SHAHRIL HAMDAN brings in-depth experience having built a career with a tri-sector profile; in the public, private, and non-profit spaces. He brings with him extensive experience in public policy formulation and analysis, government and business strategy, and management consulting in industries and sectors which include oil and gas, energy and investment.

Shahril is currently the founder and Managing Director of Watchtower Advisory, a corporate advisory firm that assists investors in navigating Malaysia’s corporate landscape, as well as acting as a placement agent for overseas-based funds engaged in capital raising activities in Southeast Asia.

He formerly held the role of Economic Director in the Prime Minister’s Office and a member of the National Economic Action Council under the administration of Dato’ Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, being involved in the formulation and delivery of key economic interventions in the aftermath of the pandemic.

From 2018 to 2020, he ran IGV Partners, a venture capital advisory business which assisted investors in deploying direct investments into Malaysian startups at seed to Series A levels.

He spent 3 years as a consultant with McKinsey and Company, where he worked across Southeast Asia advising multinational clients across various industries. He later brought that experience over to running an actual business, when he was CEO of Destini Oil – a midsized oilfield services company – from 2014-2018.

Apart from the private sector, Shahril co-founded The Centre, a centrist think tank conducting research and proposals on public policy issues and was part of the management team at the education non-profit Teach for Malaysia.

He had been active in Malaysian politics until November 2022, and now intends to stay out indefinitely to focus on other life pursuits, including with Watchtower. Other commitments include his recent Visiting Fellowship at the Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore and co-hosting Keluar Sekejap – Malaysia’s most listened to podcast on current issues.

Shahril is a 2023-2026 World Economic Forum Youth Global Leader, having also been a member of the Southeast Asia Young Leaders Program cohort at the 2022 Shangri-La Dialogue by IISS.

Shahril obtained his Bachelor’s and post graduate degrees from the University of Manchester and the London School of Economics, respectively.