Hafidzi Razali is a public affairs strategist and government advisor with extensive experience in government relations, strategic communications, crisis management, and policy development. As CEO of Strategic Counsel and former Director at Consulum and BowerGroupAsia, he led initiatives for Fortune 500 companies and government entities, engaging C-suite executives and Ministers to drive policy and commercial agendas.

Hafidzi’s prior roles include managing law reform at the Securities Commission Malaysia, serving as a Legal & Policy Advisor to Rwanda’s Ministry of Trade and Industry, and public policy consulting for Singapore-based ZICO Advisory. 

Hafidzi graduated with a Master of Laws (LLM) from the University of Pennsylvania as a Fulbright scholar and was an Oxford Policy Fellow awardee from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Dr. Raj Kumar is a strategy and innovation advisor with extensive experience in corporate planning, market entry, and government advisory. As a certified Blue Ocean Strategy practitioner, he has steered multinational corporations and government-linked entities toward transformative growth and operational excellence.

Previously, Dr. Raj served in listed multinationals and was CEO of UCSI Consulting Group, leading the organization’s strategic direction and innovation initiatives. He also served as Senior Director at British firm Consulum, overseeing high-level stakeholder engagement across multiple Ministries, including at the Chief Secretary and Minister level. Additionally, he contributed to Malaysia’s National Economic Transformation Programme.

Dr. Raj holds a doctorate in Business and Administration from UCSI University, a Master of Science in Strategic Business from the University of Portsmouth, a postgraduate diploma from NCC Education, and a bachelor’s in Information Technology from Universiti Tenaga Nasional.

Emir Syazwan brings over 10 years of experience in strategic transformation, corporate planning, and legal expertise across the port management and energy sectors. As Acting Senior Manager at Bintulu Port Holdings Berhad, he led key negotiations for the BPSB Port Concessions, securing the Federal Government’s handover to Sarawak State. He also delivered the Group’s 4+1 Strategic Plan and spearheaded initiatives like the ‘Smart Digital Green Port’ blueprint to achieve zero emissions by 2030.

Emir graduated with a Master of Arts in Visual Anthropology from Goldsmiths, University of London, and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of Kent. 

Agha is a skilled digital strategy specialist with experience in integrating advanced technology & creative strategies for government and corporate clients across Southeast Asia, East Asia, and the EU. Agha has collaborated closely with C-suite executives, providing strategic advice and solutions on digital transformation, brand enhancement, and operational optimization across various industries, including financial services and start-ups. He has contributed to projects with top government entities and MNCs to deliver innovative digital solutions, amplifying public and private sector initiatives. He has successfully led initiatives in brand identity enhancement, leveraging SEO, data analytics, digital strategy tools, and AI-driven solutions to boost visibility, engagement, and efficiency.

Agha has an academic background in Financial Economics from Lancaster University, along with being skilled in programming and data analytics.

Syuhada Baharuddin is a multidisciplinary creative and designer whose journey spans over a decade of artistic exploration and innovation. With a solid foundation in architecture, honed through five years of professional practice, Syuhada brings a unique perspective to design, blending structural expertise with artistic vision. Her work has gained international recognition, with exhibitions in prestigious venues across NYC, England, and Estonia, showcasing a talent that resonates across cultures. 

Beyond exhibitions, Syuhada has played a pivotal role in designing and executing multiple projects and events, demonstrating a seamless ability to adapt and innovate. She has collaborated with various creative teams on government funded projects with organisations such as Merdeka 118, Pertubuhan Arkitek Malaysia (PAM), ASWARA, Yayasan ™ and ThinkCity to execute and present art for the public with work ranging from art installations to live theatres and musical performances. Syuhada’s work exemplifies the strength of interdisciplinary creativity, seamlessly blending architecture, art, and design to craft impactful and visually captivating experiences for the community.

Waheed Nabeel is a strategic communications and innovation advisor based out of London, UK with extensive experience bridging technology, public affairs, and global policy. He's the host of the Innovation Civilization Podcast where, he advances the ‘tech for public good’ agenda, interviewing former heads of government, Nobel Laureates, ministers, venture capitalists, billionaires, tech CEOs, best-selling authors, and prominent academics—from Cambridge to Harvard—on solution-driven topics, including innovation, emerging markets, and sustainable development.  Previously Waheed worked as a Tech and Innovation lead developing digital solutions that generated over £25+ million in lifetime revenue for clients across FMCG, healthcare, energy and more than 10+ UK government departments. He was also the Tech Lead for the UK's government's biggest Open Data programme.

Waheed holds a Masters of Science (Msc.) in Innovation Management from Imperial College London, UK.

Our CEO, Manggala Putra Santosa, brings extensive experience in agriculture, ESG, energy, renewable Energy, technology, and finance sectors, with a strong background in strategy, operations, and top management roles. He has made significant contributions to companies such as Uber and Shell prior to joining Mandala Consulting.

As an LPDP Awardee and holder of a Master of Public Affairs from UC Berkeley, he has excelled in strategic planning, developing economic models, research, and program evaluations. His expertise is further reinforced by his Green Belt Project Leadership certification.

His notable achievements include winner of 2022 Outstanding Capstone Award at Goldman School of Public Policy, UC Berkeley & research on the ideal design of cabinet structure of the Presidency

Our Partnership Director, Marlisa, is an experienced public policy practitioner with over 15 years of expertise in government relations, public policy, community development, foreign policy, and diplomacy. Marlisa was a former Indonesian diplomat and former Presidential interpreter. In these roles, she assisted in the preparation of position papers and press statements for high-level meetings, including G20, APEC and ASEAN summits, during which she had the opportunities to meet with many world leaders.

Before joining Mandala, Marlisa extensively worked with clients from multinational companies across various sectors, including renewable energy, healthcare, technology, and manufacturing. She successfully led high-level engagements with entities such as the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Kemenkomarves, Kemenko Perekonomian, Kemenkominfo, KESDM, and Kemenparekraf in her role as Associate Director at Vriens and Partners’ Jakarta Office.

Marlisa is an Australia Awards Scholarship Awardee for a Master of Diplomacy and a Master of Public Policy from The Australian National University.