WHAT'S IN MY PORTFOLIO

What's In My Portfolio: Gary Chua

02 Sep 2025

Gary Chua is the Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Asia Pacific & Japan, of Syniti.

“I am passionate about sports – whether it’s the focus and discipline of boxing, the power of synchrony and trust in a team when dragon boating, or the balance of risk with control while keeping momentum on uncertain terrain, each sport has shaped the way I think, act, and lead. They’ve taught me to focus on the details, recognise patterns to make quick, informed decisions, and act with precision under pressure.

That mindset has stayed with me throughout my 20+ year journey in the data industry. I’ve led complex and high-impact data transformation projects across sectors, helping organisations migrate their critical data to new systems, improve data quality for reliable analytics, and build governance frameworks that support trust and compliance. In many ways, working with data mirrors sport: Both require discipline, clear goals, constant feedback, and a focus on getting the fundamentals right.

In my role at Syniti, I bring that same approach to every engagement. Too often, data is treated as an afterthought, something to ‘sort out later’. But that mindset can lead to cost overruns, unreliable analytics, or project delays. We believe in putting data first, making sure it is accurate, trusted, and ready to deliver value from day one. That’s when transformation really works.


(Related: What's in My Portfolio – Dr Kelvin Chua, SL Aesthetic Group)

One of the best compliments I get during data migrations is when a customer says, ‘That go-live was boring.’ (For those unfamiliar, a go-live is the moment a new system and data officially start being used in daily business operations). When a go-live feels ‘boring’, it means we’ve done our job to make the migration smooth and hassle-free, with no disruptions.

With more organisations racing to harness GenAI to improve efficiency and innovation, having a strong data foundation has become more critical than ever. As the saying goes, garbage in, garbage out, and with AI, that’s especially true. Without a strong data foundation, even the most advanced AI models are destined to fail. Only with well-governed, trusted data can you unlock the full potential of AI and drive real business impact. Therefore, before investing in the promise of AI, you must first invest in your data – this is a must!”