Dr Huw Gardner (Director of Manaf Gardner Associates) with Anil Singh Gill (President of FOAM, Malaysia) at Money20/20 Asia, marking the formalisation of a partnership between Manaf Gardner Associates and the Fintech Association of Malaysia to strengthen Malaysia’s fintech talent ecosystem under the Malaysia Fintech 2030 initiative.
Malaysia has signaled its ambition to become a regional powerhouse in financial technology, marking a significant milestone at Money20/20 Asia with the launch of the Malaysia Fintech 2030 initiative.
The announcement was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Manaf Gardner Associates (MGA) and the Fintech Association of Malaysia (FAOM), establishing a strategic partnership aimed at revolutionising the nation’s fintech talent ecosystem.
Signed on the international stage in Bangkok, the partnership designates Manaf Gardner as FAOM’s executive education partner. The collaboration is designed to accelerate talent development and capability building, ensuring Malaysia’s workforce is prepared for the rapidly evolving digital finance landscape.
The Malaysia Fintech 2030 initiative aligns directly with the government’s national development agenda, specifically the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030) and the Thirteenth Malaysia Plan (RMK13).
Both frameworks identify digital transformation and a highly skilled workforce as the primary engines for future economic growth.
Datuk Dr Nora Manaf, Professor Dr Colyn Gardner and Professor Mark Brewer from the University of St Andrews during a launch in Kuala Lumpur to formalise a strategic relationship in executive education collaboration.
Led by MGA Chairman Datuk Dr Nora Manaf and CEO Professor Dr Colyn Gardner, the firm will work alongside FAOM President Anil Singh Gill to identify critical industry gaps. The partnership aims to support fintech players across the spectrum—from early-stage startups to scaling companies preparing for public listings.
“Executive education must go beyond theory,” said Professor Dr Colyn Gardner.
“Our focus is to bring practitioner-led learning that is deeply applied, relevant to real industry challenges, and capable of supporting organisations through different stages of growth.”
The initiative introduces a variety of high-level learning formats, including:
– Short Masterclass Workshops held locally in Malaysia.
– International Residential Programmes at world-leading business schools.
– Visiting Faculty Programmes and modular pathways leading to university-issued certifications.
To ensure broad accessibility, these programmes will be HRD Corp claimable, allowing Malaysian corporates to leverage training levies to upskill their teams.
Anil Singh Gill, President of FAOM, emphasised that talent is the cornerstone of the industry. “This collaboration strengthens our ability to co-create meaningful learning pathways and support our members in navigating a rapidly evolving industry,” he noted.
Dr Huw Gardner, Business Development Director of MGA, who represented the firm at the signing, described the Bangkok venue as symbolic. “It reflects Malaysia’s willingness to engage globally while investing locally in the talent and capabilities needed to remain competitive.”
Adding a founder’s perspective, Rian Philip, Founder of Moby Fintech, noted that structured development pathways are essential to empower local talent to innovate and scale solutions that meet global standards.
Manaf Gardner Associates is a global advisory firm specialising in practitioner-led executive education, led by industry veterans Datuk Dr Nora Manaf (former Maybank Group CHCO) and Professor Dr Colyn Gardner.
The Fintech Association of Malaysia continues to serve as the key platform for the country’s fintech players, fostering innovation and industry engagement to cement Malaysia’s position as a digital leader in Southeast Asia.
