Jernell Tan’s professional expertise lies at the intersection of public policy, institutional accountability, and the structural drivers of societal wellbeing. As the co-founder and Advocacy Lead of NYAWA, she designed and spearheaded the Mental Health Policy Case Competition (MHPCC) from its inception. Over three years, Jernell developed the competition’s strategic and impact measurement framework, empowering Malaysian youth to engage directly with mental health through a systemic, policy-oriented lens.

Her work is deeply rooted in documentation and monitoring as tools for change. Having served as the Documentation & Monitoring Coordinator at Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) for three years, Jernell contributed to and led the production of the
comprehensive Malaysia Human Rights Reports (2023–2025), strengthening the evidence base required to safeguard civic freedoms, justice and accountability. This experience in turning field data into actionable advocacy is complemented by a career-long focus on lived experiences. From her early work in gender sensitisation at All Women’s Action Society (AWAM) to her regular engagement with diverse civil society organisations (CSOs) while at SUARAM on fundamental freedoms, she is versatile in understanding how intersecting structures of discrimination affect different communities.

Currently, Jernell serves as the Research & Advocacy Director at Projek SAMA, where she focuses on institutional reform. She brings this dual lens of human rights monitoring and policy design to the mental health space, moving the conversation beyond individual pathology to address the broader systemic environments that shape our professional and personal lives.