Balancing family life and advocacy, meet the woman behind REGENERASI, a youth-led movement empowering young Malaysians to lead conversations on climate and sustainability.

 

Meeting Datin Emilia R. Uzir for the first time, you might wonder how she manages it all. She’s a mother of four, a postgraduate student, and the founder of REGENERASI, a non-profit organisation dedicated to sustainability and empowering youth in both Malaysia and Australia. Datin Emilia wears all these hats with remarkable ease, but she insists that everything she does flows from one central role: motherhood.

 

As the driving force behind REGENERASI, she makes it her personal mission to change how young people think about our planet. Her story doesn’t begin in a boardroom, but at home, with a profound sense of responsibility for the world’s wellbeing, not just now, but years to come.

 

The Spark Behind a Movement

Datin Emilia’s journey into sustainability advocacy began with questions. Living in Malaysia, she found herself reflecting on pressing issues: climate change, inequality, and economic uncertainty. Her children made those reflections urgent.

 

“I couldn’t sit back knowing that the next generation, including my own children, will be the ones facing the consequences,” she explains.

 

 

This conviction sparked a fire that became REGENERASI, a youth-driven movement aimed at empowering youth through regenerative agriculture, food security, and sustainability education. Strongly believing that young people aren’t just the leaders of tomorrow, but the shapers of today’s world, REGENERASI was created to equip them with the tools, platforms, and support to make sense of global challenges and to act.

 

“As a mother, I carry a deep sense of responsibility, not just for my children, but for the future they will inherit,” – Datin Emilia

 

Youth at the Heart of Change

REGENERASI’s most notable initiative, the #MyPalmPride campaign, tackles one of Malaysia’s most misunderstood industries: palm oil. Often painted with a broad brush in international media, Datin Emilia believes the conversation must be more nuanced, and her approach is to start with the youth. The campaign is a groundbreaking effort to cut through the misinformation often spread online, providing young people with the facts.

 

“Young people are already shaping conversations today through social media, peer influence, and activism. They are also highly exposed to misinformation. By giving them facts, critical thinking skills, and a balanced view, we empower them to become informed advocates, not just for palm oil, but for sustainability as a whole.” – Datin Emilia

 

For her, investing in youth education is investing in the future of both people and the planet. Working with youth across Malaysia and Australia has also reshaped how Datin Emilia leads, at work and at home.

 

“They’ve taught me that leadership today is not about authority but authenticity. Young people expect transparency and purpose,” she says. This has shifted her parenting, too. Instead of leading with control, Datin Emilia leads with trust. “I’ve learnt to listen more, to welcome questions, and to accept that I don’t always have the answers. My role is not to mould my children, but to support and guide them as they find their own way.”

 

 

Purpose Overcoming Challenges

Launching an environmental organisation as ambitious as REGENERASI was far from easy. Datin Emilia recalls the struggle of finding an existing platform that truly focused on youth. When she couldn’t find anything like it, Datin Emilia decided to build her own, beginning with a small circle of her sons’ friends.

 

Initially, she focused on a key principle: quality over quantity. This small, dedicated group of young people became the foundation of her youth council, a passionate team whose unwavering efforts and commitment built the credibility needed to grow. Funding was another significant
challenge. “Starting and running an organisation without external financial support meant that, in the beginning, everything came from my own pocket,” she recalls.

 

However, her clear mission and strong sense of purpose kept her going. Over time, her team realised that TikTok was the best medium to advocate information to their target audience. This strategic shift, combined with their grassroots efforts, eventually led to the partnerships that helped the campaign flourish and grow into what it is today.

 

Parents as Change-Makers

Datin Emilia believes parents hold a pivotal role in shifting the sustainability conversation. They are the first educators and role models, and their choices at home, from the daily products they buy to the conversations they spark with their children, can make an impact and set the tone for the next generation.

 

Though she now lives in Perth, Australia, with her four children, her heart remains connected to Malaysia and the work of REGENERASI. In addition to being a certified yoga teacher, she has worn many leadership hats, and now in Australia, she serves as State Councillor at the Western Australian Council of State Schools Organisation (WACSSO), Chairperson of the Asia Australia Business Network, and President of REGENERASI Australia Incorporated, among other roles.

 

“When it comes to industries like palm oil, parents can shape perceptions by teaching their children about supporting locally produced, sustainably certified palm oil,” she explains.

 

REGENERASI aims to reach not only youths but also their parents. By collaborating with schools and engaging young people as advocates, the organisation has a unique, reverse objective: to have the youth educate their parents on sustainability and environmental issues. Over time, Datin Emilia is positive that this two-way learning process strengthens the entire community’s commitment to a greener future.

 

 

A Regenerative Future

Looking forward, Datin Emilia’s hopes are clear. As a loving mother, she dreams that her children will benefit from a world where sustainability is no longer optional but simply the way of life. For REGENERASI, she envisions a global youth-led force inspiring climate leadership and bold ideas. And for Malaysia, she dreams of a nation leading by example, embracing regenerative agriculture, protecting biodiversity, and building an economy grounded in resilience and inclusivity.

 

This vision is already expanding with the establishment of REGENERASI Australia, a new chapter she is actively working to make as successful as its Malaysian counterpart. The organisation’s focus on Planetary Health will see regenerative practices, climate solutions, and food innovations intertwined to create REGEN Hub, a centre of excellence in Western Australia. This hub will bring together future generations, children with neurodiversity, and the youth community to work alongside Australian universities.

 

In many ways, that is Datin Emilia’s legacy, not just the organisations she leads or the campaigns she champions, but the values she nurtures at home as a mother and the inclusive communities she continues to build. In raising her children and in empowering youth across nations, she is cultivating a generation ready to regenerate the future.

 

 

To find out more about Datin Emilia’s work and everything REGENERASI and the team have to offer, visit their website, and social media platforms on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.