Karen Cheah

Founder and CEO

Karen Cheah, Founder and CEO of AlterPacks, channels her 20+ years as an international award-winning journalist and creative strategist into revolutionizing sustainable materials. Driven by a passion to alleviate waste-burdened communities, she leveraged her extensive network to pioneer AlterPacks, a Singapore-based startup transforming food by-products and agricultural waste to replace unsustainable materials such as plastics and aluminium. A National University of Singapore alumna with degrees in Mathematics and History, and a Dean’s List MSc (Innovation) graduate from Singapore Management University, Karen’s unique blend of analytical and creative expertise fuels AlterPacks’ mission to create impactful, eco-friendly solutions.

Steven Tan Boon Heng

Chief Operating Officer

Steven Tan brings his global expertise of over 30 years in both the private and public sectors, having worked on smart cities development, big data analytics, spearheaded innovation development and operations. Prior to joining Alterpacks, Steven was the General Manager (Special Duties) at the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City Investment and Development Company (China). He was in the Republic of Singapore Navy as the Defence Attache in Beijing, chaired a working group at the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations, commanded a surface ship and a submarine, and held the appointment of Head Naval Research. He holds an MBA (UK, Distinction), MSc in Strategic Studies (China, Summa Cum Laude), and a Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering (Japan, First Class Honours). Steven speaks and writes fluently in English, Chinese and Japanese.

Dr Mok Hon Yong

Chief Strategy Officer

As Chief Strategy Officer at Alterpacks, Dr. Mok Hon Yong brings over two decades of global expertise in the fields of semi-conductors and finance to the team. With an unwavering passion for sustainability, Dr. Mok is at the forefront of driving innovative solutions in eco-packaging.

He draws on his experience as CSO at Onn Wah Tech Pte Ltd (OWT), where he manages the Finance and Project department while spearheading OWT’s innovation endeavors.

Dr. Mok’s academic journey includes a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Newcastle, a Master of Business Administration (Global MBA) from Alliance Manchester Business School, and a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) from Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 2019. Leveraging his expertise and established connections within pivotal markets, Dr. Mok is set to be a strategic cornerstone in Alterpacks’ journey towards a sustainable future.

SABRINA GOH

Team Support lead

As Team Support Lead at Alterpacks, Sabrina oversees logistics coordination, warehousing operations, and client support across multiple markets. With over two decades of experience working with diverse teams and global companies, she brings deep expertise in operational management and cross-functional coordination to ensure seamless execution from production to delivery. Sabrina plays a key role in aligning internal teams and external partners, ensuring that every client engagement is supported with precision, reliability, and care.

Dr Liu Wu

Chief Technology Officer

Dr Liu Wu, heads up the only provincial engineering center for pulp molding in China, and brings his 30 years of experience in R&D and commercial application of plant fibers and natural polymer compounds to the Alterpacks team. His work has received international awards and he is recognized as a leader in the commercial production of fully degradable plant fiber products that are also florine-free. He is the doctoral supervisor of Hunan University of Technology and Nanhua University School of Packaging Materials.

Nur Aina Farhana Mat Nasir

Research Engineer

Aina brings a strong blend of technical expertise and practical experience in advanced material engineering, particularly in creating innovative solutions from agricultural waste. With a master’s degree in polymer engineering from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and additional research experience in Japan, Aina is skilled in material processing and characterization. Her background in chemical engineering further supports her ability to drive sustainable material innovation and develop eco-friendly manufacturing processes.

INCUBATEE

SUPPORTED BY

AWARDED

ALUMNI

Our Team

Development Partners