PNB Research Institute
About PNBRI
In pursuit of fostering a research and development culture, enhancing capacity-building, and finding solutions to the nation’s complex social and economic challenges, PNB established PNB Research Institute Sdn. Berhad (PNBRI) on 19 January 2012 as its wholly owned private limited company.
Building on this founding vision, PNBRI now focuses on undertaking research programmes and conducts policy studies aimed at understanding and addressing issues relevant to Malaysia’s development, as well as PNB’s mandate and strategic interest.
PNBRI also organises knowledge-sharing events, such as forums and workshops that bring together policymakers, academics, industry leaders, and other stakeholders to exchange ideas and best practices.
Vision
To be a thought leader on nation-building issues and to add value to PNB towards achieving its purpose.
Mission
Deliver data-driven research that informs policy decisions on improving livelihoods, and in developing the nation through effective advocacy initiatives.
Our People
Leadership
PNBRI Team
PNBRI Researchers
Dr Sarena Che Omar
Chief Executive Officer,
PNB Research Institute
Dr Sarena has ten years of policy research experience within the think tank arena. She was previously a Deputy Director at Khazanah Research Institute leading the food and agriculture policy research pillar, with a DPhil in Plant Science from the University of Oxford, United Kingdom. She graduated with a First Class Honours in Bachelor of Science from Lincoln University, New Zealand.
Hanizan Hood
Chairman
Group Chief Investment Officer, PNB
Spearheads the overall strategy and investment management across asset classes including Public Equity, Fixed Income,
Real Estate, Private and Strategic Investments within the Proprietary and Unit Trust fund portfolios, to ensure alignment
with their respective mandates and long-term investment objectives.
Oversees the end-to-end investment activities and functions including economic and investment research,asset allocation
and portfolio construction, treasury and liquidity management, global multi-asset trading and execution, stakeholder engagement
and investment stewardship, risk management and oversight.
Nimmi Kamal
Board Member
Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, PNB
Leads PNB Group’s strategic communications, marketing, sustainability, and social investment initiatives, ensuring alignment
with the Purpose and strategic plan. Drives brand transformation for both PNB and ASNB, embedding core values and guiding the
Corporate Affairs division and PNB Enterprise in achieving ESG objectives.
Develops and implements strategies to enhance marketing and brand visibility, engage customers, and drive business growth
through effective marketing communications. Fosters collaboration as PNB progresses towards becoming a Net Zero Enterprise (NZE).
Additionally, she oversees the PNB Research Institute in managing research that
addresses key socio-economic issues and supports PNB’s strategic goals while leveraging
data-driven insights to address business challenges.
Mohd Azmir Mohd Jani
Board Member
Chief Risk Officer, PNB
Azmir has been the Chief Risk Officer of Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB)
since March 1, 2024. Prior to this, he spent more than a decade in PNB serving
several divisions such as Internal Audit, Office of the President and Group
Chief Executive, Corporate Planning and Strategy, and held the position of
Head, Corporate Strategy from 2020 to 2024. The foundational years of his
career began at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Malaysia, where he served
for 4 years in the Assurance Services practice.
Azmir is a member of the Chartered Accountants of the Institute of Chartered
Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), and he holds a Bachelor of
Accounting and Finance degree from the University of Warwick.
Mohd Hizami Mohd Iskandar
Board Member
Head, Corporate Strategy, PNB
A PNB scholar, Hizami joined PNB as a Management Trainee in 2009, and has
served in various roles at PNB over the last 15 years, including in the Office of the
President and Group Chief Executive, the Office of the Chief Investment
Officer, Public Markets, as well as Principal Officer of PNB (UK) Limited, and is
currently Head, Corporate Strategy. He was also a Pupil-in-Chambers a Messrs. Skrine.
Hizami holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree in Jurisprudence from the
University of Oxford and completed the Bar Professional Training Course at
BPP Law School. He was called to the English Bar as a member of the
Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn and has also been called to the Malaysian
Bar. He holds a Capital Market Services Representative License from the
Securities Commission, and has also completed the CFA Certificate in ESG Investing.
Farhana Roslan
farhana_r@pnb.com.my
Farhana currently heads the Research Team at PNBRI. Her research interests include the political economy, particularly the intersection of business and government, as well as labour market institutions in market economies. Farhana spent seven years in investment research before pivoting into public policy, with stints in the federal government and the United Nations Development Program. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance from the London School of Economics and a Master of Public Policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.
Dr. Ahmad Farhan Roslan
afarhan@pnb.com.my
Dr. Farhan is a Senior Research Associate at PNBRI. He holds a PhD in Built Environment from the University of Salford, where he studied urban resilience, climate change, and disaster risk reduction. His previous work centred on digital transformation in engineering and the built environment, an area in which he is particularly passionate. With experience in academia and industry on local and international research projects, he is highly adept at translating research findings into practical recommendations. He aspires to improve the built environment in ways that benefit society and the country.
Ahmad Fikri Ahmad Fisal
ahmadfikri@pnb.com.my
Fikri is a Senior Research Associate at PNBRI. His major interests include history, political economy, inequality and housing. His past publications focused on the ownership and control of government-linked companies in Malaysia. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Math and History from the University of Michigan, and a Master of Development Studies from Universiti Malaya.
Adibah Amira Nazarudin
adibahamira@pnb.com.my
Adibah is a Senior Research Associate at PNBRI. She graduated from the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) with a Bachelor of Economics degree. She began her career at PNB as an investment analyst, then transitioned into a research role. Her interests are in frontier technologies and mental health and well-being. She wishes for a healthy and kind Malaysia.
Anis Farhana Amran
anisfarhana@pnb.com.my
Anis is a Research Associate at PNBRI. Her research interests lie in education equity and gender inequalities, particularly how structural barriers intersect to shape access to opportunity. She is especially interested in how these dynamics influence education-to-labour market transitions and broader questions of inclusive development. She holds a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of Southampton. Anis aspires to contribute towards a Malaysia that nurtures and uplifts diverse talents, paving the way for all to realise their potential.
Dr. Mohd Amirul Rafiq Abu Rahim
ma_rafiq@pnb.com.my
Amirul specialises in labour market dynamics, with expertise in youth unemployment, graduate employability, career progression, wage trends, and skills development. A statistician by training, he holds a PhD in Applied Statistics from Universiti Malaya and is well-versed in advanced statistical modelling and large-scale survey methodology.
Research Programmes
PNBRI carries the responsibility of driving knowledge creation and shaping thought leadership within PNB and across Malaysia’s wider policy landscape. To deliver on this mandate, our work is organised around three core research programmes that explore the intersections between businesses, people, the planet, and public policy.
These programmes serve as guiding pillars for diverse research tracks and thematic projects, ensuring our insights remain relevant and impactful. The three research programmes are:
Business, Government & Policy (BGP)
Understanding how governments and institutions shape Malaysia’s prosperity and economic growth
Inclusive Economic Development (IED)
Examining the opportunities and barriers for humans to turn human capital into opportunities and financial wellbeing
Innovation & Sustainability (INS)
Uncovering the roles of sustainability efforts, technology, and innovation in sustaining and driving growth
Our Latest Research
Our Knowledge Events
PNB Knowledge Forum
A flagship programme and interactive platform for robust discussions on key issues relevant to board members, leadership, and stakeholders across PNB Group, its investee companies, and Corporate Malaysia
PNBRI Research Events
Research-related events from workshops, to networking sessions, and report launches