Dr. Tom Tan is the Vice Chancellor of Meritus University and has extensive experience in higher education leadership, curriculum development, and management education. His academic work focuses on strategic management, leadership development, digital transformation, and organisational innovation in contemporary business and institutional contexts.

He holds a Doctorate in Business Administration from the University of Newcastle, Australia. His doctoral research examined online consumer behaviour, with particular emphasis on decision-making processes in digital environments. His academic interests include strategic leadership, organisational agility, digital business models, and the integration of emerging technologies into management and executive education.

Dr. Tan has been actively involved in the design, development, and delivery of higher education programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. His academic contributions include curriculum development for MBA and executive education programmes, micro-credentials, and open and distance learning (ODL) modules. He has also participated in academic quality assurance activities such as programme structure design, learning outcome mapping, assessment alignment, and compliance with national regulatory and accreditation requirements.

In his teaching and academic leadership roles, Dr. Tan emphasises the application of theory to practice, critical thinking, and strategic decision-making. His instructional approach integrates contemporary management frameworks with real-world organisational contexts, supporting learner engagement and outcome-based education.

In addition to his academic qualifications, Dr. Tan holds professional certifications related to leadership, innovation, and strategy, including Certified Exponential Organizations (ExO) Trainer and Consultant, Certified Game Thinking Coach, and Certified GrowthX Instructor. These certifications inform his curriculum design and teaching practice, supporting relevance while maintaining academic rigour.

Dr. Tan’s academic work reflects a sustained commitment to developing future-ready graduates and leaders through structured, industry-informed, and academically grounded education.

Mohd Sofyan Arief bin Mahmud is the Chief Executive Officer of Meritus College. He has over twenty-two years of experience in sales and business development within the enterprise technology sector, including more than fourteen years in senior sales leadership roles serving the Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI) industry across Malaysia, ASEAN, and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Throughout his career, he has been involved in business development, strategic account management, and technology solution sales, working with banks, financial institutions, and large enterprises. His professional experience covers a range of digital and enterprise transformation initiatives, including core banking systems, fintech platforms, cloud migration, managed services, eKYC, anti–money laundering (AML) systems, digital payments, SAP S/4HANA implementation, and enterprise applications. Over the course of his career, he has contributed to technology projects and solution engagements with a cumulative value exceeding MYR300 million.

He has held Sales Director and Regional Business Development roles in multinational and publicly listed organisations, where his responsibilities included managing large deal pursuits, responding to RFP and RFI processes, negotiating contracts, and working closely with senior management teams and key stakeholders.

As Chief Executive Officer of Meritus College, within the Halim Mazmin Group, Mohd Sofyan Arief provides leadership in organisational management, business development, and institutional growth. His current role involves strengthening the college’s operational and strategic direction while supporting its development within the higher education sector.

Captain Abu Bakar is the Head of Training at HM Aerospace (HMA), a prominent Malaysian flight training academy, bringing with him extensive experience across military aviation, commercial airline operations, and professional flight instruction. With a career spanning several decades, he provides leadership in pilot training with a strong emphasis on operational discipline, safety culture, and instructional excellence.

He began his professional development at the Royal Military College, where the ethos of “Serve to Lead” shaped his leadership philosophy. He later served with the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) as a fighter pilot, holding key appointments including Flight Commander and Tactical Leader. During his military career, he operated in high-performance and high-risk environments that demanded precision, decisiveness, and sound judgement. His expertise led to his appointment as a Fighter Weapon Instructor, where he was responsible for training and mentoring fighter pilots in advanced air combat tactics, weapons delivery, and mission execution.

Following his service with the RMAF, Captain Abu Bakar transitioned into civil aviation, where he continued his progression in commercial airline operations. He commanded narrow-body aircraft before advancing to wide-body operations, including the Airbus A340, flying long-haul international routes. His airline command experience reinforced his focus on procedural discipline, crew resource management, and international operational standards.

Throughout his career, training and mentorship have remained central to his professional identity. At HM Aerospace (HMA), Captain Abu Bakar is responsible for developing training frameworks, maintaining instructional standards, and preparing future pilots for both military and civilian aviation pathways. His leadership integrates operational experience with structured instruction, ensuring that graduates are technically proficient, disciplined, and guided by the principle that effective aviation leadership begins with service, responsibility, and professionalism.

Captain Maghzan Bin Pin is the Director of Training at Meritus College and a senior maritime leader, holding the Malaysian Master Mariner credential (Master Class 1 – Unlimited). With over 30 years of distinguished experience in offshore vessel operations, fleet management, and maritime governance, he is widely recognised for his command-level expertise, strategic oversight of complex fleets, and unwavering commitment to safety and operational excellence.

With more than seven years of vessel command experience, including service on MISC vessels, Captain Maghzan has led a diverse range of offshore assets, including DP2 accommodation vessels, AHTS vessels, offshore support vessels, and supply fleets. He has supported major oil and gas operators such as Petronas, Exxon, and Brunei Shell Petroleum, consistently delivering reliable operations under demanding contractual and operational conditions. His leadership is marked by disciplined execution, strong safety performance, and sustained zero downtime operations.

Captain Maghzan has held senior executive and fleet leadership roles, including Fleet Manager at Petro Laut Sdn Bhd (Brunei), Acting General Manager for Fleet Management at Alam Maritim Sdn Bhd, and Fleet Manager and Marketing Manager at Sealink Berhad. In these capacities, he oversaw fleet operations, technical and safety management, regulatory compliance, crew administration, dry docking programmes, new shipbuilding supervision, and financial oversight.

He holds multiple professional certifications, including Dynamic Positioning (DP), Designated Person Ashore (DPA), Company Security Officer (CSO), Magnetic Compass Adjuster accreditation, and ISM, ISPS, and ISO auditing credentials. He is also experienced in maritime incident investigation, risk assessment, tank inspection, and maritime training delivery.

At Langkawi International College, Captain Maghzan actively champions maritime training, cadet mentorship, and safety awareness initiatives. His contributions have been recognised through industry accolades, including the HSE Excellence Award and Best Vessel Award, reflecting his enduring commitment to maritime excellence, disciplined leadership, and organisational resilience.

K. Barmasevam, known as Param, is the Manager of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) at Meritus College. Appointed on 9 December 2024, he is responsible for establishing and strengthening the College’s TVET Centre, with an initial focus on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) programmes aligned with national skills development priorities and industry requirements.

At Meritus College, Param provides leadership in the development of TVET training frameworks, regulatory alignment, and programme implementation. His role supports the College’s strategic objective of expanding skills-based education pathways that emphasise employability, entrepreneurship, and workforce readiness, particularly for youth and underserved communities.

Prior to joining Meritus College, Param founded AADVIK College, a registered TVET institution offering ICT and beauty therapy programmes accredited and funded by the Skills Development Fund Corporation (PTPK). He also established Yayasan Mahir Malaysia, through which he worked with government agencies and key ministries to deliver skills development and entrepreneurship programmes for youth and women from B40 communities.

Param holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics (Analytical major) from the University of Malaya, obtained in 1998 under a scholarship from Guthrie Plantations. His early professional experience includes 14 years with the Social Strategic Foundation (YSS), the social arm of the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), where he worked closely with government stakeholders on social policy implementation, community development initiatives, and skills-based empowerment programmes.

He gained further leadership exposure through close collaboration with the late Tun S. Samy Vellu, former MIC President and Minister of Works, and through participation in an international Conflict Management Conference in Germany in 2002. In 2012–2013, he served as National Coordinator for the “Reach & Teach Malaysia” programme, funded by the Economic Planning Unit (EPU), delivering targeted academic support to 25 Tamil schools nationwide.

Following a period in agribusiness and pineapple farming consultancy, Param returns to the education sector at Meritus College, bringing a breadth of experience in institutional setup, skills training, and community empowerment to advance the College’s TVET agenda in a structured, sustainable, and industry-relevant manner.