Article: “One of the purest expressions of leadership”: meet our Volunteer of the Year Written by CMI Insights Wednesday 17 June 2026 Share Share to LinkedIn Share to Facebook Share via email Professor Dato’ Seri Dr Mohamed Mustafa Ishak CMgr CCMI, chair of the CMI Malaysia Regional Board, shares the true value of volunteering Volunteers are the lifeblood of CMI, and we are always delighted to have the opportunity to celebrate this vital part of our community. This year, our prestigious Volunteer of the Year award went to Professor Dato’ Seri Dr Mohamed Mustafa Ishak CMgr CCMI, chair of the CMI Malaysia Regional Board. Prof Mustafa’s distinguished career in academia spans more than four decades. He started his professional journey as a tutor at Universiti Utara Malaysia in 1985, rising to become the institution’s vice chancellor in June 2010. He took on the role of CEO (group education) at MERITUS University/College/Aerospace in 2026. Invaluable contribution Prof Mustafa was also the first Malaysian to be appointed a CMI Chartered Companion, our most senior grade of membership. This underscores the immense value of his contribution, as well as his tenacity in driving change and enhancing the reputation of management and leadership education across Malaysia. “Throughout my career, I have focused on building partnerships, developing future leaders, strengthening institutional capabilities and fostering a culture of excellence,” says Prof Mustafa. “These experiences continue to inform my work within CMI as we seek to create meaningful opportunities for members and the wider community.” Prof Mustafa says CMI represents far more than a professional body, and he describes his association with us as “one of the most rewarding chapters of my professional life”. Volunteer with CMI Head to our Community page, where you can find out about all the different ways you could get involved with CMI. Let's go “CMI is a global community committed to advancing leadership excellence, ethical management, lifelong learning and professional development,” he says. “Having benefited significantly from these values throughout my own career, I felt a strong obligation to contribute my experience and expertise to support the next generation of leaders.” Shared aspirations When the opportunity arose to volunteer as chair of the CMI Malaysia Regional Board, Prof Mustafa saw it not merely as a prestigious appointment, but as a profound responsibility. Keep reading – more from Prof Mustafa Login or register below for Free Instant Access Login If you are already registered as a CMI Friend, Subscriber or Member, just login to view this article. Confirm your registration Login below to confirm your details and access this article. Log in Register for Free Access Not yet a Member, Subscriber or Friend? Register as a CMI Friend for free, and get access to this and many other exclusive resources, as well as weekly updates straight to your inbox. Article Our extensive range of articles are designed to keep you in the loop with all the latest management and leadership best practice, research and news. Members See More CMI Members have access to thousands of online learning and CPD resources. Learn more about our membership benefits Join The Community CMI offers a variety of flexible membership solutions, tailored to your needs. Find out more and get involved in the CMI community today.
