Dr Sabri Sulaiman is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Anthropology and Sociology, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Malaya (UM), Malaysia. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Administration and Justice (minor in Anthropology and Sociology), a Master’s in Social Intervention, and a PhD in Social Services from the University of Malaya. His academic training is grounded in applied sociology, social policy, social work, and evidence-based intervention, with a sustained focus on child and family welfare, social inequality, and the well-being of vulnerable populations. His early research examined social deprivation and the well-being of Malaysian children, while his doctoral work developed a community-based social care model for vulnerable children. This research contributes to wider sociological debates on contextual safeguarding, prevention-oriented interventions, and socio-ecological approaches to child protection and social well-being. A close integration of empirical research, sociological theory, and policy relevance characterises his work. It is situated within a comparative and globally engaged sociology spanning the Global South and Global North.

As a sociologist and evidence-based intervention scholar, his current research and professional work focus on:

• Analysing global and local social processes affecting marginalised children and families, including poverty, social wellbeing, violence, justice system involvement, child labour and trafficking, disability, ageing, homelessness, and multiple, intersecting forms of vulnerability and marginalisation, such as citizenship and legal status, shape and reproduce inequalities and deprivation across these domains, such as welfare, health, education, and social wellbeing.
• Strengthening governance structures, child protection systems, family policy regimes, and social care frameworks, including inclusive policy domains such as disability and education, to improve equitable access to essential services.
• Examining structural inequality, social deprivation, and the role of socio-economic and political institutions in shaping life chances, human development, and well-being across the life course.
• Investigating violence, behavioural development, and the social dynamics of antisocial and prosocial behaviour among children and families in high-risk and disadvantaged environments.
• Advancing evidence-based interventions to address inequalities in health, education, and social care, with a particular emphasis on strengthening child and family well-being.
• Promoting rights-based, inclusive, and accountable approaches through the sociological evaluation and reform of social policies, welfare systems, and care institutions.
• Applying sociological analysis, social work analysis and policy analysis to inform the design, implementation, and evaluation of interventions and policies that improve welfare, living conditions, and social outcomes for vulnerable populations.
• Examining globalisation and transnational processes shaping welfare regimes, labour mobility, migration systems, and social inequalities, with particular attention to structural drivers and policy responses.
• Undertaking comparative policy and intervention analysis across national contexts, integrating empirical evidence with sociological theory to understand how institutions and governance arrangements shape inequality and social protection.

Beyond academia, Dr Sabri is actively engaged in applied research, consultancy, and collaboration with government agencies, international organisations, and civil society. His work reflects a sustained commitment to translating sociological research into policy, practice, and measurable social impact. He currently serves as a Consultant to the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN), Malaysia. He is currently a project leader and consultant for the following projects:

• A national study on risk behaviours among at-risk adolescents in Malaysia, focusing on life-course vulnerabilities, violence exposure, and prevention-oriented interventions.
• A project on inclusive digital education for students with disabilities in higher education, addressing accessibility, equity, and rights-based digital inclusion.
• The development of the Malaysia Family Wellbeing Index (FWI-5).

Dr Sabri is the author of the forthcoming book Community-Based Social Care Models for Protecting the Rights and Well-being of Street-Connected Children in Malaysia, which advances rights-based and evidence-informed approaches to child protection and social care. He has also published Deprivasi Sosial Kanak-kanak Malaysia, a study examining social deprivation and child well-being from children’s perspectives, alongside policy and intervention strategies to address inequality. His work is internationally recognised, and he is affiliated with several professional bodies, including the Social Policy Association, the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, the Malaysian Association of Social Workers, the British Sociological Association, and the International Sociological Association. He has published widely in peer-reviewed journals, contributed to edited volumes, and presented at international conferences. He welcomes collaboration with scholars, practitioners, and institutions engaged in advancing social justice, equity, and inclusive systems of care.