The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Forum 2026 convened over 150 finance executives and industry specialists in Petaling Jaya on September 22-23 to discuss the evolving functions of finance in fostering growth and resilience. Organised by Star Media Group and held at the Petaling Jaya Marriott Hotel, the two-day event focused on themes including financial leadership, digital transformation, governance, sustainability, cyber risk, taxation, and value creation under the banner “Finance That Impacts, Growth That Inspires.”
The forum opened with a keynote address by Prof Dr Jomo Kwame Sundaram, Research Adviser at Khazanah Research Institute, who examined finance’s role in supporting national growth and fiscal resilience as outlined in Malaysia’s 13th Plan. Prof Jomo highlighted the distinction between direct and financial investment, stressing that while direct investment enhances productive capacity, financial investment primarily involves fund transfer. He also differentiated greenfield investments, which expand economic capacity, from brownfield investments, which typically involve acquiring existing assets. Addressing the challenges of short-termism in corporate finance, he cautioned that a focus on immediate financial returns could hinder long-term economic development.
Subsequent discussions included the potential of value-based Islamic finance to mobilise responsible capital, strengthen resilience, and increase funding accessibility for sustainable growth, featuring insights from leaders such as Makhtar Abdullah of ASAS and Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid of Bank Muamalat Malaysia Berhad.
Another session explored rising threats from AI-driven fraud and deepfakes, highlighting the need for enhanced controls and governance. Panelists from Ernst & Young, Geodis Malaysia, HAVI Logistics, and Huawei Technologies shared strategies to bolster organisational readiness against increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks.
The integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles into corporate strategy was also discussed as a means for finance leaders to leverage sustainability for long-term financial advantage. ESGAM President Adjunct Practice Prof Cheah Kok Hoong and senior finance executives from Pos Malaysia Berhad and VAT Group shared perspectives on this emerging focus.
Panels addressing the impact of artificial intelligence and automation on finance roles examined the skills and leadership required to create future-ready teams capable of working alongside intelligent technologies. Industry representatives from AirAsia MOVE, Shell Business Operations, and Unilever contributed to these discussions.
The forum also addressed financial governance during corporate crises, drawing lessons on leadership, transparency, and resilience from executives including UEM Sunrise Berhad’s CFO Hafizuddin Sulaiman and Volvo Car Group’s Faisal Irfan.
On the second day, UEM Sunrise Berhad Board Member Chari TVT presented on strategies for pricing uncertainty, scenario planning, and capital allocation to navigate geopolitical and market volatility. PEMANDU Associates Joint Managing Director Aida Azmi outlined the evolving CFO role from financial custodian to strategic foresight leader tasked with balancing governance and risk amid changing capital markets.
Additional sessions focused on the CFO’s function as an anchor of organisational stability, the transformation of tax management through technology and automation, and fiscal strategies for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to balance growth with cash flow and control.
The CFO Forum 2026 was organised by Star Media Group’s Leaders Council, an exclusive platform designed to facilitate high-level strategic dialogue and peer collaboration among C-suite executives, providing a forum for addressing contemporary business challenges through practical solutions and shared insights.