About PRAXIS
PRAXIS is ISIS Malaysia’s flagship public policy conference, designed to bridge ideas and to translate theory into practice. Since 2011, PRAXIS has convened policymakers, private sector, civil society and academia to engage in topics of national interests.
Our theme this year, Policies for a better tomorrow, encapsulates the precarious position Malaysia finds itself in today: rapid technological advancement, shifting global trade dynamics, a climate crisis and increasing demand for care amid an aging population, which necessitate forward-looking public policy solutions. PRAXIS 2024 aims to take stock of existing challenges, highlight solutions and chart a course forward.
PRAXIS is unique – distinguishing itself by embedding and integrating a research process to deliver impact. From pre-conference roundtables to solution-oriented panels at the conference, we ensure that every session is informed by research and stakeholder input. Through the publication of policy briefs, we provide insights and recommendations that continue to influence policy and practice long after PRAXIS, fostering ongoing dialogue and implementation of innovative solutions.
PRAXIS offers two types of sessions:
- Research: multistakeholder roundtables in the lead up to the conference help to identify key issues, which are then addressed in a solution-oriented panels at the conference. After the conference, a policy brief is produced, which is delivered to the desks of policymakers and relevant stakeholders.
- Spotlight: focusing on emerging issues and evolving policy areas, igniting public engagement and setting the stage for future discussions.
Join us and be a part of the policymaking process.
Speakers
Datuk Prof Dr Mohd Faiz Abdullah
Chairman, Institute of Strategic & International Studies (ISIS) MalaysiaDatuk Prof Faiz leads the institute’s policy development and Track-Two diplomacy, including through the ASEAN Institutes of Strategic and International Studies (ASEAN-ISIS) and the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC). He is also the Malaysian representative to the ASEAN Regional Forum Experts and Eminent Persons (ARF EEP) meeting and Co-Chair of the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP). His diverse career spans media, law enforcement, education, corporate law and public interest litigation, as well as strategic and international affairs advisory to federal and state governments. He is the founding dean of Selangor Business School (UNISEL) and the author of books on jurisprudence, public policy and strategic management.
YB Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz
Minister of Investment, Trade and IndustryTengku Zafrul Aziz is responsible for growing the country’s manufacturing industry and trade, as well as attracting investments. Since his appointment in December 2022, he has consistently pledged to make Malaysia more pro-business, pro-investment and pro-trade. He served as finance minister between March and October 2022 where he led the curation and implementation of eight stimulus and aid packages in response to Covid-19. Prior to his ministerial appointments, Tengku Zafrul was in the banking and financial sector for more than 22 years, specialising in investment banking, sustainable finance, change management and regional policy execution. He was the group CEO and executive director of CIMB Group Holdings Bhd.
Arividya Arimuthu
Senior Fellow, Chairman’s Office, Institute of Strategic & International Studies (ISIS) MalaysiaArividya specialises in WTO and EU laws and has more than 20 years’ experience in trade negotiations. She is a former senior director for strategic negotiations at MITI and chief negotiator for numerous high-stakes FTA negotiations, including the CPTPP, which she led the ratification and implementation for Malaysia.
Dr Lili Yan Ing
Lead Adviser, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA)Dr Ing is Secretary-General of the International Economic Association (IEA). She is a former lead adviser to the Indonesian trade minister and senior adviser on trade and investment at the President’s Office. During her tenure, Indonesia concluded the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), Indonesia-Australia CEPA, Indonesia-Korea CEPA and reactivated the Indonesia-EU CEPA. Among the books she co-edited are G20 Indonesia: New Normal, New Technologies, New Financing, Robots and AI: A New Economic Era, The Indonesian Economy and Regional Integration and Non-Tariff Measures in ASEAN.
Jan Noether
Executive Director, Malaysian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MGCC)Noether worked for the German-based MNC Deutsche Bank in corporate banking and corporate finance in Stuttgart, Berlin, Mumbai and Ho Chi Minh City for 16 years before taking over a project to restructure a sizeable American furniture production in Vietnam. In 2006, he joined the global network of German Chambers Abroad and oversaw activities in Vietnam, China, Türkiye and Egypt. He assumed the present post in May. He is also the global spokesperson for the German Chambers Abroad (AHK) network, which spans more than 90 countries.
Prof Dr VGR Chandran Govindaraju
Professor of Industrial Development, Universiti MalayaProf Chandran is a former principal analyst at the Malaysian Industry – Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT), Prime Minister’s Department. His research interests are mainly in innovation, technology development, trade and globalisation that relate to industrial development. His field research covers sectors, such as electrical and electronics, automotive, food, chemical, oil palm, machinery, iron and steel, ICT and renewable energy. In recent years, his research interest has expanded into investigating newly emerging enterprises and non-tariff measures, mainly regulatory and procedural requirements that serve as a barrier for firms to integrate into the global value chain.
Thomas Mathew
Group CEO, TalentCorp Group of CompaniesThomas has more than 30 years’ experience in corporate management, business strategy and risk management. He began his career as a banker at several local commercial banks, from where he joined Pengurusan Danaharta Nasional Bhd. He later joined MBf Holdings, initially as COO before being appointed president. He has also worked in Sri Lanka as group finance director at Ben Holdings.
Asst Prof Gayathry Venkiteswaran
Assistant Professor, School of Media, Languages and Cultures, University of Nottingham MalaysiaGayathry has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist, editor, media activist, researcher and media educator, working in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. She is the former executive director of the Bangkok-based Southeast Asian Press Alliance. Prior to that, she headed the Malaysian Centre for Independent Journalism. Her area of expertise and research includes freedom of expression, media freedom and right to information, media in Southeast Asia, media and politics, media reforms, digital rights, journalism as a profession, organising and mobilising for media rights and civic space.
Mediha Mahmood
CEO, Communications and Multimedia Content Forum (CMCF)Mediha is a legal and regulatory professional with more than 20 years’ experience in top legal firms and public-listed companies. She joined CMCF in February 2021 as executive director. Since taking up the leadership role, she has spearheaded its rebranding and led the revamp of the content code, drafted with the involvement of industry players, policymakers and the public. She recently led efforts with international online-curated content (OCC) service providers to publish the OCC Guidelines, designed as a supportive tool for all OCC service providers in Malaysia.
YM Raja Dato’ Dr Abdul Aziz Raja Adnan
Lead Adviser, MyPOWER CorporationRaja Dato’ Dr Abdul Aziz has more than 30 years’ experience in the nuclear industry and his expertise includes nuclear security, safety, radioactive waste management and non-proliferation. As a former board member and director-general of the Atomic Energy Licensing Board, he ensured safe nuclear operations in Malaysia. He has had held significant roles at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, including director for nuclear security and special assistant to the director-general. He has frequently advised the Malaysian government on nuclear issues.
Dr Afiza Idris
Director, Energy Division, Ministry of EconomyDr Afiza’s portfolios include leading formulation of national policies on energy, including the oil and gas sector, devising strategies and initiatives in the five-year Malaysia Plan for sustainable development of the energy sector, and promoting development of the national O&G industry. She is the former deputy director of the environment and natural resources economic division, Economic Planning Unit, where she assisted in formulation of policies and strategies, and allocation of development expenditure for the environment sector and coordinated the Sustainable Development Goals.
Ikmal Hisham Maharon
Assistant Director, Sectoral Planning Division, Economic Planning Unit SarawakIkmal is a chemical engineer with more than 25 years’ experience in industry, strategy, regulatory management and policymaking. In his current role, he oversees energy, energy transition, new economy, the oil and gas industry and related areas. His focus areas now are to accelerate Sarawak’s energy transition in line with PCDS 2030, increase the state’s GDP, create new high paying employment and safeguard environmental sustainability in the energy sector.
Dato’ Sri Darwis Abdul Razak
Chief Executive Officer, Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL)Dato’ Sri Darwis has been overseeing the development of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project since 2016. He has more than 25 years’ experience in infrastructure project management, finance and banking. Prior to the current role, Darwis was CFO for an infrastructure project with a budget of RM5 billion.
Dr Khairul Naim Adham
Deputy Undersecretary, Biodiversity Management Section, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental SustainabilityDr Khairul assumed the current post in 2018. He also took on the position of national project director for the GEF-funded ‘Global wildlife programme Malaysia: building institutional and local capacities to reduce wildlife crime and enhance protection of iconic wildlife’ in 2023. He has more than 20 years’ experience as an administrative and diplomatic officer, having served the Ministry of Housing and Local Government; Ministry of Internal Security; Ministry of Home Affairs; Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; Ministry of Water, Land and Natural Resources; Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources; and Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Climate Change. He is a professional technologist in the field of green technology.
YB Young Syefura Othman
Bentong Member of ParliamentYoung Syefura was elected to the Bentong seat in 2022. She has spent more than 10 years in politics, from a local councillor to Ketari assemblyman. She’s also actively involved in the Parliamentary Select Committee for Health, Special Caucus on Palestine and Special Committee on Corruption, often raising concerns about the quality of the education and public health systems. As a board member in both FAMA and Yayasan Bank Rakyat, her efforts are directed at finding initiatives to promote local agriculture and aid those in need of educational support.
Assoc Prof Angelique Chan
Executive Director, Centre for Aging Research & Education, Duke-NUS Medical SchoolAssoc Prof Chan’s portfolio in aging research contains projects that are multidisciplinary and focused on the following themes: social determinants of health, caregiving, long-term care, dementia and evaluation of programmes providing health and community social services to the older adult community. She has led several major projects on aging in Singapore, including large-scale longitudinal national surveys, which have led to recommendations in policy research and public policymaking. Her work has been published in more than 150 publications and she has co-edited three books related to low fertility (internationally) and population aging in Singapore. She is currently chair of the International Alliance of Research Universities Aging, Longevity and Health Hub.
Dr Matthew Dornan
Senior Economist, World BankDornan’s work focuses on migration and labour mobility. He has both researched and supported projects that facilitate the movement of temporary migrant workers from Papua New Guinea and Pacific Island countries to Australia and New Zealand. He was previously an academic researcher at the Australian National University and had worked for the Australian aid programme.
Dr Sheleaswani Inche Zainal Abidin
Public Health Medicine Specialist, Ministry of HealthDr Sheleaswani was appointed as a specialist in the elderly health section in 2014. Her area of expertise is in family health. She is actively involved in policy planning and development, monitoring and analyses of healthcare programmes for older people, especially in primary health care service delivery. She is the author of several papers related to primary health care delivery and service assessment and performance for the older people.
Norliza Hashim
Chief Executive, Urbanice MalaysiaNorliza is a registered town planner, and principal and founder of the consulting firm AJM Planning and Urban Design Group Sdn Bhd. Her experience covers a wide spectrum of planning and developing plans and blueprints that contribute towards nation building. She has also served as a consultant to UN-Habitat in its urban and housing rehabilitation programmes. She led a team of experts to develop the low-carbon cities’ assessment framework for the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water and is now the director of the Malaysian Institute of Planners’ Low-Carbon Cities and Sustainability Centre.
Ahmad Afandi
Fellow, Institute of Strategic & International Studies (ISIS) MalaysiaAfandi’s primary research interests lie in climate resilience, biodiversity and environmental governance. His most recent work includes reviewing the National Policy on Climate Change 2009 for the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change and diving into the prospective economic instruments for climate adaptation and nature conservation. He also serves as a resource person for the CSO-SDG Alliance and the All-Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia on Sustainable Development Goals.
Calvin Cheng
Fellow, Institute of Strategic & International Studies (ISIS) MalaysiaCalvin is a fellow in the Economics, Trade and Regional Integration programme. His research interests span issues in applied economics, centring around jobs, social protection, economic development and the design of social transfer programmes.
Dhana Raj Markandu
Senior Analyst, Institute of Strategic & International Studies (ISIS) MalaysiaDhana’s primary research interests are in energy, decarbonisation and climate change. He has more than 20 years' technical and management experience in the energy sector. He has also spent several years freelancing as an energy consultant, management trainer and STEM educator. Dhana was a Chevening Scholar with an MSc in Sustainable Energy Systems from the University of Edinburgh and BEng in Electronic & Electrical Engineering from University College London. He is an accredited HRDC trainer, certified LEGO® Serious Play® facilitator and TEDx speaker on sustainable energy.
Harris Zainul
Deputy Director (Research), Institute of Strategic & International Studies (ISIS) MalaysiaHarris directs the institute’s research to advance Malaysia’s strategic interests. He works on the interplay between technology, human rights and democracy, with a focus on policy responses to mis- and disinformation and social media platform governance.
Lee Min Hui
Senior Analyst, Institute of Strategic & International Studies (ISIS) MalaysiaMin Hui’s research focuses on issues related to social inclusivity, in particular women’s representation and gender equity, social protection, and urban poverty and planning. She has written and published on gender-responsive labour market reforms, the care economy and affordable housing. As the research manager for PRAXIS 2023, Min Hui led the strategy and direction of the conference. She was an external affairs analyst at the World Bank in Malaysia, bringing to the table experience in strategic communications and knowledge management.
Jaideep Singh
Analyst, Institute of Strategic & International Studies (ISIS) MalaysiaJaideep's research interests lie in industrial and trade policy. His public policy experience runs the gamut from national planning in Zanzibar, Tanzania, as an Overseas Development Institute (ODI) fellow to assisting in the formulation of Malaysia's New Industrial Master Plan 2030. He is also no stranger to the think-tank scene, having authored op-eds and contributed comments on trade, fiscal policy and the labour market to local and regional media outlets. Jaideep holds an MPhil in Economics from the University of Cambridge and a BSc (Hons) in Economics from the University of Warwick.
Qarrem Kassim
Analyst, Institute of Strategic & International Studies (ISIS) MalaysiaQarrem’s research focuses on critical areas, such as industrial policy, SME development and institutional economics. With a background as a consultant specialising in economics and public policy planning in the fields of entrepreneur and industrial development, he brings expertise to shaping strategies and policies that aim to foster sustainable economic growth.
Prof Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria
Senior visiting fellow, Institute of Strategic & International Studies (ISIS) MalaysiaDenison holds a PhD in sociology from Oxford Brookes University, United Kingdom and was a Chevening scholar. He is the head of the secretariat for the All-Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia on Sustainable Development Goals (APPGM-SDG). He is also a member of the Shared Prosperity Action Council, National Unity Advisory Council, National Science Council, EPU poverty circle and SDG national steering council.
Tuesday, 13 August 2024
Wednesday, 14 August 2024
Partners
Event venue
Date: 13 & 14 August 2024
Time: 0815 – 1700
Location: Renaissance Kuala Lumpur
For queries, please contact us at praxis@isis.org.my
Date: 13 & 14 August 2024
Time: 0815 – 1700
Location: Renaissance Kuala Lumpur
For queries, please contact us at praxis@isis.org.my