An aerospace engineer by training, Ayu Abdullah - who now specialises in sustainable and renewable energy - was the only Malaysian chosen for the US State Department’s pioneer “Hidden No More: Empowering Leaders in STEM under the International Visitor Lea­dership Programme” (IVLP) professional exchange umbrella. Fresh from her stint there, Ayu, who is the Regional Director for Southeast Asia for Energy Actions Partners, joins us to share her experiences from the exchange.

She also discusses The Mak Minah Project, a not-for-profit, social enterprise which she co-founded, to provide opportunities for urban low income families in Kuala Lumpur to break free from the cycle of poverty.