Danial Abd Rahman

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Danial Abd Rahman

  • Chief Executive Officer - Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute (ASLI)

Biography

Danial is CEO of the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (ASLI), a 32-year-old think-tank owned and governed by the non-profit Jeffrey Cheah Foundation. His diverse career began as a lawyer and has traversed policy, education, media, and technology. Danial has served at three Federal Ministries (namely Finance, Education and Higher Education), and was Head of Growth of an Edtech company which underwent a successful IPO in Australia. Since 2014, Danial has been a columnist for TheStar newspaper, writing over 100 columns on topics ranging from governance to finance, technology to education. Additionally, he hosts "The Nation," a current-affairs TV talk show on Malaysia's National News Agency (BERNAMA) where he has interviewed prominent figures including Ministers, CEOs, and ambassadors. As a speaker, Danial shares his expertise on policy and governance, Artificial Intelligence trends, the future of work, misinformation / disinformation, and UN Sustainable Development Goals. He is a qualified Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) coach. Danial holds a master's in law from the University of Oxford and an LLB from the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). In his spare time, he enjoys playing badminton and squash. You can find more about him on his LinkedIn profile ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/danial-rahman-2020/).

Academic & Professional Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Civil Law (Masters), University of Oxford, UK, 2013
  • LLB (Laws) (Undergraduate), International Islamic University Malaysia, 2010
  • Tunku Scholar @ Tunku Abdul Rahman Foundation

Achievements & Accolades

Nation Building / Policy / Research

  1. Expert Advisor (Industry), Malaysia Higher Education Blueprint 2016-2030 (Ongoing)
  2. Head of Branding Focus Group, Majlis TVET Negara (MTVET), 2021-2022
  3. Co-Writer, National Budget Speech 2021, Ministry of Finance
  4. Research Consultant, Study on Malaysian Internationalisation Policies, for Ministry of Education, 2019
  5. Associate Jr. Fellow, International Institute of Public Policy and Management (INPUMA), University of Malaya, 2020-2022
  6. Co-Editor of Book, “Framing Higher Education 4.0: Future-Proof Talents”, published by Department of Higher Education, 2018
  7. Book Contribution, “Moderation: A Compilation of Essays by Everyday Malaysians”, published by TheStar Media Group, 2016
  8. Member of Sunway Group’s Future of Work Taskforce

Recent Media Contributions (2024 highlights)

  1. Comments for Nikkei Asia: Malaysia’s Sarawak aims to quadruple its renewable energy capacity by 2035, Nikkei Asia. 8 Nov 2024. https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Energy/Malaysia-s-Sarawak-aims-to-quadruple-its-renewable-energy-capacity-by-2035
  2. Interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN): How might joining BRICS deepen Malaysia’s relation with China particularly in trade and investment. 22 Oct 2024. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/aQf4PrHaNQzTHeML/?mibextid=WC7FNe
  3. Interview on Consider This, Astro Awani: Budget 2025 – Balancing Progress & Prudence? 18 Oct 2024.
    - Part 1: https://www.astroawani.com/videos/consider-x7ko7s/consider-budget-2025-part-1-balancing-progress-prudence-x97lngs
    - Part 2: https://international.astroawani.com/videos/consider-x7ko7s/considerthis-budget-2025-part-2-balancing-progress-prudence-x97lpgu
  4. Hosted BERNAMA (Malaysia’s National News Agency) Budget 2025 pre- & post- analysis. 18 Oct 2024. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/BrYqdL8WhzrsBWvA/?mibextid=WC7FNe
  5. Interview with TheStar: Anwar to set the stage and raise issues at Asean gathering. 8 Oct 2024. https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/10/08/anwar-to-set-the-stage-and-raise-issues-at-asean-gathering
  6. Column for BERNAMA: MADANI Government: On Progress, Palestinians, and Promise. Published 28 Aug 2024. https://bernama.com/en/general/news.php?id=2334153 (BI) https://www.bernama.com/bm/am/news.php?id=2334163 (BM)
  7. Interview with Singapore’s Channel News Asia (CNA): Malaysia PM could use BRICS as a platform to expand ASEAN’s Reach. 14 Aug 2024. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/malaysia-anwar-ibrahim-brics-geopolitics-asean-southeast-asia-4545721 / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1FWd4m7cyA
  8. Interviewed YB Tan Sri Johari Abdul, Speaker of the Malaysian Parliament, for BERNAMA. 19 April 2024. https://lnkd.in/gBiHE2Cq
  9. Interviewed Her Excellency Mary Eng, Canada’s Minister for Export Promotion, International Trade & Economic Development. BERNAMA. 25 March 2024. https://lnkd.in/gBPW25Tq
  10. Interview on ESG Imperatives for Trade and Corporates 2024. BERNAMA. 10 Jan 2024. https://lnkd.in/gUwxV8KG

Professional Associations

  1. 2023: Certified Coach, Neuro-Linguistic Programming
  2. 2023: HRDC Certified Trainer
  3. 2022-2024: Vice President, Oxford and Cambridge Alumni Society of Malaysia
  4. 2011: Admitted as an Advocate & Solicitor of the High Court of Malaya
  5. 2012: Syariah Will Writing Certificate (Basic, Intermediate, Advanced)