Zuraina’s scholastic achievements in archaeology are significant at national, regional and world levels. These discoveries have impacted on the understanding of our past as well as their contributions to the history of mankind, placing Malaysia on the global map. This is especially reflected by Malaysia’s success in obtaining the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage inscription for the Lenggong Valley in 2012 after many years of research which began in 1987. The results of these studies have been transmitted to the larger population through school textbooks and university courses in archaeology as well as Lenggong Archaeological Gallery, Perak Museum and the National Museum.

Academically, she revised intellectual thinking on the early populations of Southeast Asia. As a ‘lone ranger’ scholar trying to establish a whole new discipline that did not have obvious job opportunities for graduates, she waged a steep uphill battle from 1970’s. She took this challenge as a mission, not an ambition, even using personal savings to fund the early excavations.

After retirement, the challenge of institution building was again placed on her. Zuraina was asked to establish the Department of National Heritage in the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage in 2006. She was given the challenging task of implementing the newly passed Heritage Act of 2005, and creating public awareness. By the end of her 8 year stint she had established 3 museums or galleries, conserved, inscribed, protected and registered thousands of heritage buildings, monuments, artifacts and intangibles. She put in place structures and systems that are used in the department till today. She did what is almost impossible – the return of 5,000 year old Gua Cha (Kelantan) skeletons from her alma mater Cambridge University to the Government of Malaysia.

In her career she has helped establish archaeology as an academic discipline and trained a generation of archaeologists. Her scientific research and discoveries have expanded the history of Malaysia deep into the past while contributing to theory and methodology; she influenced policy so that archaeology is included in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and heritage is protected through a separate Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA); built institutions such as Centre for Archaeological Research Malaysia in USM and the Department of National Heritage and museums such as the Lenggong Archaeological Gallery; and brought Archaeology and Heritage in Malaysia to global attention.

At the international level, Zuraina worked hard to obtain a seat for Malaysia on the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage Committee. For the first time, after 23 years of membership, Malaysia was voted into this Committee that evaluates nominations for this much sought after inscription, a source of pride and revenue for countries. After a 4 year stint on the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, and upon retirement from the Department of National Heritage, she is currently helping in the preparation of dossiers for Malaysia’s forthcoming nomination of sites for the UNESCO World Heritage inscription.