Professor Hajjah Ruhanas graduated with M.A from Sorbonne University, Paris, Post Graduate Diploma in Political Studies from Institut d'Etudes Politiques, Paris, B.A (Hons.) in International Relations and Post Graduate Diploma in Translation from University of Malaya.
She is a Professor at the Department of Strategic Studies, Faculty of Management and Defence Studies (FPPP), National Defence University of Malaya (UPNM). She is a qualified translator and has taught extensively in Malaysia and abroad amongst others she has served as the Department Head of International and Strategic Studies in University of Malaya, a Lecturer and Professor in the Department of International Relations and Security Studies, National University of Malaya (UKM) and Malaysian Armed Forced Defence College, Kuala Lumpur. Hajjah Ruhanas researches, lectures and publishes on her area of expertise including Malaysia's foreign policy, national security and peacebuilding and regional integration.
Hajjah Ruhanas is currently the Distinguished Fellow at the Malaysian Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Senior Fellow at the Malaysian Institute of Defence and Security (MIDAS) and Senior Fellow at the Regional Centre for Security Studies Kuala Lumpur.
Apart from making a mark as an expert on Malaysia's national security, Hajjah Ruhanas has also distinguished herself as Malaysia's leading expert on Indo- China. Besides teaching and researching, she has translated books and articles from French into Malay language (published by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka). A linguist, she speaks fluent Malay-Indonesian, English and French, and intermediate German and basic Vietnamese. She is also actively involved in community volunteer works and NGOs.
Hajjah Ruhanas was appointed to the Board of Beshom Holdings Berhad (“BESHOM”) on 12 November 2021 following the establishment of new investment holding company of Hai-O group of companies in tandem with the transfer of listing status from Hai-O to BESHOM pursuant to the Group’s internal reorganisation exercise. She is the Chairperson of the Nominating Committee and a member of the Remuneration Committee and Audit Committee.
Prior to the establishment of BESHOM, Hajjah Ruhanas was the Independent Non-Executive Director of Hai-O Enterprise Bhd from 2 July 2018 to 30 November 2022.