Ms. Ivy KWEK
Research Director, Research for Social Advancement (REFSA), Malaysia
Ms. Ivy KWEK was the Special Functions Officer to the Deputy Minister of Defence of Malaysia, Senator Liew Chin Tong. In this role, she advised the Deputy Minister on policy matters, and was involved in the drafting of the first Malaysian Defence White Paper. Prior to this, she has worked in various policy advisory and governmental affairs roles for international organizations, including the United Nations Development Programme and the International Committee of the Red Cross, and in the diplomatic circle. She holds a MA in International Studies and Diplomacy from SOAS, University of London and is an alumna of the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Professional Fellows Program by the US Department of State.
Contact
Academic Qualification
M.A. International Studies and Diplomacy, The School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London
BSc. (Hons) Life Science, University of Malaya
Area of Expertise
Defence and Strategic Planning, International Relations, ASEAN and Southeast Asia, Malaysian Foreign Policy, Humanitarian Affairs, Sustainable Development, Public Policy and Governance
Writing
“Malaysia and the Great Mekong Subregion: Towards Greater ASEAN Integration Post-COVID-19” in Journal of Great Mekong Studies, Vol. 3, Issue 2, Special ed., August 2020
Where Is Defense Reform in Malaysia Headed? The Diplomat, 7 July 2020
Managing a triple crisis in Malaysia, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Asia Blog, 1 June 2020
Malaysia’s Rationale and Response to South China Sea Tensions, Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, 29 May 2020
Covid-19 a national security concern, calls for whole-of-society approach, Malaysiakini, 15 March 2020
ASEAN: Perceptions of Power and Security, The Interpreter, 5 February 2020
White Paper: Towards open, accountable defence planning, Malaysiakini, 5 December 2019
Media
Center of Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Washington DC: Tenth Annual South China Sea Conference (online event), 14 September 2020
Astro Awani “Consider This” TV Programme: “South China Sea: Malaysia’s Pivot to China?”, 8 September 2020
AiFM《开讲天下议题》国防白皮书, 3 December 2019
CityPlus FM《就是有话说》人民也是国防的一员, 6 December 2019
Awards and Fellowships
Professional Fellow Spring 2019 (Government and Civil Society), Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative, United States Department of State