Profile

Hong Wai Onn is a European Engineer, Chartered Chemical Engineer, and sustainability thought leader focused on advancing engineering excellence, sustainable industrial transformation, and responsible leadership. With nearly two decades of industrial experience and executive leadership development through the Senior Leadership Executive Programme at Oxford Saïd Business School, he brings a systems-thinking approach to complex engineering, sustainability, and governance challenges.

His career spans the palm oil and biotechnology industries, where he has held roles across manufacturing, engineering, project management, process safety, applied research, business strategy, and organisational leadership. Grounded in deep technical expertise, he is passionate about translating engineering principles into practical solutions that enhance operational performance, strengthen industrial competitiveness, and create long-term value.

Beyond industry, he is an active advocate for the engineering profession and talent development, contributing to academia–industry collaboration and professional development initiatives. His work in this space supports the strengthening of engineering capability and leadership pathways for future practitioners.

Through writing, keynote speaking, advisory work, and public engagement, he focuses on engineering leadership, ESG, climate action, industrial decarbonisation, circular bioeconomy, and sustainable development. He views engineering as a discipline that not only solves technical problems, but also shapes resilient organisations and enables long-term societal value.

Hong holds an Executive MBA with Honours from the Quantic School of Business and Technology, Washington, D.C. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers, the Royal Society of Chemistry, and the Malaysian Institute of Management.