Veritas Biz Talk & MOUs Set New Standard for Industry-Academia Synergy

In an age where artificial intelligence is revolutionising business and cyber threats grow more sophisticated by the day, staying informed is essential.  

That was the central theme of Veritas University College’s first-ever Biz Talk Series, held on 28^th August 2025 at the Horizon Banquet Hall, Menara BAC. PJ.  

This inaugural session, with the theme ‘Trust Tech & Transparency: Strengthening Financial Literacy, Cybersecurity & Governance in an AI-Driven Era’ brought together thought leaders and industry experts to share urgent, practical insights on scam prevention, cybersecurity and strategic governance in a digital-first world. 

Held in collaboration with BAC Education, the event attracted a diverse audience, from students and educators, to working professionals, all eager to learn how to navigate this fast-moving digital landscape. 

Dr. Selina Dang
(CEO, Coreplus Advisory Sdn Bhd) 
Smart Practices to Outsmart Scammers 

The session kicked off with a sharp and relevant presentation by Dr. Selina Dang, who opened with a simple but impactful message – how a few minutes of verification can save a lifetime of regret. Dr Selina introduced attendees to a range of tools and resources to help them spot scams before it's too late. She also demonstrated how anyone, whether a first-time investor or seasoned executive, can take proactive steps to verify a website, email, or transaction before engaging. 

The importance of rapid response in the aftermath of a scam was strongly emphasised. Dr. Selina shared that victims should act within the crucial “golden hour” by contacting the National Scam Response Centre (997) and immediately freezing transactions through banking features like Kill Switch. She added that a recent update has made the process even more efficient - those who report to NSRC may now bypass the need to file a police report, allowing for a faster and more streamlined recovery effort. 

The most empowering part of Dr. Dang’s talk was her introduction of the SPADE framework: 

• Stay in control 
• Protect your information 
• Act rationally 
• Do not engage 
• Educate yourself  

Jayaseelan Vejayon (Vice President of Cyber Risk Management, AFFIN Group)  
The Double-Edged Sword of AI in Cybersecurity 

The second speaker, Jayaseelan Vejayon, took the audience deeper into the mechanics of modern cybercrime and how AI is both a threat and a shield. 

With over two decades of experience in cyber risk, he gave a live demonstration of just how quickly and easily AI tools can clone websites, write sophisticated phishing emails and launch brute-force attacks. He introduced the audience to advanced tools like WormGPT, designed specifically for malicious use and showed how deepfakes are now being used for social engineering scams. 

But Jeyaseelan was equally passionate about AI’s potential for good. He highlighted how banks and financial institutions are using real-time behavioral analytics, predictive modeling and AI-powered risk hubs to detect fraud before it happens. He closed with a powerful reminder - AI isn’t just a tool, but a responsibility.  

Samantha Tai (CEO, Boardroom Malaysia) 
Governance, Strategy & Culture in the Age of Disruption 

The final speaker, Samantha Tai, a seasoned expert in corporate governance and digital transformation, shifted the focus from personal and technical security to organisational resilience. 

She began with a striking statistic: 28% of leadership focus should go toward strategic and regular advising, while only 18–20% should be operational. Without a clear digital strategy, she warned, companies will be left behind. 

Samantha emphasised that today's boards and leadership teams face rapidly growing regulatory responsibilities, particularly around cybersecurity and data protection. She discussed the evolving role of PDPA compliance, where companies are now required to appoint a PDPA officer to safeguard personal data. Yet, ironically, some directors’ personal details are still publicly searchable in Malaysia, highlighting a regulatory gap that hasn’t yet caught up with global privacy standards seen in places like Singapore and Hong Kong. 

She challenged businesses to balance compliance with innovation. Data analytics, for instance, can drive product personalisation and even improve healthcare outcomes, down to DNA-level treatment customisation. But to do this responsibly, companies must build robust frameworks for ethical data use. Another key takeaway was the need to cultivate a strong, transparent internal culture. The most successful companies in AI transformation tend to have a “speak-up culture” where every level of the organisation, from interns to executives, is encouraged to share ideas and concerns. 

Samantha concluded by emphasising that transformation isn’t just about adopting tools; but embedding a culture of risk awareness, continuous learning and strategic agility. 

Engaging Insights from the Panel Session 

Before the event drew to a close, the audience was treated to a lively panel session moderated by Assistant Professor Dr. Raymond Markus (Head of the Global Business School, VUC). The discussion brought together diverse perspectives on digital threats, AI ethics and governance challenges and attendees had the opportunity to ask pressing questions, reinforcing the importance of cross-sector collaboration and lifelong learning in tackling today’s digital complexities.