Aida Ghani-Quilter

Aida is a conservationist and sustainability practitioner with over 16 years of experience in the oil palm industry. She currently manages biodiversity and conservation projects within SD Guthrie’s operational areas, with a particular focus on climate mitigation through nature-based solutions. Aida graduated from Universiti Putra Malaysia with a Bachelor’s in Food Science and Technology in 2004.

She began her career in food manufacturing, but it was during her time at Zoo Taiping & Night Safari that she discovered her passion for wildlife conservation. While working at the zoo, she developed enrichment programs for animals such as Orangutans, Tigers, and Elephants, creating environments that mirrored their natural habitats while promoting wildlife education to international volunteers.

Aida transitioned into the oil palm sector to bring conservation efforts into an industry often seen as challenging in terms of its environmental impact. She joined the sustainability team at SD Guthrie (formerly Sime Darby Plantation) in 2008, during the company’s pursuit of RSPO Certification, where she focused on sustainability practices and biodiversity management. Despite initial scepticism about her role, Aida was determined to make a positive impact from within the industry.

In 2020, Aida completed her Master of Research at Nottingham University, where she studied human-elephant conflict in plantation landscapes, analysing SD Guthrie data from 2011 to 2018. Her research sought to find practical, integrated solutions for reducing these conflicts and fostering peaceful coexistence between communities and wildlife.

Named one of Malaysia’s Most Influential Young People in Prestige’s 40 under 40 in 2021, Aida continues to work on nature-based solutions, such as large-scale tree planting and rehabilitation projects. She is also grateful for the opportunity to share her journey with others, including through her TEDx talk at UoN Malaysia recently, where she spoke about her experiences and passion for wildlife conservation. Aida hopes her work will inspire others and demonstrate that positive change is possible, even in industries facing significant environmental challenges.

For me, making an impact is about creating even the slightest opportunity to shift someone’s perspective or inspire change. I understand that achieving significant impact takes time and demands trust, collaboration, and shared effort among many parties. However, I firmly believe that slow progress does not equate to no impact. It’s about resilience—sustaining your passion and holding onto your beliefs, even when the results seem distant at a time. It’s knowing that one day, the person you hope to reach will see the truth in what you’ve stood for. And in that moment, you can humbly and quietly say to yourself, “I told you so.” This conviction fuels my work and inspires me to keep moving forward, no matter how fluctuate the journey may be.