Amalina Annuar is IDEAS’ Research Manager for Democracy and Governance and Social Policy. She leads research, policy engagement, and strategic outreach that support evidence-informed reform across federal and state levels. She previously spent seven years with United Nations agencies in humanitarian and child-protection roles. Her most recent role was as a Child Protection Officer at UNICEF Malaysia, where she led national initiatives on social norms and behaviour change to prevent violence against children.

Amalina is a Chevening Scholar and a graduate of the University of Oxford, where she completed an MSc in Evidence-Based Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation. She also holds a BSc in Social Science (Social Work Studies) from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak. Her expertise spans meta-analysis, policy synthesis, and applied social research. She focuses on translating complex evidence into practical strategies that strengthen participatory governance, improve social policy design, and expand opportunities for communities that are often underserved.