Kwok Chin (KC) Lai

Experience

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  Cargill International Trading Pte Ltd

  May 1999 - Jun 2008

  Manage IT teams in Singapore and MalaysiaProvide leadership and guidance to the IT teams Ensure engaged employee within the teamsProvide avenues for staff training and developmentEnsure sufficient resources for projects and maintain operations excellenceDesign and maintain cost allocation mechanismProvide annual monetary budgetMonitor IT costs and implement innovative ideas to reduce SG&A expenses Maintain service catalogue and service level agreementEnsure services are provided within the agreed service levelImplement solutions and innovations to bring more values to the business unitsWork with business leaders to manage IP issues and risks with business leadersKey AchievementsProject Manager for relocation of AP regional data centre. It involves managing various regional infrastructure teams to complete the relocation within time and budget of USD 250,000 and achieved minimum downtime during relocationProject Manager for various projects to integrate IT infrastructure and services due to M&AProject Manager to migrate Cargill's proprietary email system to MS ExchangeInitiate and conduct studies to implement MPLS for all sites in Malaysia, and advised management against the implementationImplement incident management tool that adopt the ITIL standardsProject Manager to streamline IT infrastructure for business unit in Pakistan to reduce total cost of ownershipProject Manager to implement tools and processes for new IT team in Papua New GuineaImplement IP telephony in Singapore officeInitiate and manage project to replace all printers with Canon multi-functional devices as a strategy to reduce SG&A expenses leading to an annual savings of S$250,000Coordinate IT resources to provide IT infrastructure services in office renovation projectsInitiate and organize IT road show to communicate IT road map for implementing new technologies to all employees in Singapore Show less Streamline processes and reduce non-valued added processesActively worked on cost reduction/increase cost effectiveness of running the regional data centre and helpdeskPlan and coordinate data centre renovation, UPS upgrades and managed outagesTeam lead for global iSeries technical support team in Asia PacificResponsible for the iSeries system security control and administrationProvide day-to-day operations support to iSeries users globallyConduct performance and capacity planning and monitoring of the iSeriesPlan and implement Disaster Recovery PlanEnsure change management and controlsPlan and conduct iSeries server hardware and software upgradesProvide technical support to business applications development and support teamsKey AchievementsLed global team comprising of members from North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific in globalization of iSeries support. The project involves designing and implementing tools and processes to achieve higher efficiency in Global support teamProject Manager for consolidating iSeries from Korea, Taiwan, Australia and Singapore. Led global and regional IT infrastructure teams with members from iSeries support, applications support, country IT and Network teamsLed global team in evaluating and selecting new corporate security management and change management tools Project Manager to redesign DRP to better aligned to business requirements. This involves leading infrastructure teams to set up new DRP sitePlan and conduct annual DRP test that involves technical support teams and users across Asia PacificDesign and document iSeries server security management processesSpearhead Global Valuing Differences Initiative in Asia Pacific Show less

  • IT Manager

    Jun 2006 - Jun 2008

  • Regional Helpdesk and Data Centre Manager

    May 1999 - Jun 2006
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  Cargill Asia Pacific Holdings Pte Ltd

  Jun 2008 - Feb 2010

  AP Regional Information Protection Lead

  Manage 30+ information protection coordinators in various locations across Asia Pacific to ensure compliance of IP policies and standards.Champion key global information protection initiatives in the region. Conduct risk analysis on new IT initiatives.Provide continuous updates on security threats, trends and mitigation controls.Part of global team to draft corporate information protection policies and standards.Conduct on-site mini-audits and inspections to validate compliances to information protection policies and standards.Update regional and local management of findings and propose risk mitigation plans. Partner with external and internal auditors on IT risks issues.Manage relationships with key stakeholders within the various business units. Formalize and conduct Security Awareness Program for various stakeholders at different levels.Key AchievementsDesigned a standard global approach for risk analysis and compensating controls involved in JV and M&A Led a global team to define and classify security incidents, and designed a methodology to report and manage security incidents Designed and implemented processes to better manage logical access of shared and process IDs and controlled access of shared foldersDeveloped self-assessment kit for coordinators to assess level of compliance to policies and standards at their respective locationsConducted mini-audits and validations at various offices and plants across Asia Pacific Show less

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  3D Networks Singapore Pte Ltd

  Apr 2010 - Mar 2012

  Technical Manager

  • Led a team of 40 Service Delivery Managers, Network and Systems Consultants and Engineers in designing, implementing and maintaining network and systems infrastructure, solutions and services for external customers.Key Achievements• Restructured the technical team to enhance productivity and increase job satisfaction • Increased staff strength by 30% that led to 108% increased in company's annual revenue• Designed a system to improve resource planning and monitoring• Set up the Security Steering Committee and conducts bi-annual security review to improve in-house IT security• Designed and implemented quality assurance processes Show less

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  International Baccalaureate

  Apr 2012 - Jun 2014

  Head of Office of IT

  • Led a team of 20 direct reports to provide IT services to IBO offices globally. • Managed stakeholders’ expectations through collaborating with senior leaders and decision-makers across departments to identify, propose, develop, and implement cost-effective technology solutions that support organizational goals.• Ensured IT strategy aligned with business goals, tracking performance and implementing metrics to measure success, while balancing stakeholder interests and delivering measurable outcomes.• Directed security management for business operations and IT changes, providing leadership in information security and compliance. Oversaw security and legal issues, driving risk mitigation strategies across the organization.• Managed IT contracting and purchasing to enhance cost efficiency and protect organizational interests, ensuring vendor compliance with SLAs and seamless transitions to new providers without business disruption.• Oversaw IT asset managed with structure, processes, and tools to track IT assets—including hardware, software, personnel, and finances—to optimize resource use and reduce total cost of ownership. Key Achievements• Designed and implemented IT balanced scorecard to manage and allocate IT resources more efficiently.• Designed and implemented performance matrix for vendor management.• Organized and conducted annual IT Management Meetings in Singapore and Cardiff.• Designed and implemented IT Security 5-year Roadmap.• Led global project team in developing and incorporating e-learning and flipped classroom into IB curriculum. Show less

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  Singapore Scout Association

  Jun 2014 - Mar 2018

  Deputy Executive Director

  • Led a team of 20 staff in overseeing operations, membership growth, volunteers engagement and fund-raising. Key Achievements• Redeveloped membership database system, Accounting system and POS to raise effectiveness and efficiency.• Restructured the organisation and redesigned processes to provide better support to the 1,500 volunteers.• Design, implement, deliver and review training schemes of teachers and adult leaders.• Single-handedly prepared and published annual reports. Show less

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  IHiS (Integrated Health Information Systems)

  Sept 2019 - Feb 2020

  Operations Manager

  • Led an operations team to work with auditors in designing and implementing control processes to eliminate data risks while also guiding the team in supporting the applications and infrastructure for data analytics.

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  3D Networks

  Feb 2020 - Jan 2021

  Head of Technology & Services

  • Led a team of 30 Pre-sales Engineers, Project Managers, Service Delivery Managers, Network and Systems engineers in designing, implementing and maintaining network and systems infrastructure, solutions and services for external customers.

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  NTT Singapore Solutions Pte Ltd

  Jan 2021 - May 2021

  Client Delivery Manager

  • Led a team delivering IT Managed Services to NTT's customer, encompassing on-site and off-site IT professionals such as service desk, EUC, infrastructure, application management and security, resulting in enhanced client satisfaction through high-quality service aligned with service definitions and SLAs.• Resolved incidents, problems or unsatisfactory performance issues. • Developed and managed an operational budget and worked with the Commercial Teams for processing monthly billing.Key Achievements• Implemented cloud security solution for the customer to create a secured environment that allowed for greater flexibility and mobility of the workforce to function outside of the office. Show less

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  Action Community for Entrepreneurship (ACE)

  Jun 2021 - Jul 2023

  IT & Facilities Manager

  • Developed and implemented IT strategies, policies, and processes, aligning technology investments with business objectives and maximizing resource utilization.• Oversaw end-to-end IT operations, focusing on proactive monitoring, maintenance, and optimization of hardware, software, and network resources.• Managed and ensured day-to-day IT End-User Computing (EUC) operations, encompassing: Microsoft O365, SharePoint, Azure, Teams and Exchange.• Prepared and controlled budget by managing and tracking OPEX and CAPEX• Drove digital transformation by identifying strategic opportunities and developing innovative tools, solutions and business models that enhanced operational efficiency.• Managed IT services contracts from their negotiation and creation through to execution and analysis to maximize operational and financial performance while minimizing risk.• Managed vendors through sourcing, contract negotiations and ensuring vendors deliver in accordance to the procurement contracts and service level agreements.• Designed and implemented a set of cybersecurity strategies that prevents unauthorized access to organizational assets such as computers, networks, and data.Key Achievements• Implemented Client Relationship Management, Event Management and Membership Management systems from conducting cost-benefit analysis to selection to implementation.• Implemented a self-service rental of meeting rooms by external parties through a combination of software application, payment gateway, CCTV and keyless door access systems.• Completed domain migration due to corporate rebranding strategy, leading to changes to domain, corporate website and Microsoft 365.• Arranged for outsource of IT administration and support services to external service providers. Show less