At World Vision, Derek leads research and evidence generation across East Asia, establishing the organization as a premier thought leader in child wellbeing. He shapes research agendas that align with global strategic goals, ensuring that all research initiatives are high-quality, ethically sound, and data-driven. Derek supports field offices in designing robust methodologies and analyzing cross-regional data to influence policymakers and the broader development community.  He spearheads collaborative initiatives with academic institutions, think tanks, and donors to drive research in the region.

 

Previously, Derek led social protection research at the Jeffrey Cheah Institute on Southeast Asia, Sunway University. His research area centers on social welfare policies for children and families, with a specific focus on the design and delivery of social programs. Derek is widely recognized as a subject matter expert on child stunting. His advisory work has involved a diverse range of stakeholders, including the World Bank, UNICEF, the Malaysian Ministry of Health, and various lawmakers.

 

Derek’s international portfolio includes drafting the national private sector anti-corruption framework for the Bhutan Government and assisting with land and constitutional reform in Myanmar. He has also consulted for multinational organizations such as Eurasia Group, Transparency International, and LexisNexis. His academic research was published in Asian Economic Papers and the Journal of Chinese Economic and Business Studies. A regular media commentator, his work has been featured in the Financial Times, South China Morning Post, New Strait Times, and Astro Awani. He also served as an adviser to the Malaysian National News Agency’s  Data Journalism Unit.