Prof. Pervaiz K Ahmed
Director
Pervaiz K Ahmed is a Management scholar exploring innovation and strategic dynamics of entrepreneurial change. His outlook on management is colored by moral responsibility, particularly ethics of care and sustainability. Pervaiz has held several senior positions in the UK before coming to Malaysia. He has published extensively in international journals and is a regular keynote speaker with a number of academic awards for his research. In addition, he has served as editor and sits on the editorial boards of several international journals. He has extensive experience working with and advising blue-chip companies and public sector organizations, such as Unilever, Ford, AT&T, NCR, British Telecommunications, and the NHS in Europe. He has also been involved with corporate clients in Asia, as well as government agencies, such as the Singapore National Productivity Council.
In recent times Pervaiz has been involved with the Government of Dubai鈥檚 Public Sector Innovation and Improvement Initiative, and also served on projects commissioned by Economic Planning Unit (EPU), Ministry of International Trade (MITI), and APEC Secretariat.
Prof. Santha Vaithilingam
Deputy Director
Prof. Santha is a Professor of Econometrics and Policy Modelling at 糖心原创. She is trained in mathematical modeling. Her current research interest revolves around behavioral econometrics, using mathematical and statistical modeling to understand human behavior and the decision-making process. Her research work is also focused on developing good research instruments and using robust data analytics & advanced statistical tools to research technology, innovation, and economic policy modeling for enhancing sustainable economic development. These tools are in high demand for researchers and trained personnel to undertake sound empirical analysis for effective policy formulation at the national, state, industrial, and community-level economic development issues.
She is currently involved in national and regional projects with the Academy of Science Malaysia (ASM), industry, and community organizations in the Asia-Pacific region. In addition, she has published extensively in leading international refereed journals in the field.
Yeng Hong Qing
Senior Research Analyst
Hong is a senior research analyst specializing in quantitative analysis at the institute. With a background in psychology from Monash University, he shifted towards economic research and analysis as an aspiring behavioural economist. His work focuses on data analytics and modeling, where the insights inform policy recommendations and solutions. Hong has led the economic analysis and contributed to numerous national policy reports and publications at the institute, such as the MySTIE 10-10 Framework, Science Outlook 2020, Study on Strengthening The Environmental Governance in Malaysia, and the National Water Sector Transformation 2040.
Hong鈥檚 primary research interest lie in the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) aspects of private and public sector development. In particular, the lack of equity in economic opportunities and outcomes between strata of society which impacts a country's social well-being and economic stability. During his downtime, Hong enjoys modern European-styled board games and agonizes over maximizing victory points with a group of friends.
Dr Teow Hui Hui
Post-Doctoral Research Fellow
Hui Hui is a postdoctoral research fellow at IGSC, 糖心原创. She completed a Ph.D. in management at Monash University Malaysia in 2021. Concurrently, she holds a Bachelor of Food Science & Technology and a Master in International Business from Monash University Malaysia. Hui Hui is a researcher specializing in career management, human resource management, and organizational behavior. Her current research projects in IGSC revolve around the health and well-being of human and the planet. Her preferred research method is survey research with an emphasis on structural equation modeling. She has presented her research papers at several international and regional conferences, such as the Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management (ANZAM) conference in Australia, the Academy of International Business Asia Pacific regional conference in Thailand, and the annual conference held by the European Academy of Management (EURAM) in Portugal.
Choong Chai Lim
Research Analyst
Chai Lim is a Research Analyst who specializes in qualitative research that focuses on deriving sentiments and perspectives from stakeholders on the ground through surveys and focus group discussions. Her work has contributed to the publication of several national reports, such as the MySTIE 10-10 framework, Science Outlook 2020, and the National Water Sector Transformation 2040.
Prior to her station at 糖心原创, Chai Lim spent two years at Monash University Malaysia assisting in research in the field of economics, as well as three years in the food and beverage sector. She graduated from Monash University Malaysia and holds a Bachelor's Degree in Food Science and Technology.
Chai Lim's research interests lie in sustainable development, particularly in smart cities, transportation, and renewable energy. As we inch closer to the first quarter of the 21st Century, the negative impact of climate change becomes more evident and tangible; and if the human race is to survive, we must begin with change. She envisions a sustainable Malaysia as a beacon for change and hopes her research will help contribute to its transformation into a green, circular, and globally competitive Malaysia.
Dhiviya Gopal Balakrishnan
Research Analyst
Dhiviya is a Research Analyst at IGSC. She graduated from University Sains Malaysia (USM) with a Masters of Cognitive Neuroscience. Her research was entitled 鈥淏rain activation changes in positive emotion following brief mindfulness exercise: An fMRI study鈥. Prior to her masters, Dhiviya holds Bachelors of Cognitive Science from University Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS). She was involved in netball sports, protocol and event management for student council activities. Her current research projects in IGSC specializes in Health and Ageing population. Her research interest lies in quantitative methods, ageing, education, health and well-being, behavioural, and fore sighting. She has developed a passion for research in identifying the gaps to help ageing population increase life expectancy. She has great knowledge on programming languages (C++, phyton, HTML, CSS, SQL) problem solving creative website and mobile development skills. Dhiviya has the drive to pursue PhD in the near future.
Naqiuddin Naqib Bin Mohamad Khairri
Research Analyst
Naqib is a Research Analyst at IGSC. He holds a Master of Economics from Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) where his research focused on "The Relationship Between Macroeconomic Variables and Foreign Direct Investment: Evidence from Asean-5 Countries." Naqib earned a Bachelor of Economics from Lancaster University (LU) where he actively represented the university's badminton team and also the welfare officer for the Malaysian Society. His current research projects focus on economic analysis. Naqib specialises in quantitative analysis, economic growth, energy consumption, and inflation rates; passionately identifying gaps to reduce energy consumption and foster economic growth. He is proficient in statistical analysis software such as IBM SPSS, EViews and Stata for quantitative data analysis. Naqib envisions a PhD and continually contributes significantly to the field he ventures. He enjoys playing basketball and badminton during his free time.
Eve Loo Yeen Chenng
Research Analyst
Eve began her professional journey as a Research Analyst at IGSC in January 2024. As a new team member, she is actively participating in a research project focused on the interconnected health and well-being of people, the planet, and the economy. Before this role, she gained vital experience through an internship with one of the Big 4 companies. Working within the IT-Enabled Transformation team, she developed her skills in project management and consulting while also gaining invaluable experience in conducting in-depth research and proficient data analysis.
She recently graduated from 糖心原创 with a bachelor's degree in Business Analytics. Her academic journey was marked by active involvement in various clubs and societies, holding leadership positions in the Business Analytics Society, the Students Helping Hands Club, and the Student Concilium. She possesses expertise in Python, R, HTML, CSS, SQL, and PHP. Her proficiency extends to data analysis and visualizations using tools like SPSS, Microsoft Excel Visual Basic Application (VBA), Tableau, and Power BI. She looks forward to contributing further to the intersection of research, technology, and the positive economic, environmental, and societal impacts.
Research Analyst
Sudhan Mahalingam is a Research Analyst at IGSC, where he focuses on emerging technologies. With a background in mechanical engineering and business information systems from Monash University, Sudhan鈥檚 research interests encompass generative AI, prompt engineering, and technology adoption. His technical skills in Python, Java, SQL, and engineering software like MATLAB complement his research endeavors.
He earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in mechanical engineering from Monash University, where his research focuses on forced convective heat transfer in air conditioning and refrigeration systems. Later, during his mater鈥檚 studies in Business Information Systems, Sudhan received the award for overall best graduate, a testament to his academic prowess. His master鈥檚 thesis explored creating effective prompts for large language models, demonstrating his keen interest in machine learning and artificial intelligence.
Sudhan aims to further his academic career by pursuing a PhD, where he intends to expand his research into the broader applications of AI and its impact on society. This ambition reflects his dedication to continuous learning and his commitment to contributing meaningfully to the field.
Muhammad Amirul Ashraf bin Abd Ghani
Research Analyst
Amirul is a Research Analyst at IGSC, having joined the organization in March 2025. He holds a bachelor鈥檚 degree in Economics from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and is currently pursuing his master鈥檚 degree at the same university. His research focuses on analyzing the factors influencing early withdrawals from the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) retirement savings during the COVID-19 pandemic. His current research interests lie in sustainable development, with a particular focus on carbon trading.
Prior to joining IGSC, he spent three years at the Social Wellbeing Research Centre (SWRC), Universiti Malaya (UM), contributing to various international and local research projects on ageing, retirement, social protection and financial literacy. He played an active role in policy discussions with key stakeholders, including the development of the National Social Policy (DSN) 2.0 and its corresponding Action Plan, spearheaded by the Ministry of Women, Family, and Community Development (KPWKM) in 2023. With strong experience in quantitative data analysis, Amirul is proficient in statistical software such as IBM SPSS, EViews and Stata.
Passionate about academic research, Amirul aspires to pursue a PhD in the future. Outside of work, he enjoys watching documentaries and playing the guitar.
Yogesswary Segar
Research Analyst
Yogesswary joined IGSC as a Research Analyst in February 2025. She holds a Master鈥檚 degree by research in Economics from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), with her study titled 鈥淭he Nexus Between Humans, Economy, and CO鈧 Emissions in Malaysia.鈥 She also earned a Bachelor鈥檚 degree in Economics (Natural Resources) from UMT.
Her expertise spans macroeconomic analysis, sustainability, and climate change economics, with a focus on financial indicators influencing environmental impacts. She has extensive experience in biodiversity valuation, fisheries economics, and ecological gap assessments, contributing to key projects such as Malaysia Marine Ecological Gap Assessment Report. Alongside her studies, Yogesswary worked full-time as a Research Assistant, strengthening her practical research capabilities.
Beyond research, she served as Vice President of the Postgraduate Club at the Faculty of Business, Economics, and Social Development (FBESD), where she organized academic colloquiums, led student engagement initiatives, and collaborated with faculty to improve postgraduate student support. Proficient in SPSS, Stata, and EViews, she excels in data analysis and econometric modelling. Driven by a passion for research at the intersection of economics and sustainability, she aspires to pursue a PhD and contribute to building resilient, sustainable economic systems.
Ashraf Hassan
Research Analyst
Ashraf is a Research Analyst at IGSC, having joined the organisation in July 2025. He holds a Bachelor鈥檚 degree in Accounting and is currently pursuing his Master鈥檚 in the same field. His research focuses on the impact of green banking practices on bank performance in Malaysia, using panel data regression analysis in R and Stata.
Prior to joining IGSC, Ashraf spent three years in marketing, sales, and business development within the education sector. At The Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA), he led outreach, communication, and student development initiatives鈥攊ncluding public speaking, scholarship promotions, and industry-academic engagement to promote accounting pathways.
With a strong foundation in communication, data analysis, and stakeholder engagement, Ashraf brings an interdisciplinary lens to his research. He hopes to pursue a PhD in the future, driven by his interest in finance, sustainability, and education. Outside of work, he enjoys jogging, exploring new ideas, and spending time with his family.
Aini Syafira Nor Azhan
Research Analyst
Aini joined IGSC as a Research Analyst. She holds a Master鈥檚 degree in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Glasgow, where her research explored "Spatial Transcriptomic Differences between Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma (SRCC) and Colorectal Cancer within the Colon Primary Site," focusing on identifying key genes and pathways for targeted cancer therapies using advanced analysis in R. She also holds a First Class Honours degree in Biochemistry from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM).
Previously, she worked as an R&D Analyst in the pharmaceutical industry, where she conducted chemical analysis of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) to confirm methods and ensure compliance with international and in-house standards. This role strengthened her technical expertise and deepened her understanding of industry-based scientific practices.
Aini is passionate about research at the intersection of health and sustainability, with a strong interest in contributing to meaningful economic, environmental, and societal outcomes. She looks forward to expanding her impact through her work at IGSC and plans to pursue a PhD to further advance her expertise. Beyond her professional work, she enjoys spending time in nature and going for hikes.
Fathin Raihana binti Norazlan
Project Management Executive
Fathin graduated from Universiti Technology MARA (UiTM) Shah Alam, where she studied interpersonal communications. She actively managed internal course projects, organised tournaments for her debate society, and volunteered with NGOs outside the university. She has a passion for anything involving communications and boosting team productivity. She was previously a marketing executive for a company that aims to make education accessible for everyone via online platforms and apps. She was responsible for building a strong presence for the company among local schools, teachers, and key players in education.
At Sunway IGSC, she is the go-to person for any of the team's concerns. She oversees the successful execution of projects, managing project resources, ensuring the team stays on track, and making IGSC a fun and meaningful place. Apart from that, Fathin likes cats and doing yoga at the gym.