People & Culture

Dato’ Praba Thiagarajah is a prominent leader in the IT industry with over three decades of experience. He founded Basis Bay in 1996, transforming it into a leading provider of sustainable data centre and premium IT infrastructure services. Today, the Group supports more than 300 global clients, particularly within the financial services sector with a presence across over 50 locations in 25 countries.

As Group Executive Chairman, he defines the strategic direction of the organisation, driving its “Leading Clean IT” vision with a focus on sustainable infrastructure, technology lifecycle optimisation, and strong governance underpinned by transparency and accountability.

Under his leadership, Basis Bay has delivered key industry milestones, including pioneering Asia’s first Green Data Centre (Cyberjaya DC1) and launching the region’s Eco-Green Premium Data Centre (Cyberjaya DC2), recognised for excellence in sustainable design and build.

His dedication to sustainability is reflected in Basis Bay’s “Leading Clean IT” initiatives. Beyond building, designing and operating eco-green data centres that prioritize environmental sustainability, Basis Bay also champions smart procurement practices, promotes cloud computing to reduce environmental impact, and advocates for transparency and anti-corruption principles within the digital infrastructure ecosystem.

He began his career with NEC Corporation and IBM, establishing a strong engineering foundation that continues to inform his strategic approach. Prior to 2000, he founded Malaysia’s first Business Continuity Society and served as an adviser to NISER (now CyberSecurity Malaysia), contributing to the early development of Malaysia’s cybersecurity and resilience landscape.

Dato’ Praba holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons.) in Physics from the University of Malaya, a Postgraduate Diploma in Computing and Information Technology from the University of Oxford (UK), and business certifications from Heriot-Watt University (Scotland). He also holds a Business Continuity Certification from the Disaster Recovery Institute International (Canada).

He is the recipient of multiple industry recognitions, including the Global Impact Award (2008), Outstanding Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Award (2011), Young Indian Entrepreneur Award (2006), GOPIO Excellence Award (2008), Asia Responsible Entrepreneurship Award (2011), Entrepreneur Icon Award (2011) and PIKOM Key Industry Leader Award (2005). He was also recognised under the Digerati50 (2018–2019) and serves on the Advisory Council of WWF Malaysia.

Thyaga Rajan Serniwassan brings over 25 years of experience in consultancy for mechanical, electrical and facilities management of data centres. The current chair of the Malaysian Data Centre Alliance (MDCA), he is responsible for Basis Bay’s data centre building and construction division.

As the lead project director in the construction of Asia’s first green data centre, Mr. Rajan brings a wealth of experience in planning sustainable purpose-built data centres.

Mr. Rajan graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Electrical & Electronic Engineering from the University of Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA. He also holds an MBA from Cardiff University, UK.

Mr. Rajan is a certified CDCP (Certified Data Centre Professional), CDRP (Certified Data Centre Risk Professional) and CDCS (Certified Data Centre Specialist) professional as well as a member of the Malaysian Board of Engineers.

Goh Eng Hooi brings over two decades of senior leadership experience across the construction, agro-based, and oil & gas industries. Currently, he serves as the Chief Executive Officer overseeing data centre strategy and operations at Basis Bay, where he leads the development of sovereign, secure and eco-green digital infrastructure for regulated and mission-critical industries.

At Basis Bay, Mr. Goh has been focusing on strengthening the company’s operational excellence across its Cyberjaya campus, building on the successful launch of Cyberjaya Data Centre 2 (DC2), Malaysia’s first and only data centre certified as TIA-942 Rated 4 in both Design and Constructed Facility, setting new benchmarks for data centre performance and reliability in the region.

Prior to joining the company, Mr. Goh served as Senior Vice President and later as Chief Executive Officer within a major industrial conglomerate, where he led renewable energy and construction industry businesses with a strong focus on operational excellence, risk management, governance and sustainable growth.

Apart from his corporate responsibilities, Mr. Goh is a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO), a global leadership community focused on leadership development and knowledge exchange. He also served as an exco member of the Building Materials Distributors Association of Malaysia contributing to industry development and professional standards.

Mr. Goh holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB, Hons) from the University of Melbourne, Australia, and has completed his Executive Program in International Management at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business, further enhancing his expertise in global leadership, strategic management and organisational development.

His professional strengths include business development, investor relations, strategic planning, human resources, corporate communications and general management, with extensive experience in leading large-scale operations and managing regulated environments.

A seasoned regional HR leader with extensive experience advising Boards, senior executives and Regional Managing Directors on people, organisation and workforce strategies that enable growth, transformation and long-term business performance across APAC.

Her career spans public-listed companies, SSC/BPO, consulting and technology environments, where she has led enterprise-wide transformation, organisational restructuring, shared services expansion, HR digitalisation, workflow automation and cost optimisation initiatives.

At Basis Bay, she plays a strategic role in aligning workforce capabilities with business priorities, with a focus on resource optimisation, leadership succession, talent development and organisational performance. She works closely with senior leadership to strengthen critical capabilities, build robust succession pipelines and ensure the organisation is equipped to support sustainable regional growth.

She believes strong organisations are built through the alignment of exceptional talent, purposeful technology, responsible business practices and committed leadership — creating lasting value for both the business and its stakeholders.

Ambiga is the Director of Legal, bringing with her a powerful blend of litigation experience and commercial insight honed at leading law firms in Malaysia. She has been trusted with complex, high-stakes matters, from major disputes to strategic corporate work and is known for cutting through complexity with clarity, confidence and purpose.

At Basis Bay, Ambiga doesn’t just manage legal risk, she plays an active part in shaping it. She partners closely with the business to build strong foundations and ensure the company moves forward with both confidence and integrity. Her approach is practical, considered and combines her strong legal expertise with a clear focus on what works in the real world.

Beyond the law, Ambiga brings a strong sense of responsibility and leadership to everything she does. She believes in doing things the right way, lifting those around her, and building systems that last. It’s this combination of sharp legal acumen and genuine commitment that makes her an invaluable part of the organisation’s journey forward.

Magendran Balakrishnan is a highly accomplished IT leader with 26 years of experience in global technology management, digital transformation and IT governance. His career spans leadership roles across multinational organizations where he has successfully driven strategic initiatives in IT operations, security services, application development and service delivery. With a proven ability to align technology with business goals, Magendran has consistently delivered innovative solutions, optimized operations and enhanced customer experiences across diverse industries and geographies.

Throughout his career, Mr. Magen has demonstrated a unique blend of visionary leadership and hands-on technical expertise. He has built and led high-performing teams, implemented robust governance frameworks and achieved industry certifications that strengthened organizational resilience and compliance. He has extensive experience in running global delivery centers and played a pivotal role in expanding and growing the Asia business for large multinational corporations, ensuring operational excellence and sustainable growth.

Mr. Magen holds a Master of Business Administration from the National University of Malaysia and a Bachelor of Information Technology from the University of Southern Queensland. He is also professionally certified in ITIL V4, COBIT 5, CCNA/P, MCSE/MCDBA, Citrix Administration and is a Certified Chief Information Security Officer (C-CISO). These academic achievements and professional credentials further reinforce his ability to bridge business strategy with advanced technology leadership.

Mike Green brings over 25 years of experience in IT and Telecommunications, with extensive expertise in software development, systems integration and large-scale IT business transformation. Throughout his career, he has worked across the UK, Europe, the USA, the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia, supporting major organisations in navigating complex technology environments and transformation programmes.

At Basis Bay, Mike Green is focused on expanding and strengthening the Group’s IT Services portfolio, helping customers integrate their infrastructure and server-based assets into future-ready technology foundations that support broader transformation roadmaps. His role includes aligning Basis Bay’s capabilities with customers’ enterprise architectures and systems integration requirements to deliver practical, scalable and resilient solutions.

His areas of focus include local and international network connectivity, cloud service enablement and cloud network connectivity, business continuity and disaster recovery.

Forward-thinking Finance Director and strategic finance leader with over 20 years of international experience across banking, fintech, and diversified multinational groups. Focused on strengthening financial performance, tightening control environments, and improving operational efficiency through clear strategy, disciplined execution, and strong governance.

Brings deep hands-on experience in strategic financial planning and budgeting, capital raising and fund structuring, digital banking and fintech integration, and full-spectrum regulatory compliance (including BNM, LFSA, IFRS/MFRS, AML/CFT). Highly experienced in operating within complex, highly regulated environments and aligning finance with broader business objectives to support sustainable growth.

Proven track record in leading and developing high-performing finance teams, managing cross-border operations, and overseeing group reporting for multiple entities and industries. Emphasis on practical, insight-driven reporting, robust risk and treasury management, and constructive engagement with boards, regulators, investors, and senior management.

As an FCCA (UK) Fellow and Chartered Accountant (MIA), combines strong technical expertise with a commercial mindset to enable informed decision-making, proactive risk management, and long-term value creation.

Selvamalar Selvaraju leads the Group Quality, Compliance & Sustainability function at Basis Bay, driving organisational excellence, governance and sustainable business practices across the group. She oversees the implementation of quality frameworks, regulatory compliance, and sustainability initiatives aligned with Basis Bay’s “Clean IT” principles, ensuring continuous improvement across operations and environmental impact.

Bringing nearly 15 years of cross-sector experience across government, corporate, and non-profit organizations, Ms. Malar is passionate about uplifting underprivileged women, children and minority communities through education, advocacy and community development. Her cross-sector experience spanning corporate, government and non-profit organisations enables her to bring a holistic, impact-driven approach to embedding accountability, ethical practices and long-term value creation.

Ms. Malar’s leadership extends beyond compliance, integrating sustainability into business strategy, strengthening stakeholder trust and positioning Basis Bay as a responsible digital infrastructure provider. A recognised trainer and engaging communicator, she is known for her ability to inspire meaningful change.

Ms. Malar is a LeadEx Fellow 2022 and has completed executive programmes at Harvard Summer School. She holds a Master’s in Human Resource Development, a First Class Honours LLB (Wales, UK), a First Class Honours BSc in Psychology of Human Development and a Diploma from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). She has also delivered a TEDx Talk in Switzerland.

Thomas Wong has served in a variety of positions and held numerous portfolios in IT over the last 20 years. His experience, capabilities and passion come together to support organisations in designing and implementing strategies and processes that are sustainable, rewarding and increase customer loyalty.

As Director of MMMES, Mr. Thomas oversees a team to architect solutions that ensure high profitability and quality. He advises on best practices within IT operations to bring about an optimised environment. In particular, he provides planning, design and consultancy on green IT infrastructure and initiatives.

Mr. Thomas is a certified Data Centre expert, certified Data Centre professional and certified Data Centre Risk professional. He holds a Master’s degree in International Business from the University of East London.

An experienced regional HR Lead with extensive experience partnering with Boards, Senior Executive teams, and Regional Managing Directors to design and execute people strategies that enable business growth, transformation, and restructuring across the APAC region. Her background spans public-listed companies, SSC/BPO, consulting, and technology environments, where she has led workforce transformation, large-scale restructuring, shared services centre build-outs, HR digitalisation, workflow automation, and cost optimisation initiatives.

In her current role with Basis Bay, her focus is on resource maximisation, growth, and strategic alignment in support of regional operations. She works closely with the business to strengthen workforce performance, build succession pipelines for C-suite and critical leadership roles, and develop talent across different organisational levels to support sustainable growth.

She is particularly passionate about Basis Bay’s commitment to recruiting and developing the best talent, staying at the forefront of technology, adopting sustainable business practices, and creating value and rewarding stakeholders well. These principles strongly resonate with her own belief that a high-performing organisation is built by bringing together exceptional people, purposeful technology, responsible practices, and a clear focus on long-term value creation with commitment from senior leaders to all executives.

Yogeswaran Govindarajah, also known as Waran, is the Director of Operations and Strategic Engagements of Basis Bay Malaysia. With over 25 years of experience, Waran is a skilled corporate professional who has successfully driven growth and provided innovative solutions to clients. His leadership positions at IBM Global Delivery Center Malaysia, Hemmersbach Malaysia and his expertise in managing client projects in various industries make him an invaluable asset.

Waran’s strategic thinking, customer-centric approach, and ability to build high-performing teams have contributed to the expansion of both the prior organizations he was attached to. Waran holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of East London and is a practising hypnotherapist. Additionally, he is a licensed Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), certified in Active Qualified Human Resource Organization (AQRO) and Lead Auditor for ISO 9001:2015. Waran is currently pursuing his doctorate in business administration on the research subject of the influence of hypnotherapy as a catalyst for employee intrinsic motivation, stress and anxiety in the workplace.

He has been recognized as an IBM Manager Champion, one of the top 50 managers worldwide, and has served in Corporate Services Corp, undertaking an assignment in Puerto Montt, Chile for a month.