Datuk Seri Utama Ir. Idris Haron has served as President of the World Assembly of Youth (WAY) since 2010, bringing extensive experience in public service, policy development, and international youth engagement. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), USA.

After beginning his career as a professional engineer, he entered Malaysian politics in 2004 as Member of Parliament for Tangga Batu. In 2008, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Higher Education, supporting policy initiatives to strengthen Malaysia’s tertiary education system. From 2013 to 2018, he served as the 10th Chief Minister of Melaka, focusing on state development, youth policy, and educational transformation. He also held the position of State Assemblyman for Sungai Udang from 2013 to 2021, and from 2018 to 2020, he served as Leader of the Opposition in the Melaka State Legislative Assembly.

As President of WAY, he directs the organisation’s strategic vision and represents it globally. WAY brings together over 140 national youth councils and holds consultative status with the United Nations. Under his leadership, the organisation has championed youth leadership, education, sustainable development, and global collaboration, hosting major events such as the Melaka International Youth Dialogue.

Datuk Seri Idris has engaged in international consultancy with the Commonwealth Youth Secretariat, UNESCO, the Commonwealth Higher Education Youth Work Consortium, Khazanah Research Institute, McKinsey & Company, and Ernst & Young. He has also completed executive leadership training at Harvard Business School and Melbourne Business School.

In recognition of his service, he has received numerous state honours, including the Darjah Gemilang Seri Melaka (DGSM), conferring the title Datuk Seri, and the Darjah Utama Negeri Melaka (DUNM), which elevated him to Datuk Seri Utama.

He continues to advocate for youth empowerment, cross-cultural dialogue, and collaborative development initiatives, reflecting a lifelong dedication to ensuring young people play a central role in shaping national and global progress.