KUCHING – A student-led sustainability initiative aimed at reducing food waste and promoting circular economy practices, YGBB Campus Swinburne Outlet, was officially launched at Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus during a special edition of SwinTalk that highlighted how purposeful entrepreneurship can create tangible impact within communities.
Developed under the YourgutBB Sustainable Entrepreneurship Apprenticeship Program, the YGBB Campus Swinburne Outlet represents a forward-looking model of youth-led sustainable enterprise. YourgutBB is a local eco-friendly startup that produces fresh yoghurt and probiotic beverages that promote gut health.
Led by Swinburne alumnus Mohamad Haziq Hafiz under the mentorship of YourgutBB Kuching, the YGBB Campus pilot project positions the campus as a living laboratory for applied learning, entrepreneurship, and sustainability.
The initiative introduces practical circular economy solutions within the campus community, including a returnable bottle system and a zero-food waste approach aimed at encouraging more sustainable daily habits among students, staff, and the wider community.
As part of the initiative, the YGBB Campus team also launched an organic waste collection program at Swinburne Sarawak’s Food Hall in collaboration with fellow food vendors. Conducted with YourgutBB Kuching, the program aims to divert usable organic waste away from landfills by collecting and composting food waste for use as farm input, promoting waste upcycling and more sustainable waste management practices on campus.
The official launch of YGBB Campus Swinburne Outlet, with (from left) Sandra Wong Ling Hie; Mark Liao Jun; Professor Dr Brian Wong Kee Mun, Dean of the Faculty of Business, Design, and Arts at Swinburne Sarawak; Nur Atiqah Binti Abdul Taib; Mohamad Haziq Hafiz; Dr Gabriel Wee; and Ang Tse Chwan.
According to Mohamad Haziq, the initiative highlights the importance of collective action in creating a sustainable campus ecosystem.
“True sustainability isn’t a solo effort; it is a culture we build collectively. By connecting our net-zero waste goals with the active lifestyle of SwinFit Club, the environmental advocacy of the Green Club, the research mindset of the Science Society, and the practical engineering solutions of Engineers Without Borders, we are turning the campus into a living laboratory.
“We want to show that making positive, conscious choices for the environment can be a rewarding, seamless, and deeply collaborative part of daily student life,” he said.
As the first pilot initiative of its kind in Malaysia, YGBB Campus is envisioned as a scalable proof of concept for universities that advances sustainable entrepreneurship while empowering youth-led and community-driven innovation. Supported by Yayasan Hasanah, the Ministry of Finance Malaysia under the Hasanah Social Enterprise Fund 2024 (HSEF2024), and Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), the initiative demonstrates how cross-sector collaboration can translate sustainability principles into meaningful, real-world impact.
Anchoring the initiative, this edition of SwinTalk, themed “Building Businesses with Purpose: Young Entrepreneurs and Social Impact”, brought together industry leaders, entrepreneurs, academics, and students to explore how businesses can drive meaningful social and environmental change.
Held at Swinburne Sarawak on 21 May 2026, the event reinforced the university’s commitment to practical business education, entrepreneurship, and industry engagement by showcasing how students can translate ideas into impactful real-world ventures through experiential learning and collaboration with industry partners.
The SwinTalk session featured a keynote address by Ang Tse Chwan, Founder of Borsa Food, YourgutBB, and Illustrato Studio, titled “Building Social Entrepreneurship: A Journey of Culture, Food and Purpose”. Drawing from his entrepreneurial journey, Ang offered perspectives on building businesses that integrate culture, sustainability, and social impact while creating long-term value for communities.
A panel discussion held during SwinTalk, with (from left) Dr Gabriel Wee, Mohamad Haziq Hafiz, Mark Liao Jun, Nur Atiqah Binti Abdul Taib, Sandra Wong Ling Hie, and Ang Tse Chwan.
A panel discussion moderated by Dr Gabriel Wee, Chief of Entrepreneurship Hub under Swinburne Sarawak’s Faculty of Business, Design, and Arts, gathered distinguished speakers from various sectors to discuss the opportunities and challenges faced by young entrepreneurs in creating purpose-driven businesses.
The panel featured Ang Tse Chwan; Nur Atiqah Binti Abdul Taib, Senior Executive, Innovation & Entrepreneurship Department, SDEC; Mark Liao Jun, President, Sarawak Eco Warriors; Mohamad Haziq Hafiz, Chief Executive Officer, YGBB Campus; and Sandra Wong Ling Hie, Project Manager, Black Bean Coffee & Tea Company, who shared valuable insights on sustainability, innovation, youth entrepreneurship, and the importance of collaborative ecosystems in advancing social enterprises.
SwinTalk, an initiative by Swinburne Sarawak, has established itself as a distinguished platform for advancing dialogue on contemporary business and societal issues. Since its inception in 2021, it has consistently convened thought leaders, industry practitioners, academics, and students to foster collaboration, innovation, and meaningful knowledge exchange.
Through initiatives such as SwinTalk and YGBB Campus, Swinburne Sarawak continues to strengthen its emphasis on Work Integrated Learning and industry-linked education by creating platforms that encourage students to engage with real industry challenges, sustainability practices, and entrepreneurship with purpose.
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