Monash grad's battery-free wearable wins the James Dyson Award 2026 in Malaysia

Source: Dyson. From left: award winners Iaduray, SLIC, and Pillay.

Hayley Nea Iaduray from Monash University Malaysia has been named the Malaysia National Winner of the James Dyson Award 2026.

This year’s winners are Iaduray for a wearable for people with Parkinson's, ZeMor, followed by runners-up SLIC (Solar Liquid Integration for Communities) for a solar-powered water purification unit, and Pillay, for a child-friendly vital-sign screening device.

Pae Yusof, Head of Design Engineering at Dyson and judge for the 2026 James Dyson Award Malaysia said: “Every year, we're reminded of the depth of engineering talent among young innovators in Malaysia. The James Dyson Award was created to recognise and encourage that next generation of problem-solvers, and Hayley is a strong example of the talent and determination we see across this year's entries.”

The three inventions will progress to the international stage of the James Dyson Award. The global winners, selected by Sir James Dyson will each receive RM162,999, while national winners are awarded RM27,160 each.