A public talk entitled “Regional Leadership in Agriculture: A Chapter Beyond Academia” was successfully conducted in conjunction with the Agricultural Institute Malaysia (AIM) Annual General Meeting on 23 January 2026 at 9.30am. The programme took place at Dewan Pertanian, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang, Selangor.
The session featured Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Nur Azura Adam, former Deputy Director for Programme at the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), as the invited speaker. The programme began with a welcoming address by Prof. Dato’ Dr. Abdul Shukor Juraimi, President of AIM, who emphasized the importance of leadership that transcends academic boundaries in strengthening Malaysia’s and the region’s agricultural development.
During the public talk, Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Nur Azura Adam shared insights drawn from her experiences at SEARCA, highlighting the opportunities it provided in advancing regional leadership, programme development, and collaborative agricultural initiatives. She also has highlighted the evolving role of agricultural professionals in the Southeast Asian region, stressing that impactful leadership in agriculture extends well beyond traditional academic roles. She shared her extensive experience at SEARCA, illustrating how regional institutions function as platforms that bridge academia, policy-making, industry, and community engagement. The talk underscored the importance of regional collaboration, capacity building, and strategic networking in addressing contemporary agricultural challenges.
Furthermore, the speaker emphasized the need for academics and researchers to actively engage in regional leadership, policy advisory roles, and development programmes to ensure that scientific knowledge is translated into practical solutions. She encouraged young academics and professionals to explore leadership opportunities within regional and international agricultural organizations, thereby contributing to impactful change beyond university settings.
The programme was attended by a total of 62 participants, comprising both AIM members and non-members, including academicians, researchers, students, and agricultural practitioners. The active participation and engagement of the attendees reflected strong interest in the topic and its relevance to current agricultural development pathways.
After the talk, the session concluded with an interaction period that allowed participants to reflect on the insights shared and to engage in informal discussions. Overall, the programme successfully achieved its objective of broadening perspectives on agricultural leadership and reinforcing the role of professionals in shaping the future of agriculture at both national and regional levels.
