As a Supporting Partner of the ESG & Brands Forum 2026 at Sunway University, QI Group brought a people-centred perspective to discussions on technology and sustainable development. Representing the Group, Sarah Noble, Head of Group Corporate Sustainability, joined the panel “Building Sustainable Communities Through Technology”.
The forum featured a Presidential Address by Guest of Honour YB Tuan Sim Tze Tzin, Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, and brought together corporate leaders, policymakers and sustainability practitioners to examine key priorities shaping sustainable development and responsible growth.
What Is People-Centred Technology in Sustainable Development?
Drawing on QI Group’s experience across its diverse businesses, Sarah shared a clear principle: digital tools create meaningful value only when people can understand, adopt and apply them to real sustainability challenges.
For organisations, this means investing in capability-building alongside technology. Employees need the knowledge and confidence to use new systems, while leaders must create a culture that connects technology decisions with environmental and social outcomes. When these elements work together, sustainability becomes part of everyday decision-making rather than a separate initiative.
How Can Technology Build Smarter, Greener and More Resilient Communities?
The panel examined how innovation and digital solutions can strengthen communities while responding to genuine needs. Sarah was joined by Jia Earn Tan, Cluster ESG Manager at Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur; John Teoh, Executive Director and Chief Sustainability Officer at GDEX Berhad; and Nurul Diana Intan Zafirah Ishak, Head of Risk, Compliance and Sustainability at Cyberview Sdn Bhd. Rahul Bharadwaj, Group CEO of Anderes Fourdy Sdn Bhd, moderated the discussion.
Their exchange underscored a practical test for responsible innovation: technology should solve a defined problem, remain accessible to the people expected to use it and produce outcomes that can be understood and evaluated. This approach helps organisations avoid adopting technology for its own sake and keeps transformation focussed on tangible value.
Discussions throughout the forum covered the circular economy, climate resilience, the low-carbon transition, sustainable leadership and responsible growth. QI Group’s participation reflects its commitment to sharing practical perspectives and advancing collaboration that makes sustainability more inclusive, credible and resilient.
