Zarina Nalla worked together with Professor Mohammad Hashim Kamali in the establishment of IAIS Malaysia as Co-Founder beginning in 2007, and currently serves as its Chief Operating Officer. She earned her M.A. (1996) in Economics & International Relations from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, with a thesis on Malaysia’s foreign relations with China. She further took an M.B.A. (2002) from the University of Birmingham; and a B.A.–First Class Honours (1994) in Islamic Studies & Political Science at The International Islamic University Malaysia.  Singaporean by birth, she benefited from two diverse environments: the Methodist Girls School and Madrasah AlJunied AlIslamiyah.

Current projects

She is active in regional and international networking with Islamic NGOs, government actors, think tanks and academic institutes, raising IAIS’ profile & impact while planning for its development. She helped organize and lead IAIS’ study on the Conversion issue in Malaysia – the debut project of the Islam and Policy Unit (IPU), resulting in IAIS’ first policy paper submitted to the Malaysian Government. She continues to be engaged in policy research on Hudud laws in Malaysia, issues of gender equity, and Islamic alternatives to the financial crisis.

Activities & Experience

In 1997 Zarina joined the Institute of Strategic and International Studies Malaysia (ISIS) as a Researcher attached to the then CEO & Chairman of ISIS, Tan Sri Dr Noordin Sopiee. During this time she gained valuable experience in geopolitical and macroeconomic analysis, policy formulation and speech writing. At ISIS she joined the organizing committee for the Harvard Project for Asia and International Relations Conference in KL in May 1998. She next gained corporate exposure by joining the consulting firm KPMG Singapore, and then the Asian-based research company Spire Research & Consulting. When her first born was 5 months old, she left the private sector for consultancy work including speech-writing, editorial & research services, focus-group discussions, and conducted a study on inter-racial integration for a government agency. Zarina was a contributing writer to the international trade industry publication Halal Journal, as well as an editorial consultant for ISIS Focus – quarterly journal of ISIS Malaysia.

Publications (including research papers & feature articles) and Lectures

• “Role of Think Tanks in the Muslim World.” Viewpoint forthcoming in Islam and Civilisational Renewal  [IAIS Journal ] vol. I #2, 2009.
• [co-authored w/M. Hashim Kamali] “The Right to Welfare.” forthcoming in Islam and Civilisational Renewal vol. I #1, 2009.
• [co-authored with M. Hashim Kamali, Osman Bakar & Hafiz Hassan] “IAIS Malaysia Policy Paper – CONVERSION.”  Kuala Lumpur: IAIS, 2009
• Articles in The Halal Journal [Kuala Lumpur]: “Sukuk or Islamic Bond: An Investor’s Opportunity“ July–August 2005.  “The Islamic Financial Services Board: The Crucial Role it must Fulfill“ special issue 2004.  “Takaful Insured and Rest-assured” May–June 2005.   “Islamic Will Writing” Jan–Feb 2005.
• “The teaching of Islam in the East and the West – a student’s perspective.” presented at colloquium on The Role of the Study of Islam in the Western University, 6–8th July 2009,  Dunedin, Ortago, New Zealand.
• “Islam and the Study of Islam: relationships, personnel and issues.” presented at the first Centre for the Study of Islam and Muslim Cultures –New Zealand (CSIMC NZ) Symposium, 9th July 2009; Victoria University, Wellington, NZ.