Datuk Fateh Chand graduated with a B.Sc. Class I Honours degree in Geology from the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia in 1963. He obtained the Standard and Advanced Diplomas in Mining Exploration in 1976 from the International Institute for Aerial Survey and Earth Sciences (ITC), Delft, The Netherlands and in 1977 was awarded a M.Sc. in Geology from the same Institute. He joined the Geological Survey of Malaysia (now the Department of Minerals and Geoscience) in 1964 where he held various posts leading to that of Director-General in 1993. He served as Director General from 1993-1998. He also served as a Member of the Public Services Commission from 1998-2001 and as a Member of the Election Commission of Malaysia from 2001-2006. He has served as a member of several national committees involving National Mapping, Remote Sensing, Radiation Protection, Management of Natural Resources and Environment, Site Investigation, Advanced Materials, Intensification of Research in Priority Areas and National Council for Scientific Research & Development. He is a foundation member of professional bodies such as the Academy of Sciences Malaysia and Institute of Geology Malaysia. He is also a Past President and Council member of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, UK (Malaysian Branch). He was the past President of the Geological Society of Malaysia and the Institute of Geology of Malaysia, a pro-tem task force member of the International Consortium of Geological Surveys and the Chairman of the Coordinating Committee on Offshore Geoscience Programmes in East and Southeast Asia (CCOP). He is currently an Honorary Advisor to CCOP. He is also a registered Professional Geologist with the Board of Geologists Malaysia. Datuk Fateh Chand, a Senior Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM) is actively involved in the activities of the Academy. He has served as the Chairman of the Science Fund Committee for evaluating R&D projects, Chairman of the Committee on ASM Water, and a member of several ASM committees on energy, environment, climate change, and monitoring of research projects. He was Chairman of Task Force on Strategies and Management of Groundwater, Chairman of Study on Seismic and Tsunami Risk in Malaysia, and Chairman of the ASM Task Force on revitalizing Malaysia’s Rare Earth Mineral Industry. He has also served as Council Member of ASM. He was actively involved in preparing “A Blue Print for The Establishment of Rare Earths-Based Industries in Malaysia.” He is currently a subject matter expert with the Project Management Committee of ASM on the Transformation of the Water Sector (WST2040). He is also currently a member of the ASM Membership Committee. FC/23.08.2021