Board of APFinSA (2023/2025)
The Board of APFinSA is elected by the Council of nine member countries for a two-year term. The Board consists of nine voting members. The APFinSA Board’s role is to set the strategic direction for APFinSA, to nurture and promote the role of the financial advisor profession in improving the financial well-being of consumers, and to enhance the reputation of Fellow Chartered Financial Practitioners in the Asia Pacific region.
Chairman
Mr. Matthew Kang
Singapore
Mr. Matthew Kang
Mr Matthew Kang served as the National President of the Insurance & Financial Practitioners Association of Singapore (IFPAS) for two terms from 1999 to 2001.
Apart from the financial services industry, Mr Matthew Kang is also very active in the community in Singapore. He is a Senior Grassroots Leader and serves as the Chairman of Ci Yuan CCMC (Community Club Management Committee) in Ang Mo Kio Group Representative Constituency, a member of Ang Mo Kio – Hougang CCC (Citizen Consultative Committee), a Town Councillor at Ang Mo Kio Town and sits in its Audit & Risk Management Committee. Mr Kang was once the Chairman of one of Singapore’s most successful professional football club. Until several years ago, Mr Matthew Kang was Chairman of the more than 30,000-strong congregation of the New Creation Church, the largest church in Singapore and now continue to serve as a member of the Church Board. Mr. Kang holds a MBA in Strategic Wealth Management, the Chartered Wealth Management from AAFM, USA and the Certificate in Law (Estate Planning).
His involvement with APFinSA started from day one of the birth of the association in 1991 and the followings are the records of his involvement:
Member of Task Force at the 1st APLIC Congress, 1991
Hon. Secretary of APFinSA (2001-2003)
Chairman, CEO Panel at 11th APLIC Congress in Macau
Chairman, APFinSA Board of Inquiry (BOI) – 2011-2013
Honorary Secretary of APFinSA (2013-2017)
Vice Chairman of APFinSA (2017-2019)
Honorary Secretary of APFinSA (2019-2021)
Chairman of APFinSA (2021-2023)
Mr. Matthew Kang was re-elected and is currently serving his second term as Chairman for the term 2023/2025.
Vice Chairman
Mr. James Bong
Malaysia
Mr. James Bong
He achieved numerous industrial awards including the prestigious MDRT; AKARD and the Supreme Agency Builder Award with a record of 73 direct new recruits in one year, and an all-time record breaker of 27 direct new agents in one month.
Mr James Bong has served the insurance fraternity extensively in various portfolios. He was the President of Zurich Life Insurance Association (ZULIA) for 4 years; Organizing Chairman of Mega Convention 2005; Founding Chairman of National Mandarin Life Insurance & Financial Planning Summit (ManLIFPS); Chairman of Financial & Life Practitioners Council (FLPC) for 2 terms; Speaker of Mega Convention in 2003/2006/2009.
He also contributed much to society, serving as Chairman of PTA at SMK Arang Secondary school in Kuching for 8 years. He was conferred the “ANAK SARAWAK” Award by Sarawak Government in 2007 for his contributions towards Convention Bureau.
Mr James Bong is a certified trainer/lecturer in many programs including the Award winning Registered Financial Planner (RFP) on financial planning; Fellow Certified Life Practitioner (FCLP) on life insurance specialization. A certified Business Coach; a much sought after motivational speaker in both English & Mandarin, having spoken in Indonesia, Taiwan, China, Thailand, Philippines, USA.
He is a Past President of NAMLIFA; Past Chairman of Convention & Speakers Standard Board (CSSB); Past Vice President of Malaysian Financial Planning Council (MFPC).
Hon. Treasurer of APFinSA, 2019-2021
Vice Chairman of APFinSA, 2021-2023
Currently Mr James Bong is serving as the Vice Chairman of APFinSA for the term 2023-2025.
Honorary Treasurer
Mr. Henry Cheng
Hong Kong
Mr Henry Cheng
Mr Henry Cheng has been serving the insurance industry for the past 35 years and a veteran in the field of insurance and finance. Mr. Henry Cheng always has a firm and unshaken belief that insurance can bless more people. He took the plunge and quitted his previous role as a social worker to embark on a prolific career as a financial consultant. With goodwill and a caring heart, combined with integrity and humility, Mr. Cheng tailor-made professional and reliable financial consultation plans for every single client. For over 35 years, Mr. Cheng has won over countless number of clients.
In order to build a solid team, Mr. Henry Cheng often ‘walk the extra mile’ to support colleagues and with a well-equipped and structured management system, his robust team grows tremendously over the years. Mr. Henry Cheng now leads a professional team of over 700 colleagues, he has gained the reputation of ‘gold medal manager’ in Prudential Hong Kong.
Mr. Henry Cheng has contributed much of his time to serve The Life Underwriters Association of Hong Kong (LUAHK). He was President of LUAHK in 2020.
Mr Henry Cheng also served as the Chairman of Organizing Committee of 2019 Asia Pacific Life Insurance Congress in Hong Kong in 2017, which witnessed a hugely successful and record breaking turnout of 10,000 delegates to the Congress. He was also the President of The General Agents and Managers Association of Hong Kong in 1998. It is undeniable that Mr. Cheng held successful and remarkable events in Hong Kong as well as in the Southeast Asia region. He was nominated by the Hong Kong Tourism Board to serve as the Hong Kong Convention Ambassador in 2019.
Currently Mr Henry Cheng is serving as the Honorary Treasurer of Asia Pacific Financial Services Association for the term 2023/2025. He has also served as its Honorary Treasurer during the term 2021-2023.
Honorary Secretary
Mr. Stanley Tse
Hong Kong
Mr Stanley Tse
With over 30 years of experience, Stanley is devoted to the insurance and financial planning industry. Besides serving thousands of families’ insurance & financial needs, he is also an expert in employee benefit and corporate pension management. He is currently an agency leader at AIA International Ltd.
Stanley is a 27 years MDRT Quarter Century member with 4 COT qualifications. He actively serves MDRT for PGA, PDC, MCC, and many other task forces. He holds RFP (Registered Financial Planner) and CFC (Certified Financial Consultant) designations.
In 2021, Stanley was appointed President of LUAHK (which is a member association of APFinSA), serving the insurance industry affairs & helping to promote agents’ professional image in Hong Kong. He is also a popular speaker at many public conventions and seminars, such as the MDRT Experience in Bangkok 2012, and MDRT Annual Meeting in Philadelphia 2013.
Stanley Tse has been elected as Honorary Secretary of APFinSA for the term 2023-2025.
Assistant Honorary Secretary
Mr. Emmanuel Paras
Philippines
Mr Emmanuel Paras
Emmanuel Paras’ mission in life is to help people and organizations become better. He graduated from Ateneo De Manila University with a Bachelor of Science in Management. He spent his first 12 years in AIA Philippines as a sales employee, eventually becoming one of the youngest executives of the company during his time. He then moved into agency management in the same company, and quickly rose to becoming an agency manager in a year’s time, becoming the fastest ever to reach this level.
Emmanuel became the President of the Life Underwriters Association of the Philippines in 2016, the organization of financial planners in the country, and created initiatives to have the most number of members during his term at more than 5,000 members. Emman is a 7-time Million Dollar Round Table Member, consistent awardee in the General Agency Managers Association, and 2-time Manila Agency Manager of the Year in AIA Philippines. He is also a Registered Financial Planner, Fellow Chartered Financial Practitioner, Certified Investment Solicitor and Associate Wealth Planner.
Emmanuel has also ventured into nonlife insurance and HMO businesses under Pacific Cross, Maxicare and Prudential Guarantee to provide a more comprehensive service to his clients. He has also co-founded multiple tech startups, including Move Up Philippines and WellNest. Emmanuel has spoken in various companies and schools, including Unilab and Dunkin Donuts. Emman represented the Philippines as the lone Filipino speaker in the 2019 Asia Pacific Life Insurance Congress. He continues to find ways to add value to people in anything he does.
Emmanuel Paras has been elected as the Assistant Honorary Secretary of APFinSA, serving the term 2023-2025.
Board Member
Mr. James Liu
Taiwan
Mr James Liu
Mr James Liu graduated from Fu-Jen Catholic University in Taipei with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, and subsequently M.A in Statistics from University of Michigan and M.A. in Mathematics from the University of Pittsburgh. He specialised in FinTech and Artificial Intelligence from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
It is a special record in the insurance industry when Mr James Liu obtained the qualification of the U.S. Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA) and Member of the American Academy of Actuaries (MAAA) in only five years. As the 35-year-old CEO of TransGlobe Life Insurance Inc., he successfully led the company and staff to set up new milestones during the period 1998 to 2001, by merging the business of AFLAC, Transamerica and AXA and took over all their inforce policies and operations in Taiwan. In 2013, TransGlobe Life Insurance Inc. acquired all in-force business of Kuo Hua Life, demonstrating a high level of commitment to life insurance. In 2015, as Taiwan’s top seven life insurance company, its total number of customers were more than three million, agents/employees were up to 4,500 people, and the total assets were more than 800 billion Taiwan dollars.
James Liu is currently Founder of I-Insurance Inc., PHEW Inc. and PruWell Investment Limited. He is the Honorary Immediate Past President of Insurance and Financial Practitioners Association of Taiwan (IFPA), which is member association of APFinSA. He is also serving the below appointments:
- Chairman of the Science and Technology and Digital Application Committee, General Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of China.
- Chief Industrial Advisor, National Chengchi University
- Member, Fintech Advisory Committee, Taiwan Financial Services Roundtable
- Member, Startups Review Committee of FinTech Base, Taiwan Financial Services Roundtable
- Board Director, Taiwan Fintech Association
James Liu has been elected as a Board Member of APFinSA for the term 2023-2025.
Board Member
Mr. Lim Kim Poi (K.P. Lim)
Malaysia
Mr Lim Kim Poi
Mr. Lim Kim Poi (known as K.P. Lim) comes from humble beginnings in Malaysia and started his career in life insurance industry in 1990. He has received multiple awards from the industry, from summit conventions, million dollar agency and earned much recognition from his company Hong Leong Assurance. He also achieved the NAMLIFA AKARD Leader Direct Award as well as AKARD Million Dollar Agency. He is also an AKARD Life Member.
Mr. K.P. Lim serves in different positions such as being the Fellow Certified Life Practitioner (FLPC) moderator since 1997, a certified trainer/ lecturer, and speaker of Malaysia Speaker Association. He is also the Organising Chairman of the 5th National Mandarin Life Insurance and Financial Planning Summit, (ManLIPS) in 2012 which was attended with a record breaking 1,200 delegates. He was also the Organising Chairman of Mega Convention in 2013.
Mr K.P. Lim became the National AKARD Chairman in 2014-2016 and was the local Marketing Director of Asia Pacific Life Insurance Congress (APLIC) in 2017. He also served as District Liaison Chairman in NAMLIFA District having been elected as the Chairman of NAMLIFA Johor branch from 2012-2016. Through his dedicated leadership, the branch was awarded the champion branch.
From 2016-2018, Mr K.P. Lim was the 2nd Vice President & Membership Chairman in NAMLIFA (National Association of Malaysian Life Insurance and Family Takaful Advisors). In 2018 he was elected to serve as NAMLIFA National President for a 2-year-term in 2018/2020. Currently he is Chairman of NAMLIFA Convention Speaker Standard Board (CSSB).
Mr K.P. Lim was the Assistant Honorary Secretary in APFinSA for the term 2021/2023. Currently he is co-opted in as Board Member for the term 2023-2025.
Board Member
Mr. A.M. Naidu
Malaysia
Mr AM Naidu
Mr AM Naidu is a Senior Group Sales Manager in Great Eastern Life Assurance (M) Berhad. He has been in this insurance business for more than 40 years. He was promoted as Group Sales Manager in Great Eastern in the year of 1986 and subsequently promoted to Senior Group Sales Manager in 1996. He was President of Group Sales Managers Association of Great Eastern from 2005 and 2008 and was serving as President of GELFAAM (Great Eastern Life Field Force and Agents) since 2014 until 2020.
He served as President of NAMLIFA (National Association of Malaysian Life Insurance and Family Takaful Advisors) from 2020-2022.
Mr AM Naidu has been elected as Board Member of APFinSA for the term 2023-2025.
ICSB Chairman
Mr. S.K. Samy
Malaysia
Mr. S. Kolandasamy
Hailing from across the causeway, Mr S. Kolandasamy has an extensive list of awards under his name within the insurance industry. Despite graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, he has taken a different career path and has not looked back since. Known as Mr SK Samy in the industry, he is a veteran with more than 40 years of experience as a financial practitioner which has yielded an agency with an immensely high retention rate of 95 percent.
Mr SK Samy holds various designations such as MII.LUTCF. USA, FCLP, ChLP, FChFP, RFP and is a Million Dollar Producers Club Qualifier, and Million Dollar Round Table U.S.A Qualifier, Million Dollar Agency Qualifier, and Supremacy Awards Qualifier.
The Past President of National Association of Malaysian Life Insurance and Family Takaful Advisors (NAMLIFA), Mr SK Samy has also attained numerous accolades such as qualifying for the Million Dollar Producers Club on four occasions, qualifying for the MDRT (USA) twice and achieving the Million Dollar Agency award 16 times. Mr SK Samy’s track record includes :
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- Senior Group Sales Manager of Great Eastern Assurance & Life Takaful
- Past President of National Association of Life Insurance Field Force and Advisers
- Past President of Education, Welfare and Research Foundation of Malaysia
- AMTC Moderator for Malaysia Insurance Institute
- Associates Trainer for Great Eastern Assurance Life
- Lecturer of Malaysia Financial Planning Council
- Founder Chairman of Progressive Planners
- Speaker for Asia Pacific Life Insurance Council (APLIC)
Mr SK Samy has served faithfully in Asia Pacific Financial Services Association (APFinSA) in the following positions:
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- Hon Secretary of APFinSA (2009-2013)
- Vice Chairman of APFinSA (2013-2015)
- Chairman of APFinSA (2015-2017)
- Chairman of APFinSA (2017-2019)
- Immediate Past Chairman of APFinSA (2019-2021)
- ICSB Chairman of APFinSA (2019-2021) & (2021-2023)
Mr SK Samy has been nominated as ICSB Chairman of APFinSA for 2023-2025.
Immediate Past Chairman
Mr. Banyong Witayaweerasak
Thailand
Mr Banyong Witayaweerasak
Mr Banyong was in the Committee of a public company, Community Pharmacy Public Company Limited, for more than 10 years. He has been invited to serve in Education working groups from both the office of Insurance Commission and Thai Life Assurance Association. Mr Banyong is a business columnist for a leading business newspaper in Thailand. He has written many articles about financial and business issues for more than 20 years and he is the author of a pocket book named “Financial Fraud”.
He was the President of Thai Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (THAIFA) from 2009 to 2011. During his term, he revitalized the Fellow Chartered Financial Practitioner (FChFP) course which is now very popular among Thai insurance agents. Currently, Mr Banyong is the Advisor to THAIFA Board. He also serves as the Advisor of the International Certification and Standard Board (also referred to as the ICSB) which is a key standing committee of APFinSA, governing the FChFP curriculum.
Mr Banyong holds 3 designations, FChFP ChLP and RFC. He was the founder of “ThaiFinancialAdvisor.com” which is the very first financial planning web site in Thailand. He has worked in Insurance field for more than 34 years. At present, Mr Banyong is a Senior District Manager in AIA (Thailand).
Mr Banyong Witayaweerasak has served in the Asia Pacific Financial Services Association (APFinSA) during the following terms:
- Honorary Treasurer for term 2015-2019
- Chairman for term 2019-2021
- Immediate Past Chairman 2021-2023
Currently he serves in the APFinSA Board as its Immediate Past Chairman. He is also Advisor to ICSB for the term 2023/2025.
