Background and experience
Nationality
Malaysian
Date of Appointment
17 October 2023
Datuk Dr Asma Binti Ismail is the Immediate Past President of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM) and National Science, Technology and Innovation Advisor to the Prime Minister and to the country. She is currently the Vice-Chancellor and CEO of IMU University and Pro-Chancellor to University MAWIP International.
She is the first female Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). Additionally, she was appointed as Malaysia’s first female Director-General of Higher Education, President of Academy of Sciences Malaysia and the country’s first female National Science Advisor.
In 2003, she was elected to the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS) in 2010, the Islamic World Academy of Sciences in 2016, Honorary Member of the Iranian Academy of Medical Sciences in 2017, fellow of the International Science Council in 2024 and board of governors for Inter Academy Panel (IAP) comprising of 150 Science Academies worldwide. In recognition of her contributions, she was appointed as a Senior Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia in May 2024, earning the esteemed title of Academician.
Her accolades include the National Academic Laureate (2022), Tokoh Srikandi Award (2018), and Tokoh Maulidul Rasul (2019). In 2023, Forbes Asia recognised her among the Top 50 Women Over 50 in the Asia-Pacific region for her contributions to higher education, research, and innovation.