SYNOPSIS

“Engineering Lessons from 100 Days World Lecture Tour” highlights the extraordinary global journey of Dato’ Seri Ir. Prof. Emeritus Dr Zaini Bin Ujang, who travelled solo for 100 days across 15 countries, delivering 40 lectures between 16 April and 26 July 2025. Embarking on this journey after turning 60 and completing 37 years of civil service, he visited long-time collaborators, met new partners, and shared insights in engineering, sustainability, higher education, and planetary health.

This session, approved for 2 CPD hours by IEM, distils key reflections from the tour, covering global engineering trends, innovation ecosystems, and lessons from engaging diverse institutions worldwide. Organised by the IEM’s APT Standing Committee, the session features Prof. Emeritus Dr Zaini with Ir. Prof. Dr Tan Chee Fai as Session Chair and Ir. Dr Lee Yun Fook as Moderator.


BIODATA OF SPEAKER

Dato’ Seri Ir. Prof. Emeritus Dr Zaini Ujang

ACADEMICS: Hon.DSci (Newcastle, 2018), AMP (Harvard, 2009), Ph.D. (Environ. Eng., 1996) (Newcastle), M.Sc. (Environ. Eng., 1991) (Newcastle), B.Chem.Eng. (UTM, 1988)

PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS: PE (M’sia), CEng (UK), CSc (UK), CWEM (UK), Chartered PE (ASEAN)

PROFESSIONAL FELLOWSHIPS: Fellow CIWEM (UK), Fellow ASEAN Eng., Hon. Fellow ASEAN Eng., Hon. Fellow Inst. Engineers (M’sia), Fellow Inst. Engineers (M’sia), FIChemE (UK), Fellow Academy of Science (M’sia), Fellow Royal Physiographic Society of Lund (Sweden), Fellow Inst. Water Association (UK), FIMarEST (UK), Fellow Inst. Mgmt. (M’sia), Fellow Inst. Corporate Directors Malaysia


ZAINI UJANG is known as a professional environmental engineer, public administrator, scholar, public speaker, traveller and author of 52 books.

Since retirement from public service, aged 60 in March 2025, Zaini serves as Chairman of Malaysia Qualification Agency (MQA), Professorial Fellow at International Islamic University Malaysia, and Pro-Chancellor, MSU Malaysia. He also serves and advises corporate boards on climate strategy, sustainability and ESG.

He has served as Secretary General of six federal ministries in Malaysia, covering portfolios of higher education, energy, water, green technology, health and human resources (2013–2025). He was the youngest Vice-Chancellor appointed for a research public university in Malaysia, aged 43 (Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 2008–2013). His professional expertise has been expanding from environmental engineering to sustainability and planetary health. He has lead many organisations in higher education spectrum (university, funding, accreditation and research), and serves as a trustee and board member of private universities and government-linked corporations.

He was the first recipient of the most prestigious Merdeka Award 2009, National Maal Hijrah Icon 2019 and recently National Engineering Icon 2025. In 2022, he received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star from the Emperor of Japan. He is an avid reader and serial traveller. Recently he has completed the #100DayWorldLectureTour, delivered 40 lectures in 15 countries, across the globe within 100 days.