Dr. Ata Hanifee is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of English at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS), University of Malaya. His scholarship, creative practice, and professional identity are defined by a singular ethos: being the bridge. Where others see rigid boundaries, he builds connections across the dynamic "in-betweens" of various disciplines. Holding a PhD in Translation and Adaptation Studies from Queen Mary University of London, an MA from the University of Malaya, and a BHSc from IIUM, his foundational expertise in literary stylistics seamlessly bridges the gap between linguistics and literature, as well as text and performance.

Beyond traditional academia, Dr. Ata unites theoretical frameworks with artistic practice through 15 years of multifaceted experience with the theatre collective EJKLSSeni with his crowning achievement, earning Best Scenography at the 2013 Kuala Lumpur Theatre Festival. He currently serves as their Publications Director, championing accessible arts through open textbook initiatives and digital self-publishing.

His current research navigates three intersecting strands. First, within Adaptation Studies, he investigates cross-medium adaptation as an experiential tool to cultivate intercultural empathy. Second, as an advocate for gamification, he integrates creative pedagogical tools with rigorous curriculum design to heighten classroom engagement. Third, occupying a critical intersection between the humanities and technology, he serves on the university's AI Module Taskforce. In this role, he designs strategies to ethically integrate generative AI, seeking synergies that boost academic productivity while safeguarding student cognitive ownership and advocating for the creative community.

Administratively, Dr. Ata serves as the Department's Student Mobility Facilitator. He applies his bridging philosophy directly to his leadership style, valuing consensus and collective investment to ensure every voice shapes the direction of a project. Looking ahead, he aims to establish a university-based creative lab and forge international partnerships, continuing to connect Malaysia’s creative industry with global platforms in both practice and philosophy.