M.R. CHANDRAN Honorary Member

A 50 year veteran of the agro-commodity industry with professional experience in the executive management of business operations within the plantation tree crop commodity sector. Having served for 35 years, he retired as Director of Franco-Belgian multi-national, SOCFIN Company Berhad in 1996.

He was the start-up Chief Executive of the Malaysia Palm Oil Association(MPOA) and served this umbrella entity tasked with the function of balancing the needs and interests of the various sectors for synergy and development of the Malaysian plantation industry, from 1999 to 2005.

He was involved in the formation of Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil(RSPO) in 2003 with the objective of promoting the growth and use of sustainable palm products through credible global standards & engagement of stakeholders. Appointed as the Chairman of the first RSPO meeting in 2003, elected as a Vice-President during 2004/2005 term and currently the Advisor to RSPO. Over the years he has held responsible positions in commodity sector forums and continues to serve the industry in an advisory and consultancy capacity to various business ventures and trade associations, at both regional and international level. He also serves on the board of number of plantation, renewable energy and commodity related companies in Malaysia, Indonesia, India and Sri Lanka.

A graduate of the University of Adelaide in Agricultural Economics and Technology, he has been honoured with the Fellowship awards of the Incorporated Society of Planters(FISP), the Malaysian Oil Scientists' & Technologists’ Association (FMOSTA), the British Institute of Management(FBIM), The Malaysian Institute of Management(FMIM) and is an Honorary Member of RSPO.

Email: chandran@platinumenergy.biz

PROF. BUNGARAN SARAGIH

Indonesian national Bungaran Saragih, served as Minister of Agriculture and Forestry in the Union Cabinet between 2000 to 2001, and in the Cooperate Cabinet from 2001 to 2004. In recognition of his significant contribution, he was awarded the Satyalancana Development Award from the President of the Republic of Indonesia in 2002. Bungaran Saragih presently serves as the Chairman of Board of Trustees of the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation, a non-profit organization established in 1991 which strives to realize the conservation of Bornean orangutans and their habitat in collaboration with local stakeholders. He earned his PhD in Socio-economics from the North Caroline State University, Raleigh, USA in 1980, his Master of Arts in Economics from the same University in 1977, and his Bachelor degree in Socio-economics from the Bogor Agricultural Institute in 1971. Bungaran Saragih served as a lecturer at Bogor Agricultural Institute from 1968 – 2010. Since 2010, he became Professor Emeritus at the Bogor Agricultural Institute. Bungaran Saragih received Matsuda Award from the International Society for Southeast Asian Agricultural Sciences in 2005, recognizing his significant contribution to the development of science and agricultural in Asia. He was awarded a Doctorate Honoris Causa in 2004, from Goerge August University, Germany. Between 2002 and 2003, Bungaran Saragih served as the Chairman of Board of Governors of the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), in Rome.