(Credit: PARIMA)
Introduction of Profile:
Haslinda Safiah Hassan, currently a Risk Information System Executive at PETRONAS, with just over a year of experience in her first full-time job –– and her path into risk management has been far from traditional. With no background in the field, she shares how she stumbled into the profession and began her journey into the field of risk management.
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When Haslinda graduated with a degree in Information Systems at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP), she had no background and had zero knowledge in risk management.
“My focus was more on databases, technology, and all those technical things,” she said.
An Unexpected Path into Risk Management
(Credit: Haslinda Safiah Hassan)
Haslinda journey began through an open recruitment drive by PETRONAS at UTP.
“I am not a scholar; I did not have a bond. But I was lucky enough to be shortlisted for an interview,” Haslinda recalled.
The interview led to her being selected by the Group Risk Management department at PETRONAS –– a move that set the course of her career in an entirely new direction.
“I came into this role with zero knowledge of risk management,” she admits. “But the more I got involved, the more I understood how important it is — especially in how data helps decision-makers assess and respond to risks.”
Bridge Between Business and Systems
(Credit: Haslinda Safiah Hassan)
In her current role, Haslinda works as a vital link between technical developers and business users.
“I act as a bridge between the businesses and the system developers. Each business unit — whether Upstream, Downstream, or Corporate — has its own unique way of managing risk. Systems are just enablers — they support the way people work. My job is to understand the current processes and translate them into something the system can support,” she explained.
One of the most challenging parts, she adds, was learning how to work with such a wide range of stakeholders.
“Each business area had its own processes, so it wasn’t easy to come up with a one-size-fits-all solution in a dynamic and evolving organisation. To tackle that, we organised co-creation workshops with stakeholders and subject matter experts. These sessions helped us understand their needs more clearly and identify overlaps. From there, we worked together to define a common process that could be supported by the system. It was about balancing different needs, being adaptable, and building a system that truly supports the way people work.”
Driving Digital Transformation
In January 2024, PETRONAS launched a centralised risk management platform. The platform integrates four core modules: Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), Risk Appetite, Business Continuity Management (BCM) and Risk Assessment in Decision Making (RADM).
(Credit: Haslinda Safiah Hassan)
Driving digital transformation isn’t just about launching a new system — it starts with training and empowering people.
Haslinda played a central role in enabling adoption of the new system. Along with her team, she conducted 81 upskilling sessions in the first year across the organisation.
“We ran engagements, open trainings, and even train-the-trainer sessions,” she explained. “Our goal was to help people not only understand how to use the system but also see the value it brings. Because the system is flexible, it can adapt to how each team works, which makes it easier for people to use. Getting buy-in from the people was key. When they feel confident with the tool and see how it supports their daily work, the technology becomes a true enabler for change.”
Making a Meaningful Impact
For Haslinda, the most meaningful part of her job is not just the technical achievement — but seeing the system empower others.
“Even though I am not directly involved in Risk Management, but instead maintaining the Risk System, the most meaningful part is seeing how the system can make help practitioners make decisions better.”
“Before, every business unit kept their own data. Now, there is visibility across the group. People can refer to one centralised platform to make informed, data-driven decisions.”
Looking Ahead: Analytics and Cybersecurity
“Now is the era of digitalisation. I want to learn more about analytics –– how we can embed it into the system to make it an even more powerful tool for decision-makers.”
Haslinda also mentioned her interest in the cybersecurity risk, a field she described as “one of the most high-stakes areas in risk today.”
“Petronas has regular cybersecurity training to build awareness, but I would love to dive deeper into that space,” she noted.
Learning, Mentorship, and Mindset
(Credit: Haslinda Safiah Hassan)
Despite the steep learning curve, Haslinda never felt alone in her journey. Strong mentorship played a pivotal role in helping her find her footing in an unfamiliar field.
“My manager and senior manager have been amazing. They lead by example and always guide me when I needed help. One of the most important lessons I have learned from them is about mindset.”
“In the workplace, criticism and challenges are inevitable. But it is how you respond that makes all the difference. I’ve learned not to take things personally and to see feedback as a chance to grow.”
Advice to Future Risk Professionals
To those considering a career in risk management –– especially from non-traditional backgrounds, Haslinda offers simple but powerful advice: “You don’t have to be a risk expert to contribute. Even if you’re a systems person, there’s still space for you. Building tools that help people manage risk –– that is a contribution too.”
