Executive Council

Tunku Dara holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics/Political Science from the American University in Cairo. She is a director of a number of companies, including Syarikat Pesaka Antah (SPA). She is also a Governor of Kolej Tuanku Ja’afar in Pajam, Negeri Sembilan, a private British style boarding school. In 1980, she established the first local finishing school, Ecole de Belle Jeunesse, which provides personal development courses. She is Chairman of Tuanku Najihah Foundation (TNF) and President of the Kuala Lumpur Speakers’ Club (KLSC) as well as founding Chairman of English Speaking Union Malaysia (ESUM). She was President of the Ladies Football Association of Malaysia. Her aims and aspirations are to see women improving their lot in society, business and sport.

Raja Arshad is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, and a member of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants. He is also a member of the Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants and served on its council for 24 years, including three years as its President. Raja Arshad is presently, inter alia, a director of Maxis Berhad & Ekuiti Nasional Berhad, Yayasan Amir, Yayasan Raja Muda Selangor and Yayasan DayaDiri. He is also the Chancellor of University Selangor. He was formerly Executive Chairman of PriceWaterhouseCoopers (“PwC”) Malaysia, Chairman of the Malaysian Accounting Standards Board and Danamodel Nasional Berhad. His previous International appointments include being a member of the Standards Advisory Council of the International Accounting Standards Board.

Nicole holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B)(Hons) from University of London and a Bachelor of Jurisprudence from the University of Malaya. She also obtained the Certificate in Legal Practice (CLP) awarded by the Legal Profession Qualifying Board, Malaysia. Nicole has been the Honorary Secretary of the English Speaking Union Malaysia (ESUM) since 2013 and has represented Malaysia in the English Speaking Union International Council Meeting held in London (2015), Tblisi, Georgia (2016), and St. Petersburg (2019). She is also a secretariat member in the LAWASIA Moot Committee since 2008. Nicole worked for Shearn Delamore & Co, one of the oldest law firms in Malaysia, as Communication and Business Development Manager for a good six years before coming to the law. She enjoys reading, meeting people, visiting places of historical and cultural significance and listening to jazz and opera music.

After graduating from University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology (now part of University of Cardiff) with Bachelor of Science (Economics) in 1979, Geok Ling started his career with Price Waterhouse in Cardiff, United Kingdom (merged with Coopers and Lybrand to form PricewaterhouseCoopers in 1998). Geok Ling was admitted as an Associate member of Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales in 1982 and as Associate member of Institute of Taxation (UK) in 1983. He returned to Malaysia in 1984 and joined the Assurance practice of Price Waterhouse Kuala Lumpur where manages the audits of companies, listed and unlisted, in various industries. In 1989 he moved from client service practice to head the Finance and Technology department of Price Waterhouse until he retired from PricewaterhouseCoopers in 2016. Geok Ling is also a member of Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Malaysian Institute of Accountants.

Chew Seng Choon graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in English Language and Literature from the University of Malaya in 1973. He joined the Malaysian Administrative and Diplomatic Service, and served the government for 20 years. He was posted to a number of ministries, and the longest stint was at the Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment (MOSTE). His responsibilities in the Civil Service encompassed, amongst others, power and nuclear energy, science and technology, nature conservation, and environmental management. He has also served as Principal Private Secretary to the Minister in MOSTE. In 1993, he joined a government-linked corporation to work in a senior management position until his retirement in 2005. He then obtained a post-graduate Diploma in TESOL (Distinction) from the London Teachers Training College, United Kingdom, in 2007, and decided to venture into teaching and training. Currently, he is a freelance corporate trainer in the English language, ESH management, and human capital skills.

As a cultural leader, with an experience trajectory spanning over 20 years, Datin Shalini has led the development of numerous trans-national and multi-disciplinary programmes, including dialogues, publications and exhibitions. She is a passionate advocate of free, quality education as a pre-requisite for sustainable and global nation building.
After reading law at Cambridge University, she practised corporate finance law on Wall Street. She is a qualified Barrister (Lincoln’s Inn) and New York Attorney. She is past President, Oxford & Cambridge Society, Malaysia; Founding Board Member, English Speaking Union, Malaysia; Life Member, Kuala Lumpur Speakers Club and Founder of the annual, cultural marquee, Gallery Weekend Kuala Lumpur. She has served on the Tate Gallery Acquisitions Committee and the Trinity Hall, Cambridge University Advisory Board. Additionally, she has held numerous Visiting Fellowships including at Oxford University and continues with independent scholarship.

From bottom to top – that sums up the long & chequered career of Azman Ujang, spanning 48 years and all the time in Bernama. He began as a cadet reporter in the Kuching bureau of Bernama and reached the top editorial position of Editor-in-Chief in 2004. In 2007 he was appointed the General Manager or Chief Executive Officer until his retirement one and a half years later. In 2016, he was appointed Chairman, making him the first person to have held all the three top posts in the national news agency as Chairman, CEO and Editor-in-Chief.

Poon Foong Lin is an optimist who believes in ‘there’s always a solution’. She has over a decade of experience running her own business startups across IT, retail services, manufacturing & export of Food & Beverage. Foong Lin is an Economics graduate from the United Kingdom’s Queen Mary College, University of London and an MBA holder from Keele University. As part of Gen X, you can find her on Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Linkedin and Facebook keeping up-to-date with the latest streams and threads. Aside from ESUM, she is also a life member of British Graduates Association Malaysia, a member of the Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation and active in the Ecommerce community.

Iris joined The Star, Malaysia’s leading English newspaper in 1990 as she is presently heading the Property Management & Development department of the Star Media Group. She has been very involved in organizing education projects promoting the use of English for the past 30 years of her career. She had recently retired from Star Media Group and the last position held was SGM Property Management & Development of the Star Media Group. She has also been an active board member of ESU Malaysia (ESUM) since its inception in 2002 and is involved in organizing ESU Public Speaking Competition in Malaysia for the last 17 years. Through ESUM, she also organizes activities that promote the use of English in the country such as essay writing competitions as well as English workshops. She graduated from the National University of Malaysia with a degree in Social Sciences and she also has a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Malaya. She is an avid reader and loves children, people, culture, music, movies, travel, pop concerts, West End, Broadway musicals and good food.

Radhakrishnan started his career as a school teacher in 1962. In 1976, he left for London to read law. He is a Barrister from the Inner Temple having been called to the English Bar in 1978. He was called to the Malaysian Bar in 1979. He started as a legal assistant in Shearn Delamore & Co. and was made a Partner in 1984. He retired in 2001. He is a Consultant of Shearn Delamore & Co. He is the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the British Council English Language Centre. He is a Founder Member and Council Member of the English Speaking Union of Malaysia. He is a Trustee of the International Medical University Foundation. He is the Vice President of the Reproductive Rights Advocacy Alliance Malaysia.

Jagdish started her career as a Home Science and Art teacher in 1974 and she furthered her education at The University of Malaya graduating with a BA Hons in English in 1984. Recently she received a certificate of Excellence in Communication Skills from Trinity Guildhall, London. She is also a certified trainer with the Ministry of Human Resource. She is a co-opted member of the English Speaking Union Malaysia (ESUM) and has conducted numerous Public Speaking Courses, Presentation Skills and Debating skills at various institutions in different countries. In 2018, she represented Malaysia in the ESU International Council Meeting held in Lisbon, Portugal. In Malaysia, she has extensive experience in conducting Business and Technical Writing, Cooperate Training, Grooming and Interview Skills. She also actively involved in the Kuala Lumpur Speakers Club, National Association of Women Entrepreneur Malaysia and the National Council of Women’s Organization.

Dato’ John Louis O’Hara studied at the Royal Military College Sg. Besi. He then obtained LL.B Hons in 1974 from King’s College, London. He is a barrister from Lincoln’s Inn and having completed his Post Final Practical Training was called to the English Bar in 1976 and Malaysian Bar in 1992. He has served inter alia as a Magistrate, Deputy Public Prosecutor, Senior Federal Counsel, Sessions Court Judge, Industrial Court Chairman, Advisory Board Chairman, Legal Advisor with the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Head of the International Affairs Division of the Attorney-General’s Chambers. He was a member of the Malaysian delegation to numerous bi-literal meetings and multilateral conferences and regularly attended the Sixth Committee of the UN and Law of the SEA Meetings. He was appointed a Judicial Commissioner on 1.9.2005, elevated as a Judge on 5.9.2007, served at the Penang and Kuala Lumpur High Court and retired in May 2017. Since his retirement, he has been appointed Chairman of the Appeals Committee at the Securities Industry Disputes Resolution Centre and Commissioner with the Enforcement Agencies Integrity Commission. He has also been empanelled as an Arbitrator at the Asian International Arbitration Centre.

Tunku Dara holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics/Political Science from the American University in Cairo. She is a director of a number of companies, including Syarikat Pesaka Antah (SPA). She is also a Governor of Kolej Tuanku Ja’afar in Pajam, Negeri Sembilan, a private British style boarding school. In 1980, she established the first local finishing school, Ecole de Belle Jeunesse, which provides personal development courses. She is Chairman of Tuanku Najihah Foundation (TNF) and President of the Kuala Lumpur Speakers’ Club (KLSC) as well as founding Chairman of English Speaking Union Malaysia (ESUM). Her aims and aspirations are to see women improving their lot in society, business and sport.

Raja Arshad is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, and a member of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants. He is also a member of the Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants and served on its council for 24 years, including three years as its president. Raja Arshad is presently, inter alia, the Chairman of Maxis Berhad, Ekuiti Nasional Berhad, Yayasan Amir and Yayasan Raja Muda Selangor. He is a Director of Yayasan DayaDiri. He is also the Chancellor of University Selangor. He was formerly Executive Chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers (“PwC”) Malaysia, Chairman of the Malaysian Accounting Standards Board and Danamodal Nasional Berhad. His previous international appointments include being a member the Standards Advisory Council of the International Accounting Standards Board.

Nicole holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B)(Hons) from University of London and a Bachelor of Jurisprudence from the University of Malaya. She also obtained the Certificate in Legal Practice (CLP) awarded by the Legal Profession Qualifying Board, Malaysia. Nicole has been the Honorary Secretary of the English Speaking Union Malaysia (ESUM) since 2013 and has represented Malaysia in the English Speaking Union International Council Meeting held in London (2015) and Tblisi, Georgia (2016). She is also a secretariat member in the LAWASIA Moot Committee since 2008. Nicole worked for Shearn Delamore & Co, one of the oldest law firms in Malaysia, as Communication and Business Development Manager for a good six years before coming to the law. She enjoys reading, meeting people, visiting places of historical and cultural significance and listening to jazz and opera music.

As a cultural leader, over a 20 year career, Datin Shalini has lead the development of numerous trans-national and multi-disciplinary public and exhibition programmes that have resulted in sustainable engagement. After reading law at Cambridge, she worked as a corporate finance attorney on Wall Street, having qualified as a Barrister and NY Attorney. She is a past President, Oxford & Cambridge Society, Malaysia; a founding Board Member, English Speaking Union Malaysia; a Life Member, Kuala Lumpur Speakers Club and founder of the annual, cultural city marquee, Gallery Weekend Kuala Lumpur. She is a Visiting Fellow of Oxford University.

Dato’ John Louis O’Hara studied at the Royal Military College Sg. Besi. He then obtained LL.B Hons in 1974 from King’s College, London. He is a barrister from Lincoln’s Inn and having completed his Post Final Practical Training was called to the English Bar in 1976 and Malaysian Bar in 1992. He has served inter alia as a Magistrate, Deputy Public Prosecutor, Senior Federal Counsel, Sessions Court Judge, Industrial Court Chairman, Advisory Board Chairman, Legal Advisor with the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Head of the International Affairs Division of the Attorney-General’s Chambers. He was a member of the Malaysian delegation to numerous bi-literal meetings and multilateral conferences and regularly attended the Sixth Committee of the UN and Law of the Sea Meetings. He was appointed a Judicial Commissioner on 1.9.2005, elevated as a Judge on 5.9.2007, served at the Penang and Kuala Lumpur High Court and retired in May 2017.

DYMM Paduka Seri Sultan Perak Darul Ridzuan Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah Al-Maghfur-Lah, D.K., D.K.S.A., D.K.A., D.M.N., D.K. (Kelantan), D.K. (Selangor), D.K.N.S, D.K. (Perlis), D.K (Kedah), D.K 1 (Johor), D.K. (Pahang), PhD (Harvard).

Yang Amat Mulia Tunku Dara Tunku Tan Sri Naquiah Binti Tuanku Ja’afar

YM Raja Tan Sri Arshad Raja Tun Uda

Nicole Chee Meng Wai

Lee Geok Ling

Chew Seng Choon

YBhg Datin Shalini Amerasinghe Ganendra

YBhg Datuk Seri Azman Ujang

Poon Foong Lin

Iris Tan

S. Radhakrishnan

Jagdish Bhain

Dato’ John Louis O’Hara

DYMM Paduka Seri Sultan Perak Darul Ridzuan Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah Al-Maghfur-Lah, D.K., D.K.S.A., D.K.A., D.M.N., D.K. (Kelantan), D.K. (Selangor), D.K.N.S, D.K. (Perlis), D.K (Kedah), D.K 1 (Johor), D.K. (Pahang), PhD (Harvard).

YAM Tunku Dara Tunku Tan Sri Naquiah Binti Tuanku Ja’afar