Mr. Zakaria heads the Insurance Regulation Department in the Central Bank of Malaysia. He graduated with honours in Economics from the University of Malaya and holds Masters degrees in Business Administration and Arts from Boston University. He is also an associate of London's Institute of Bankers.

Mr. Zakaria joined the Central Bank of Malaysia in 1974 and has since accumulated 25 years of experience as a central banker and regulator. During his career in the Central Bank, he served in senior positions of various core departments, including Senior Economist in the International Division of the Economics Department, Deputy Manager of the Banking Department and Director of the Bank Supervision Department. In 1985, he was appointed Assistant to the Executive Director (Southeast Asia Group) of the International Monetary Fund and in 1997, assisted the World Bank Mission on Bangladesh Banking Sector Reform. His experience as a supervisor hails from 11 years of service in the Bank Supervision Department which is responsible for the oversight of financial institutions.

Mr. Zakaria began his foray into insurance in 1999 with his appointment as Director of the Insurance Supervision Department before subsequently assuming the position of Director of the Insurance Regulation Department. In his current position, Mr. Zakaria oversees the administration of legislation and regulations governing the insurance industry in Malaysia, and provides strategic guidance in formulating regulatory policies, guidelines and prudential measures for the protection of policy owners and the ongoing development of the industry.