Dr. Chandran Gunalan
Director of Strategy & Policy

Dr. Chandran Gunalan is a seasoned economist and administrative professional with over 17 years of experience in public policy, economic research, strategic planning, and statistical analysis. His last position was at the Ministry of Plantation and Commodities, in charge of palm oil sector, particularly international trade.

His contributions include formulating the National Agri-Commodity Policy 2021–2030, facilitating international trade deals as well as leading initiatives to improve the industry’s sustainability, efficiency, and global positioning. Dr. Chandran also served as a key liaison for international palm oil cooperation through platforms like CPOPC, where he supports ministerial and senior official dialogues and strategic trade decisions.

Prior to this, he held roles in the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Domestic Trade, where he specialized in economic modelling, inflation forecasting, policy research, and cost of living analysis. He has authored numerous influential cabinet papers and academic publications, covering topics such as public debt thresholds, inflation dynamics, ESG integration in palm oil, and housing affordability.

Dr. Chandran holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Malaya and is actively involved in academic outreach, serving as an industry expert at ELITE@UM, where he teaches statistical applications.