Hall of Fame — Ms Ashley Voon Hsien Mei
Steadfast, reliable, and intelligent — these were the traits that defined Ashley Voon Hsien Mei. Anyone who knew her could not help but think of her when these qualities were mentioned. Her presence was unmistakable, her character instantly recognisable. But beyond her calm confidence and sharp mind, there was a deeper story shaped by the challenges and choices that had made her who she was today.
Hailing from the ‘Land of the Hornbills’, Ashley is the youngest of three siblings. Her two elder brothers, each forged in different paths — a doctor twelve years her senior, and an engineer seven years older — stood like towering pillars in her life, her childhood was filled with the wisdom of her family.
In her early years, Ashley moved through life quietly, an unassuming student, drifting through the halls of her primary and early secondary school with little motivation to push herself academically. But even heroes begin as ordinary souls. It was not until her brothers, though typically hands-off, became her guiding light when it mattered most. Their subtle yet profound influence encouraged her to aim higher. Though they rarely involved themselves in her choices, when they did offer advice, it was always with care and purpose. Slowly but surely, Ashley began to immerse herself in her studies — the hours spent studying grew longer, her determination sharper, as if some dormant fire had finally been stoked to life. What started as a small shift in mindset grew into a remarkable transformation, Ashley had evolved into one of the top-performing students in her secondary school and Form 6.
Though her brothers were responsible for her academic success, it was her parents’ steady hands that moulded her moral compass. From a young age, Ashley’s parents were firm in ensuring that she grew up with an unyielding sense of right and wrong. Their expectations were not tied to academic achievement or success, but to the content of her character.
They did not scold her if she faltered in her studies or stumbled over a difficult subject. What they could never abide, however, were lapses in integrity. To lie, to cheat, to stray from a path of honesty — these were the true failures in their eyes. They taught her that success without honour was hollow, and that the choices she made would define her more than any mark on a paper.
In return, her parents gave her space to make her own decisions, trusting that the values they had instilled would guide her in all things. As long as Ashley acted with clear conscience, her parents refrained from interfering, offering her both space and trust to grow. They never imposed their ideals, nor did they force her down paths that did not align with her passions or desires.
In her younger years, Ashley may not have realised the significance of this freedom, but as she grew older and witnessed the struggles of her friends — many of whom lived under the weight of parental expectations — she came to understand the unique privilege she had been given.
“I have come to realise that my parents’ relentless support in all my endeavours have enabled me to excel and reach heights that I never thought would have been possible without their support.”
Ashley and her family — her constant source of motivation and support
Ashley often spoke of her parents and siblings as central figures in her life, but there were two others whose impact, though perhaps unintentional, was just as profound — her niece Rachel and nephew James. They may not have known it, but they became her quiet sanctuary in moments of overwhelm. Whenever the pressures of her work or studies became too much, she would turn to them —not for advice or guidance, but for the simple joy of their company. Playing with them or listening to their stories from school offered a kind of peace she could not find elsewhere. Much like how others might find comfort in the presence of a beloved pet, Ashley found solace in those small, everyday moments with Rachel and James.
Ashley’s endless source of laughter, her beloved niece, Rachel Voon
Back in secondary school, Ashley Voon Hsien Mei was already defying expectations. While many would assume a future law student would steer clear of the complexities of science and numbers, Ashley took an unconventional path. Her love for Mathematics led her to pursue the Science stream in both SPM and STPM, shattering the stereotype that those bound for the legal world avoid numbers. She chose the Science stream as an insurance plan, should her future interests pivot toward STEM instead of law.
But as time passed, it became clear that Ashley’s true calling was elsewhere. She had always been intrigued with the law and her curiosity sparked even more during Form Six, when the 1MDB scandal started dominating headlines. It was a debacle that shook the nation, and Ashley found herself drawn into the intricacies of it — curious on how the law would navigate such a labyrinthine case. Her fascination with law began to bloom, and she sought out wisdom from her relatives about the matter. Each conversation became a stepping stone toward her decision.
During her time as a student in the Faculty, Ashley graduated with first-class honours. What set her apart was not just her academic excellence — it was her ability to balance it all. Despite her heavy involvement in extracurricular activities, she managed to juggle everything with remarkable poise. When asked how she did it, Ashley revealed her secret; time management, grit, and working smart.
Her approach to time management was both practical and precise. Every morning over breakfast, she would mentally map out her day, focusing on the tasks that needed attention. She also maintained a weekly and monthly calendar, keeping track of long-term commitments. Even so, she knew the importance of balance — her schedule always included time for breaks, meals and even a quick nap when needed.
As for grit, Ashley was inspired by Angela Duckworth’s book ‘Grit’, where it explored the age-old question — do people excel because of innate talent, or is it the relentless hours they put into mastering their craft? The answer, as Ashley saw it, was both. Talent could give someone a head start, but hard work was what carried them across the finish line.
From this, Ashley understood that there were no shortcuts to success. If she committed to a project, there was no half-hearted effort; she would pour herself into it, dedicating the time and energy required to see it through. Complaining about the workload was not an option. She believed that when you align yourself, the work itself becomes the reward, and the results speak for themselves.
Ashley claimed that she had been drawn to two distinct areas of law, which are Constitutional Law and Company Law. Her passion for Constitutional Law in particular, was due to her realisation that unless one is a law student, few truly understand the rights enshrined within the ‘Document of Destiny’ — the Federal Constitution. This charter, the backbone of Malaysia’s legal framework, grants citizens fundamental liberties, yet remains a mystery to many. Time and time again, she witnessed people present assumptions about the nation’s legal landscape as facts, unaware of their inaccuracies. This had elicited a great desire in Ashley to dispel myths and misunderstandings regarding the matter provided in the Federal Constitution.
Whenever the name Ashley Voon was spoken within the corridors of the Law Faculty, one thought immediately followed — her remarkable mooting skills. To call her a mooter was an understatement. She was a force to be reckoned with on the moot court stage. She had collected numerous accolades, from clinching the championship at the ASEAN Cape Town Convention Moot 2023 to being in the sole team representing Malaysia in the Asia Cup International Law Moot Court Competition 2023 and 2024. In 2023, her team achieved an impressive fifth place out of 55 competing teams, and in 2024, they secured the position of second-highest ranked team in the Preliminary Rounds.
Ashley’s fifth mooting championship; she is pictured receiving the Champion award alongside her teammates and the esteemed panel of judges of the FDI International Arbitration Moot 2022
Her journey in mooting had begun in the most unlikely of times. Ashley had started university during the pandemic, a time when the world had gone virtual, and opportunities to connect and thrive felt few and far between. Determined not to let the isolation define her experience, she sought out extracurricular activities, hoping to make the most of those years confined behind a screen. When Catherine Nathan, her batchmate, asked if she would be interested in joining the Multimedia University Novice Mooting Competition, Ashley, without any prior knowledge of mooting, said yes.
Ashley’s core support group in the Faculty, Catherine Alicia Nathan and Chelsea Ho
In that first competition, under the keen guidance of coach Mr Raphael Kok, Ashley discovered her passion for mooting. When the day came, Ashley vividly remembered the exhilaration of submitting before the former Federal Court judge, Tan Sri Jeffrey Tan Kok Wha— a figure both intimidating and razor-sharp. Yet, instead of shrinking, Ashley and her team rose to the occasion and soon they were declared Champion. Ashley herself was named Best Oralist, an honour that solidified her as a rising star in the mooting arena.
Ashley, together with former Federal Court Judge, Tan Sri Jeffrey Tan and his spouse
From that day on, her passion for mooting ignited like wildfire, and there was no looking back. During her law school years, she participated in eight additional moot competitions, securing victories in five of them and further establishing her reputation as an outstanding mooter.
Ashley and her teammates receiving the championship trophy for winning the FDI Moot 2022 (Asia-Pacific Region) at King’s College, London
Which competition pushed your limits the most and what did you take away from that experience?
Even the strongest heroes face trials, and for Ashley Voon, the Frankfurt Investment Moot 2022 was a true test for her resolve. It was the most daunting yet the most rewarding moot competition she had ever participated in. Ashley’s journey through the competition was marked by three challenges — the complexity of the format, the nature of the subject matter, and the stark lack of resources.
The competition, unlike any she had faced before, stood out for its gruelling demands. Most competitions asked teams to tackle two to four issues, but here they were confronted with nine. Each team had one hour’s notice before the oral round to determine which three issues the judges wanted them to present. It was a format that left no room for error and demanded the ability to think swiftly under pressure.
As for the nature of subject matter, the moot revolves around investment law. However, the subject matter grew even more complicated as the moot unfolded against the backdrop of a European country, requiring them to draw on the European Union Treaty. But Ashley’s team was far from proficient in European Union law; in fact, they had little to no experience with it. It was a steep mountain to climb, one made even more arduous by the absence of a coach. Abandoned to their own devices, they sought out Mr Raphael Kok for guidance, grasping at whatever support they could find in the face of mounting pressure.
Despite these adversities, Ashley came out on top of the competition with newfound wisdom. Her resolve to never give up became her guiding principle. For others, it might have been easier to surrender, to let the weight of the task drown them. But not Ashley, nor her team. Against all odds, they persevered, using every tool at their disposal, no matter how limited. Their workdays stretched impossibly long—Ashley would rise at five in the morning, her days consumed by research, chipping away at the nine issues piece by piece. This relentless routine continued for two weeks, until she could confidently grasp the arguments she needed to make.
The second lesson Ashley took to heart was the irreplaceable value of teamwork. No one could deny the truth of the old adage, ‘no man is an island’. Even the most diligent member could labour tirelessly, but if the rest of the team faltered, all that effort would amount to little. Ashley understood this well.
“In a moot, or any competition for that matter, each person must be able to bring something to the table and contribute to the team’s success.”
Ashley and her Monroe E. Price Media Law Moot 2021 teammates and coaches celebrated their championship win over hotpot
In addition to her relentless determination, Ashley was also a freelance research assistant, taking on captivating legal cases. She had delved into projects like researching jurisdiction ratione temporis for an ICSID Review article and assisting an English King’s Counsel on a Privy Council appeal, focusing on whether winding-up proceedings of a joint venture company could be stayed pending arbitration. Yet, there was one particular case that held a special place in her heart — her very first project.
She remembered it vividly, the complexities of the case etched into her memory. It was an arbitration matter under a Singaporean practitioner, and it had pushed her beyond her limits. The issue she was assigned to research had almost no authorities, leaving her with few places to turn. For weeks, she poured four to five hours a day into the search, but no authority seemed to favour their position. Despite her frustration, the practitioner remained understanding, acknowledging how scarce the resources were. Yet, she urged Ashley to keep going, to exhaust every avenue and ensure no stone was left unturned. It was a test of both endurance and perseverance—one that shaped Ashley’s resolve in her early career.
Ashley’s accomplishments extended far beyond her professional roles. This remarkable woman, not just a paralegal, research assistant, and a pupil, somehow found the time to dedicate herself to volunteer work as well. She was frequently called upon as a speaker and mentor at various events, particularly those focused on moot competitions. She had been invited to guide aspiring advocates at the UM Route to Moot Program, the Lex Virtus Orientation Program, and had even taken on the role of coach for both the UM KL Bar team and the Champion Team in the 2023 Sports Arbitration Mooting Competitions. Her passion for law and advocacy also led her to participate in the Constitutional Literacy Initiative in 2022, which aimed to promote and champion literacy of the Federal Constitution, democracy & the rule of law across all members of the Malaysian public.
Ashley pictured with freshmen and the High Committee of UM Lex Virtus during the ‘Legal Research and Writing’ workshop in 2023
What outcome do you seek to achieve in such pursuits?
Ashley recalled that her motivation to serve as a speaker at various events stemmed from a deep desire to share her hard-earned experience and knowledge with others. She understood firsthand the challenges of navigating the vast and often overwhelming legal landscape as a student. She knew all too well that the most essential skills were often those left untaught in traditional classroom settings. Having faced these struggles herself, she felt compelled to offer the lessons she had learned along her journey through platforms such as Lex Virtus, Route to Moot, and the Sarawak Student Initiative. Her chosen topic was often Legal Research, as she believed it to be the foundation of any aspiring lawyer’s skill set. To her, mastering research was the key to unlocking one’s potential in the legal world, and she was determined to help others find that key.
Ashley giving a talk on ‘How to Build a Strong CV’ at the Sarawak Student Initiative Education Roadshow 2024
When it came to her volunteer work outside of speaking engagements, Ashley’s goal was simple — to learn from others' lived experiences and gain a fresh perspective on life. One such experience was her visit to the Kachin refugees' school in Chow Kit, and another was organizing a movie screening for Family Frontiers during her time as a director of the UM Consti Team. These communities faced hardships that many could hardly imagine, yet, despite the overwhelming obstacles before them, they persevered. Their resilience and determination inspired Ashley deeply, reminding her of the strength found in the human spirit, even in the face of adversity.
Beyond the legal world, Ashley’s love for reading has always been a defining part of her life. In secondary school, she was utterly absorbed by the Harry Potter series, Mortal Instruments, and Percy Jackson — fitting for someone who, like the characters she admired, began as an ordinary soul destined to grow into a heroine in her own story. She vividly remembers those late nights, staying up until 6 a.m., unable to tear herself away from the pages, her passion for books undeniable.
Though university brought a busier schedule, Ashley still carved out time to read during semester breaks. She broadened her literary horizons, diving into the works of Mitch Albom, Kazuo Ishiguro, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Alongside fiction, her eldest brother—a devoted productivity enthusiast—introduced her to self-help books like The 5 AM Club, Atomic Habits, Grit, Ikigai, and Elephant in the Brain. At first, she approached them with scepticism, suspecting they might simply reiterate familiar ideas. And while some did, she came to appreciate these books as valuable reminders of the principles she wanted to embody in her daily life.
“Even if it covers what you would already know, it was a good reminder of the values that I should uphold and practice in my daily life.”
In her spare moments, Ashley made sure to balance her life with friends and activities that kept her grounded. She stayed active with hot yoga, Pilates, and badminton, and always had a passion for trying new things—whether it was picking up golf, playing pool, or exploring new cafes. Her adventurous spirit didn’t stop there. She also found joy in unwinding with her favourite sitcoms, with The Office, Modern Family, Brooklyn 99, Rick and Morty, and Solar Opposites becoming her go-to shows.
What are your aspirations for the future and what do you envision achieving?
“As a fresh graduate, I can’t tell you for certain what my aspirations for the future are at this stage.”
Ashley’s short-term ambitions are firmly set: to complete her pupillage and, through the rotation system, discover where her true passion in law lies. Yet, her goals do not end there. Off the legal stage, she has taken up a new challenge — golf. Recently starting lessons in KL, Ashley is eager to improve her game. Though she may still miss the ball from time to time, it’s only a matter of time before her determination pays off. For someone as driven as Ashley, mastering golf is just another victory waiting to happen!
As Ashley reflects on her remarkable journey, her heart swells with gratitude for those who have been instrumental in her success. Her family has been her constant source of strength, never wavering in their belief in her choices and always encouraging her to pursue her dreams. A special acknowledgment goes to her mother, whose unwavering cheer and warm wishes before every significant moment have fortified her spirit.
Her friends, too, have inspired her daily. She is especially grateful to Catherine Nathan and Chelsea Ho, who saw her potential long before she did. She appreciates her seniors—Luc Choong Guang Sang, Carmel Grace Philip, Shafiqah Amira Mohd Azlan, Edward Lee Way Yang, Lee Jing Long, and Akhmal Amaluddin — for their invaluable advice. Luc has a gift for turning every little inconvenience into a motivational moment, Grace is the friend who always gets it, Shaf is her biggest supporter, and Edward brings endless laughter with his quirky humor. Jing Long’s insightful notes and Akhmal’s wise words have guided her through tough times.
Ashley, alongside her seniors, Akhmal Amaluddin, Carmel Grace Philip, Luc Choong, and Lee Jing Long at the UM Lex Gala dinner in 2023
Ashley also wants to recognise Melvin Ng, Marsya Safri, Myra Wong, Isabel Sudan Uggah, Maria Siti, and Davidson Lawrence Junior for their support during law school. A special shoutout goes to Myra for downloading articles she could not access—true friendship in action!
Ashley with Melvin Ng, a ‘brother from another mother’ who knows her better than herself
Lastly, she could not overlook her former boss and mentor, Mr Raphael Kok Chi Ren. Without his encouragement, she might not have pursued mooting competitions or had the chance to work with esteemed silk lawyers and senior counsels. Each person has played a vital role in her journey, and Ashley knows she would not be where she is without them.
Ashley with her former bosses at Lim Chee Wee Partnership, Mr Raphael Kok and Dato’ Lim Chee Wee
Though her story may seem to reach a pause here, it is truly just the beginning of a grand adventure for Ashley Voon Hsien Mei.
Written by Amritpal Singh.
Reviewed by Rabiatul Insyirah and (Adele) Soh Chien Yi.