Association leaders in Malaysia stressed the urgent need for stronger succession planning and leadership development during a panel session titled Succession Matters: Building the Next Generation of Association Leaders at the recent Association Day 2026 organised by the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau.
Tiffany Chung, council member of the Malaysian Society of Association Executives highlighted a gap after only a handful of participants indicated that their associations had formal succession plans in place.
She stressed that succession planning should go beyond leadership replacement, and focus on ensuring long-term organisational resilience and sustainability.
There are ways to go about doing this. For example, Soon Ting Kueh, president of the Malaysian Institute of Chemistry, shared how the institute has been nurturing future leaders through its Young Chemists Network, an initiative introduced in 2018 for members below the age of 45.
“Through the programme, younger members are encouraged to organise activities, participate in committees and gain leadership exposure within the association. We are training them to take over as future leaders of the association,” he said.
Another panellist, Raja Elina Raja Aziddin, president of the Malaysian Association of Clinical Biochemists, emphasised the importance of creating an environment where younger members feel empowered to contribute ideas and take ownership of projects.
These younger members, she shared, are already leading digital transformation initiatives, including the development of software systems to manage memberships and events.
“We empower younger members to believe that their voices matter and that they have the power to shape the future of the profession. True leaders are not defined by titles, but by their willingness to step forward, contribute ideas and take responsibility,” Aziddin said.
Also in the panel was Adrianta Aziz, immediate past president of the Malaysian Institute of Architects, who highlighted the importance of mentorship and values-driven leadership within the architectural profession.
He said younger architects are continuously guided and mentored by senior practitioners throughout their professional journey, adding that leadership is built through teamwork, humility and service to society.
