Zakri Abdul Hamid

an Sri Zakri was born in Bentong, Pahang, in 1948. Since 2010, he has served as the science adviser to the Prime Minister of Malaysia. He is also a Joint Chairman, Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT), Chairman of Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation (BIOTECHCORP), and Chairman of Board of Advisers, UNU-International Institute on Global Health.

His academic qualification includes a Bachelor of Science, Louisiana State University (1972), a Master’s degree in Science (1974) and Ph.D (1976) from Michigan State University, USA. His professional interests include crop science, biodiversity and science diplomacy. He has produced a number of publication and papers that are related to his interests. Three species have been named after him; a beetle (Paleosepharia zakrii), a cicada (Pomponia zakrii) and a pitcher plant (Nepenthes zakriana).

Throughout his career, Tun Sri Zaki is also frequently invited to be a keynote speaker at national and international environment, sustainable development and science and technology-related conferences. In addition, he has a significant international profile and a strong research reputation. He also brings extensive experience and demonstrated management ability from a range of tertiary education roles in Malaysia.

Tun Sri Zakri has received numerous awards and recognitions including Fulbright-Hays Fellowship (1981), Rotary Research Foundation Gold Medal Award (1999), ISSAAS Matsuda Award (2013), Merdeka Award for Excellent Achievement in the Environment (2015), Matsuda Award of International Society for Southeast Asian Agricultural Sciences (2013), Social Innovation Leadership Award (2016), ASEAN Biodiversity Heroes (2017) and many more.