share on
Much like navigating hills on two wheels, the leader believes meaningful Total Rewards helps employees go the distance. He shares why organisations must look beyond salary and bonuses to create fair, purposeful employee experiences that support both people and business success.
Creating an environment where employees can thrive, grow, and contribute their best work is what continues to drive Dr. Koh Ngee Loke’s (pictured above) work in HR.
As HR Director for Malaysia and Thailand, Ultra Clean Technology (UCT), Dr. Koh leads the full spectrum of HR across both markets, including legal compliance, workforce planning, talent staffing and retention, employee engagement, and compensation and benefits. For him, the role offers a meaningful opportunity to influence both people’s careers and wider business outcomes.
His perspective has been shaped by more than 20 years across manufacturing and HR operations – a journey that has given him a grounded understanding of the connection between operational performance and the employee experience.
At a time when workforce expectations continue to evolve, Dr. Koh believes HR has an important role in shaping inclusive cultures, developing talent, and supporting organisational transformation. That belief also informs his approach to Total Rewards: looking beyond compensation to create fair, meaningful employee experiences that recognise contribution, support growth and wellbeing, and connect people to a sense of purpose.
Ahead of his session at #TotalRewardsMY, Dr. Koh catches up with Mary Ann Bundukin on what keeps him passionate about HR, why organisations need to look beyond pay and bonuses, and how thoughtful rewards strategies can help employees and businesses thrive together.
Q What first drew you to HR, and what keeps you passionate about it today?
What first attracted me to Human Resources was the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on both people and business outcomes. I have always been fascinated by how organisations succeed when they create an environment where employees can thrive, grow, and contribute their best work.
What keeps me passionate today is the dynamic nature of HR. The workforce continues to evolve, and HR plays a critical role in shaping employee experiences, building inclusive cultures, developing talent, and driving organisational transformation. Seeing employees succeed in their careers while helping businesses achieve their goals remains incredibly rewarding.
Q Can you share the core belief that guides your approach to designing rewards strategies that truly support employees?
My core belief is that effective rewards strategies should be fair, meaningful, and aligned with both employee needs and business objectives. Total Rewards goes beyond compensation—they encompass recognition, career growth, wellbeing, flexibility, and a strong sense of purpose.
When employees feel valued and understand how their contributions connect to rewards and opportunities, they are more engaged, motivated, and committed. The best rewards strategies balance organisational sustainability with creating a positive and differentiated employee experience.
Q What is one common misconception about Total Rewards that you'd like to challenge?
A common misconception is that Total Rewards is primarily about salary and annual bonuses. While compensation is certainly important, employees today evaluate their overall employment experience more holistically.
Factors such as career development opportunities, wellbeing programmes, flexibility, recognition, and a supportive workplace culture are equally important components of total rewards.
"Organisations that take a broader view of rewards are often better positioned to attract, engage, and retain top talent."
Q Please tell us a fun fact about yourself that people may not know.
A fun fact about me is that I genuinely enjoy riding motorcycles as well as mountain and road bikes. I have been a Harley-Davidson rider for the past 10 years. One of my favorite quotes is, "You're never too old to ride a Harley, but you'll grow old when you stop riding one."
Beyond motorcycling, I also enjoy mountain biking on weekends. I often challenge myself by riding across two or three hills, which helps me stay active, clear my mind, and appreciate the outdoors.
Q As a speaker at #TotalRewardsMY, what do you hope attendees will take away from your session?
I hope attendees leave with practical insights and fresh perspectives on how organisations can design total rewards programmes that are relevant, competitive, and employee-centric in today's evolving work environment.
More importantly, I hope the session encourages leaders and HR professionals to think beyond traditional reward models and consider how they can create a compelling employee value proposition that supports engagement, wellsbeing, performance, and long-term business success.
My goal is for attendees to walk away with ideas they can immediately apply within their own organisations to make a positive impact on their workforce.
I want to attend the conference: If you're keen to attend this closed-door conference, kindly register your interest here. For speaking opportunities, please write in to Mary Ann Bundukin. We look forward to welcoming you!
I want to sponsor: Engage in meaningful dialogue through dedicated speaking slots, roundtable discussions, and at your booths! If your organisation provides any talent solutions and products that you'd like to showcase, you’ll fit right into this event. To learn how you can sponsor, please reach out to a member of our team now!
Photo / Provided
share on
