Datuk Wira Dr. Rais Hussin Mohamed Ariff was born in Malaysia. He completed his early education in the country and later enrolled at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics (Hons) in 1992. He continued his academic journey at the same university, obtaining a Master’s in Management with a focus on Finance in 2002, and later a Doctorate in Business Administration with a specialisation in International Business in 2017. In 2013, he also attended the Senior Advanced Management Programme (ASEAN) at Harvard Business School Executive Education.
Dr. Rais began his career in 1993 at Telekom Malaysia, where he worked as Manager for the Americas and South Asia until 1998. He then joined Teleglobe International Corporation as Regional Managing Director for Asia Pacific from July 1998 to April 2000. From 2000 to 2003, he served as CEO and General Manager of MCI WorldCom Malaysia. He continued his work in the tech and communications sector by becoming Executive Director and CEO of Axis Technologies Solutions (M) Sdn Bhd from October 2003 to June 2006.
In the years that followed, he became increasingly involved in strategic policy, technology leadership, and research. In 2019, he founded EMIR Research, a think tank that conducts data-driven studies on national and global issues. As its President and CEO, he published articles, technical reports, and policy recommendations. He has authored more than 1,000 pieces, including publications presented to international organisations.
In May 2019, he published a book titled 4IR: Reinventing A Nation, through EMIR Research and ztudium. The book explores how Malaysia can respond to the Fourth Industrial Revolution using structured policy, innovation, and research.
In June 2020, Dr. Rais was appointed Chairman of the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), where he worked to drive Malaysia’s digital transformation. During his time at MDEC, he supported initiatives related to the digital economy, start-ups, and innovation, while advocating for inclusive digital access and capacity building.
In 2024, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Malaysian Research Accelerator for Technology and Innovation (MRANTI). MRANTI is a national agency responsible for accelerating research and development to meet market demands. Under his leadership, MRANTI focuses on building a robust innovation ecosystem in Malaysia, supporting tech commercialisation, and ensuring stronger collaboration between research institutions and industries.
Throughout his career, Dr. Rais has actively contributed to public policy. He led the preparation of a national election manifesto in Malaysia that helped trigger a change in government. His policy efforts often centre on public-private partnerships and sustainable development.
He has received several honours from Malaysian states, including the Darjah Dato’ Paduka Mahkota Perak (D.P.M.P.) in 2010 and the Darjah Cemerlang Seri Melaka (D.C.S.M.) in 2009. He was also awarded the title Datuk Wira.
Dr. Rais is regularly invited to speak at conferences, lead discussions, and present policy ideas. His work includes themes such as disruptive change, artificial intelligence, digital economy, and governance. He continues to write articles and policy papers based on data and evidence.
As of 2025, Dr. Rais serves as the CEO of MRANTI and remains the Founder and Non-Executive Chairman of EMIR Research. His work focuses on guiding Malaysia towards a knowledge-based, tech-driven economy through strategic planning, research, and innovation leadership.