Growing up in the tranquil town of Taiping, Perak, Rohaizad Hassan had a childhood fascination with aeroplanes. In time, that early love for aviation sparked an ambition to enter the travel industry.
What began as a dream to become a pilot, evolved into a lifelong career that marries Rohaizad’s love of travel and passion for halal food industry. Today, he is a globally recognised expert in halal compliance and food safety, with a track record that spans Malaysia, Germany and now Türkiye.
From Aviation to Food Safety 
Rohaizad’s interests in food and travel led him to pursue a degree in Food Service Management at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM). While still a student, he secured a coveted internship with Malaysia Airlines (MAS), beating out fierce competition among his classmates. That early exposure proved pivotal.
He quickly rose through the ranks, spending nearly a decade at MAS, where he went from Business Planning Executive to Controller of Concept & Development for the airline’s Inflight Division. An initiative he worked on called Project Relish even earned the airline the Best Favourite Airline Food award by travel magazine Smart Travel Asia in 2005.
“At MAS, I saw how they catered halal food to passengers, and it just clicked—halal isn’t just about religion, it’s about safety, wellbeing and preserving life,” he recalled. During his time there, he prepared international catering points to be halal-compliant, conducting food safety checks and drafting service-level agreements. “Our work was so integral that if we didn’t greenlight a destination, the entire airline route would not be able to take off,” he shared.
That foundation propelled him into his next role at the Halal Development Corporation Berhad (HDC), where, as General Manager, he led the Global Halal Reference Centre and strengthened Malaysia’s standing in the global halal economy. Along the way, he developed strong relationships with Malaysians abroad and at home—from auditors in Europe to experts at HDC and Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM)—which remain vital to his work today.
Even after moving abroad, he continues to nurture these bonds. In Istanbul, he frequently opens his home to Malaysian visitors by hosting rendang dinners and Raya gatherings for colleagues from HDC and JAKIM.
These moments of warmth and connection exemplify the spirit of MyHeart’s Network and Connect initiative which helps Malaysians worldwide find and connect with one another intentionally, just as Rohaizad has done throughout his career with long standing relationships.
New Chapter in Germany: Leading Cross-Border Collaborations
Rohaizad’s growing reputation in Malaysia’s halal industry earned him recognition among international corporations, and this was how he made the bold leap to Frankfurt in Germany, where he joined Lufthansa Service Group (LSG), the (now former) catering arm of German aviation group, Lufthansa.
As the inaugural Director of Halal Corporate Excellence, he managed halal food standards across over 240 airline catering facilities worldwide. The role gave him a front-row seat to the complexities of serving halal meals at scale for premium carriers like Emirates, Etihad Airways and Turkish Airlines.
Even after moving to Germany and now Istanbul, Rohaizad continues to collaborate with former HDC colleagues via Halal Industry Quest (HIQ), the platform he founded, and as a speaker at international halal events alongside Malaysian representatives and certification agencies across Europe.
These collaborations embody the spirit of MyHeart, which provides a platform from Malaysians across the world to work together across borders to elevate our influence in global industries.
Championing Halal Standards & Overcoming Cultural Barriers
Today, Rohaizad works with Yildiz Holding—the US$13.4 billion Turkish conglomerate behind household brands like Godiva, McVitie’s and Ulker. Following his experience with the LSG Group, he was hired by Yildiz Holding for his specialised set of skills in integrating halal compliance across a wide variety of brands.
In his first role as the Director of Food Safety & Defense, Rohaizad revamped the Consumer Sensitivity Programme, which aligns halal standards with vegan and vegetarian guidelines to create a more inclusive compliance framework. He also conducted a global gap assessment to prepare the company for halal expansion.
The most significant challenge he has had to overcome? Cultural perception. “In Western countries, halal is often seen as just a process. In Malaysia, we take a more holistic approach and aim for zero risk (of non-compliance). It is only by not exposing ourselves to any risks that we can protect our reputation. Even a small hole can sink a big ship. That is the difference I have to help these brands understand.” he explained.
Knowledge Beyond Borders: Contributing to Malaysia’s Future in the Halal Sector
Passionate about giving back, Rohaizad founded Halal Industry Quest (HIQ)—a volunteer-driven platform where Malaysian halal professionals contribute articles, reviews and insights, research, and white papers. He welcomes contributions from young Malaysians, offering to vet and publish their work on the platform.
In the long term, he hopes to grow HIQ into a global halal knowledge hub and advisory service provider.
Beyond that, he plans to return home upon retirement to support policy reforms that will position Malaysia as not just a leader in halal certification but as a top halal production hub.
Programmes such as MyHeart’s Returning Expert Programme (REP) and MyHeart Innovate align perfectly with Rohaizad’s aspirations, as they support Malaysians who want to return home, share their expertise and launch impactful ventures.
Looking Ahead: Advice for the Next Generation
Rohaizad’s advice for young Malaysians is clear:
“Be different. Think beyond the obvious, keep learning and make yourself visible. Don’t wait for opportunities to knock. Go out and find the door yourself.”
He encourages Malaysian youths to start small, be it reviewing halal products, contributing articles or volunteering their expertise to build confidence and showcase their capabilities on an international stage.
“Passion and knowledge are things no one can take from you,” he said. “So keep your fire burning.”
Are you a Malaysian abroad working at the forefront of your industry like Rohaizad? Join MyHeart’s Global Malaysian Network to connect and collaborate with fellow Malaysians across the globe. Together, let’s build bridges, share knowledge and shape the future, wherever we are.
