Kuala Lumpur, 12 August 2024: The Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) announces that Dr Tricia Yeoh will be stepping down from her role as CEO at the end of September 2024. She has served IDEAS as Chief Operating Officer, Fellow and then finally CEO, over the last 11 years, and will be transitioning to a new role in academia after her tenure at IDEAS.

Under her leadership, IDEAS significantly expanded its influence and public policy impact by fostering strong relationships with numerous networks and partners, working in the areas of democracy and governance, public finance, economics and business, and social policy. A notable achievement was the establishment of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Political Financing that IDEAS is Secretariat of, which advocates for essential political financing reforms, and that drafted Malaysia’s first ever version of a Political Financing Bill. Under her watch, IDEAS has achieved remarkable financial sustainability, marking the best performance in its history.

Reflecting on her journey with IDEAS, Dr Tricia said, “The 11 years that I spent in IDEAS have been the most rewarding of my professional life. IDEAS has had a tremendous impact on my career in public policy and political studies. IDEAS has been an amazing platform that provided me an opportunity to expand my knowledge and experience in the fields of public policy research and advocacy, management and team-building. I am also thankful to IDEAS for having sponsored my doctoral studies. For all this, I will always be grateful.”

“IDEAS continues to be the best organisation in Malaysia for anyone who is interested in pursuing independent public policy research and making a difference. The organisation has undergone tremendous change and transformation from its earliest days, all for the better and in keeping with the context of each phase. I believe that leadership change is good for organisational renewal. I extend my heartfelt thanks to the Board, our funders, and partners who have made my time as CEO at IDEAS over the last four years the outstanding experience it has been. I would like to personally thank my team members who have worked alongside me so tirelessly – I could not have achieved such success at IDEAS if not for them. It has truly been an honour for me to lead this incredible team,” added Dr Tricia.

The Board of Directors is pleased to announce that beginning 16 September, Aira Azhari, current Senior Manager of Advocacy and Events will be succeeding Tricia as the Acting CEO of IDEAS. Aira has been with IDEAS for almost nine years, starting as a Research Executive in 2016 after finishing her Master of Laws from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Aira has contributed immensely to IDEAS’ growth over the years, particularly in her work championing institutional reforms, and more recently, leading and transforming IDEAS’ advocacy and events team, boosting IDEAS’ profile and credibility with important stakeholders. Aira has also been a frequent and trusted analyst of politics and current affairs, having represented IDEAS in both local and international media. 

Aira shared her enthusiasm about the new role, stating, “It is an incredible honour and privilege to be entrusted with leading an organisation as important as IDEAS. The crucial role IDEAS plays in building a Malaysia that upholds liberty and justice for all is a responsibility I take very seriously, and I look forward to working with my excellent colleagues in advancing public policy discourse in this country. I am also grateful to the Board for their trust and support throughout this transition process and beyond. To Tricia, I am thankful for the exemplary leadership she has shown us all, and I wish her all the very best in her future journey.”

YAM Tunku Zain Al-‘Abidin ibni Tuanku Muhriz, Founding President of IDEAS and Chairman of the Board, commented, “The Board thanks Tricia for her exceptional leadership and dedication which has propelled IDEAS forward in numerous ways.  I have enjoyed working with her over the past decade and I know she will excel in her next role.  We are excited to welcome Aira, who we believe will build upon Tricia’s legacy and lead IDEAS to new heights.”

IDEAS remains steadfast in its commitment to improving public policy and building a better Malaysia for all. We thank Dr Tricia Yeoh for her outstanding contributions and wish her success in her future academic endeavours.

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Download Media Statement PDF File Here

For enquiries, please contact:
Ryan Panicker
Assistant Manager, Advocacy and Events
T: 03 – 2070 8881/8882 | E: ryannesh@ideas.org.my