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WHO WE ARE

Helmy is the Head of the Lung Centre at Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur. Having completed his respiratory training in the United Kingdom, he returned to Malaysia as an Associate Professor with Universiti Malaya with a passion for healthcare policies, particularly in the area of tobacco control. One of twenty global recipients of the Inter Academy Medical Panel’s Young Physician Leader award and part of Tatler’s Gen T, Helmy was a Research Fellow at IDEAS and is a co-founder of Asthma Malaysia. He remains actively involved in the development of respiratory medicine at national and regional levels and regularly presents and writes for both academia and the media. In his spare time, Helmy can be found bemoaning the fact that he enjoyed Frozen 2 more than The Rise of Skywalker

Dr Helmy Haja Mydin

Chief Executive Officer

Helmy is the Head of the Lung Centre at Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur. Having completed his respiratory training in the United Kingdom, he returned to Malaysia as an Associate Professor with Universiti Malaya with a passion for healthcare policies, particularly in the area of tobacco control.

One of twenty global recipients of the Inter Academy Medical Panel’s Young Physician Leader award and part of Tatler’s Gen T, Helmy was a Research Fellow at IDEAS and is a co-founder of Asthma Malaysia. He remains actively involved in the development of respiratory medicine at national and regional levels and regularly presents and writes for both academia and the media. In his spare time, Helmy can be found bemoaning the fact that he enjoyed Frozen 2 more than The Rise of Skywalker

Prior to joining SERI, Rashaad was a policy advisor to the Parliamentary Office of Permatang Pauh under YB Nurul Izzah Anwar. He previously worked as an analyst at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore with a research focus on federalism, institutionalism and public policy, publishing in academia as well as in media. Rashaad also spent three years as an editorial manager at Groupon Malaysia. An avid musician, Rashaad has played drums in local bands for over 10 years and can still be found behind the kit at live music venues across the city.

Rashaad Ali

Chief Operations Officer

Prior to joining SERI, Rashaad was a policy advisor to the Parliamentary Office of Permatang Pauh under YB Nurul Izzah Anwar. He previously worked as an analyst at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore with a research focus on federalism, institutionalism and public policy, publishing in academia as well as in media.

Rashaad also spent three years as an editorial manager at Groupon Malaysia. An avid musician, Rashaad has played drums in local bands for over 10 years and can still be found behind the kit at live music venues across the city.

Hwong Joshua is the Head of Data Management and Public Affairs consultant in SERI. With a passion for leveraging data to drive insights, he leads a skilled team in collecting, analyzing, and translating complex datasets into actionable strategies. His experience of working in a major audit firm as a data consultant within the assurance line of service helps foster a data-driven culture that empowers SERI to make informed decisions. He has worked with a Member of Parliament for eight years, in the legislative branch of the government as well as the executive. He brings insights from various government agencies to imbue SERI with a more practical and efficient approach in policy advisory. Joshua remains an advocate for social justice and good governance in Malaysia and has a passion for creating videos to spread awareness for the need of political reform.

Hwong Joshua

Head of Data Management and Public Affairs

Hwong Joshua is the Head of Data Management and Public Affairs consultant in SERI. With a passion for leveraging data to drive insights, he leads a skilled team in collecting, analyzing, and translating complex datasets into actionable strategies. His experience of working in a major audit firm as a data consultant within the assurance line of service helps foster a data-driven culture that empowers SERI to make informed decisions.

He has worked with a Member of Parliament for eight years, in the legislative branch of the government as well as the executive. He brings insights from various government agencies to imbue SERI with a more practical and efficient approach in policy advisory. Joshua remains an advocate for social justice and good governance in Malaysia and has a passion for creating videos to spread awareness for the need of political reform.

I am a Malaysian oncologist with a passion for global oncology and social justice. I believe that quality healthcare is a fundamental human right. I currently co-lead a research programme at St George's University of London with Professor Sanjeev Krishna, focusing on developing affordable therapeutics and diagnostics for cancer in Low and Middle Class Income Countries (LMICs). Our work brings together interdisciplinary experts from academia, global health and industry, with research collaborations in Malaysia, Vietnam, India and Senegal. Our current research is focused on drug repurposing for cancer and affordable point-of-care diagnostics for HPV DNA screening for cervical cancer. We also work with community health care champions in rural communities on removing barriers to equitable healthcare access and delivery

Yolanda Augustin

Senior Fellow - Health

I am a Malaysian oncologist with a passion for global oncology and social justice. I believe that quality healthcare is a fundamental human right. I currently co-lead a research programme at St George's University of London with Professor Sanjeev Krishna, focusing on developing affordable therapeutics and diagnostics for cancer in Low and Middle Class Income Countries (LMICs).

Our work brings together interdisciplinary experts from academia, global health and industry, with research collaborations in Malaysia, Vietnam, India and Senegal. Our current research is focused on drug repurposing for cancer and affordable point-of-care diagnostics for HPV DNA screening for cervical cancer. We also work with community health care champions in rural communities on removing barriers to equitable healthcare access and delivery

Anisha works as a Data Analyst in the innovation and digitalisation department of a multinational corporation. She is an alumnus of the University of Oxford's Internet Institute (OII), where she earned her Masters degree in Social Science of the Internet, centred around the societal and policy implications of digital technologies. Though currently based in the Netherlands, she aims to bring this knowledge and experience back to Malaysia. When she isn't curled up with a good book, Anisha might be found on her yoga mat, dancing her heart out, or getting carried away in the kitchen trying out new recipes.

Anisha Nadkarni

Research Fellow

Anisha works as a Data Analyst in the innovation and digitalisation department of a multinational corporation. She is an alumnus of the University of Oxford's Internet Institute (OII), where she earned her Masters degree in Social Science of the Internet, centred around the societal and policy implications of digital technologies. Though currently based in the Netherlands, she aims to bring this knowledge and experience back to Malaysia.

When she isn't curled up with a good book, Anisha might be found on her yoga mat, dancing her heart out, or getting carried away in the kitchen trying out new recipes.

Ahmad Arif Astaman holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London and a Master of Science in Sport Management from Birkbeck College, University of London.He started his career in the retailing of firearms and ammunition before venturing into sport event management via the Jelajah Malaysia cycling race, and eventually becoming consultant to the Ministry of Youth and Sport for the Le Tour de Langkawi. He was also previously Head of Shared Services in the Shapadu Group, and an independent, non-executive director of Vastalux Energy Berhad (now known as Barakah Offshore Petroleum Berhad). He is currently a non-executive director in Nusa Utama Sdn Bhd, a property developer based in South Johor, and a trustee of the Titiwangsa Education Foundation in Kuala Lumpur. He remains actively involved in the field of sport administration, serving as Race Director for the Tour of Peninsular, President of the Kuala Lumpur Cycling Association, Council Member of the Malaysian National Cycling Federation and occasional legal counsel to the Kuala Lumpur Football Association. He is also a graduate of the Olympic Solidarity Advanced Sport Management Course (ASMC), and is currently an Olympic Council of Malaysia facilitator for the Sport Administrator Course (SAC). He also volunteers as the Research Coordinator for the Setiawangsa Member of Parliament. His areas of interest are sport management, corporate governance, defence and home affairs.

Ahmad Arif Astaman

Research Fellow

Ahmad Arif Astaman holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London and a Master of Science in Sport Management from Birkbeck College, University of London.He started his career in the retailing of firearms and ammunition before venturing into sport event management via the Jelajah Malaysia cycling race, and eventually becoming consultant to the Ministry of Youth and Sport for the Le Tour de Langkawi. He was also previously Head of Shared Services in the Shapadu Group, and an independent, non-executive director of Vastalux Energy Berhad (now known as Barakah Offshore Petroleum Berhad).

He is currently a non-executive director in Nusa Utama Sdn Bhd, a property developer based in South Johor, and a trustee of the Titiwangsa Education Foundation in Kuala Lumpur. He remains actively involved in the field of sport administration, serving as Race Director for the Tour of Peninsular, President of the Kuala Lumpur Cycling Association, Council Member of the Malaysian National Cycling Federation and occasional legal counsel to the Kuala Lumpur Football Association. He is also a graduate of the Olympic Solidarity Advanced Sport Management Course (ASMC), and is currently an Olympic Council of Malaysia facilitator for the Sport Administrator Course (SAC). He also volunteers as the Research Coordinator for the Setiawangsa Member of Parliament. His areas of interest are sport management, corporate governance, defence and home affairs.

Syafiqa graduated from Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) in International Affairs with interest in wealth and education gap before working as a parliamentary officer for Permatang Pauh Member of Parliament. Syafiqa previously was an intern with the Parliamentary Office of Lembah Pantai; where she eagerly learned how does this social work in real politics with real people. Optimistic in completing her Master of Political Science in 2021. If you don’t catch her in the office, Syafiqa might be at a nearby cafe; sipping a cup of coffee and having a slice of cake while drawing in her sketchbook and secretly thinking on how the world can be a better place.

Syafiqa Zakaria

Researcher

Syafiqa graduated from Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) in International Affairs with interest in wealth and education gap before working as a parliamentary officer for Permatang Pauh Member of Parliament. Syafiqa previously was an intern with the Parliamentary Office of Lembah Pantai; where she eagerly learned how does this social work in real politics with real people.

Optimistic in completing her Master of Political Science in 2021. If you don’t catch her in the office, Syafiqa might be at a nearby cafe; sipping a cup of coffee and having a slice of cake while drawing in her sketchbook and secretly thinking on how the world can be a better place.

Zayana is a part-time researcher at SERI. Her work focuses on environment and sustainability, specifically on developing an Environmental, Social and Governance framework that would benefit various future stakeholder. As her passion lies in raising environmental awareness through educating the masses on the science of climate change, she also has research interest in climate change policy such as impacts of flooding as well as reforming sustainability. She is a recent Environment & Sustainability graduate from the Australian National University. Prior to SERI, Zayana worked with the United Nations Development Programme and Ministry of Environment

Zayana Zaikariah

Environmental Policy Fellow

Zayana is a part-time researcher at SERI. Her work focuses on environment and sustainability, specifically on developing an Environmental, Social and Governance framework that would benefit various future stakeholder. As her passion lies in raising environmental awareness through educating the masses on the science of climate change, she also has research interest in climate change policy such as impacts of flooding as well as reforming sustainability.

She is a recent Environment & Sustainability graduate from the Australian National University. Prior to SERI, Zayana worked with the United Nations Development Programme and Ministry of Environment

Sakinah is a fresh graduate in Bachelor of Arts (Economics and Sociology) at Sciences Po Paris. Her passion for policy research began during her time volunteering as a writer and editor in Malaysian student organizations in France. She also ran a podcast with her best friend sharing about the challenges of studying abroad. Sakinah is interested in the issues of education, gender and urban inequality and how they intersect to affect individuals of the community. She volunteered in several NGOs working on those issues such as AFEV France and G4G Malaysia. A polyglot, she can handle French bureaucracy over the phone, and order food in Korean but she loves her Sarawakian dialect the most. During her free time, she reads tear-inducing books and binge-watching K-dramas.

Nur Sakinah Alzian

Associate, Public Policy

Sakinah is a fresh graduate in Bachelor of Arts (Economics and Sociology) at Sciences Po Paris. Her passion for policy research began during her time volunteering as a writer and editor in Malaysian student organizations in France. She also ran a podcast with her best friend sharing about the challenges of studying abroad.

Sakinah is interested in the issues of education, gender and urban inequality and how they intersect to affect individuals of the community. She volunteered in several NGOs working on those issues such as AFEV France and G4G Malaysia.

A polyglot, she can handle French bureaucracy over the phone, and order food in Korean but she loves her Sarawakian dialect the most. During her free time, she reads tear-inducing books and binge-watching K-dramas.

Najwa's dedication to her academic pursuits is mirrored in her professional endeavors as an intern at SERI, where she seeks to apply her knowledge to real-world challenges. As a final year student pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in International Relations at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), she demonstrates a profound interest in understanding the intricate dynamics of global affairs and international diplomacy. Beyond her academic and professional pursuits, Najwa is an avid enthusiast of the captivating world of Kdramas, finding both entertainment and inspiration in the art of storytelling. She's also a proud cat parent to two adorable furballs named Owen and Polo.

Najwa Ayuni

Intern

Najwa's dedication to her academic pursuits is mirrored in her professional endeavors as an intern at SERI, where she seeks to apply her knowledge to real-world challenges. As a final year student pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in International Relations at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), she demonstrates a profound interest in understanding the intricate dynamics of global affairs and international diplomacy.

Beyond her academic and professional pursuits, Najwa is an avid enthusiast of the captivating world of Kdramas, finding both entertainment and inspiration in the art of storytelling. She's also a proud cat parent to two adorable furballs named Owen and Polo.

I'm a second-year student at UCSI University, studying English Language and Communication (ELC) at UCSI University. I chose to study ELC because I want to be able to think analytically and express articulately. I know these skills are not just skills for exams or assignments; ultimately, they will help me approach the world better. One fun fact about me is that I can cook kimchi stew really well!

Siow Kah Yi

Intern

I'm a second-year student at UCSI University, studying English Language and Communication (ELC) at UCSI University. I chose to study ELC because I want to be able to think analytically and express articulately. I know these skills are not just skills for exams or assignments; ultimately, they will help me approach the world better. One fun fact about me is that I can cook kimchi stew really well!

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