Regional Public Policy Director | Government Agency Chair | Activist for Better Jobs
Purpose (Why I do what I do?)
I grew up a loser. I'm serious. I was socially awkward (maybe I still am), shy and quiet. I had few Facebook friends, even fewer real friends. I neither excelled in academics nor sports. I struggled through my childhood and teenage years. I thought I was the odd one out. I didn't have anyone to tell me it was okay to be an introvert.
Everything changed when I went to university. That's when someone saw something in me — something I never knew. He empowered me — gave me a leadership opportunity. And I thrived.
Ever since then, that has been my purpose: Seeing in people what they can’t see in themselves so they can live their best careers and lives.
Everything changed when I went to university. That's when someone saw something in me — something I never knew. He empowered me — gave me a leadership opportunity. And I thrived.
Ever since then, that has been my purpose: Seeing in people what they can’t see in themselves so they can live their best careers and lives.
Goal (How do I plan to achieve my purpose?)
I believe in the power of the community. It’s the reason that I am where I am today. I feel I have an obligation to give back to the community. And I do that by combining my skills in community-building, public policy and youth development.
A key issue that I’m worried – and passionate – about is decent work and employment. There is another epidemic barely anyone is paying attention to: a global unemployment crisis. Wage inequality, underemployment and youth unemployment are – and have been – increasing due to skills mismatch and economic structural changes.
I’ve co-founded a number of civil society organisations (CSOs) in an attempt to tackle or at the very least, shed light on this issue, especially in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. We have run various capacity-building programmes to upskill unemployed persons, especially the youth. Most recently, we have established the Malaysia Jobs Coalition (MJC) to champion a job for every single Malaysian by gathering like-minded CSOs to work with the Government, private sector and trade unions.
A key issue that I’m worried – and passionate – about is decent work and employment. There is another epidemic barely anyone is paying attention to: a global unemployment crisis. Wage inequality, underemployment and youth unemployment are – and have been – increasing due to skills mismatch and economic structural changes.
I’ve co-founded a number of civil society organisations (CSOs) in an attempt to tackle or at the very least, shed light on this issue, especially in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. We have run various capacity-building programmes to upskill unemployed persons, especially the youth. Most recently, we have established the Malaysia Jobs Coalition (MJC) to champion a job for every single Malaysian by gathering like-minded CSOs to work with the Government, private sector and trade unions.
Professional Roles (to pay the bills!)
Regional Public Policy Director
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Trustee of a Government Agency
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Activist for Better Jobs
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Civic Roles (to change the world!)
Nation Building School
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Malaysian Youth Diplomacy (MyDiplomacy)
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Malaysia Jobs Coalition (MJC)
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Awards, Leadership Roles and Recognitions (to amplify the impact!)
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Acumen Academy Fellow (2021)
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ASEAN Youth Fellow (2018)
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World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Shaper
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Toastmasters International Vice President Public Relations for Bangsar Club, Kuala Lumpur (2013-2014)
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Educational Background (to remind me I'm a nerd at heart)
London School of Economics and Political Science (2019-2020)
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Monash University, Melbourne, Australia (2010-2012)
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Profile
Zaim Mohzani is the Co-Founder of Nation Building School, a social impact organisation dedicated to tackling unemployment through training programmes. Through Nation Building School, Zaim is leading the Malaysia Jobs Coalition (MJC), a coalition of CSOs fighting for full employment in Malaysia. He has spent most of his career in public policy, working in the public sector from entrepreneurship development to plantations. Over the course of 10 years, Zaim has established three non-profit organisations that have reached more than 30,000 young people in the country.
Zaim is also the Director of External Relations of KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific (KSI), an internationally-ranked regional think tank based in Malaysia. He is also Founding Chairman of Impact Malaysia – a government agency mandated to empower youth to be social impact agents.
Zaim has been selected for various fellowships and leadership programmes including Dalai Lama Fellows, Acumen Academy Fellowship, British Council Future Leaders Connect, World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers, U.S. Department of State YSEALI Professional Fellowship and ASEAN Youth Fellowship. He was also appointed as an Associate Fellow of the Royal Commonwealth Society and more recently, the Youth Chair of the Society for the Promotion of Human Rights Malaysia (PROHAM).
Zaim holds an MSc in International Strategy and Diplomacy (Distinction) from the London School of Economics and Political Science (UK) and a BA in Political Science from Monash University (Australia). He was selected as a finalist for the British Council's UK Alumni Awards 2021-2022. He is a Chevening scholar and has served as the President of Chevening Alumni Malaysia (2020-2022).
Zaim is also the Director of External Relations of KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific (KSI), an internationally-ranked regional think tank based in Malaysia. He is also Founding Chairman of Impact Malaysia – a government agency mandated to empower youth to be social impact agents.
Zaim has been selected for various fellowships and leadership programmes including Dalai Lama Fellows, Acumen Academy Fellowship, British Council Future Leaders Connect, World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers, U.S. Department of State YSEALI Professional Fellowship and ASEAN Youth Fellowship. He was also appointed as an Associate Fellow of the Royal Commonwealth Society and more recently, the Youth Chair of the Society for the Promotion of Human Rights Malaysia (PROHAM).
Zaim holds an MSc in International Strategy and Diplomacy (Distinction) from the London School of Economics and Political Science (UK) and a BA in Political Science from Monash University (Australia). He was selected as a finalist for the British Council's UK Alumni Awards 2021-2022. He is a Chevening scholar and has served as the President of Chevening Alumni Malaysia (2020-2022).