Eric Yam, an Icon of Change from Malaysia

Icons of Change International Awards 2025
Eric Yam
Founder, Malaysian Chamber of Commerce and Industries Philippines
Independent Trade Commissioner, GTrade21 (Philippines)
Independent Trade Consultant, Bangsamoro Board of Investments
Founder, GetReady Philippines (formerly LifeKit)
Co-Founder & Strategy Director, Bangsamoro Airways
Country Head (Philippines), Healthy Mind Solutions
Sustainable Development Goal 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities
Changemaker for Disaster Preparedness and Resilient Communities (Philippines)
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For Eric Yam, leadership is not a title—it is a responsibility to safeguard lives, build bridges, and leave systems stronger than he found them. A Malaysian strategist who has called the Philippines home since 2009, Eric has spent more than a decade blending entrepreneurial drive with civic purpose, proving that the tools of commerce can be harnessed not only for profit but also for preparedness, resilience, and peace.
His journey is anchored in one truth: survival and sustainability go hand in hand. In a country like the Philippines, where typhoons, earthquakes, and man-made crises constantly test the resilience of communities, Eric saw a gap that extended far beyond policy papers and corporate frameworks. He recognized that disaster preparedness was not simply a government function but a shared responsibility—one that demanded innovation, strategy, and a culture of readiness.
This conviction gave birth to LifeKit in 2017, later rebranded as GetReady Philippines in 2023. More than just a provider of emergency kits, GetReady became an integrated movement for disaster resilience. Through specialized equipment, community-based training, and partnerships with government, corporations, and uniformed services, GetReady is equipping societies not just to survive crises but to bounce forward from them. Teams of professional responders under his leadership regularly conduct training seminars, embedding preparedness into the DNA of organizations and communities alike. His philosophy is clear: continuity planning and resilience are not afterthoughts—they are prerequisites for sustainable development.
But Eric’s work extends far beyond the disaster response arena. In 2017, he established the Malaysian Chamber of Commerce and Industries Philippines (MCCI), a bridge for bilateral collaboration between Malaysia and the Philippines. MCCI quickly became a trusted platform for fostering trade, investment, and cultural exchange—evidence of his belief that economic growth must be interwoven with inclusive, cross-border partnerships.
This dual capacity—as both strategist and humanitarian—propelled him into roles of global influence. In 2022, he was appointed Trade Commissioner for the Philippines under GTrade21, an independent trade body headquartered in the UK, where he helped shape international frameworks for inclusive trade.