Trevor Mendis, Chief Executive Officer of IIHE, has been bestowed the “Education Leadership Award” for the year 2014 by CMO Asia, at their 5^th Annual CMO Asia Awards in Singapore held on 1^st Aug 2014.

Trevor was selected for this prestigious award by an International Jury comprising distinguished and eminent professionals of CMO Asia. CMO Asia consists of approximately 40 countries around the world including India, China, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Brunei, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and awards organizations for achievements in spheres such as Brand Excellence and Quality Excellence, as well as professionals for their contribution to their industry and accomplishments. The salient feature of this award is that the recipient did not even apply for the award. However the CMO Asia’s Research Cell has identified and recognized the contribution Trevor has made to the industry in the recent past and recommended him for this prestigious award to the International Jury of the CMO Council.

The Asia's Best Education Awards are presented by CMO Council of Asia in collaboration with the World Education Congress (Strategic Partner), and the Stars of the Industry Group (Research Partner). The Awards of the highest stature are presented to Individuals heading institutions, who have surpassed several levels of excellence and are recognized to have set an example of being a role model and have demonstrated exemplary leadership. They are individuals who are building their institutions through leadership, innovation, academic and industry interface with the ultimate objective of building future leaders.

The awards presentation was well attended by Human Resources and Marketing Heads of various global organizations and senior leaders of prominent educational institutes from countries like Singapore, Malaysia, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Korea, Japan, China, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka and Nepal.

Accepting the award at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Singapore, Trevor stated that “It is an honour and privilege to receive this prestigious award adjudged by an eminent panel of independent professionals. I’m delighted and humbled that my hard work and the contribution to the industry have been recognized by a globally renowned organization”.

Due to Trevor’s credentials and vast exposure on Corporate Strategies Affairs, Business Development, International Business, Corporate Governance and many other spheres, he was invited for the World Brand Congress of the CMO Council held on the 31^st July 2014 at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Singapore. Participants and the presenters of which included Mr. Rajesh Chakrawarthi (Corporate Marketing Officer and Chief Innovation Officer for Reliance Group Finance Sector ), Mr. Nigel Smith (Group CEO for Dia Brands),  Ms. Sandella Yip (Head of Strategy and Partner Operations for Asia-Pacific Region of “Manchester United”), and Ms. Karen Holland (VP Enterprise Group Marketing for Hewlett Packard).

Trevor’s profile is an ample testimony for his professionalism, knowledge and the hands-on exposure and competence as a Banker, Management Consultant/Strategist and an Academic. He has a wealth of experience and the required practical and theoretical knowledge on the evolving world.

Trevor obtained his first Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the Post Graduate Institute of Management (PIM), Sri Jayewardenepura University, in Sri Lanka and obtained his second Masters Degree (MSc. in Management) from the prestigious Massey University in Auckland, New Zealand. He is a Fellow member of the Chartered Management Institute of UK (FCMI) and also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Business & Financial Administration from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka and an Associate Member (fully qualified AIB) of the Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka. He has submitted his final PhD thesis on Corporate Governance and is awaiting the viva examination.

Trevor who is still in his late forties, started his career as a Banker and has been employed at Hatton National Bank, ANZ Bank, a fortune 500 company (New Zealand) and PABC Bank, performing in several capacities up to the level of Asst. General Manager spanning a banking career of 20 years. He was also involved in several apex committees within these banks, achieving many milestones.

After leaving the bank in 2007, he performed as a Management Consultant and a Strategist, successfully undertaking and completing many assignments on many areas such as Productivity Improvement, Operations Management, Marketing, Research and Development and developing strategic plans for companies. He has also transformed a few loss making organizations into profit making ventures as a Consultant. Trevor possesses immense hands-on exposure in Corporate and Strategic affairs, Marketing, Operations Management, Corporate Governance and Banking & Finance, along with a sound Academic and Research knowledge on World Affairs, International Trade, FMCG Sector, Tourism and Leisure Industry, Manufacturing Sector etc. He has analysed over 1000 financial documents of companies, from Sole Proprietorships to large Public Companies. He has also supervised over 120 research/dissertations on divergent areas such as CSR, Emotional Intelligence and Productivity, Banking, Consumer Behavior, in sectors such as FMCG, Apparel, Leisure, Pharmaceutical Sector and Banking.

Trevor also possesses immense exposure towards the American, British, Australian and the Sri Lankan education systems having been actively involved in the Undergraduate and Postgraduate Programmes at the various off-shore campuses of foreign universities in Sri Lanka. He also developed and delivered a “Hybrid” module on Management & Organizational Behaviour for the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine.

Trevor is an Associate Member of the Sri Lankan Institute of Directors (SLID) and an Executive Committee Member of the Sri Lankan branch of Chartered Management Institute (CMI), UK. In addition, he holds the Life Alumni memberships both at PIM and Massey Universities (New Zealand), as well as a life membership of the Association of Professional Bankers. He was appointed as an Advisory Council Member for the Global CSR Project in Mumbai in 2013, and also serves as a “Think Tank” member at the Lakshman Kadiragama Institute for International Relations and Strategic Affairs in Sri Lanka since 2011.

Trevor has written several articles to various Magazines and Journals on divergent arenas such as Ethics and CSR, Human Resource Management, Emotional Intelligence, Positive Organizational Behaviour, Corporate Governance and International Trade. The latest article written by Trevor on Education in EduToday, urges the Sri Lankan government to regulate the Tertiary Education Industry in Sri Lanka.

Picture caption:  Trevor receiving the award from Dr. Sanjay Muthal in Singapore