Chief Executive Officer

Shariman Jamil began his career as an analogue IC design engineer at Spansion Inc. in 2004, a global flash memory ICs company based in Silicon Valley. Shariman spent many years in Silicon Valley developing flash memory ICs for mobile phones before he moved to design centres in Tokyo and Penang, where he developed highly integrated power management technologies for energy-saving electronics.  

In 2020, Shariman joined the Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Sarawak ... as an interim CEO for the new Sarawak Science Centre, where he led the development of a new science centre master plan with the Singapore Science Centre. While at the Ministry, Shariman was also acting as Head of Talent Development, spearheading skills training and industrial partnership under the Sarawak Post Covid-19 Development Strategy PCDS 2030. He initiated semiconductors and IC design partnerships between the government and key industry players to strengthen the local semiconductor ecosystem and position Sarawak as an attractive investment destination for the semiconductor industry. 

In 2022, Shariman led the formation of the new Sarawak Microelectronics Design or SMD Semiconductor Sdn. Bhd. and subsequently appointed as the CEO of the company, aimed to catalyse the growth of high-value-added semiconductor activities in Sarawak through innovative development and application of technology in supporting the strategy and aspiration of the State government, its strategic partners and clients in the sector and to be a leading R&D Centre for global semiconductor companies.

Shariman received a Bachelor of Engineering degree (BEng Hons) in electronics from Surrey University, UK, and a Master of Science degree (MSc) in microelectronics from Queens Belfast University, UK. He studied for a Doctorate (PhD) in analogue IC design at the Technical University of Graz, Austria and withdrew from his studies to pursue other personal interests. During his past career, Shariman attended Elite Management Training at Said Business School, Oxford University, UK.

Vice President
Technology Development

Chia Chieu Yin (CY) started his career with Spansion Inc in Silicon Valley in 2001, designing NOR Flash memory products. During his eight years there, CY worked on 6 NOR flash memory products from specifications to production. He focused on X / Y decoding, High Voltage Path, Core Array, SRAMs, Oscillators, High-Voltage level shifters, bandgaps, charge pumps and voltage regulators. He has experience in silicon micro-probing, debugging, and validation. He has worked with test and production engineers to bring these ICs to production.

In 2009, CY joined MIMOS Berhad, working on different IP blocks from ... delta-sigma ADCs, SAR ADCs, LDOs, PMSM motor controllers and temperature sensors. He and his team have also delivered on multiple IC design services projects with customers from Europe and the United States. He has taped out designs from leading foundries like TSMC, UMC, XFAB, GlobalFoundries and Silterra. During his 12 years there, he has led and managed a team of 20 engineers working on projects as diverse as Solar Microinverter, Solar Axis Tracker, AC Induction motor controller and Edge AI ICs. He has also managed a RM84 million 11th Malaysian Plan project from 2016 – 2020 to help develop the Malaysian IC design infrastructure to address the shortage of IC design talent in Malaysia. CY has had sharing/training sessions with eight local universities and mentored ten interns working on IC design projects at MIMOS.

CY graduated with a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of California, Davis, USA and has an MBA and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from San Jose State University, USA. He has three granted patents and two publications in this field. He has engaged local universities by giving back and has been appointed as an adjunct lecturer, Industrial Advisor and final-year project evaluator.

Vice President
Technology Operations

Mohd Khalil bin Yaacob has over 25 years of experience in the semiconductor industry, mainly in Analog Mixed Signal, Memory and RF layout design.

He has worked in multiple locations, including Japan, Silicon Valley and Penang, with several renowned organizations, including Intel Technology, Spansion Inc, Symmid Corporation and Onsemi. Prior to joining SMD Semiconductor, Khalil served as the ... IC Layout Manager at Onsemi (Kuala Lumpur), where he worked in the Central IP Development Group under the Analog and Memory IP team.

With a distinguished tenure of nine years at Symmid Corporation, Khalil was the Head of the Custom Layout Department. In this role, he oversaw a team of more than 20 engineers who worked with clients worldwide, leading tape-out processes for products in top-tier foundries such as GlobalFoundries, SMIC, XFAB, TSMC, and Silterra. He also has extensive experience working on Flash Memory Products (NOR), where he primarily focused on core array memory and analogue building blocks.

Khalil graduated from Ungku Omar Polytechnic with Diploma in Electronic and Computer Technology Engineering.

Head of Strategic Communication & Project Management

Priscilla Annabel Bisop is our Head of Strategic Communication and Project Management. Her professional journey started within the areas of research, consultancy, and project management, focusing on industrial development for sectors such as aerospace, railway and maritime. 

Her strategic insights and analytical acumen have proven invaluable... in contributing to advancements within these sectors. She has 13 years of experience in project management and certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP), underlining her commitment to industry-leading standards and practices. In addition, she also holds a Bachelor (Hons.) in Business Administration (Transportation) from University of Technology MARA. 

She has worked with Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC), as a programme manager for Socio-Economic Enhancement Development (SEED) Programme.

Prior to that, she was the research analyst and programme manager for Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT), a government think-tank focusing on high technological areas.

Special Officer to CEO

Aminah Mahran is the Special Officer to the CEO at SMD Semiconductor, demonstrating her significant contributions to the organisation. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Sciences from Portsmouth Polytechnic, reflecting her solid educational foundation and problem-solving skills. 

With over 20 years of diverse experience across various sectors within the Sarawak government, Aminah has developed a versatile skill set. Her experience in the insurance sector has provided her with deep industry insights, while her sales roles have sharpened her market understanding, customer preference assessment, and negotiation skills, leading to notable revenue growth. In the tourism sector, she has effectively managed visitor experiences, ensuring high service standards and customer satisfaction. 

Aminah is also proficient in quality management, driving operational excellence and continuous improvement. Her active involvement in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) underscores her commitment to social and environmental causes. This involvement highlights her holistic approach to responsible business practices, emphasising the importance of community engagement and sustainable development.

Head of Finance

Claudia Tan Sze Chin is the Head of Finance of SMD Semiconductor, bringing a wealth of experience as a Chartered Accountant across diverse industries. With a strong and dynamic personality, Claudia is highly motivated and possesses excellent leadership skills. She is driven by a deep-seated enthusiasm for taking on new challenges.  

Claudia holds a Bachelor of Accounting (Hons) degree from Universiti Utara Malaysia, Kedah... and is a proud Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA) member. Her academic background and professional affiliation reflect her commitment to excellence in finance and accounting. 

In her role as Head of Finance, Claudia demonstrates her dedication, expertise, and passion for ensuring our organization's financial health and operational efficiency. Her extensive experience and qualifications make her an invaluable asset to our team, where she plays a pivotal role in driving our financial success and maintaining the highest standards of administrative excellence.

Head of Corporate Services & Admin

Hazuwani Binti Muhamad Halil has 17 years of experience in human capital across various industries, including forestry, medical, oil and gas, technology, and construction. She has worked with several government-owned companies in Sarawak, such as Sarawak Forestry Corporation, Senari Synergy Sdn Bhd, Sarawak Medical Centre (Normah Medical Specialist Centre), Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation Berhad and Borneo Development Corporation (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd. 

A graduate of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak... she holds a Corporate Master in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Development. With all the industries she has be connected with, Hazuwani develops her skills on people management and organisational development. She has profound interest in culture transformation and employee experience journey. Hazuwani has tapped her knowledge in all aspects of human resources and administration, including policy development, management, procurement, and office administration.