Brian is a Senior Associate at Vriens & Partners’ office in Kuala Lumpur. Prior to joining the firm, he was a researcher with Amnesty International Malaysia, where he focused on a variety of human rights issues, including freedom of expression, police reform and the death penalty. Besides conducting research, he was also responsible for developing campaign and advocacy strategies, engaging with government officials, political leaders and civil society.
Brian was previously a Political Specialist with the U.S. Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, where he advised American government officials on political and human rights developments in Malaysia and supported their engagements with political and civil society leaders. For his efforts in monitoring the 2018 Malaysian general elections, he was given the Superior Honor Award by the State Department.
Since graduating from Emerson College in Boston with a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism, Brian has written extensively about politics, public policy and human rights. He has been published in a variety of media outlets, including the New Straits Times, Off The Edge and The Malaysian Insider. From 2009-2013, he also had an opportunity to work in government when he served as political and press secretary with the office of Elizabeth Wong, then the executive councillor in the Selangor state government. During his time with the office, he supported efforts to establish the Freedom of Information (State of Selangor) Enactment, which was made into law in 2011.
