), Malaysia. He holds a Master of Science (Honours) in International Economics and a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Southern Illinois University, USA, and has completed the Executive Leadership Program at the University of California, Berkeley. With over 25 years of corporate and leadership experience across industries including petrochemicals, oil & gas, telecommunications, and finance, he has held senior positions such as Vice President at Lotte Chemical Titan, Chief Strategy Officer at INext Petroleum & Oilfields, and Director at Ericsson Pte Ltd. At GMI, Solihin has been instrumental in charting a 10-year blueprint to upgrade GMI towards university status, spearheaded student enrolment growth by 64%, and achieved a 207% profitability turnaround within his first year. He also introduced innovative initiatives such as the German Language Center for international students. Actively engaged in national education and industry development, he serves on the MARA Senate, several government TVET panels, and the Industry Advisory Council at GMI. A strong advocate of gender equality and applied science education, he champions ESG initiatives and community-based CSR programs.
