Penang Creative Industries: Addressing Skill Gaps, Training Needs, and Talent Attraction

Overview

People are at the heart of any creative economy. This session focuses on how Penang can strengthen its talent pipeline to support the future of its creative industries. Panelists will examine current skill gaps especially in business, entrepreneurship, and digital know-how, and explore how training, mentorship, and education can better prepare individuals for creative careers. The conversation will also highlight strategies for talent retention and attraction, including the need to create inclusive and supportive environments for diverse groups. Gender perspectives and workforce equity will be included into the discussion, helping to surface the structural barriers that affect who gets to thrive in the creative sector. Whether you're a student, creative professional, educator, or policymaker, this session offers valuable insights into shaping a more skilled, sustainable, and inclusive creative workforce in Penang. 

Who Should Join

This panel is ideal for creative professionals, educators, HR specialists, students, policy advisors, and anyone interested in building a stronger talent foundation for Penang’s creative economy. 

Panel Members

Moderator 

Dr. Lai Wan Teng (Academician, Centre for Research on Women and Gender (KANITA), USM) 

Panel

• Professor Catheryn Khoo (Professor of Tourism, Torrens University Australia)
• Assoc. Prof. TPr Dr. Khoo Suet Leng (Academician, USM)
• Ms. Theresa Suthen (Creative Director, Bold Inspiration Sdn. Bhd. & Creative Consultant, Word Creatives)
• En. Maizul Affendy Bin Baharudin (Senior Lecturer, UOW Malaysia) 
  

Other Panel Sessions

In addition to this session, we have a series of panel discussions held each evening, each one built around a daily theme highlighting a different aspect of Penang’s creative sector.

  You may register for multiple sessions by visiting our main profile.  

About PLLACE Living Lab

The Living Lab will take place in Digital Penang, featuring a series of panel discussions, public dialogues, and co-creation activities aimed at exploring practical strategies for developing Penang’s creative industries. Each day of the Living Lab includes three main components: 

• Evening panel sessions featuring different key topics related to creative industries in Penang. (8pm to 9pm)
• A showcase of creative startups and organisations, where participating teams exhibit their products or prototypes and receive user feedback for refinement and improvement. (3.30pm to 10pm)
• Interactive research booths, where the public is invited to share opinions and insights related to ongoing research themes, helping the team further understand community perspectives. (3.30pm to10pm) 

Using a living lab methodology, PLLACE brings together creative practitioners, government agencies, researchers, and citizens to collaboratively design new solutions, training concepts, and policy ideas in real-world settings. This initiative hopes to contribute to Penang’s long-term creative economy goals by addressing current challenges while encouraging sustainable, inclusive growth. 

About PLLACE Research

The Penang Living Lab for Advancing the Creative Economy (PLLACE) is a research-driven initiative focused on strengthening Penang’s creative sector through co-creation, policy development, and collaborative innovation. Funded by the British Academy (UK), PLLACE is jointly carried out by researchers from Manchester Metropolitan University, University of Greenwich, Universiti Sains Malaysia, and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman.