Arief Hamizan is partner at ERTI Research Collective, based in Southeast Asia, where he bridges grassroots arts practice with regulatory and policy analysis, engaging federal and state governments on issues such as censorship, performance licensing, and entertainment taxation. Alongside this role, he currently serves as head of research and policy advocacy at a national anti-corruption organization, leading work on whistleblower protection, political financing, environmental governance, and institutional reform. He recently co-authored a legal guidebook on staging performances in Kuala Lumpur. As a policymaker, researcher, and arts practitioner, Arief has over a decade of experience across governance, law, and the creative sector in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. As a playwright and performer, he has presented work across Malaysia and Singapore and is a co-founder of Panas Panas Theatre and an active member of several arts and literary networks. Arief holds an M.Sc. in comparative public policy from the University of Edinburgh, UK, and a law degree from the International Islamic University Malaysia.