Speaker's Profile

Izzana Salleh is a visionary leader with a distinguished track record and career across public service, private sector, and global nonprofit leadership, where she consistently championed for high-impact initiatives at both national and international levels.

She is the Secretary General for the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) and brings a strategic, diplomatic leadership to the role—strengthening multilateral collaboration among member states, advocating for producing countries on the global stage, and advancing sustainability, inclusivity, and innovation across the palm oil sector.

She has held significant roles on the Boards of Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC), Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), TalentCorp Malaysia Berhad (TalentCorp), and was part of the investment panel for the Social Security Organisation (SOCSO), all appointed with the endorsement from Ministry of Finance, Malaysia.

In the private sector, Izzana was the founder of RISE Human Capital, where she spearheaded strategic programs in talent development and policy advisory. Her earlier corporate roles include Vice President at PEMANDU Associates, a transformation consultancy, where they led national policy efforts. Prior to that, she was the CEO of Real Food Company, where she contributed to Malaysia’s national food security initiative—developing a cross-border cold chain logistics network and growing regional brands to strengthen domestic food supply and reduce import dependency. In her early days, Izzana began her career in STEM conducting cancer research, as well as in the corporate and investment banking arena.

Izzana is the Co-Founder and Global President of Girls For Girls International (G4G), a Harvard-born nonprofit that has empowered young women and girls across 40 countries through mentorship-driven leadership development.

She holds a Master in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School of Government, a Master in Business Administration from Imperial College Business School, and a Bachelors in Biotechnology from California State University, Pomona.

Her work has earned her multiple accolades over the years, including the Women Leadership Innovator Award and recognition as one of Malaysia’s Top 30 Women of Excellence.

‍