Asia's Most Influential 2022
Cover Asia's Most Influential 2022: 500 titans, visionaries and thought leaders shaping the world today.

These visionaries advance education, design, public service, food and more

Asia’s Most Influential 2022, the gathering of the region’s visionaries, thought leaders and titans working toward positive change, is now revealed on Tatler. From Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines and Taiwan, this year’s honourees impact 20 vital sectors, advancing public service, technology, education, design and more.

Each of Tatler's editorial teams have named 100 people from their market, and while the sheer size of the list signals the breadth of their influence, reading their profiles reveals the depth of their contributions to society—and indeed to the world at large. 

It will take a while to read through all 500 profiles on the Asia’s Most Influential 2022 list, so here are but a few compelling stories from around the region: 

Don't miss: Everything You Need to Know About Asia's Most Influential 2022

Raymond Tham, Malaysia

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Raymond Tham
Above Raymond Tham

Raymond Tham is intent on placing Malaysian food on the global culinary stage. The top chef is well-placed to achieve his goal as the co-owner and executive chef of Beta KL and Skillet at 163 and his latest endeavour, Burnt & Co, an open-flame concept featuring an seven-course menu (Hokkaido scallop tartare, sticky beef short ribs noodles, smoked chocolate). The champion of modern Malaysian food is also trusted by luxury brands such as Dior, for which he helmed a pop-up café.

Read Raymond Tham’s full profile here.

Also read: How Chef Raymond Tham is Elevating Bubur Cha Cha.

Michelle Yeoh, Malaysia

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Michelle Yeoh
Above Michelle Yeoh

Michelle Yeoh, who celebrated her 60th birthday this year, remains a prolific actor in Hollywood, starring in critically acclaimed films such as 2022’s acclaimed Everything Everywhere All at Once and The School of Good and Evil, which premiered on Netflix last month. Adding to her list of memorable performances in Crazy Rich Asians and classics like Crouching Tiger and Hidden Dragon, she will be next seen in the much-anticipated sequel to James Cameron’s Avatar. Outside of acting, Yeoh has been enjoying fashion, dressed, for example, in a Balenciaga great coat during Paris Couture Week

Read Michelle Yeoh’s full profile here.

Also read: Michelle Yeoh Stars in Everything Everywhere All at Once.

 

 

Chi Ling Lin, Taiwan

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Chi Ling Lin
Above Chi Ling Lin

Chi Ling Lin, known as the most famous face in Taiwan, shot to success in the early aughts through television and advertisements and then parlayed her fame into acting, including a role in Red Cliff. The film would be fortuitous for Chi Ling Lin as its stage adaptation, which she also starred in, was where she met her husband, the entertainer Akira. Chi Ling Lin welcomed Lunar New Year 2022 with the announcement of her first child, a baby boy. In a recent press conference, the 47-year-old model and actress revealed her struggles with conceiving and shared a message of resilience for women.

Read Chi Ling Lin’s full profile here.

Also read: Chi Ling Lin Announces Baby on New Year’s Eve.

 

Grace Cheung, Taiwan

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Grace Cheung
Above Grace Cheung

One of the most eminent architects in Taiwan, Grace Cheung through her firm Xrange Architects, is responsible for unconventional creations such as the Ant Farm House, Stone Cloud (a shelter with a view) and Penghu House (inspired by the indigenous coral houses of the area). Xrange’s recent project, a curvaceous retreat in Pingtung County dubbed Wandering Walls, continues Cheung’s design language. The three-story bed-and-breakfast uses playful boundaries to create public and private spaces, resulting in a sanctuary that melds into the environment. 

Read Grace Cheung’s full profile here. 

Also read: Xrange Architecture’s Penghu House.

 

Ben Chan, Philippines

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Ben Chan
Above Ben Chan

Ben Chan enriches the retail experience with his fashion powerhouse Bench plus a slew of international style labels that he continues to introduce in the Philippines. His impact on Filipino fashion continues with the return of Ternocon in Janaury 2023. Organised by the Cultural Center of the Philippines and Chan’s Bench, the convention invites 12 designers to reinterpret the delicate traditional garment.

Read Ben Chan’s full profile here.

Also read: Ternocon 3 is the Major Fashion Event of 2023. 

 

Abigail Binay, Philippines

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Abigal Binay
Above Abigal Binay

Mayor Abby Binay continues to transform the Philippines’ economic centre, Makati City, into a world-class hub. Among the public servant’s innovations include the All-in-One Citizen ID, which accelerated the city’s digital capabilities, and more recently, a 360-bed hospital with multiple speciality centres. Binay also supports the environment, with plans to install solar panels in the city’s public schools and government buildings. 

Read Abigail Binay’s full profile here.

Also read: Women of Impact 2022: Filipinas Who Have Made Their Mark.

 

Colin Seah, Singapore

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Colin Seah
Above Colin Seah

Colin Seah’s Ministry of Design defines the coolest spaces in the region, including the upcoming The Standard, Singapore and Hotel Indigo in China. His multi-disciplinary firm promises intriguing concepts for the projects, with an “immersive experience” featuring a “tropically quirky lobby” and “floor-to-ceiling glass suite” for The Standard’s first property in Singapore and opera-inspired settings for Indigo. Continuing the exploration of thoughtful design, Seah has also collaborated with Consentino Group to create the Garden table, a desk that accommodates your favourite house plant. 

Read Colin Seah’s full profile here.

Also read: Consentino’s Garden Table Makes Your Home a Calming Oasis.

Dean Ho, Singapore

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Dean Ho
Above Dean Ho

Dean Ho advances digital medicine, with leadership positions in The Institute for Digital Medicine, The N.1 Institute for Health and the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the National University of Singapore. Ho is also a scientific co-founder of the biotech firm Kyan Therapeutics, which recently closed US$5 million in funding. Kyan has been making strides in liver cancer therapy, discovering nucleic acid therapies for the disease. 

Read Dean Ho’s full profile here. 

Also read: Kyan Therapeutics Closes US$5M Pre-Series A Round.

 

Danny Yeung, Hong Kong

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Danny Yeung
Above Danny Yeung

In under a decade, Danny Yeung was able to grow his healthtech startup Prenetics into Hong Kong’s first listed unicorn, an achievement accomplished via a merger agreement with another Hong Kong visionary, Adrian Cheng and Artisan Acquisition Corp. In 2022, the diagnostic and genetic testing firm launched ColoClear, a non-invasive colorectal cancer test, and Circle SnapShot, the self-administered blood test kits. Prenetics and leading Web3 innovator Animoca Brands have also partnered “to create a decentralized digital health data platform on the Metaverse”. 

Read Danny Yeung’s full profile here. 

Also read: How Prenetics Became Hong Kong’s First Listed Unicorn.

 

Jennifer Yu Cheng, Hong Kong

Tatler Asia
Jennifer Yu Cheng
Above Jennifer Yu Cheng

Jennifer Yu Cheng established the Jennifer Yu Cheng Girls Impact Foundation (JYCGIF) to help teenage girls unlock their leadership potential through digital learning. Its signature program, 10,000 Girls4Girls Coding+, teaches girls programming languages to prepare them for STEM careers. Last October, the foundation held its first FutureGen Girls Leadership Summit, connecting 600 girls with role models, including guest of honour Alice Mak and Yu Cheng herself. “One is not born a leader but rather becomes one by building your confidence, taking calculated risks, studying and working hard to achieve your goals, and being willing to collaborate with others and communicate your ideas in a way that makes an impact,” advises the education champion.

Read Jennifer Yu Cheng’s full profile here.

Also read: How Jennifer Yu Cheng Empowers Girls to Become Leaders

 


Tatler Asia's Most Influential is the definitive list of people shaping our world today. Asia's Most Influential brings together the region's most innovative changemakers, industry titans, and thought leaders who are driving positive impact in Asia and beyond. View the full list here.

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