Dr Goh Chee Leong

Group Co-Chief Executive Officer (Tertiary) HELP Education Group

Dr Goh Chee Leong is a distinguished Malaysian educationist, psychologist, and transformational leader whose career spans over 25 years of impactful service across tertiary education, school education, psychological research, corporate consultancy, and humanitarian work. Currently, he holds the position of Chief Executive Officer (Tertiary) at the HELP Education Group, where he provides strategic leadership to both HELP University and HELP Academy, spearheading their academic, operational, and developmental goals. 

Dr Goh’s pioneering spirit is evident in his earlier role as the Founding CEO of HELP Education Services (HES). Under his leadership, HES successfully established two high-performing international schools: HELP International School (HIS) in Kuala Lumpur and Crescendo-HELP International School (CHIS) in Johor Bahru. These institutions have set benchmarks for innovative, values-driven education, preparing students to thrive in a globalised and fast-evolving world. 

An academic at heart, Dr Goh was previously Vice President of HELP University, where he founded and served as Dean of the Faculty of Behavioral Sciences. Under his vision and leadership, the faculty grew into one of the largest psychology programmes in Southeast Asia, enrolling over 1,400 full-time students. He lectured in a wide range of subjects including Organizational Psychology, Social Psychology, Research Methodology, Cognitive Psychology, Developmental Psychology, and Human Motivation, earning respect from both peers and students for his engaging, research-informed teaching. 

From 2019 to 2022, Dr Goh was appointed Group CEO of Paramount K12 Education Group, which later became XCL Education Malaysia. During his tenure, he led the transformation and strategic expansion of a group that included Sri KDU Schools, REAL Schools, REAL Kids, and Cambridge English for Life, driving improvements in quality, curriculum innovation, and operational excellence across the group’s network of schools. 

Dr Goh’s leadership extends to the global stage. He made history as the first Asian to be elected Treasurer of the International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS), a prestigious global body for psychology. He is also the former President of the ASEAN Regional Union of Psychological Societies (ARUPS) and the Malaysian Psychological Association (PSIMA). Additionally, he was appointed Consultant Psychologist for MENSA Malaysia, a recognition of his professional standing and contributions to the psychological community. 

He holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of Otago, New Zealand, where he also completed his First-Class Honours degree. His academic excellence was recognised through the Otago Postgraduate Award, and his research focused on cognitive psychology, particularly memory and eyewitness testimony in children. Dr Goh remains a passionate advocate of research-led education and continues to contribute to academic and practitioner discussions. 

Deeply committed to social impact, Dr Goh has led eight major UNICEF projects in Malaysia, which included work on post-disaster recovery in tsunami-affected communities in Kedah, the creation of a National Child Trauma Response Team, anti-bullying campaigns, and positive discipline frameworks for schools. He also headed a research team for World Vision that explored youth mental health and psychosocial challenges in Timor Leste. As a member of the Ministry of Health’s National Disaster Taskforce for Mental Health, Dr Goh contributed to the development of Malaysia’s national psychological disaster response protocols. 

A respected corporate consultant and trainer, Dr Goh has designed and conducted programmes for numerous leading organisations including Shell, Petronas, CIMB, Standard Chartered, Prudential, Maxis, Toyota, MISC, Ogilvy and Mather, Bank Negara, Hitachi, Public Mutual, Digi, Great Eastern, Mimos, and BASF. His areas of specialization include change management, conflict resolution, stress management, customer service psychology, talent development, and leadership psychology. Notably, he has developed industry-focused training such as "EQ for Agents" for Prudential, "Psychology and Unit Trusts" for Public Mutual, and "Psychology and Sales" for CIMB. 

Dr Goh is also a well-known public speaker and media contributor. He has written extensively on family and educational issues for Parenthood Magazine (Malaysia and Singapore), contributed op-eds for The Star, and is a regular guest expert on BFM Radio, discussing topics ranging from workplace psychology to parenting. Over the years, more than 5,000 parents have attended his parenting workshops across the country, drawn to his relatable, evidence-based insights into child development and family wellbeing. 

Blending academic distinction, visionary leadership, and a strong sense of social responsibility, Dr Goh Chee Leong continues to shape Malaysia’s educational and psychological landscapes with purpose, compassion, and integrity. His commitment to transforming lives through education, psychology, and leadership remains his enduring legacy.