A native of Malaysia, Poon Chiew Hwa has performed in the United States, Mexico, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Malaysia. Her performances in Arizona, USA, and at the Conservatorio de las Rosas in Morelia, Mexico, received outstanding newspaper reviews. One reviewer praised her as a pianist “who has the power to communicate her emotions intensely,” while another remarked that her concert left the audience “weeping with gratitude and admiration.” Chiew Hwa’s notable solo performances include the University of Arizona Pianists on Tour in the U.S. and Mexico, the Gijón International Piano Festival in Spain, recitals in Kuala Lumpur, and a concerto performance with the Missouri State University Symphony Orchestra. She has appeared as a guest artist at various universities, including Valley City State University, Missouri State University, the University of Malaya, and Conservatorio de las Rosas, among others. Additionally, she has been invited to present masterclasses at several institutions. Chiew Hwa has received numerous awards throughout her career. She won first place at the 2009 Missouri Music Teachers Association state piano competition and was selected as the alternate winner of the Music Teachers National Association Young Artist Competition (State-2009). In 2014, she secured First Prize and the Audience Prize at the Fifth Annual Lois Trester Piano Competition. Her winning performance was later broadcast on the local NPR station KUAT-FM in Tucson, Arizona. In addition to her performance achievements, she is an active adjudicator in various piano competitions across Malaysia. Chiew Hwa is recognized for her innovative music and movement sessions, tailored for diverse audiences, including dementia patients, senior citizens, children, and high school bands. Her research on music and movement has been featured in both local and international publications, underscoring her commitment to advancing this field. Dr. Poon is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Malaya and serves as a music examiner for Trinity College London. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance from the University of Arizona, where she studied under Professor Tannis Gibson. She also earned the Applied Credential in Dalcroze Education from the Longy School of Music in Boston.

Dr Song Sze Looi is a Senior Lecturer at the Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS), Universiti Malaya. She obtained her PhD in 2013 from the Universiti Malaya in the field of Algal Biotechnology. She later received a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Westminster International College. Currently, she is the Coordinator for the Degree Stacking and Mixed Mode programmes. Dr Song has gained expertise in genomics, bioinformatics, molecular phylogenetics, systematics and Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) such as NextSeq, MiSeq, HiSeq and Ion Torrent. Her research includes seaweeds, oysters, nematode parasites of public health importance, insects of agricultural importance and microbiomes. She has published more than 50 papers in ISI journals for example Scientific Reports, PLoS ONE, Acta Tropica, Genetica, Phycologia, Journal of Applied Phycology and Biochemical Systematics and Ecology. Her current H-index is 13 in Publons and 14 in Scopus. Dr Song has also established research collaborations with local and international researchers. Aside from academic achievement, she is also active in sports. She won second prize in the Isometrik Challenge organized by UM's Sport Centre in 2021. She has also achieved podium finish in several marathon events such as the Brooks Kuantan Run (Champion in 10 km Women's Open) and Taiping Cross Country Run (Second Runner-up in 7 km Women's Open).

PROFESSOR DR MOHD ZULKIFLEE ABU BAKAR MMC: 36394 NSR: 133761 MB BS (Mal), M Surg ORL-HNS (Mal), FRCS (Glas), AM (Mal) Fellowship in Rhinology & Skullbase Surgery Fellowship in Head & Neck OncoSurgery (Sloan-Kettering, NYC) Certified IFHNOS Board of Head and Neck Oncology Consultant Otorhinolaryngologist, Head & Neck Surgeon   Professor Dr Mohd Zulkiflee bin Abu Bakar (AB Zulkiflee) is a Senior Clinical Consultant, Otorhinolaryngologist and Head & Neck OncoSurgeon with over 19 years of professional experience in medical field. He is a former Head (Chairman) of Department from 2015-2018.   Prof Dr Zul obtained his medical degree, MB BS in 1999 who had undergone multiple clinical postings, including junior medical officer in orthopaedics surgery, senior medical officer in urology and otorhinolaryngology, Ministry of Health Malaysia before joining university as an academician. He started his career in university as a trainee lecturer, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Malaya in 2004 under Young Academic Training Award, Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia. After completing his postgraduate clinical training in 2008, he has been involved in various undergraduate-postgraduate teachings, research projects and paper presentations mainly in basic otology, laser phonosurgery, sleep apnoea, endoscopic rhinology and skullbase surgery, neurotology specialty and head & neck oncosurgery.  He had advanced clinical exposure in Otology, Skullbase Surgery, Head & Neck Oncology at NHS Guy’s & St Thomas’ and King’s Hospital, London, UK., modified otoplasty techniques under Prof Sven Olof Wikström, Chairman of Scandinavian Ear Reconstruction Centre, Sweden.   His presence in national and international arenas has widely been established as an invited speaker, key demonstrator, facilitator and course director in various distinguished forums, workshops and seminars, namely Laser Phonosurgery Workshop, International Asian Federation of Laryngectomee Association (AFLA) – UMMC seminar, Asian Cochlear Implant Seminar, International Bonebridge Workshop, Otoplasty & Ear Reconstruction Seminar, National Vertigo Masterclass, ASEAN Young Sinus Surgeon Forum, International Rhinology Innovative Symposium (IRIS), International Symposium on Recent Advances in Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyposis (ISRNP) and regular twice a year International UM Advanced Endoscopic Rhinology & Anterior Skullbase, Advanced Otology & Lateral Skullbase Workshop. He is a co-mentor for fellows in rhinology, otology & skullbase surgery from various countries.   He is a member of department cochlear implant meeting and one of Standard and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia (SIRIM) Surgical Implant committee members in otology implants. He is also a member of national rhinology meeting, allergic clinic, head & neck oncology meeting, OT subcommittee forum, ear reconstruction, cleft lip & palate clinic, voice, snoring & swallowing clinic, surgical laser safety, UM Robotic Surgery committee and various advanced ORL-HNS subspecialty meetings.  He is also a member of Academy of Medicine, College of Surgeons Malaysia, and a life member of Malaysian Society of Oncology, Malaysian Medical Association. He is a member of National Conjoint Board of ORL-HNS since 2011 and a member for Malaysian Qualification Register (MQA) in ORL-HNS Masters programme. He is a member of the Medical Advisory Council (UMMC), Medical & Dental Advisory Council (UMSC) and Clinical Research Advisory Council (UM). He received Appreciation Award in 2006 and Distinguished Service Award in 2012 and 2016 from University of Malaya. He has appeared in several public media, forums, talk shows and prime-time news medical promotion on his areas of expertise.   He has published numerous papers in medical journals, ebooks and books from his field. He is a reviewer and member of editorial board for some high indexed otorhinolaryngology and surgical journals since 2009. Prof Zul is also a certified International Council Harmonisation Good Clinical Practice (ICH-GCP) researcher and chairman for Department Research Centre, Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Research (ORCLE). He has been a Principal Investigator or Sub-Investigator in more than 15 past and on-going registry/clinical studies especially in Audiology, Laryngology and Head & Neck Oncology. He is also a clinical and non-clinical research supervisor for diploma, undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD students. He is a trained surgeon in Head & Neck Robotic Surgery.   His special areas of research and clinical interest are general/paediatrics otorhinolaryngology, endoscopic rhinology & skullbase surgery, neurotology, audiology, vertigo, tinnitus, sleep apnoea, laryngology, speech and head & neck oncology.