Employment History
October 2022 – December 2025 (Expected): Project Manager, Age-Friendly City (AFC) Initiative, MHAS, Malaysia
- Managed a three-year project supporting Penang’s transformation into an age-friendly city by 2025.
- Integrated climate adaptation and sustainability into urban planning with municipal and health authorities.
- Implemented monitoring frameworks for climate-sensitive infrastructure (shaded walkways, heat-resilient spaces, energy-efficient centres).
- Led advocacy aligning ageing and climate initiatives to protect older adults from extreme weather and pollution.
- Delivered capacity-building for planners, healthcare staff, and community leaders on climate-resilient strategies.
- Collaborated with local and international partners to adopt global sustainable urban development practices.
August 2023 – March 2025: Senior Technical Officer, Drug Policy Programme, Malaysia
- Oversaw policy reviews, capacity-building, and pilot projects on Malaysia’s drug decriminalization process.
- Studied socio-economic impacts of criminalization on marginalized groups in disaster-prone areas.
- Facilitated stakeholder discussions integrating climate-resilient harm reduction, sustainable rehab models, and eco-friendly disposal methods.
- Promoted policy reforms linking decriminalization with climate adaptation and social justice.
- Developed evidence-based recommendations for climate-smart public health responses.
- Worked with government, NGOs, and academics on climate-justice and drug policy intersections.
August 2023 – March 2024: Regional Consultant, Catalyst Management Services, India
- Managed an eight-month Rockefeller Initiative project to strengthen NGO capacity for health systems.
- Improved routine immunization and pandemic preparedness among vulnerable groups in climate-affected areas of Cambodia and the Philippines.
- Provided technical support and capacity-building for stakeholder coordination and immunization coverage.
- Oversaw financial processes and facilitated government/community engagement.
- Prioritized preventive measures for women, elderly, disabled communities, and children.
September 2014 – October 2022: Senior Lecturer in Public Health & Epidemiology, RCSI (Perdana University), Malaysia
- Taught epidemiology and public health to medical and allied health students.
- Supervised applied research addressing real-world public health issues.
- Developed assessments using case-based learning and community research.
- Secured and managed research grants for epidemiology and policy work.
- Collaborated with healthcare stakeholders on community service initiatives.
- Served on ethics committees, ensuring research integrity and mentoring students.
- Updated teaching modules with contemporary public health issues.
April 2013 – November 2013: Harm Reduction Specialist, AusAID Programme, Vietnam
- Provided technical guidance for managing national harm reduction programs under the Ministry of Health.
- Ensured evidence-based interventions aligned with global best practices.
- Managed M&E systems for data-driven improvement.
- Coordinated with government, civil society, healthcare providers, and funders.
- Prioritized marginalized populations including Indigenous groups, women, and PWUD.
- Advocated rights-based harm reduction models to reduce stigma and expand access.
- Built capacity for NSP, OST, HIV prevention, and overdose response.
- Supported advocacy for sustainable interventions contributing to decriminalization.
June 2011 – December 2011: Senior Health Consultant, SCOPE Consultancy, Malaysia
- Provided technical expertise within a multidisciplinary team for health program management.
- Ensured interventions followed international best practices and fit target populations.
- Collaborated with government, NGOs, and global organizations on health planning and evaluation.
- Translated research into practical health policies and strategies.
- Developed strategic frameworks, monitoring systems, and capacity-building programs.
- Strengthened health systems and sustainable care models through stakeholder engagement.
2007 – 2009: Technical Coordinator, Harm Reduction Programmes, UNICEF Consultant to MOH, Malaysia
- Guided MOH teams on harm reduction (MMT, NSEP).
- Led capacity-building for healthcare workers, enforcement, and key stakeholders.
- Delivered ToT programs on evidence-based harm reduction.
- Integrated gender-sensitive approaches, especially for women in correctional facilities.
- Strengthened balanced public health and law enforcement interventions.
- Supported scalable, community-driven harm reduction through policy and coordination.
2005 – 2007: Drug Use and AIDS Manager, Malaysian AIDS Council
- Supported NGOs implementing needle exchange programs through strategic and technical guidance.
- Ensured program sustainability and alignment with global best practices for PWUD.
- Led training and mentoring on evidence-based interventions and M&E.
- Strengthened data collection, reporting, and impact assessment.
- Supported policy advocacy and stakeholder engagement for public-health-centered drug strategies.
- Facilitated NGO–law-enforcement collaboration.
- Enhanced multi-sector coordination to reduce health and social risks of drug use.