The AJF Team

ALAN JOHN, Director

Alan is a Singaporean journalist who has worked for major publications in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong since 1976. He joined the AJF team in 2015, and succeeded Professor Cherian George as director in 2016. Alan spent 35 years at The Straits Times, Singapore’s main English language paper, before retiring as deputy editor in 2015. While at the paper, he directed coverage of major news events and worked closely with several award-winning writers, photographers and artists. He was in charge of various sections at different times in his career and was night editor for several years.

Since 2018, Alan has been a consulting editor with Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post newspaper, working closely with writers and editors of its Hong Kong Desk. He is also a trainer, focusing on writing, copyediting and newsroom leadership, and has trained writers and editors at Singapore Press Holdings, the South China Morning Post and MediaCorp.

Born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Alan is a Geography graduate of the University of Malaya and has a Post-Graduate Diploma in Social Work from the National University of Singapore. He spent four years at The New Straits Times in Kuala Lumpur before moving to Singapore in 1980. He writes children’s picture books for fun, and has collaborated with award-winning illustrator Quek Hong Shin on three books, The One and Only Inuka, Ubin Elephant and Grandma’s Tiger, all based on true stories about animals that made headlines in Singapore over the years. He is married with two children.

CAROL SOON, Associate Director

Carol joined the AJF team in 2017 when the programme moved to the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS). She works with AJF Director in the overall planning of the programme. She convened the Asia Journalism Forums in 2017 and 2018.

Carol is Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies in the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, where she leads the Society and Culture department. Her research sits in the intersection of technology and policy. She conducts research and outreach on public policy issues relating to media and technology regulation, digital literacy and skills, digital inclusion, web 3.0 governance, and public engagement. She also studies policy communication and the design of public engagement. Her research is supported by public, private and philanthropic sectors.

Carol is also Vice Chair of Singapore’s Media Literacy Council. She was a recipient of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy Research Excellence Award and the Australian Endeavour Award. Since 2020, she has been volunteering with Advisory SG and Voices of Asia as a mentor to early careerists.

ZAKARIA ZAINAL, Programme Officer

Zak has been part of AJF since 2013 and is usually the first member of the AJF team most Fellows meet after they arrive in Singapore. He does his best to make sure Fellows feel welcome, settle in and get to know Singapore quickly. When Fellows have a question, they ask Zak. “It could be anything from how to use the public transport to finding the best places to eat, drink and shop – and no, it is not Mustafa.” He plans group outings on weekends and Zak’s cycling tours have proven popular with past Fellows. “If you prefer to walk, no problem, we can trek through MacRitchie Reservoir instead,” he says — once joining two Fellows who walked from West Coast to East Coast.    

A photojournalism graduate of Nanyang Technological University, Zak is a commercial and editorial photographer based in Singapore and his work has appeared in international and regional publications. While in university he did an internship with a Nepal newspaper that sparked an enduring fascination with the Gurkhas, the Nepali men who spend years in Singapore in a special police contingent before returning home. He has published two books and held exhibitions related to the Gurkhas. You can view his work here www.zakariazainalphoto.com.

ZAHIDAH NASIR, Programme Coordinator

Zahidah has experience co-ordinating various projects and events as a member of the Events team at the Institute of Policy Studies. She joined the AJF team in 2021 and handles the administrative and logistical aspects for the AJF Fellows. Zahidah is quite an introvert especially in a new environment but AJF has pushed her out of her comfort zone. In her free time, Zahidah enjoys rhythmic cycling and spending time with her family.