Professor Dato’ Dr. Annuar is a distinguished scholar-practitioner with extensive industrial experience in engineering, technology, management, business, and higher education leadership. He began his academic journey by pursuing studies at the University of Missouri-Columbia, USA, on a PETRONAS scholarship, earning a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering, a Master of Business Administration (Finance), and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering with Magna Cum Laude honours. He also holds a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) from the University of South Australia, was an Advanced Engineering Fellow at Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT), and is an alumnus of the University of Oxford Business School.
A Professional Engineer (Ir.), Professional Technologist (Ts.), and HRDC Accredited Trainer, he brings a rare blend of academic rigour and industrial depth to the role. His career began at PETRONAS' ASEAN Bintulu Fertilizer plant as a project and plant engineer, before expanding into key leadership roles across public, private, and international platforms. Notably, he served as President and Group CEO of Kulim Technology Park Corporation (KTPC), spearheading the development of the 4,800-acre Kulim HiTech Park, attracting world-class investors and building cutting-edge facilities in advanced manufacturing, CNC, robotics, IT, and biotechnology.
Professor Dato’ Dr. Annuar has also made significant contributions to Malaysia’s innovation and economic development landscape as Vice President of Technology Park Malaysia, and CEO of KXP Airport City Holdings, His governance experience includes serving on the Board of Directors of Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), where he also chaired the Finance and Investment Committees, and holding adjunct professorships at Universiti Utara Malaysia and AMU. He previously held the role of President of the Asian Association of Business Incubation in Shanghai, PRC, and was a Consultant to The World Bank on entrepreneurship and business incubation.
For his exemplary service, he has received numerous honors, including the prestigious Dato’ Setia DiRaja Kedah (DSDK) bestowed by His Majesty The Sultan of Kedah, a Honorary Doctorate in Engineering from UniMAP, and acknowledgement in the Who’s Who in Engineering Malaysia (1st Edition), by the Board of Engineers’ Malaysia (BEM).
As AMU’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Dr. Annuar is committed to driving a bold new chapter of growth—enhancing academic quality, deepening industry linkages, and cultivating a dynamic and innovative learning environment. His vision is to transform AMU into a hub where quality education, innovation, and personal development converge, empowering graduates to thrive globally and make meaningful societal impact.
