Leadership and Core Members (Monash Malaysia)

Get to know the leaders behind the scene

Director

Professor Elizabeth Jones

Previous Co-director

Liz Jones was Professor and Head of Department of psychology at Monash University Malaysia, specialising in organisational and social psychology and a registered psychologist in Australia. Her recent research focuses on organisational and intercultural communication, effective teams, organisational change, life transitions and stigma.She is Immediate Past President and a Fellow of the International Association of Language and Social Psychology. She has over 30 years experience as a researcher and consultant, working in the public sector, private sector and NGOs. In particular, she has worked with organisations implementing both small and large-scale organisational change. She previously was the Director of Organisational Psychology training and Director of the Work and Organisational Resiliency Centre at Griffith University. Her research and consulting work has been in Australia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and the US. Liz holds a Bachelor of Arts (First Class Honours) and a PhD in psychology from The University of Queensland.

Contact

Elizabeth.Jones@monash.edu

Professor Jane Terpstra Tong

Director

Jane Terpstra Tong is a professor of management at Monash University Malaysia, specialising in organisational behaviour and cross-cultural management. Her recent research focuses on well-being and career-related topics, such as flow, mindfulness, and career satisfaction. Adept at survey research, she has published in top-tier international journals.

As a competent educator at Monash Malaysia, she has earned two presidential awards for her contributions to education. Her education effectiveness reaches beyond the classroom to corporate clients, having delivered corporate training programs for multinational corporations including Tetra Pak (Sweden-based), Eppendorf (Germany-based), and Eagleburgmann (Japanese-Germany venture). Additionally, her consulting work in Malaysia has involved a year-long project with The Asia Foundation, an international NGO. She is also a TEDx-talk speaker and a masterclass instructor.

Jane holds a PhD from The University of Manchester, UK, an MBA, and a bachelor's degree in political science from The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Beyond her native Hong Kong, she has lived and worked in various countries, including China, Macao, Indonesia, and the U.S.

Contact

Jane.Tong@monash.edu

Heads of Lab

Dr. Adriana Ortega

Head of +Lab

Originally from Venezuela, educated in the USA and the UK, and trained in Denmark, Adriana brings over two decades of international research and practice experience in applied psychology. Currently, she is a faculty member at Monash University Malaysia. In her role as an educator, researcher, and mentor, she prioritises collaboration and leverages diverse backgrounds to address complex issues. Her research and practice are dedicated to promoting workplace wellbeing, organisational health, and fostering positive youth development across diverse cultural contexts. Beyond academia, she is actively involved in volunteering as a coach, mentor, and trainer in programs aimed at women, youth, and special populations, striving to create inclusive and supportive environments that facilitate personal and professional growth. As an applied psychologist, she integrates theory with practice to enhance workplace wellbeing and drive positive changes at both systemic and individual levels. Her goal is to elevate research impact and establish leadership in promoting workplace wellbeing in Southeast Asia. Adriana holds a PhD in Applied Psychology and an MSc in Occupational Health Psychology from the University of Nottingham, UK.

Contact

Adriana.Ortega@monash.edu

Professor Erniel Barrios

Head of Wellmetric Lab

Professor Erniel Barrios is the Head of the Wellmetric Lab and Consultant Statistician of the future centre. Currently, he serves as the Professor and Head of Econometrics and Business Statistics at the School of Business, Monash University Malaysia. Previously, he served as a Professor at the School of Statistics, University of the Philippines Diliman, a visiting professor at Karlstad University (Sweden), and a visiting researcher at the Asian Development Bank Institute (Japan).

His research interests focus on computational statistics, computational econometrics, and nonparametric methods with applications in spatiotemporal modelling, time series models, big data analytics, and financial markets. He introduced big data analytics from consumer usage history to generate business and consumer insights for a leading telecommunications company in the Philippines. Additionally, he provided business consulting focused on risk analytics for various companies in the Philippines, including a fast-food restaurant chain, energy generation, and manufacturing.

He has been an elected member of the International Statistical Institute since 2012 and is a member of the Philippine-American Academy of Science and Engineering, Econometric Society, East Asian Economic Association, and the Philippine Statistical Association.

Contact

erniel.barrios@monash.edu

Dr. Yap Wai Meng

Head of Inclusion Lab

Wai Meng is a Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol) by the British Psychological Society. He is a lecturer and management psychologist with ten years work experience in both education and industry. He started his career in multiple consulting roles, beginning with change management consulting followed by a position in a global recruitment firm. In his consulting roles, he worked with several multinational companies.

He then transitioned into academia and served as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Psychology at HELP University for five years. Wai Meng holds a PhD in Applied Psychology from the University of Nottingham, an MSc in Management Psychology (with Distinction) from the University of Nottingham, and a Bachelor of Psychology (First Class Honours) from HELP University. He is certified by the British Psychological Society in psychometric evaluations and psychological testing (Level A & B) and also holds a PRINCE2 certificate in project management.

Contact

yap.waimeng@monash.edu

Core Members

Dr. Kristy Chong

Media Specialist

Kristy is currently a Lecturer in the Department of Psychology at Monash University Malaysia. Her research focuses on understanding how individuals interpret their social environments and lived experiences, particularly within multicultural societies. She is deeply invested in developing culturally sensitive methodologies for interventions aimed at reducing mental health risks, promoting diversity and inclusivity, and fostering sustainable and equitable ways of living to enhance overall wellbeing. In addition to her academic role, her consulting work includes conducting comprehensive assessments of employee engagement, mental health, wellbeing, and workplace culture. She works to identify areas for improvement and develop strategic plans to enhance workplace environments for the improvement of mental health and wellbeing outcomes of employees. Kristy holds a Bachelor of Psychological Science and Business (First Class Honours) and a PhD in Psychology, both from Monash University Malaysia.

Contact

Kristy.Chong@monash.edu

Dr. Priscilla Maria De Netto

Media Specialist

Priscilla is a lecturer in the Department of Psychology at Monash University Malaysia and a licensed professional counsellor with Lembaga Kaunselor Malaysia (LKM) and the Australian Counselling Association (ACA). Her research focuses on cultural psychology and relationship science, exploring how cultural variations in communication impact individual and relationship well-being from an Asian cultural perspective.

Priscilla integrates her counselling experience into her research and education, with expertise in addressing anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues, self-esteem, workplace stress, and career concerns. She has collaborated with NGOs dedicated to safeguarding and advancing the rights of women, migrants, and refugees. Currently, she works on a digital mental health platform that offers daily chat-based coaching for individual and corporate clients across Asia, aiming to enhance mental health and workplace well-being. This diverse experience underscores her commitment to fostering positive change in individuals and workplaces.

She holds a PhD in Psychology, a Master of Professional Counselling, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychological Science and Business (Accounting).

Contact

priscilla.maria@monash.edu

Dr. May Kyi Zay Hta

Research Fellow

May Kyi Zay Hta (she/her) is a research fellow at the (Future) Southeast Asian Centre for Workplace Wellbeing, Monash University Malaysia. Her current research interests include various facets of wellbeing, mental health, psychological safety, and stigma in the workplace. She also has significant research and publication experiences in the areas of health-related stigma, cultural, and indigenous psychology. As a registered and licensed counsellor with Lembaga Kaunselor Malaysia (LKM) and the Australian Counselling Association (ACA), she also volunteers and contributes as a mental health professional, effectively bridging theory and practice. She holds a PhD in Psychology and a Master of Professional Counselling from Monash University.

Contact

May.ZayHta1@monash.edu

Dr. Esther Yit-Sean Chong

Esther Chong is currently a Senior Lecturer in School of Business, Monash University Malaysia. Prior to pursuing an academic career, Esther worked with Accenture in delivering business solutions in Shell Malaysia, RHB Bank, Hong Kong Exchange and Sakhalin Energy, Russia. She was also a certified facilitator in the National Healthcare Group, Singapore delivering ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’ (Stephen Covey) and the Development Dimensions International (DDI) workforce development programs. Esther’s broad research interests include service management, consumer psychology, career change behaviour and neurodiversity. As an educator who empowers learning as a vehicle for positive transformation, Esther deployed innovative learning and teaching approaches which led her to the Vice Chancellor’s Excellence Award (Monash University). Beyond academic roles, Esther serves as a council member in Malaysian Association for the Blind (MAB) to advocate for the empowerment of the visually impaired community. Esther obtained her PhD in management from Monash University, MBA from the University of Southern Queensland and BBA (1st class honour) from the University of Malaya.

Contact

Chong.Yit.Sean@monash.edu

Yvonne Tan Yen Jie

Research Coordinator

Yvonne Tan is a research coordinator for the wellbeing centre and Department of Psychology. Her research interests lie in suicidology, psychedelic-assisted pscyhotherapy and wellbeing for an older population. She is a graduate of the Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) at Monash University and has worked in psychotherapy clinics, crisis helpline centres and contributed to research on aged care workers, suicidal elderlies, intervention for borderline personality disorder-traits and trauma among caregivers of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. She was also part of a research team that localized an Australian-based parenting program for use in Malaysia and had also conducted a study on suicide-related gatekeeper behavior among university students.

Contact

yvonne.tanyenjie@monash.edu