KUALA LUMPUR: The Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia has reappointed Tan Sri Mohamed Jawhar Hassan as chairman of its board of directors and appointed Datuk Dr Mahani Zainal Abidin as CEO, with effect from Jan 9.

Dr Mahani was previously ISIS director-general, the post which is now vacant. Mohamed Jawhar served as chairman and CEO of ISIS Malaysia since January 2006. He joined the institute in 1990 after serving the government in various capacities.

He is the member of the Asean Regional Forum's Expert and Eminent Persons Group and a Distinguished Fellow of the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR).

He is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission as well as the chairman of The New Straits Times and board member of Ekuiti Nasional Bhd (Ekuinas).

Dr Mahani graduated with a PhD in development economics from the University of London. She joined ISIS Malaysia as its DG in 2007. She previously served as deputy DG of the higher education division in the Ministry of Higher Education and as professor in the Faculty of Economics and Administration, Universiti Malaya.

She is currently a council member of the National Economic Advisory Council (NEAC) and a trustee of Yayasan 1Malaysia.

ISIS Malaysia was established in April 1983 as an autonomous and non-profit organisation. The institute is engaged in objective and independent policy research in central areas of national interest such as economic policy, international relations, science and technology and the environment.

It also facilitates exchanges between government, the private sector and academia through conferences, seminars and dialogues.