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He will now lead skills and AI initiatives across Malaysia and ASEAN.
UOA Academy has reappointed Aqmal Fikri as Chief Learning Officer, effective August 2025, marking his return to the institution he helped establish. Aqmal was the founding head of UOA Academy and played a central role in shaping its early strategy and impact.
In his new role, Aqmal will lead the Academy into its next phase of growth, reinforcing its position as UOA Group’s learning arm and expanding its social entrepreneurship agenda across Malaysia and the wider ASEAN region. Under his leadership, the Academy will prioritise “skills as the new currency”, anchored by a Skills Lab Initiative designed to reimagine how workforces are trained, tested, and certified. The Academy is also exploring the creation of a Chief of Skills role to lead this agenda.
Looking ahead, AI will be a key focus for 2025/2026. The Laurence Yap School of AI, now entering its 2.0 phase, will deepen AI learning across workplaces and communities. At the same time, leadership development will continue through the Academy’s partnership with Cheetah Chase, delivering experiential programmes designed to cultivate agile, future-ready leaders.
Aqmal will collaborate closely with Haikal Akmar, CEO of UOA Academy and Group CHRO of UOA Group. As co-founders of the Academy, they will play a pivotal role in its mission, with skills, AI, and leadership serving as the foundation for sustainable growth.
As UOA Academy enters this new chapter, it aims to strengthen its ecosystem approach, combining portable certifications, immersive learning methods, and inclusive pathways to ensure underserved groups are not left behind.
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