Manager, Research

Lau Zheng Zhou is Research Manager in Economics and Business at the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS). His research interests include financial development, global value chains, and China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Prior to this, Lau was Senior Director at ASLI’s Centre for Public Policy Studies where he headed the research and consulting team. He was also appointed as Special Officer to the Minister of Transport Malaysia and Perdana Fellow to the Minister of Youth and Sports Malaysia.

Lau obtained a First Class Honours in Business Economics from the University of Nottingham and a Master’s degree in Political Science and Political Economy from the London School of Economics.

Assistant Manager, Finance

Ahmad Bashier is the assistant manager of finance and accounts  under the Operations division at IDEAS. Bashier graduated with a Bachelors degree in Accountancy (Honours) from University of Malaya (UM). Before joining IDEAS he worked as an Audit Associate at Khairuddin, Hasyudeen & Razi (KHR). A conservative libertarian, Bashier believes that nothing is impossible in this world.

Senior Executive, Communications

Ali Iskandar is a graduate from Swinburne University, Melbourne. He is a storyteller with a focus on films, literature, video games, and sound.

Executive, Research

Azam is an Executive in the Research and Publications division. He received his B.A. from the University of British Columbia with a specialization in Economics, Political Science and Asian Studies. Azam’s passion for policy reform is rooted in his desire to improve public welfare in the most efficient and equitable manner.

Executive, Research

Ewanina Effandie is a Research Executive in Social and Policy unit at IDEAS. She received her Bachelor of Arts with Honours in International Relations and Politics from the University of Sheffield. Her research interests include human rights, education inequity and development economics. She is also passionate about advocating for transparency and accountability within the government.

Executive, Research

Halmie Azrie Abdul Halim is a Researcher for the Democracy and Governance Unit at IDEAS. He studied Political Science at International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). He graduated with a Bachelors degree in International Relations (Honours) from Asia Pacific University (APU), awarded by Staffordshire University, United Kingdom. Halmie has been involved in intellectual activism with PKPIM-ABIM since 2006. Prior to joining IDEAS, he was briefly affiliated with IMAN Research as an interim volunteer. A fierce critic of regressive societies and imposing structures, Halmie’s area of interest include Islam and Democracy, Foreign Affairs and Statecraft, Political Ideologies and Identities, as well as Public Sphere and Social Movements.