Datuk Chia Hui Yen was conferred the title of Panglima Jasa Negara (P.J.N.) by the fifteenth Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong in 2017 which carries the title of ‘Datuk’.

Datuk Chia Hui Yen started her career in the financial industry 27 years ago and has held many key corporate positions in some of the world’s leading banks and insurance companies in her areas of expertise. She received extensive training and on-the-job training in India, Hong Kong, the US and UK throughout her career and possesses vast experience in investment services, consumer and retail banking, private banking, and the corporate insurance industry and SME banking sectors. In addition to her responsibility in business profitability, her performance measurement has included business sustainability and corporate social responsibility.

After her early retirement and due to her dynamic nature, she wanted to test her entrepreneurship skills and ventured into the retail, food production and distribution industries. Her business model rests upon the circular economy and sustainability backdrop and she actively participates in the economic development of indigenous groups in Malaysia. Under her leadership, these businesses have received food safety certifications and social enterprise recognition from related government ministries.

Datuk Chia received her Bachelor degree in Social Development and Administration from Universiti Sains Malaysia, where she also minored in Management. She later received her Master of Business Administration from the University of Nottingham, where she specialised in business strategy. She is currently pursuing her doctorate degree. She is an adjunct professor for Taylor’s University and an assessor for MBA degrees related to business sustainability.