Robert Geneid, an entrepreneurial businessman and civil engineer who resides in Malaysia, was born in Sydney, Australia in 1954. In 1976, he obtained his BA (Civil Engineering) from the University of New South Wales, again taking up studies at UNSW in the 1980s, completing his BA (Hons) LLB there in 1985. A high achiever, Robert was one of the youngest ever Fellows of the Institution of Engineers Australia, and one of a relatively small number of people at that time who had degrees in both Law and Civil Engineering.

His dual interests and strong academic background in both sectors have led to a successful career with some of Australia and South East Asia's top legal, property development and tourist entities. For example, Robert Geneid was a partner at leading Australian law firm Mallesons Stephen Jaques, where he held responsibility for the commercial side of the Firm's project and construction portfolio in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.

Few can match his breadth of business and legal expertise in South East Asia, which includes responsibility for all the documentation underpinning Indonesia's largest coal mine and, in contrast, the intricacies of investing in that country's pharmaceutical and industrial sectors. He played a prominent role in the setting up of Jakarta's first commercial TV station and served as legal advisor for a joint venture in Malaysia that developed the Malaysia Peninsular gas pipeline.

In terms of tourism in general and eco-tourism in particular, Robert Geneid has developed international hotels - the Miri Marriott Resort and Spa, and the Royal Mulu Resort in Malaysia's Sarawak province, where the Gunung Mulu National Park is a recognised UNESCO World Heritage Site. Since June 2009, Robert has served as a Board Member of Tourism Malaysia and, since September 2010, has also served as a Board Member of the Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau.

Among the construction projects in Malaysia in which Robert has played a key role is the Taman Tunku Township, developed by Kumpulan Parabena Sdn Bhd, of which Geneid is an Executive Director. The Township houses some 20,000 inhabitants. In addition, as Managing Director of Kumpulan Construction Sdn Bhd, Geneid completed two major projects won in an international bid on time and to budget - the Kuching Outdoor Stadium and the New Kuching Port.

In terms of his legal career, Geneid was a Solicitor with Freehill, Hollingdale and Page where, inter alia, he was responsible for looking after the legal side of major construction projects such as the Sydney Harbour Tunnel and the Channel Island Power Station. The law firm was also active in Singapore and gave Geneid his first real opportunity to become acquainted with and work in South East Asia.

As well as being an all-round businessman, consultant and financial advisor, Robert Geneid is very much a family man. Indeed, he is married and has a large family of seven children. The family lives in Kuching, the capital of Malaysia's Sarawak Province. When time allows, Robert is keen on playing tennis, cycling and trekking in the beautiful jungles of Malaysia and the region.