
Experienced Leader in Higher Education Quality and Governance | Expert in Emotional Intelligence, Resilience, and Lifelong Learning | Judge for QS Reimagine Education Awards
With over 25 years of experience in
leading organisational change, growth, and development, Donald Wong is a
seasoned professional with a keen interest in emotional intelligence,
resilience, successful leadership, AI, technology enablers, and lifelong
learning. He has held leadership roles across both academic and non-academic
portfolios at world-class institutions, including Monash University.
Recognised for his outstanding
leadership, Donald has received multiple Monash University Pro
Vice-Chancellor’s awards for his innovative strategies in budgeting and
financial management, business process reengineering, curriculum enhancement,
branding and marketing, and operational excellence. Under his leadership,
Monash University Malaysia achieved the prestigious 6-Star Outstanding
University SETARA rating in 2017 and maintained its Self-Accrediting University
status with the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) in 2015.
An active contributor to academia
and industry, Donald has presented at local and international conferences and
seminars, conducting training sessions and workshops on institutional and
programme accreditation, internal and external audits, course and programme
reviews, continuous quality improvement, academic staff and programme
governance, educational change and leadership, policy development and
management, quality assurance, risk management, and anti-bribery and corruption
measures. His consultancy work includes advising Monash University on quality
improvement, Sunway Medical Centre on clinical governance and consultant
specialist doctors’ participation in hospital management, and Estee Lauder on
work-life balance strategies.
Donald’s impact extends to national
and international education policy, contributing to the development and
refinement of the SETARA rating system for Malaysian universities and
university colleges, the second iteration of the Malaysian Qualifications Framework
(MQF), and the harmonisation of MQF with the Australian Qualifications
Framework (AQF). He has been instrumental in aligning the Malaysian
Qualifications Agency (MQA) with the Australian Tertiary Education Quality and
Standards Agency (TEQSA) and promoting best practices in higher education
quality assurance through MyQAN (Society for Malaysian Higher Educational
Institutions Quality Assurance Network).
In recognition of his expertise,
Donald has served as a Judge for the 2024 QS Reimagine Education Awards, where
he evaluated groundbreaking educational innovations from around the world. He
has been reappointed for the 2025 QS Reimagine Education Awards. Additionally,
he has contributed new policy ideas for Malaysia’s education and TVET reforms
through the Ayuh Malaysia platform, led by the former Minister of
Economy, YB Rafizi Ramli, and former Member of Parliament, YB Nurul Izzah
Anwar.
A strong advocate for lifelong
education, Donald is completing a PhD in Education Leadership at HELP
University, researching the predictive and mediative effects of emotional
intelligence and resilience on successful leadership within private universities
in the Klang Valley. He earned an MBA with Distinction from Nottingham Trent
University (NTU) in the UK, with his thesis on competitive strategy in related
diversification companies within the Sunway Group serving as a reference for
other MBA candidates. He was awarded the NTU Vice Chancellor’s Award for Best
MBA Student in recognition of his efforts.
In 2017, Donald was selected by
Monash University to participate in Harvard Business School’s Premier Business
Management programme, which covers Corporate Finance, Global Marketing, Culture
& Leadership, and Blockchain & Innovation. In 2025, he was admitted as
a Fellow of both the Institute of Public Accountants (FIPA) and
Institute of Financial Accountants (FFA).