KUCHING: After 20 years at the helm of Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak), Chief Executive Officer Amelia Roziman has stepped down, marking the end of an era that saw Sarawak transform into a globally recognised destination for business events.
Amelia’s tenure, which concluded on Jan 31, was characterised by sustained growth and innovation that positioned the state as a leader in legacy-driven business events.
Her leadership helped embed the sector as a cornerstone of the Sarawak Government’s Post COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030.
Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, praised Amelia’s contributions.
“Amelia’s legacy is a sector-wide mindset that values innovation, responsibility, and long-term positive impact,” he said, adding that the ministry would continue supporting her future endeavours in a press statement released by BESarawak on Friday.
Under Amelia’s stewardship, Sarawak cultivated what she termed a “whole-of-ecosystem approach”, establishing the state as Malaysia and Borneo’s legacy capital for business events.
The results speak for themselves: Sarawak garnered 31 destination marketing and innovation awards during her tenure and maintained a perfect bid win rate since 2022.
BESarawak Chairman, Datuk Hii Chang Kee, acknowledged her impact on both the organisation and the state’s international profile.
“Her exceptional leadership has strengthened Sarawak’s global standing and positioned BESarawak strongly for its next chapter,” he said in the statement.
Amelia herself reflected on her time with the organisation with gratitude.
“It has been an honour to work alongside impact-driven leaders who believe in the power of business events to create real change,” she said.
As one of Malaysia’s business events sector pioneers, she expressed pride in witnessing the evolution of the team, industry, and ecosystem over two decades.
Her influence extended well beyond Sarawak’s borders. Amelia earned international recognition as a thought leader and speaker, achieving several historic milestones.
She became the first woman in Asia inducted into the Events Industry Council Hall of Leaders in 2023, and the first Asian and fifth global recipient of The Iceberg Excellence Award in 2025.
She also serves on The Iceberg Board of Trustees and has collected more than 10 professional awards throughout her career.
While stepping down from her current role, Amelia indicated she would continue contributing to the sector in a different capacity.
“I sincerely thank everyone for the trust and support given thus far. I look forward to continuing this journey together in the future,” she concluded in the press statement.
BESarawak has indicated that further announcements regarding the leadership transition will be made in due course.
