Arinah Najwa Ahmad Said

Arinah has a decade of experience in the corporate, government and non-profit sectors with public affairs and stakeholder management skills. During her prior roles, she worked for a local investment firm a multinational banking and financial services company, a Big 4 accounting firm and for both the Ministry of Multimedia and Communications and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

While in government, Arinah spearheaded a campaign to lower the voting age in Malaysia and was the coauthor of a national blueprint to improve women’s participation in sports. She led social impact initiatives including a blueprint for the government to adopt deliberative democracy in Malaysia. Prompted by a drive for community empowerment, she assisted in the incubation of four new community circles in Malaysia including groups for “Women in Entrepreneurship” and “Women in Oil and Gas.”

Arinah completed a master’s degree in emerging economies and international development at King’s College London as a Chevening Scholar. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics from the International University of Malaysia. Arinah was selected for the Young Southeast Asian Leadership Initiative (YSEALI) in which she seeks to increase her understanding of governance and community needs.