OurPeople
Meet the dedicated professionals, board members, facilitators, and founder who drive AIDCOM's mission of advancing development communication across Asia and beyond.
Board of Directors
Strategic leadership and governance
Past Chairmen
Legacy of distinguished leadership
Facilitators
Expert trainers and consultants
Advisory Team
Guidance and expertise
Founder
Visionary leader and pioneer
Our Founder
Honoring the visionary leader who established AIDCOM and dedicated his life to advancing development communication across Asia.
Khairul Bashar
Founder & First Executive Director
Khairul Bashar founded AIDCOM in Kuala Lumpur in 1985, and when AIDCOM was registered in 1986, he assumed the post of Executive Director and was associated with it until his last day. He obtained a Master's degree in Mass Communications from the University of North Carolina, USA, and worked as a journalist with a number of newspapers in Bangladesh including daily Morning News and Daily Sangbad during the 1960s.
After liberation of Bangladesh, he joined UNESCO as a senior official and worked for this organisation at different places including Paris, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Nairobi for more than 10 years. In 1989, he introduced the Journal of Development Communications (JDC) and became its founding editor.
During 2000-2005, he was Secretary General of Manila-based Press Foundation of Asia. He used to write columns regularly in the Malaysian daily The Sun. In 2013, he was appointed as Professor of Mass Communication at Universiti Selangor.
Key Achievements & Milestones
Education
Master's degree in Mass Communications
University of North Carolina, USA
Legacy
Passed away on 26 December 2015
in Kuala Lumpur at age 78
In Memoriam
Khairul Bashar's vision and dedication laid the foundation for AIDCOM's mission of advancing development communication across Asia. His legacy continues to inspire our work in empowering communities through effective communication strategies. His contributions to journalism, academia, and international development communication remain an enduring testament to his commitment to social change and human development.
Board of Directors
Our distinguished board members provide strategic leadership and governance to guide AIDCOM's mission and vision.
Previously served as Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at University of Malaya and Director of University of Malaya Press.
Writing and editing consultant with 30 years of experience, specializing in strategic communication and organizational leadership.
Head of Unisel Library with Master's Degree in Library Science and extensive experience in information management.
Chairman of JREC and Special Advisor to Malaysia's Foreign Minister, with extensive leadership experience in various organizations.
Past Leadership
Honoring the distinguished leaders who have shaped AIDCOM's legacy and contributed to its growth over the years.
Group Editor-in-Chief of The New Straits Times Press, recipient of 'Mitsubishi-Press Foundation of Asia Editor Of the Year' award
37-year career with Bernama, appointed Chairman of Bernama in 2016, Chairman of Malaysian Press Institute
Editor-in-Chief of Daily Sun Malaysia, Media Personality Award recipient, Zainon Ahmad Media Resource Centre established in his honor
Expert Facilitators
Our team of experienced facilitators and trainers bring decades of expertise in development communication, journalism, and media training.
