∙ Communications guru ∙ branding maestro ∙ educationist
∙ philanthropist ∙ artist ∙ cartoonist ∙ writer ∙ designer
∙ entrepreneur ∙ corporate leader

An outline

Tan Sri Dato’ Professor Dr Lim Kok Wing, 60, is widely acknowledged as a foremost communications strategist in Asia and an innovative, globally-focused educationist. He is a driving force of the Malaysian creative industry that covers advertising, design, brand development, multimedia, publishing, media, international relations, government relations, strategic corporate communications and tertiary education. He is one of Asia’s leading entrepreneurs who have triumphed in many fields, a pioneering creative communications consultant to government and industry and most famously the founder and president of the university that bears his name.

Cartoonist

Malaysia’s first home-grown cartoonist -- created Guli-Guli series that ran in the New Straits Times for five years. It was his perspective of a multiracial society living in peace and harmony.

Creative Director

The youngest (in his 20s) and the first Asian to hold the post in one of the world’s largest international agencies.

Corporate

Chairman of the Limkokwing Integrated Group, a multi-disciplinary consultancy group which includes a number of subsidiary companies involved in film/video production, design, multimedia, education and publishing.

Founder/President of :

∙ Limkokwing University of Creative Technology - Malaysia,
  United Kingdom, Botswana, Indonesia
∙ Limkokwing Institute of Creative Technology
∙ Malaysian Design Innovation Centre
∙ Malaysian Branding & Packaging Design Centre
∙ Limkokwing Executive Leadership College
∙ Malaysian Education Promotion Council
∙ National Creativity and Innovation Institute
∙ Centre for Content Creation
∙ Limkokwing Foundation for Creative Excellence
∙ The Asia Creativity Institute
∙ International House Kuala Lumpur
∙ Public Opinion & Perception Research Centre
∙ K-Economy Enabling Institute
∙ Designers’ and Animators’ Guild

Designer always

Dedicated to the promotion of a design-conscious society, he raises design quality and promotes image building through the use of information design, i.e. Kuala Lumpur International Airport, KTM Kommuter and Putra Light Rail Transit networks.

The President of the Malaysia Design Innovation Centre, he actively promotes Malaysian design to add value to Malaysian brands and exports. Instrumental in the setting up of the Malaysia Design Council and is Founder/President of the Designers and Animators Guild of Malaysia.

Trail-blazing educationist

Instilling in the younger generation worldwide a culture of strategic creativity that maximises technology and innovation to create content. Founded the Limkokwing University College of Creative Technology, one of the world’s largest and most globally connected, with more than 50 of the best known universities and colleges jointly awarding diplomas/degrees.

The campus in Cyberjaya on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur has an international enrolment of over 7,000 students from more than 90 countries. Promotes innovation, creativity and leadership through curricular and other self-development activities.

Also created the specialist Limkokwing Executive Leadership College to focus on information technology, computing science and E-commerce, with emphasis on leadership skills training.

Both colleges lend strategic support to the human capital aspiration of the Multimedia Super Corridor and Vision 2020. Limkokwing runs branch campuses in Kuching, Sarawak, and Jakarta. It will shortly open new campuses in London and Gaborone, Botswana.

Introduced unique Indusity – industry within university practice – to enable students gain hands-on industry experience in real-life projects undertaken for industry partners such as Nestle, Microsoft, Motorola and Bluetooth.

Launched the highly successful Global Classroom in collaboration with partner universities to enable students in 46 countries to pursue Limkokwing-moderated programmes and seek transfer to other universities for cultural exposure and learning experience.

Initiated franchising brands on campus for world markets. They include Wings Café, Fitofly fitness centre, 10/Ten convience store, Making Headlines hair design salon and street couture boutique Centrefold.

Promoted lifestyle activities and business operation through the Sound and Music Design Academy, Hair Design Academy, fashion shows, musicals, talent contests, e-games and the theatre.

Peacemaker

Always a seeker of peaceful solutions to disputes. Abhors violence. Mooted the Malaysian World Peace Foundation, which held its inaugural conference – Kuala Lumpur World Peace Conference in August, 2003. The inaugural Kuala Lumpur World Peace Award was bestowed upon French President Jacques Chirac at a special ceremony during the President’s visit to Malaysia in July, 2003.

The brains behind the co-sponsorship of the Perdana Global Peace Forum in 2005 as well as the video production and creative content for the event. Also produced four documentaries in 1998 to calm people down during the uncertainties of the Asian financial crisis.

Produced Take the First Step for the World Red Cross Peace Conference, which was screened worldwide to promote world peace. Also created filmlet, Ceasefire ’89, to coincide with international drive again nuclear build-up.

Nation building

A highly committed nation-builder who strategises, conceptualises, plans and executes international campaigns that promote Malaysia as a regional education hub and a tourism and industrial haven

Developed the mascot, logo and three promotional songs for the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games 1998 and the national Rakan Muda (youth development) programme

Produced audio-visual work and creative content for the World Halal Forum 2006 to highlight Malaysia as a major halal food hub. Also developed script, video, music and creative work for presentation at the World Congress on Information Technology, Texas, in 2006 to prepare for the hosting of WCIT in 2008

Other successful campaigns include :

∙ Vision 2020, the blueprint for Malaysia to attain developed
  nation status

∙ Malaysia Incorporated, a philosophy on positive and
  productive partnership between government and private
  sectors in business, trade and industry

∙ Made in Malaysia For The World, promoting Malaysia’s
  international trade and industry

∙ Tak Nak, an anti-smoking campaign with the simple
  message in Bahasa Malaysia that means Say No

∙ Malaysia Boleh (Malaysia Can), a catchphrase turned into an
  inspiring song to inspire Malaysians to compete and excel

∙ Malaysia Segar – Vision for a Clean and Green Nation, a
  drive to introduce thermal treatment for waste disposal

∙ Reach Out, working towards a generous and charitable
  society

∙ Proud to be Malaysian, enhancing national unity among
  Malaysians

∙ Be Good To Your Neighbours, fostering neighbourliness and
  racial harmony

∙ One Heart One Nation, calming a nation during a regional
  currency crisis

∙ Unity 2001, promoting patriotism and gratitude for the good
  things in life to foster peace and contentment

Philanthropist

Initiated the Global Humanitarian Appeal for Bosnia and Herzegovina to raise funds for the reconstruction of the war-torn country and give a human face to the atrocities of war. Organised the highly successful Run for Humanity, to date the biggest charity run ever to promote the Red Cross Movement.

Set up the Limkokwing Foundation For Creative Excellence awarding scholarships to outstanding Malaysians who need financial assistance.

Established the Society for the Severely Mentally Handicapped to train children with multiple handicaps and raise funds for those rejected by other charities.

Political Strategist

Handpicked to help Nelson Mandela and the African National Council win South Africa’s first free elections in 1994.

Publishing

Books published include :

Mission 2020 – The Final Stretch, outlining the strategies to realize a fully developed nation status by 2020

Innovation – The Heartbeat of a Dynamic Nation -- a compilation of newspaper article written by Tan Sri Lim on innovation and creative branding for the world marketplace

Inspiring Putrajaya – The World’s First Intelligent Garden City – a photographic portray of the architectural marvels and natural attractions in Putraja, the seat of the Federal Government

Limkokwing Creativity – A Showcase of Creativity in Branding, highlighting the advances made in the competitive sphere of creative branding in more than three decades

Leadership – a periodical published by the Executive Leadership College in collaboration with the Malaysian Institute of Directors, covering topical issues on leadership training, brand building, innovation trends, industry developments and corporate governance

New Voice of Asia, a quarterly journal aimed at bridging the widening gap of the world’s understanding of how things work in Asia

Portrait of an Icon, a compilation of articles and features about Tan Sri Lim’s achievements published over four decades

Malaysia Incorporated, an authoritative book that is a road map of the country’s investment opportunity

Bosnia: Beyond Words, Beyond Tears, a publication that gives a human face to the pains of war

We Must Become an Innovative Nation, a compilation of newspaper articles and special features on the creative ways to compete in the globalised environment

Hidden Agenda, a book which provides the Asian perspective on the economic crisis in the region

Malaysia Branding for the World, a publication providing insights into brand building by Malaysian companies

Road to 2020, tracing the country’s country from pre-independence to events leading to the development of one united nation

Journey of Batik, providing an eye-opening background on the ancient sources of batik and its advances

Guli-Guli, Volumes 1 & 2, a compilation of his newspaper comic strip that ran for five years

The Green Horizon, a book on the preservation of Malaysia’s rainforest

Education In Malaysia, Volume I & II, promoting Malaysia as a destination for higher studies

A Journey on Wings of Creativity, a first-of-its-kind hardcover capturing portions of creative history of Malaysia

Inspiration Personified, thoughts and memories of an inspiring figure cherished by students

Public services -- positions held (past and present)

∙ President – Malaysian World Peace Foundation
∙ President – Malaysian American Society
∙ President – Malaysian Institute of Directors
∙ President – Society for the Severely Mentally Handicapped
∙ President – Council for Effective Communications
∙ Vice President – United Nations Malaysia Association
∙ Vice President -- Malaysian Red Crescent Society
∙ Adviser -- Malaysian Footwear Manufacturers Association
∙ Adviser – National Science Centre
∙ Adviser – Branding Association of Malaysia
∙ Fellow – Institute of Public Relations Malaysia
∙ Member – Council of Higher Education
∙ Member – Malaysian Art and Culture Council
∙ Member – Ministry of International Trade & Industry’s
  Industry Excellence Award Council
∙ Member –National Innovation Council
∙ Member – Malaysian Business Council
∙ Trustee – Malaysian Handicraft Development Board
∙ Trustee – National Art Gallery

Awards

2007

∙ Brand Personality of the Year, Asia Pacific – Brand Laureate

2006

∙ CEO of the Year for Branding – Malaysia Canada Business
  Council
∙ International Gold Star Award for World Quality Commitment
  – Business Initiative Directions, Paris
∙ Global Award for Innovation – Oxford Association of
  Management, Oxford, UK
∙ Industry Excellence for Education – Malaysia Canada
  Business Council
∙ Excellence in Information Technology (Multimedia Education)
  – Technology Business Review
∙ Honorary Doctorate of Education – University of East London
∙ Lifetime Achievement Award for Humanitarian Efforts
  Inspiring Creativity and Innovation 2006 -- Technology
  Business Review
∙ Honorary Doctorate of Civil Laws and Emeritus Professorship
  for the Chair of Innovation Management -- the European
  University, Barcelona
∙ Asia’s Most Creative Personality and Thinker -- London
  School of Management

2005

∙ Ernst & Young’s Malaysian Entrepreneur of the Year Award
∙ Ernst & Young’s Master Entrepreneur of the Year
∙ Induction into World Entrepreneur of the Year Academy,
  Monte Carlo
∙ Ambassador for Peace Award -- Universal Peace Federation
  and Inter-religious & International Federation for World
  Peace
∙ Malaysian Peace Ambassador Award -- Sun Yat Sen Centre
  for Peace and Education (SEA)

2004 - 1990

∙ Special Acknowledgement Award for role in Kuala Lumpur
  World Peace Conference -- the Institute of Public Relations
  Malaysia
∙ Ad Personality of the Year -- Malaysian Advertising
  Association
∙ Lifetime Achievement Award for Commitment to Education
  Excellence --- ADOI magazine
∙ Award for Excellence in Private Education – National
  Association of Private Education Institutions, Malaysia
∙ Export Excellence Award – Malaysian Ministry of International
  Trade and Industry
∙ Honorary Doctorate in Design -- RMIT University, Australia
∙ Most PR-savvy CEO of the Year -- Institute of Public
  Relations Malaysia
∙ Honorary Doctorate of Letters -- Curtin University of
  Technology, Perth, Australia
∙ Honorary Doctorate of Laws -- University of Hertfordshire, UK
∙ Honorary Associate Fellow --- Auckland Institute of
  Technology
∙ Honorary Fellow award -- Malaysian Institute of Directors
∙ Man of the Year – Women at Work magazine

Federal/State Honours:

∙ Ahli Mangku Negara (AMN) -- Order of Chivalry (Fifth Rank),
  June 1982 – conferred by Malaysian King
∙ Darjah Dato’ Paduka Mahkota Selangor – Knighthood
  (Dato’) conferred by the Selangor Sultan, 1985
∙ Johan Setia Makhota (JSM) – Order of Chivalry (Third Rank)
  June 1989 -- conferred by Malaysian King
∙ Johan Mangku Negara (JMN) – Order of Chivalry (Second
  Rank) June 1991 – conferred by Malaysian King
∙ Panglima Setia Mahkota (Tan Sri) – Knighthood conferred by
  Malaysia King, June 1995