Prof Jomo K. Sundaram PhD

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Jomo Kwame Sundaram is Research Advisor at Khazanah Research Institute, Fellow of the Academy of Science, Malaysia, Visiting Fellow at the Initiative for Policy Dialogue, Columbia University, and Adjunct Professor at the International Islamic University in Malaysia.

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He was a member of the Economic Action Council, chaired by the Malaysian Prime Minister, and the 5-member Council of Eminent Persons appointed by him (May-August 2018). He was Assistant Director General and Coordinator for Economic and Social Development (ADG-ES), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations from August 2012 until December 2015. He was Assistant Secretary General for Economic Development in the United Nations’ Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) from January 2005 until June 2012, and (Honorary) Research Coordinator for the G24 Intergovernmental Group on International Monetary Affairs and Development from December 2006 until September 2012. 

In 2007, he was awarded the Wassily Leontief Prize for Advancing the Frontiers of Economic Thought. He has authored and edited over a hundred books and translated ten volumes besides writing many academic papers and articles for the media. 

Jomo held the Tun Hussein Onn Chair in International Studies at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies, Malaysia, during 2016-2017, was Professor in the Applied Economics Department, Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Malaya until November 2004, Founder Director (1978-2004) of the Institute of Social Analysis (INSAN) and Founder Chair (2001-2004) of IDEAs, International Development Economics Associates (www.ideaswebsite.org); he now chairs its Advisory Panel. He was also on the Board of the United Nations Research Institute on Social Development (UNRISD), Geneva. He serves on the editorial boards of several learned journals.

During 2010-2012, he was G20 sherpa to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and also UN G20 Finance Deputy during 2011-2012. During 2008-2009, Jomo served as adviser to Father Miguel d’Escoto, the President of the 63rd United Nations General Assembly, and as a member of the [Stiglitz] Commission of Experts of the President of the United Nations General Assembly on Reforms of the International Monetary and Financial System. 

Born in Penang, Malaysia, in 1952, Jomo studied at the Penang Free School (PFS, 1964-1966), Royal Military College (RMC, 1967-1970), Yale (1970-1973) and Harvard (1973-1977). He has taught at Science University of Malaysia (USM, 1974), Harvard (1974-1975), Yale (1977), National University of Malaysia (UKM, 1977-1982), University of Malaya (1982-2004), and Cornell (1993). He has also been a Visiting Fellow at Cambridge University (1987-1988; 1991-1992) and a Senior Research Fellow at the Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore (2004).

Some of his most cited book publications include Rents, Rent-Seeking and Economic Development: Theory and the Asian Evidence, Tigers in Trouble: Financial Governance, Liberalisation and Crises in East Asia, Globalization Versus Development: Heterodox Perspectives, Southeast Asia's Industrialization, Southeast Asian Paper Tigers? Behind Miracle and Debacle, Manufacturing Competitiveness: How Internationally Competitive National Firms and Industries Developed in East Asia, Ethnic Business? Chinese Capitalism in Southeast Asia, After The Storm: Crisis, Recovery and Sustaining Development in East Asia, The Origins of Development Economics, Pioneers of Development Economics, The New Development Economics, the two volumes of The Long Twentieth Century -- Globalization Under Hegemony: The Changing World Economy and The Great Divergence: Hegemony, Uneven Development and Global Inequality, Policy Matters: Economic And Social Policies To Sustain Equitable Development, Flat World, Big Gaps: Economic Liberalization, Globalization, Poverty and Inequality, Growth Divergences: Explaining Differences in Economic Performance, Towards Full and Decent Employment, Reforming the International Financial System for Development, Poor Poverty: The Impoverishment of Analysis, Measurement and Policies, Is Good Governance Good for Development?, Globalization and Development in Sub-Saharan Africa and Ending Malnutrition: From Commitment to Action.

Some of his more widely read titles on Malaysia include Malaysia’s Political Economy, Malaysian Eclipse: Economic Crisis and Recovery, Ugly Malaysians? South-South Investments Abused, Deforesting Malaysia: The Political Economy of Agricultural Expansion and Commercial Logging, M Way: Mahathir’s Economic Policy Legacy, Bail-Outs? Capital Controls, Restructuring & Recovery in Malaysia,Malaysian Industrial Policy and Malaysia@50: Development, Distribution, Disparities.

He is married to Felice Noelle Mallillin Rodriguez and has three children, Nadia (born 1987), Emil (born 1989) and Leal (born 1990).

Dr. Peter Lee was one of the four original trustees in establishing the East Asian History of Science Trust EAHST Hong Kong in 1979, which was re-registered as the East Asian History of Science Foundation EAHSF. The formal opening was officiated by Dr Needham in person in 1981. 

Serving as the EAHSF Deputy Chairman and Honorary Secretary, he assumed the Chairmanship after the retirement of Dr. David K.P Li in 2014 and renamed it the Joseph Needham Foundation for Science and Civilisation JNFSC, to further promote the Needham scholarly legacy beyond East Asia .  

In tandem with his dedication to actively promoting the study and research of the Joseph Needham’s work since 1970s, he was the Hong Kong based regional head of several multinational companies in consumer products, performance chemicals, pigments and telecommunication sectors, capping a 30 plus years career bridging both academic and corporate endeavours.

Dr. Lee received his early education in Hong Kong; earned a B.S. in Chemistry at Seattle University, a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Michigan State University in 1971, and subsequent postdoctoral research at New York University.  While given the opportunity to continue further research at the ETH in Zurich, Switzerland, he opted to embark on a career in industrial chemistry, and joined The Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta, Georgia in 1972 as a research chemist.

From 1975 to 1977, he was granted a special sabbatical from The Coca-Cola Company, Atlanta, Georgia, to work with Dr. Joseph Needham, then Master of Gonville & Caius College in Cambridge, on a chemical technology section of the Science and Civilisation in China series.  

In late 1978, his scholarly plan in the SCC series was disrupted when he accepted a dual business development and technical position in the company’s Far East Division and relocated back to Hong Kong. He was instrumental in bringing Coca-Cola’s return to Mainland China since 1949, appointed the first President of Coca-Cola China in 1979 and was named Senior Vice-President of Coca-Cola Pacific in 1985.  He subsequently diversified his career interests in several sectors till his corporate retirement in 2007 and still actively engaged today.

Throughout his entire corporate/business career, Dr. Lee has worked tirelessly to promote the Needham scholarly legacy. Together with the late Dr. Philip WC Mao, the founding Chairman and other enthusiastic directors, he played a significant role in successful fund- raising to build the permanent library of the Needham Research Institute which was completed in 1991.  He has continued to take a leading role in developing a number of significant projects discussed elsewhere in the foundation website https//: www. jnfschk.org, reaching out to both secondary students, tertiary students and interested public.  

Dr. Peter T. C. Chang is a Visiting Professor at the China Foreign Affairs University (CFAU), Beijing 

Research Associate at the Malaysia-China Friendship Association 

Former Deputy Director, Institute of China Studies, University Malaya 

He is  trained in the field of comparative philosophy and religion. In recent years, Dr. Chang’s research is focused on analyzing the new lease of life ancient philosophical and religious traditions are relishing in modern China. The project looks at how a rejuvenated Confucianism could shape the evolving character of the Chinese milieu and in turn impact the global community. Multidisciplinary in scope, the study covers subjects ranging from social-political reform to inter-civilizations engagements, and bioethical issues to environmental concerns. 

Dr. Chang is analyzing the opportunities and risks associated with the Belt and Road Initiative. He is examining this from the perspective of China’s soft power, specifically the Chinese traditional as well as popular cultural imprints upon the world at large in general, and Malaysia in particular.

Chew Kheng Chuan, is an independent consultant in philanthropy and an advocate of the arts in Singapore. He was educated at Harvard College and the London School of Economics. He was Chairman of the Substation Limited, a home for the Arts in Singapore, from 2000 -2021. He is acknowledged as one of the most successful fundraisers in Asia, serving in senior advancement roles at the National University of Singapore (2003-2008) and Nanyang Technological University (2008-2012). 

He is a volunteer at the Gaza Scholarship Initiative – Asia/Malaysia (GSI). 

GSI is a Palestinian-led international initiative founded by academics, writers, and professionals committed to educational justice for Palestinians impacted by scholasticide.

Established in November 2023, GSI supports Palestinian students whose education has been disrupted by genocide, war, displacement, and the destruction of Gaza's higher education sector. Operating at the intersection of emergency response and long-term academic recovery, GSI connects students with scholarships and support through a global network of universities, donors, volunteers, and partners.

Today, GSI is also investing in sustaining higher education inside Gaza through direct student support, virtual learning, academic partnerships, and educational continuity initiatives that help preserve academic life and contribute to the long-term rebuilding of Gaza's educational institutions.

https://www.gsids.net/