HRH Tuanku Zara Salim appointed Royal Patron of IChemE Malaysia
5th October 2016
Her Royal Highness, Raja Permaisuri Perak Darul Ridzuan Tuanku Zara Salim, has accepted an invitation from the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) to become Royal Patron in Malaysia.
As a Royal Patron of the Institution, HRH Tuanku Zara Salim will help to raise awareness of the chemical engineering profession in Malaysia. She is passionate about encouraging young people to challenge themselves, and make their ambitions a priority.
The patronage comes just three years after Her Royal Highness was presented with an IChemE Honarary Fellowship. Awarded for her keen interest in the continued improvement of Malaysia’s education and academic performance, she also attended the very first IChemE Malaysia Awards as a Guest of Honour.
These strong ties with the Institution relate to Tuanku Zara Salim’s background in chemical engineering. Graduating from the University of Nottingham, UK in 1995 with a first class degree in the subject, she has worked for PETRONAS, has been a Vice President at Formis, and Managing Director of hydrocarbon consultancy Forthwave Consulting.
She married the Sultan of Perak, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah in 2007, and became the Raja Puan Besar of Perak. In 2014 she conferred the title of Raja Permaisuri of Perak.
On accepting the honour Her Royal Highness said:
“I am pleased to accept IChemE’s invitation to be their Royal Patron in Malaysia. Chemical engineering can be a challenging career, but rewarding as well. Chemical engineers are highly employable, have wide and diverse career options, and can make a big impact in society and the environment. I intend to, as Royal Patron of the IChemE, do my part to inspire the younger generation to consider chemical engineering as a viable career choice.”
IChemE’s Director of South East Asia, Bakhtiar Talhah said:
“I was absolutely delighted and honoured that Her Royal Highness, Tuanku Zara Salim, has accepted our invitation to be IChemE Malaysia’s Royal Patron. She is an inspirational figure, particularly to young women in Malaysia, because she is articulate, intelligent, gracious and ambitious. Diversity has always been a key priority for IChemE, and I hope that by having such a prominent figure representing us we will be able to achieve that.”
Tuanku Zara will accept her Royal Patron status at the IChemE Malaysia Awards, held on 24 October 2016. IChemE’s President, Professor Jonathan Seville will also attend, with Datuk Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin, the President & CEO of PETRONAS, Prof Ir Dr Abdul Aziz Abdul Raman, Chairman of IChemE Malaysia, and other academic and corporate leaders from Malaysia and the region.