Ellynita Lamin

Developmental Strategist and Founder, Social Enterprise Alliance; Disaster Relief Organizer

“If the second generation doesn’t enjoy the benefits of the work we do, then I don’t consider my work a success. Making them the generators—that’s how it becomes sustainable.”

Ellynita Lamin’s compassion and sensitivity to human suffering are immediately apparent when she speaks about her work. A business and developmental strategist by training, she made her first foray into disaster relief in 2004. Cutting short her travels, she flew to Aceh on the western coast of Indonesia where a magnitude 9.2 earthquake led to a tsunami that killed thousands and left hundreds of thousands homeless. From 2006–2011 Ellynita continued her volunteer work while serving as Vice President of Strategic Development and Marketing in the Technology Investment Agency under Malaysia’s Ministry of Finance. In 2010, she founded the Social Enterprise Alliance of Malaysia which is building a network of social entrepreneurs and organizations across Southeast Asia devoted to facilitating social change in underserved communities. Through conferences, workshops and research on topics ranging from design thinking to lean startups, the Alliance is supporting sustainable social change.