The Peak marks its 35th year with special edition featuring young pioneers

PLANTS and artificial intelligence do not make the most obvious bedfellows - unless you are Zac Toh, the founder of urban greenery specialist GWS Living Art, which provides indoor-greening solutions to high-profile destinations such as Jewel Changi Airport.

All of 27 years old, Mr Toh is also working on other tech-driven green projects, including creating software that incorporates artificial intelligence to produce systems for green and agricultural applications.

He is among the 20 individuals profiled in a special edition of The Peak, a magazine which chronicles the latest developments in the corporate, professional, social and cultural spheres for movers and shakers. The edition, on the theme "The Future Shapers", marks the 35th anniversary of the publication.

A gala held at the Shangri-la Hotel Singapore on Thursday included the 20 individuals among the guests.

The others featured in this issue include Kahchun Wong, the first Singaporean to lead the New York Philharmonic; Rameez Ansar of young digital telecom operator Circles.Life; Vicky Hwang, managing director of Parkview Group and Chyau Fwu Development Singapore; and John Cheng of Cheng Yew Heng Candy Factory, who is transforming his family's sugar business and is an advocate for sustainable food solutions.

The interviewees hail from a variety of sectors - from lifestyle and technology to finance, and are leading the way and making an impact in their respective fields.

Jennifer Chen, the editor of the magazine, said: "We gauged these personalities on the difference they are making on how we interact with and experience the world around us. Their work not only gives us more efficient, inclusive systems, and but also joy, beauty and entertainment. In their own ways, they shape how we experience the future and tonight, we give them due recognition."

More than 300 guests from Singapore's business community attended the event.

As the evening drew to a close, Bernise Ang, one of the 20 featured individuals and co-founder of systems-innovation consultancy Zeroth Labs, shared her thoughts on what Singapore needs to propel itself into the future.

"We should embrace the colour and diversity that's out there in the world. Many people tend to follow a set path, but there's so much more colour out there."