Senior Advisory Team
November 29, 2022 2026-02-02 0:19Senior Advisory Team
Senior Advisory Team
We are very proud in having such great senior advisory team in PORTMAN
Meet Our Team
We are proud to have a seasoned Senior Advisory team for shaping generations of talents at PORTMAN College.1
ERNIE CHEN
Chairman / Founder
PORTMAN Education Group
Chen Capital Ventures
Managing Partner,
American Investment &
Capital LLC
Ernie Chen is a seasoned Capital Allocator and Institutional Leader, known for deploying capital with discipline, long-term vision, and a strong foundation of trust. As Chairman/ Founder of PORTMAN Education Group, he leads a diversified education ecosystem spanning early childhood, K-12, tertiary education, AI-powered learning platforms, and talent development initiatives across the region building cities and communities.
In 2026, Ernie’s role has evolved beyond deal execution and visibility. He now operates primarily as a capital steward, focused on judgment, governance, and long-term value creation—deciding where capital should be allocated, protected, and compounded.
Capital Allocation & Investment Leadership
As Chairman/ Founder of Chen Capital Ventures, Ernie oversees strategic capital allocation across education, technology, property, and private investments, with an emphasis on sustainability, downside protection, and alignment of interests. He is also a Managing Partner at American Investment & Capital LLC, where he works with international partners on cross-border investments, portfolio strategy, and capital structuring.
Recognized as a Capital Allocator with strong trust, Ernie is frequently engaged by founders, partners, and stakeholders who value clarity, prudence, and long-term thinking—especially in complex or uncertain environments.
Education, Governance & Institution Building
Ernie holds a Bachelor in Mass Communication and a Master of Arts in Communication, and is near completing his Doctorate in Business Administration. His leadership philosophy reflects a strong belief in systems, governance, and institution building rather than short-term performance.
Within PORTMAN Education Group, he advocates for:
- Education as a long-term societal and economic asset
- AI and human capital as foundational infrastructure
- Leadership models that balance growth with responsibility
His work focuses on building organisations that endure beyond cycles, trends, and individual personalities.
Ernie Chen is not defined by how aggressively he deploys capital, but by the quality of decisions he makes, the risks he avoids, and the value he preserves.
As a Capital Allocator with strong trust, he continues to shape institutions, guide capital responsibly, and build long-term legacies through education, investment, and governance-led leadership.
Dato Seri Matthew Yeoh
Senior Advisor for the PORTMAN Education Group
Dato’ Seri Matthew Yeoh is the Senior Advisor for the PORTMAN Education Group. He has practiced law for over 30 years in the UK, Malaysia, and Singapore. He was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1986 by the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn. He is licensed to practice as a foreign lawyer in Hong Kong with Chiu, Szeto & Cheng Solicitors.
His areas of practice include corporate advisory, real estate, offshore trusts and asset protection, immigration law, legal residence, and citizenship matters. He advises corporate clients from China, India, Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia with business interests across the region.
Dato’ Seri Matthew also provides counsel to foreign clients on a wide range of matters including foreign investment regulations, corporate law, employment law, immigration law, personal and corporate finance, entrepreneurial development, funding, and mergers and acquisitions.
He writes regularly for magazines and international publications and has been invited to speak at conferences and seminars locally and abroad on topics such as retirement and relocation, and cross-border investments.
He is the founding partner and currently a consultant at Yeoh Mazlina & Partners in Malaysia, and also a consultant at Aquinas Law Alliance in Singapore — both of which are established full-service law firms. Additionally, he is one of the founding members of the ASEAN Legal Alliance, a cross-border platform for international investment, trade, private wealth management, and real estate.
Dato Seri Matthew Yeoh
Senior Advisor for the PORTMAN Education Group
Dato’ Seri Matthew Yeoh is the Senior Advisor for the PORTMAN Education Group. He has practiced law for over 30 years in the UK, Malaysia, and Singapore. He was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1986 by the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn. He is licensed to practice as a foreign lawyer in Hong Kong with Chiu, Szeto & Cheng Solicitors.
His areas of practice include corporate advisory, real estate, offshore trusts and asset protection, immigration law, legal residence, and citizenship matters. He advises corporate clients from China, India, Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia with business interests across the region.
Dato’ Seri Matthew also provides counsel to foreign clients on a wide range of matters including foreign investment regulations, corporate law, employment law, immigration law, personal and corporate finance, entrepreneurial development, funding, and mergers and acquisitions.
He writes regularly for magazines and international publications and has been invited to speak at conferences and seminars locally and abroad on topics such as retirement and relocation, and cross-border investments.
He is the founding partner and currently a consultant at Yeoh Mazlina & Partners in Malaysia, and also a consultant at Aquinas Law Alliance in Singapore — both of which are established full-service law firms. Additionally, he is one of the founding members of the ASEAN Legal Alliance, a cross-border platform for international investment, trade, private wealth management, and real estate.
Datuk Nitesh Malani
Senior Advisor of PORTMAN Education Group
With over 22 years of experience spanning entrepreneurship, financial and risk management, and environmental engineering solutions, Nitesh Malani is dedicated to building sustainable businesses that positively impact society and the planet.
As the Founder and Chairman of the Entrepreneurship Foundation Malaysia (Yayasan Usahawan Malaysia – YUM), a non-governmental organization, Nitesh supports young entrepreneurs through tailored programs and mentorship. Under his leadership, YUM has cultivated a team of dedicated professionals committed to fostering a culture of innovation, creativity, and collaboration among aspiring entrepreneurs. The foundation offers a wide range of services and initiatives, including workshops, mentorship, networking opportunities, funding, and awards — all designed to help young entrepreneurs achieve their goals while upholding core values.
Nitesh also serves as the CEO of ENVIRO GROUP, a conglomerate that provides environmental, industrial hygiene, and indoor engineering solutions across Asia. Since its inception in 2006, ENVIRO GROUP has expanded steadily under his guidance, delivering high-quality solutions to clients and partners. Nitesh leverages his expertise in business development, customer relationship management, and strategic planning to ensure the company’s ongoing growth and success.
His passion for sustainable business practices and his dedication to mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs make Nitesh Malani a distinguished leader in his fields.
Shahira binti Abdul Aziz
Director of PORTMAN Education Group
Shahira binti Abdul Aziz has recently been approved by Bank Negara and appointed as an Independent Director of Public Investment Bank, a subsidiary of Public Bank Berhad. As a Director of PORTMAN Education Group, she plays a key role in supporting our journey toward IPO.
Shahira is an experienced professional with a diverse background in the financial industry. She began her career as an analyst at RHB Research Institute before transitioning to the Institutional Sales Team at Rashid Hussain Securities. Her expertise in capital markets, strong communication skills, and diligent execution have consistently enabled her to meet clients’ objectives.
She has also gained valuable experience in corporate planning and regional investments through her roles at Bumiwerks Asset Management and Corston-Smith Asset Management. Her deep understanding of the ASEAN equity market makes her a respected figure in the financial industry.
Shahira binti Abdul Aziz
Director of PORTMAN Education Group
Shahira binti Abdul Aziz has recently been approved by Bank Negara and appointed as an Independent Director of Public Investment Bank, a subsidiary of Public Bank Berhad. As a Director of PORTMAN Education Group, she plays a key role in supporting our journey toward IPO.
Shahira is an experienced professional with a diverse background in the financial industry. She began her career as an analyst at RHB Research Institute before transitioning to the Institutional Sales Team at Rashid Hussain Securities. Her expertise in capital markets, strong communication skills, and diligent execution have consistently enabled her to meet clients’ objectives.
She has also gained valuable experience in corporate planning and regional investments through her roles at Bumiwerks Asset Management and Corston-Smith Asset Management. Her deep understanding of the ASEAN equity market makes her a respected figure in the financial industry.
Yee Fook Weng
Senior Partner, Murad Yee Partnership | External Counsel, PORTMAN SPV(A) Sdn Bhd
Yee Fook Weng is an advocate and solicitor admitted to practice in both Singapore and West Malaysia, and has been in active practice for more than 25 years cumulatively, first in Singapore and then in Malaysia.
Graduating from the National University of Singapore, he trained and practiced with two large law firms in Singapore before returning to practice in Kuala Lumpur.
Fook Weng is a founding and current senior partner of Murad Yee Partnership, where he heads its Corporate, Commercial and Securities Department. His practice areas of focus include (a) takeovers, mergers and acquisitions; (b) corporate restructuring; (c) IPOs/capital markets; and (d) venture capital and private equity transactions.
