Dato’ Dr. Hartini holds a Doctorate of Education (PhD) from Columbia University, New York. She began her career in the social impact sector by supporting underprivileged children through NGOs in the United States before returning to Malaysia to serve as a consultant for The Learning Lab and Yayasan Salam.
In 2010, she founded Yayasan Chow Kit, an organisation dedicated to advocating for marginalised children in the Chow Kit area. Two years later, she established Yayasan Siti Sapura Hussin to provide support for the elderly, the visually impaired, and children in need.
Beyond these initiatives, Dato’ Dr. Hartini has contributed her expertise globally, consulting for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, UNICEF, and the Asia School of Business. Currently, she is serving as a Philanthropy Consultant for UNICEF and sits on the boards of several organisations, including the Hong Leong Foundation and the Malaysia Collective Impact Initiative (MCII). Her leadership in senior policy and child rights advocacy has been widely recognised. She has been nominated three times for the Merdeka Award, was named Social Activist of the Year in 2015, and received Tatler’s Power & Purpose Award in 2021.