Professor Dr Kriengsak Chareonwongsak

senior fellow

Professor Dr Kriengsak Chareonwongsak graduated with first class honours and obtained a PhD in Economics in 1981 at Monash University, Australia. He obtained a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University, USA, Master Degree from Judge Business School, Cambridge University, having also a D Phil (Doctor of Philosophy in Management) and Post Doctoral Studies (Public Policy and Management) at the University of Oxford, UK. He graduated from the National Defence College of Thailand and also graduated from the esteemed King Prachatipok Institute.

Besides teaching at Monash University, he was involved in economics research at the Impact Research Centre, University of Melbourne and at Telecom Australia. He also held a position at the Graduate School of Economics and Business Administration, Kasetsart University, Thailand.

Presently, Prof Kriengsak is Chairman of the Nation-Building Institute (NBI), Senior Fellow, Harvard University, Professor of Management and Economics, Othman Yeop Abdullah Graduate School of Business, Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), Malaysia and the Academic Dean, University of London, Thailand Centre, EMFSS Programs Led by London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). He was an elected member of the Board of Directors of the Harvard Kennedy School Alumni Association. He has been also a Research Professor at Regent University, USA and an Adjunct Professor at many universities both in Thailand and overseas.

He was advisor to a Prime Minister and an elected Member of Parliament before the 2006 house dissolution. He was also the Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee on Economic Development in the House of Representatives. He was a National Executive Board member for the oldest and large political party-the Democrat Party in Thailand.

Professor Dr Kriengsak is President of the Institute of Future Studies for Development (IFD), He is the Eminent Member of the National Education Council. He was also on the Social Science Committee of the National Committee for Education, Science and Culture for UNESCO.

Professor Dr Kriengsak is currently Honorary Chairman of the Social Science Association of Thailand, the Advisory Chairman of the Masters of Business Administration (MBA) Program of the Rajabhat Suan Sunandha University. As an academic, he lectures to graduate students at several universities. He is also chairman of a number of foundations and holds positions on the governing/advisory boards of various Asian and international organizations and educational institutions.

He was an elected member of the National Economic and Social Advisory Council (NESAC), a constitutional body that advises the cabinet, and was Chairman of NESAC’s Education, Religion, Arts, and Culture Commission. He was also Vice Chairman of the NESAC Economic, Commerce, and Industry Commission. He held fifty positions in various organizations and on committees at national level; for example he was advisor to the President of the National Assembly and advisor to many Ministers in various governments. He was also active on the National Committee for International Economic Policy, a national committee comprising of economics ministers and prominent economists. He was Advisor to the Senate Commission on Public Participation and Honorary Advisor to the Senate

Commission on Labour and Social Welfare. Professor Dr Kriengsak was Advisor to the Commission on Justice and Human Rights, as well as the Honorary Advisor to the Commission on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.

He has been an advisor to the Former Prime Minister, the Former Deputy Prime Minister, and the Former Minister of Defence of Thailand. He sat on the Eighth Planning Committee of the National Economic and Social Development Board for the Infrastructure of Science and Technology, was Vice Chairman of the Political Reform Sub-Committee of Public Relations and Public Hearings, and was a Sub-Committee Member in Public Relations for the Promotion of Democracy.

As a businessman, he is a Chairman of Singapore’s Public listed Company ASTI Holdings and the Chairman of Board Risk Management Committee, Krungthai-AXA Life Insurance Public Company Limited, Thailand. He is also Chairman of the Success Group of Companies.

In addition to the aforementioned, he is a newspaper and magazine columnist, having written over 6,000 articles containing academic analysis and proposals on various issues, especially on public policy and development issues. He is the author of 200 books and has presented over 500 academic papers at international conferences. He has hosted several television talk show series and is heard frequently on radio. His perspectives are often highlighted in interviews carried by a wide variety of media sources in Thailand and overseas. He has presented his viewpoints to government and non-government organizations, academic institutions and community groups in over 2,200 lectures in seventy countries.

Air Chief Marshal Gagan Bulathsinghala

Senior FELLOW

Air Chief Marshal Gagan Bulathsinghala Joined the Sri Lanka Air Force as a cadet General Duties Pilot branch and completing a rewarding career spanning 35 years as the 15th Commander of the Air Force. ACM Bulathsinghala is a professional pilot and held many Operational and command appointments in the Sri Lanka Air Force. Aviation career, as an accomplished pilot with 4500 hours and an impeccable flying record. He was appointed as the Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force (Chief of Air Staff) in 2015 and was promoted to the rank of Air Marshal. He was subsequently promoted to the rank of Air Chief Marshal in 2016. He was the Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Sri Lanka to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan 2017-219.

ACM Bulathsinghala is a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College at Air University (Maxwell Air Force base) Alabama, USA, and the prestigious National Defence College New Delhi India. In addition, he possesses Postgraduate degrees, MPhil in Defence and Strategic Studies from the University of Madras India, and a Master of Science in Defence Studies in Management from General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka. He is a Fellow of the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, Hawaii, the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies and National Defence University, USA.

ACM Bulathsinghala is recognized by the Air Command & Staff College, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, USA as an international alumnus who has achieved a high position of leadership and enrolled, in the Hall of Fame Honor Roll ACSC 1999 alumni. Also recognized by the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka. “Hall of Fame” in recognition of the outstanding accomplishments as a KDU Alumni.

Nalanda College, Colombo also paid its highest tribute "Nalanda Keerthi Sri Sammanaya" to ACM Bulathsinghala during the annual prize giving at BMICH 2015. This award is accorded annually to the most outstanding past Nalandian who have excelled in their respective fields. The National Defence College (NDC) New Delhi, India’s apex institution of learning for the study and practice of National Security and Strategy has listed ACM Bulathsinghala as a Prominent Alumni. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Management Sri Lanka. Incumbent President of the Association of Retired Flag Rank Officers, Sri Lanka. He also served as the President, Interim committee National Cycling federation of Sri Lanka 2012-2014.

Dr. Reena Marwah

SENIOR FELLOW

Dr Reena Marwah (M.Phil, PhD, India, International Business) is Professor, Jesus and Mary College, Delhi University. She is the recipient of several Awards and fellowships including the Asia fellowship of the Asian Scholarship Foundation. She has been a short-term consultant of The World Bank and UN Women. She was an ICSSR Senior Fellow, MHRD, Govt. of India, 2017 to 2019, during which her study was on Reimagining India-Thailand Relations. She has also been on deputation as Senior Academic Consultant, ICSSR, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India for three years (2012ߝ2015) and continued, on behalf of ICSSR to coordinate/ lead the India-Europe Research Platform (EqUIP) till July 2017. She is the founding editor of Millennial Asia, a triannual journal on Asian Studies of the Association of Asia Scholars, published by Sage Publishers. Among her research interests are international relations issues of China, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand and India, and development issues of gender, globalization and poverty in South and South East Asia. In addition to several chapters and articles published in books/journals, she is author/ co-author of 6 books and co-editor of 8 books. Her latest book is (2021) China's Economic Footprint in South and Southeast Asia: A futuristic perspective (World Scientific Publishers, Singapore).

Dr. Salma Malik

senior fellow

Dr. Salma Malik is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Defence and Strategic Studies, Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad Pakistan. She specializes in the areas of War, Arms Control & Disarmament, Military Sociology, South Asian Affairs and the research areas include; Conflict Management & Transformation, Human Security, CBMs & Conventional Disarmament.

Prior to joining QAU, she worked as a Research Officer at the Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad, Pakistan from June 1996 to August 1999. She has also been on the Visiting Faculty list of the Intelligence Bureau Directorate and has rendered lectures as a guest speaker at the National Defence University, Islamabad, PAF Air War College, Karachi, PN War College, Lahore as well as Command & Staff College, Quetta, Foreign Service Training Academy, NUST and Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi.

She has rendered her expertise as an anchor and expert both in various current affairs programs. Dr. Salma Malik has many publications to her credit and has co-authored books including Small Arms and the Security Debate in South Asia, RCSS Policy Studies, Manohar Publications, (2005). She has edited a book on Pakistan’s Security Problems and Challenges in the Next Decade, published by NUST publishers, (2015). She is widely traveled and has attended numerous international and national conferences. (List annexed) Dr Malik is on the advisory as well as review board of leading National and International Journals as well as Research Review Committees of various Universities.

Dr. Rosh Jalagge

Senior FELLOW

Dr. Rosh Jalagge appointed as distinguished Senior Fellow is one of the largest and leading service providers in Western Australia in health sector. Recipient of numerous awards including the coveted “Business Migrant of the year” and the 100 million dollar club, Dr. Jalagge currently serves as the Chairman and CEO of Roshana Group of companies, Land Property Group, Land International Pty Ltd, MMR Company Pty Ltd, Rosh & Kar Pty Ltd, Britney & Paris Holdings, C & J Company Pty Ltd and also serves as the President of the Association of Community Care Facilities in Western Australia.Dr. Jalagge aims to serve Sri Lanka and the Sri Lankan community living in Western Australia utilizing his skills and his passion towards his country. He was awarded Honorary Doctorate for his outstanding achievements as a highly successful entrepreneur and for his dedication to improving lives and communities.

Dr.Yap Kwong Weng

SENIOR FELLOW

Dr.Yap Kwong Weng is the CEO of Vietnam SuperPort™, a joint venture of YCH Group and Vietnamese Conglomerate T&T Group. He was previously Head of Transformation in Sembcorp industries, a leading renewables player and an established industrial and urban solutions provider in Asia. He led the development of Sembcorp’s urban business, focusing on its industrial park strategy and sustainable development.

Prior to Sembcorp, Kwong Weng held business consulting roles in KPMG and Ernst & Young as an Executive Director, and set up the KPMG-A*STAR joint lab, a first in professional services. In industry, he held management positions in Southeast Asia, co-founded a tech/crypto travel start-up in Vietnam and led the development of a strategic seaport in Myanmar when it first opened up. Earlier in his career, Kwong Weng served as a commando officer for over a decade where he also graduated from the grueling US Navy SEAL training course in San Diego.

Kwong Weng was named as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and awarded the Rotary Peace Fellowship (Chulalongkorn University) in 2012. He currently serves as a council member of the Singapore Red Cross was a board member of the Singapore Nanjing Eco High-tech Island. He received his PhD from the University of Glasgow, including master’s degrees from the University of Cambridge, University of Manchester and the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.

Prof. ZHOU Zhanggui

SENIOR FELLOW

Prof. ZHOU Zhanggui is the Director of International Institute for Water Security, under the Centre for NTS-PD, Zhejiang University. He also serves as the Consultant of United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the Member of Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC).

He had for a long time served as the Program Officer at the International Centre on Small Hydro Power (under auspices of UNIDO and China’s ministry of water resources), in charge of international collaboration for multilateral projects. Since 2005, he has participated in a series of international meetings such as "Hydropower for Today Forum" and senior training programs sponsored by UNIDO, CIDA and China’s Ministry of Commerce. In 2006, he paid a visit to Canada for water research cooperation, and also to the Republic of Haiti in the same year, where he collaborated on water related aid projects with officials from local government, UNDP and other relevant international organizations. In 2009, as the UNIDO water resources consultant, he visited Sierra Leone and Liberia and other African Countries to conduct feasibility studies and field survey for GEF aid programs. Up to now, he has presided over compiling many feasibility study reports and documents for hydropower and water supply projects both at home and abroad, and a number of papers and translations have been published in professional journals.

His current research interests are in hydro-politics, trans-boundary waters, water crisis and conflict prevention, climate change adaptation and water, integrated water management, as well as other non-traditional security issues.

Dr. Bandit Aroman

SENIOR FELLOW

Dr. Bandit Aroman is a distinguished academic and researcher specializing in West Asian and South Asian studies. He currently serves as the Deputy Dean for Research and Innovation and an instructor at the International Islamic College Bangkok, Krirk University, Thailand. Dr. Aroman also holds additional roles, working with the South Asian Studies Center, Chulalongkorn University. Beyond academia, he is an active contributor to community development as the Secretary of the AMU Alumni Association in Thailand and a board member of both the Islamsri Ayutthaya Foundation School and ActionAid International (Thailand).
With a Ph.D. in West Asian Studies from Aligarh Muslim University, India, Dr. Aroman's academic contributions encompass diverse topics such as the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), halal industry promotion, tourism development, and extremism studies. He has published extensively in international journals and participated in conferences worldwide. His ongoing research focuses on leveraging multiculturalism and community heritage for sustainable economic and social development in Thailand.
Dr. Aroman's career also includes significant policy work, including serving as a Plan and Policy Officer at the Office of the National Security Council in Bangkok and lecturing at esteemed Thai universities. His interdisciplinary expertise and dedication to fostering cross-cultural understanding highlight his impact as a scholar and leader.

Ambassador Omar Abdul Razzak

SENIOR FELLOW

Ambassador Omar Abdul Razzak is a distinguished Maldivian diplomat renowned for his extensive service in international relations, leadership, and environmental advocacy. As a member of the Global Advisory Council of Displaced International (DI), he actively supports climate action and advocates for climate-vulnerable small island nations, including the Maldives. Omar has held several high-ranking diplomatic positions. He served as the Maldives’ Resident High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and as Non-Resident High Commissioner to Seychelles, where he was the first Maldivian High Commissioner since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1980. Additionally, he has been the Non-Resident Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Mauritius, Qatar, Australia and South Africa as the first Maldivian High Commissioner to the African continent. In December 2022, he presented his Letter of Credence to His Majesty King Philippe of Belgium, becoming the Ambassador of Maldives to the Kingdom of Belgium and the Maldives Permanent Representative to the European Union also the Non- Resident Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Omar’s commitment to climate action is evident through his work as the Representative of Maldives in the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) specifically in the East African Group, also his collaboration with former Presidents and Presidential climate envoys to promote climate adaptation policies, climate resilience and secure international climate finance, and raise awareness about climate consequences. Recognizing the existential threat climate change poses to the Maldives, he has been voicing the rights of front-line states for global warming and sea level rise as the least contributories to environmental degradation but most affected. Also, advocating for international recognition of possible climate-induced displacement as a critical global issue.

In the political arena, Omar has held key roles within the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and opposition alliances. He served as a National Council member (2022–2023) and President of the 51st (Isdhoo) Constituency (2009–2021). His contributions to foreign relations include membership in the Joint Opposition Foreign Relations Committee and serving as Shadow Foreign Secretary (2016–2018). Since 2009, he has actively participated in the MDP Foreign Relations and Policy Committees, shaping the party’s strategy and diplomacy. Omar’s diplomatic efforts have earned him international recognition. Fluent in English, Maldivian, and Sinhalese, his linguistic proficiency has facilitated effective diplomacy across diverse cultures.

Dr. Rasheeda Mohamed Didi

SENIOR FELLOW

Dr. Rasheeda Mohamed Didi, a member of the Higher Education Council, works as an independent academic and resource person. For 8 years, she worked as a part time lecturer at the Maldives National University, where she had taught Political Science and International Relations subjects, such as Foreign Policy, Democracy, Introduction to Political Science (Civics), as well as Maldivian History. Currently, she is working as a Master of Education thesis supervisor at Mandhu College. She has a Master of Arts Degree and a Ph.D in Political Science from Temple University, Philadelphia, USA, with a concentration on International Relations. Apart from teaching and lecturing, Dr. Didi has worked for the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Liberia as a Civil Affairs Officer/County Support Team Facilitator, working with local government and UN officials in Liberia. She also was in charge of the Research Center at the Commonwealth Joint Office for Permanent Missions to the UN, in New York, USA. Previously, she had worked as the Principal of Aminiya School and, as a history teacher at Science Education Centre as well as at Aminiya School. Over the years, she has presented many papers at conferences, but, more recently, she is concentrating on South Asian and Indian Ocean issues, particularly, relating to the Maldives.

Ms. Nadishani Perera

Senior FELLOW

Nadishani Perera is a lawyer and ardent advocate, with a remarkable track record in promoting transparency, accountability, and clean governance in Sri Lanka. She was the former Executive Director of Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL). She has a Degree in Law, a Master’s Degree in Development Studies and Public Policy, and Post Graduate Diplomas in Marketing (CIM) and Management Accounting (CIMA). Prior to joining TISL, Nadishani was involved with humanitarian, development and advocacy based non-Governmental organizations, in advocacy and program implementation work. Nadishani has also contributed to the State sector, by developing National Guidelines and National Policies for the National Child Protection Authority and the Sri Lanka Police.

Under her dynamic leadership from 2021 to 2024, TISL became a beacon of hope and the leading voice in the fight against corruption in Sri Lanka. Nadishani also mobilized and led civil society actors to advocate against the violation of civil rights and democratic backsliding in Sri Lanka. During her tenure at TISL, Nadishani led innovative initiatives, including Sri Lanka’s first-ever ‘Civil Society Governance Diagnostic Report on the Anti-Corruption Landscape of Sri Lanka’, setting an invaluable precedent for civil society engagement with the multilateral organizations and on governance reforms.

Her brave leadership and unwavering commitment towards anti-corruption efforts has earned her recognition both locally and internationally. Nadishani is now a Governance & Anticorruption Adviser for the Partnership for Transparency Fund and an Associate of Nexus PFM Consulting Inc. As a thought leader and passionate advocate on good governance, Nadishani continues to inspire and influence efforts toward empowering people and building systems that resist corruption and uphold the public trust.

Dr. Uttam Kumar Sinha

SENIOR FELLOW

Uttam Kumar Sinha is a leading scholar and commentator on transboundary rivers, climate change and the Arctic. He is currently Co-Chair of the Think-20 Task Force on ‘Accelerating SDGs: Exploring New Pathways to the 2030 Agenda’ during India’s G20 Presidency.

After a brief stint in the print media and a doctoral degree from Jawaharlal Nehru University, he joined the MP-IDSA in 2001, where he coordinates the Non-Traditional Security Centre and is the Managing Editor of Strategic Analysis published by Routledge, the institute’s flagship journal.

He is a recipient of many fellowships and leadership programmes including senior fellow at the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (2018-2020); US-South Asia Leader Engagement Programme at the Harvard Kennedy School (2015); Chevening ‘Gurukul’ leadership at the London School of Economics and Political Science (2008) and a visiting fellow at the Peace Research Institute Oslo (2006).

His recently published work is Indus Basin Interrupted: A History of Territory and Politics from Alexander to Nehru (Penguin, 2021). His other works include the Riverine Neighbourhood: Hydro-politics in South Asia (Pentagon Press, 2016) and Climate Change Narratives: Reading the Arctic (2014). His edited and co-edited volumes include Modi: Shaping a Global Order in Flux (Wisdom Tree, 2023); MODI 2.0: A Resolve To Secure India(Pentagon Press, 2021); The Modi Doctrine: New Paradigms in India’s Foreign Policy (Wisdom Tree, 2016); Non-Traditional Security Challenges in Asia: Approaches and Responses (Routledge, 2015); Arctic: Commerce, Governance and Policy (Routledge, 2015) and Emerging Strategic Trends in Asia (Pentagon Press, 2015).