A Malay College Kuala Kangsar alumnus and a graduate from the Université d’Orléans, France with a B.Sc. in Economics and MSc. in Finance, Mr. Azrul Azwar Ahmad Tajudin is an economist/analyst by training and profession with almost 24 years of experience in the whole spectrum of economics, financial markets, Islamic finance and public policies apart from domains such as corporate affairs, strategic planning, business development, strategic communications, public relations, stakeholder engagement and general management.

Apart from having spent almost his entire working life in the financial sector in particular the Islamic and conventional banking, securities and investment management industries including Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad, MIDF Berhad, MIDF Sisma Securities Sdn Bhd, RHB Bank Berhad, Meridian Asset Management Sdn Bhd and RHB Unit Trust Management Berhad, he ventured into an uncharted territory thrice – by joining the Islamic Financial Services Board, a multilateral organisation as its analyst; Institut Rakyat, a political party affiliated think tank as its first Executive Director; and the state government of Selangor at the Menteri Besar’s Office as the economic adviser to its former Chief Minister.

Prior to his most recent gainful employments at Aafiyat Holdings Sdn Bhd as its Chief Corporate Affairs and Stakeholder Engagement Officer and at Johor Corporation, arguably Malaysia’s most successful state economic development corporation as its Chief Economist, he immersed himself in the consultancy and advisory sphere as an economic, financial and/or business consultant, mostly on a project basis at PE Research Sdn Bhd and subsequently, Jasmiza Solutions Sdn Bhd where he remains as its Director. He is currently serving the Selangor State Government’s Senior EXCO for Housing, Urban Wellbeing and Entrepreneurial Development as her Policy Advisor.

Throughout his work capacity, media appearances were his staple diet apart from multiple invitations to participate, mostly as panelist or moderator, in closed-door meetings, brainstorming sessions, workshops, forums, seminars and conferences, in Malaysia and abroad, to share his views on economics in general and Islamic finance as well as issues related to thought leadership, public policy and administration. Perfectly trilingual in Malay, English and French, coupled with distinguished quantitative, analytical and critical thinking skills as well as report and document drafting capabilities, he has also been involved in a number of NGOs in various capacities.