Global independent institute, RTI International (RTI) formally opened its office in Malaysia and announced the appointment of Shafenaz Farouk as its Managing Director and Country Head.
RTI brings its core strengths in combining deep technical proficiency with multi-disciplinary expertise gained over almost 60 years in creating and translating knowledge into practice across fields such as healthcare, education, environmental engineering, energy and innovation. In Malaysia, RTI will focus on creating value for the government, government-linked institutions together with agencies, corporates and industry-based associations.
To achieve this, RTI has identified two distinct, high potential areas of focus in Malaysia that are centred around building an effective and sustainable innovation ecosystem for economic growth, and strengthening healthcare delivery systems.
Malaysia has been carefully selected by RTI as an advanced emerging state which harbours a strong desire to move towards developed market status in the coming years. RTI believes there is abundant opportunity to use its expertise to collaborate in this market and assist in accelerating the progress that is transforming the country.
Galen Hatfield, Senior Vice President, Innovation, Technology & Development, RTI said, “RTI’s new office in Malaysia defines the opening of the next chapter in the institute’s long history. Aligned with our leadership in delivering solutions to complex problems through our objective, evidence-based and multidisciplinary approach, we will look to collaborating and helping key stakeholders in enhancing Malaysia’s economy and society and make a lasting impact in our key focus areas.”
“To support that, we are delighted to have Shafenaz on board to lead the team and build the practice here in Malaysia,” he added.
Shafenaz joins RTI from the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (PEMANDU) of the Prime Minister’s Office of Malaysia. She was involved in the transformation of private and public healthcare and education under the National Transformation Programme. She has more than 16 years of experience in professional advisory services in people and change management consulting, public and private sector organisational effectiveness and corporate finance.
“I am delighted to have joined RTI Malaysia as it opens its office here,” said Shafenaz. “This is a very exciting time for the country and RTI sees many opportunities to work collaboratively with the government and key partners who are involved in accelerating growth through innovation and improving the quality and effectiveness of Malaysia’s healthcare delivery systems.”
“We have selected these two areas as holding significant potential in building Malaysia of the future and areas for which RTI can lend its significant global experience and expertise. We believe that our knowledge and know-how can be used to great effect here in Malaysia to help drive economic and social transformation.”
She added, “I look forward to steering the business from strength to strength and leading RTI Malaysia’s pioneering team. I strongly believe in RTI’s core values of building capacity from within and we are committed to making a meaningful impact by helping Malaysian institutions and organisations become successful in the two driving forces of innovation and healthcare.”
In 2017, RTI Malaysia announced two MOUs with the Malaysian Technology Development Corporation and the Ministry of Health, in the areas of technology adoption and healthcare informatics respectively.
RTI, headquartered at the Research Triangle Park in North Carolina, U.S.A., has more than 5,000 staff across 75 countries with expertise in over 250 degree fields, covering more than 3,000 projects globally.
Since 1958, the institute has created value for the public and private sector by combining the intellectual talents of leading scientists and experts across key practice areas. With these skills, RTI has successfully addressed many complex scientific and social challenges to bring benefits to improving the human condition and providing opportunities for the commercialisation of ideas.
