Aira Azhari is Senior Researcher in Democracy and Governance at the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS), a public policy think tank based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Her areas of research are independent institutions, transparency and accountability in governance, anti-corruption and civil and political rights. She has provided analysis on political and economic issues for both Malaysian and international press, including Channel News Asia and the BBC.

She holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom and a Master of Laws (Public International Law) from the London School of Economics and Political Science.