“Leadership is not about being heard in the room—it’s about hearing deeply, acting boldly, and building bridges where others see walls.”
These are the words that best epitomize the leadership spirit of Matthew Barsing, the veteran who has charted a new course in the terrain of talent, trade, and transformation in Asia. In today’s global economy, real progress happens when vision meets action, strategy blends with empathy, and creativity is paired with integrity. Matthew is a leading force driving this change. For more than two decades of doing his own thing, he has become known as the lone practitioner who can bring together cultures, industries, and nations in meaningful leadership.
Laying the Groundwork for a Digital Revolution
Matthew started his professional journey in Australia, where he laid down the foundation stones for a strategic and impactful career of economic growth and organizational change. During these formative years, Matthew worked in many business environments. It gave him a global view and a deep understanding of leading across cultures. In 2001, drawn by the challenge of Southeast Asia’s information revolution, Matthew moved to Malaysia—a decision that would serve as the foundation of his lasting legacy.
Next-Gen Governance: Leading Malaysia into a Digital Future
Matthew held the key role of Head of Foreign Direct Investment at the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) from 2006 to 2010. There, he spearheaded the efforts in bringing in foreign technology and services firms into Malaysia, working to position the country as a digital power. He focused on building growth ecosystems and working with many partners, which became his main way of working.
Early in his career, Matthew worked in many business environments, which gave him a global view and a deep understanding of leading across cultures. His time as the Head of Foreign Direct Investment made him a national policy coordinator and a global business trendsetter, leading partnerships that spurred economic growth and technological innovation. Early in his career, his leadership at MDEC was instrumental in attracting 47 international projects, generating RM5.37 billion in investments, and creating over 9,340 jobs, solidifying Malaysia’s status as a global digital hub.
From Insight to Impact: Remapping Frontiers in Advisory and Entrepreneurship
Between 2010 and 2022, Matthew embarked on a portfolio of advisory roles, including his work with the UCSI University Blue Ocean Strategy Regional Center. He invested in startup companies—the most significant among them being an artificial intelligence technology firm—and founded the very first Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) firm in Iskandar Malaysia. All these entrepreneurial pursuits deepened his insight into market forces and the irreplaceable role of innovation in business achievement.
Matthew’s entrepreneurial spirit thrived as he advised startups in growth markets. He guided founders through the complexities of scaling their businesses. As Mentor with Orbit Startups targeted him on developing the next generation of leaders and change-makers.
From Public Purpose to Private Impact
The EPS Consultants Journey Matthew switched careers to the private sector in 2022 and now works at EPS Consultants as Director and Chief Commercial Officer. EPS Consultants, a leading regional human capital solutions company, has operations in six countries and provides services including contract staffing, recruitment, Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO), and HR advisory. Matthew’s role in the company has a triple focus: guiding business development, customer relationships, and growth strategy directions. He also ensures that the services of the firm are kept abreast with customers’ changing needs in high-growth industries such as digital technology, Global Business Services (GBS), and technology-enabled industries.
With Matthew leading the way, EPS Consultants has strengthened its footprint in Asia to be a more valued go-to partner for workforce transformation. His role also includes M&A planning and corporate growth, spearheading the company’s expansion and reshaping it into a powerhouse of workforce transformation in Asia.
Strategy meets Skill: Workforce-Led Digital Transformation
One of Matthew’s core leadership mantras is that technology is as good as the people operating it. He has always challenged businesses to put a workforce-first digital transformation at the heart, and that depends on skilling up talent for future readiness. Through his tenure at EPS and other advisory capacities, Matthew has been directing programs that help close the gap between government policy, business needs, and school curricula.
His work for Malaysia’s National AI Office, specifically the AI Talent Working Group (Public Sector), played a pivotal role in the direction of the strategies to meet Malaysia’s increasing demand for AI-capable talent. By mapping out critical areas for skills gap and developing specialized training roadmaps, Matthew has helped ensure that Malaysia remains competitive in the digital economy.
Forging Digital Bridges: Championing Innovation at IT Park Uzbekistan
Matthew’s work goes beyond Malaysia. As Ambassador to IT Park Uzbekistan, an envoy directly to the Ministry of Digital Technologies, he counsels the Uzbek government on foreign investment policy approaches in priority sectors like digital services, BPO, and technology sectors. What he does in Uzbekistan mirrors Malaysia’s own experience, with a focus on knowledge sharing, capacity building, and generating sustainable growth environments.
As Ambassador IT Park Uzbekistan, Matthew has played a key role in bridging countries, tapping into Malaysia’s learning experience to enable Uzbekistan to become a rising hub for world services. His position underlines a more pervasive focus on establishing cross-country partnerships that generate mutual growth and achievement.
Leadership Philosophy: Authenticity, Purpose, Collaboration
Three strong, direction-establishing principles form Matthew Barsing’s l e a d e r s h i p philosophy—Authenticity, Purpose, and Collaboration. They are not concepts; they’re values which he embodies, derived from experience, and tested by action.
Authenticity: Leading with Integrity, Not Titles
Leadership, to Matthew, is neither titles nor official power—it’s remaining genuine, consistently present, and building trust on the basis of character.
At a critical juncture in MDEC, Matthew was offered the chance to take the credit for an enormous investment project that yielded over RM1 billion. Instead, he openly gave credit where credit is due, acknowledging his junior subordinates as the heroes of the day. That choice not only gained him the admiration of his team but also created a culture of empowerment and transparency.
He leads by remaining grounded in his values, even when it’s hard. That authenticity is his leadership brand—one that creates trust in boardrooms, government corridors, and startup incubators, too.
Purpose: Every Decision Rooted in a Greater Purpose
Matthew never works alone. Whether leading digital transformation at EPS Consultants or mentoring an early stage entrepreneur as he builds through the formative stages of growth, he’s always asking himself: What’s the long-term value created here? Who’s it good for beyond the bottom line?
A great example of this is the way he worked with the AI Talent Working Group of Malaysia’s National AI Office. Instead of offering Band-Aid fixes, Matthew was an advocate for a grand plan that tied syllabi in schools to actual industry requirements—a project not to fill seats but to prepare a new generation of leaders That’s what purpose does: vision with action that serves many.
Collaboration: Releasing Collective Strength
Matthew feels that there is no one great success. His management style is team-oriented to the point—he’s the cross-cultural, cross-company, cross-nation leader.
When he took up the position of Ambassador to IT Park Uzbekistan, he did not approach it from a top-down model. Rather, he began by listening—to local entrepreneurs, government stakeholders, and digital entrepreneurs. That collaborative process bred a bilateral strategy between Malaysia and Uzbekistan, enabling the two nations to exchange talent models, investment models, and digital policy blueprints.
Whether Southeast Asia or Central Asia, Matthew is constantly bringing people together to address challenging problems together based on collective wisdom.
These three values—purpose, authenticity, and teamwork—are not just words in Matthew’s leadership lexicon. They’re the reason people trust him to direct programs that build economies, enable people, and connect the world’s markets. They observe them in his work at EPS Consultants, in all advisory roles he has performed, and among leaders he continues to develop and counsel.
EPS Unleashed: Accelerating Innovation and Digital Transformation
At EPS Consultants, Matthew has led the firm’s growth and digitalization in workforce solutions. The firm is investing heavily in developing innovative cross-border talent pipelines, adopting AI-powered recruitment technology, and expanding into new geographies through remote staffing. These are aimed at responding to the evolving needs of the talent market, which is presently defined by digital-first jobs and the imperatives of remote work.
The Johor Talent Hub is designed as an offsite talent center for individuals from Malaysia and abroad. This is a timely initiative amidst the current wave of globalization when businesses want access to the best talent regardless of distance. With Matthew at the helm, EPS has created flexible hiring models and regional talent pools so that clients can have access to diverse high-quality talent pools.
Adapting to Thrive: Permanent Jobs and Telecommuting
The talent market is transforming dramatically. While contract-heavy staffing models have long been the norm, a definite shift towards permanent jobs is gaining momentum because companies seek stability. Matthew has already addressed this trend by increasing deliveries in permanent hiring and expanding contract staffing operations in response to the increased demand for foreign workers in Malaysia.
EPS’s strategy is adaptive and versatile, preparing clients to meet the challenges of a fast-expanding marketplace. By creating versatile groups that can be productive in off-site working conditions, Matthew is assisting businesses in gaining resilience and adaptability for the future.
Bridging Borders: Unlocking Growth Through Japanese and Korean Investment
One of the other big trends following Matthew’s leadership is the growing interest among Japanese and Korean businesses to host GBS hubs in Malaysia. Enabled by the nation’s high skilled workers and low-cost environment, the businesses are turning Malaysia into a center of choice for international business services. Matthew’s ability to create cross-border partnerships has been vital in making Malaysia—and EPS Consultants—a model of excellence in the industry.
Turning Heads and Shaping Futures Recognition Through Real Impact
Matthew’s efforts have not been ignored. In 2023, he was named among Malaysia’s Top 100 Business Leaders, and in 2024, he was recognized as a Top 20 LinkedIn Creator Malaysia. These are proof of his leadership of thought and of his capacity to influence the industry’s dialogue around talent, innovation, and economic growth.
His field of expertise is not confined to corporate governance. Matthew is also the penner of Unleashing Malaysia’s Economic Potential, an investor’s guidebook, policymaker’s playbook, and businessperson’s handbook for those who want to move and prosper in Southeast Asia’s exciting economies. The book contains in-depth analysis and actionable advice for success, again solidifying Matthew as an expert at the very top of his field.
Mentorship and Legacy: Empowering the Next Generation
Matthew’s passion for mentoring is possibly one of the most defining features of his career. He has coached thousands of people and startups, assisting them in realizing their potential and creating successful careers. His legacy, he hopes, will be one of empowerment—enabling those that he has mentored to gain confidence, purpose, and compassion as leaders in their own right.
Beyond the office, Matthew is committed to shaping regional transformation. In board appointments, government advisory roles, and mentorship, Matthew continues to inspire and enable the next generation of leaders.
A Vision for the Future: Inclusive, Innovative, Human Centered
Future-oriented, Matthew is driving faster digitalization of workforce solutions, widening market footprint in newer geographies, and building deeper cross-border collaborations. His vision is for a world where work is accessible, creative, and human focused. Through digital upskilling investments, AI adoption, and public-private collaborations, Matthew is putting Malaysia—and the region as a whole—at the forefront of the international digital economy.
His leadership approach, based on authenticity, purpose, and collaboration, serves as an example for others to follow in an effort to create meaningful change in their communities and workplaces. Through his work at EPS Consultants, advisory missions, or in writing, Matthew’s legacy is to echo far into the future on the international stage.
Cross-Continental Leadership: Navigating Success from Australia to Asia’s Boardrooms
Matthew’s career is a testament to perseverance and a consistent commitment to excellence. He began his working life in Australia, but he soon recognized the revolutionary power of Southeast Asia’s digital economy. Moving to Malaysia in 2001 marked the beginning of a journey that established him as one of Southeast Asia’s most respected business minds.
He has also served in important roles as Chief Executive Officer of Superceed (M) Sdn Bhd and Chief Marketing Officer of BlueScope Steel, expanding his industry and continent background. As MDEC Head of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Matthew played a key role in obtaining overseas technology businesses and propelling Malaysia’s digital economy.
Leadership at EPS Consultants: Encouraging Growth and Diversification
In EPS Consultants, Matthew played a major role in pushing diversification and expansion for the company. Three major services are provided by the company:
- Traditional Recruitment Services: EPS Consultants is One of Malaysia’s established staffing companies (since 2003)
- Contract Outsourcing: The company provides payroll outsourcing services to clients such as Accenture on a monthly fee basis under EPS Ventures.
- Providing Multilingual Contract Staff in Malaysia and Regionally: This new service, in development, will meet the blue-collar need in manufacturing, hospitality, and housekeeping sectors.
The leadership of Matthew is adaptable, team-based, and outcome-focused with the goal of driving economic growth and innovation.
Connecting Worlds: Driving Impactful Global Initiatives
Outside of his activities with EPS Consultants, Matthew channels his efforts in Uzbekistan with his belief in borderless cooperation and knowledge sharing.
Previously, as Head of Foreign Direct Investment in MDEC, Matthew attracted global tech companies and built Malaysia’s digital economy, laying the ground for future growth and innovation.
Spotlight on Success: Celebrating Excellence
Matthew’s work in the industry has received general acclaim. In 2023, he was named as one of Malaysia’s Top 100 Business Leaders and a Top 20 LinkedIn Creator Malaysia of 2024. These endorsements speak volumes of his role as a thought leader and his capacity to influence industry discussion around talent, innovation, and economic growth.
Forging the Future: Shaping the Workforce of Tomorrow
In the coming years, Matthew will lead acceleration in permanent placements and expand contract staffing services. He will be working towards filling the growing need for foreign workers in Malaysia fueled by the multicultural and multilingual character of the country that attracts numerous foreign companies.
Matthew’s vision will lead EPS Consultants more towards expansion and innovation, making it a top recruitment and outsourcing authority in the Asia Pacific region.
Leadership Beyond Authority
Leadership to Matthew is serving others and causing them to perform their best. He believes intensely in aligning organizational objectives with the changing demands of clients, causing EPS to consistently surpass expectations, and establishing industry standards. His results-oriented style blends industry knowledge with a passion for creating deep relationships and high-leverage teams.
Cultivating the Next Generation of Leaders
Matthew’s commitment to mentorship is evident through his work with startups across AI, tech, and ecommerce, where he has facilitated funding rounds and growth attempts. His leadership approach is around being adaptable, collaborative, and metric-driven, with an emphasis on economically stimulating growth and facilitating innovation.
Thought Leadership: Author and Influencer
Matthew is also the author of Unleashing Malaysia’s Economic Potential, a comprehensive investor, policymaker, and business leader guide to doing business and profiting from Southeast Asia’s fast-moving economies. The book provides authoritative analysis and best practice advice for success, solidifying Matthew’s reputation as an authoritative voice in the region.
Redefining Leadership for a New Era
Matthew embodies the future of leadership—one that prioritizes authenticity, collaboration, and innovation. His commitment to empowering others and driving digital transformation positions him as a pivotal figure in shaping Asia’s economic landscape. His experience spanning government, private sector, and global advisory positions has repeatedly been centered on empowering people, connecting markets, and developing forward-thinking workforce solutions.
From Malaysia to Uzbekistan, from startup ecosystems to boardrooms, Matthew’s impact cuts across continents and industries. His dedication to digital transformation, economic empowerment, and developing leaders makes him a primary builder of Asia’s shifting economic landscape.
As the digital economy accelerates, Matthew’s leadership continues to define not only how companies grow—but how people flourish.
