Page 88 - NYAA GAHA 30th Anniversary "Service Beyond Gold"

Dr Charles Chao Rong Phua

Executive Chairman

Solaris Management Advisors & Associates (SMAA)
NYAA Gold Award Holder (2002 Cohort)

Dr Charles Chao Rong Phua is a globally recognised An influential educator and coach, Charles is the
trisector strategy and innovation leader, seamlessly Programme Leader for Chief Strategy, Chief Tech,
bridging the worlds of government, business, and Chief AI, and Chief Operating Officer programmes
academia to shape transformative solutions for at globally renowned institutions, including
organisations and communities worldwide. As the National University of Singapore, Nanyang
Executive Chairman of Solaris Management Advisors Technological University, and the University of St.
& Associates (SMAA), Charles drives impactful Gallen. He has trained and coached over 1,400 senior
change as board advisor to chairman/advisor to CEO, leaders across 33 cohorts worldwide, empowering
board director/trustee/advisor of various companies them to design and deliver impactful solutions for
and organisations across the UK, Switzerland, and their organisations.
APAC. He also serves as executive chairman for two
AI companies. He is a Senior Accredited Director A committed lifelong learner, Charles holds
with the Singapore Institute of Directors, Fellow with postgraduate and executive education qualifications
both the Chartered Governance Institute (UK) and from some of the world’s most prestigious institutions,
Advisory Board Centre (Australia). including Cambridge, Oxford, Warwick, LSE, INSEAD,
Harvard, Wharton, Kellogg, MIT, Stanford, LBS and
Ranked among the top 100 global professor-author many more. His contributions to knowledge and
grade management consultants (Academic Fellow) by practice include six published books on strategy,
the International Council of Management Consulting and he is the editor of two Routledge book series on
Institutes and accorded Fellow status at 13 global government and business management.
industry associations covering corporate governance,
risk management, technology, accounting, finance, Dr Phua’s leadership has been recognised with
marketing, logistics, amongst others, Charles brings numerous accolades, including the Singapore
a rare blend of academic rigour and practical SkillsFuture Fellowship, the Junior Chamber
experience. With 25 years of strategy leadership International Ten Outstanding Young Persons
and 11 years of board experience, he has co-created Award, the Goldman Sachs Global Leader Award,
strategies with governments, corporations, and the Fulbright US-ASEAN Fellowship at the Brookings
non-profits to tackle complex challenges in market Institution and Honorary Life Membership from
positioning strategies, digital AI and organisational University of London Union for his outstanding
transformation. His strategic contributions range leadership and contribution from the Chancellor
from advising a head of state four times in seven HRH Princess Anne.
days on national policy to co-leading social housing
transformation in Kazakhstan, to being a non-Arab Through his multifaceted roles, he exemplifies the
on Arab TV news as chief coach to the inaugural GAHA spirit of ‘Service Beyond Gold’ — dedicating
female entrepreneurship programme contributing his expertise to advancing strategic innovation,
to Oman 2040, and supporting a US$916 billion tech empowering future leaders, and delivering
multinational in designing its five-year plans. sustainable impact globally.

86 30 Years of Service and Leadership