I'm a Senior Lecturer at the English Language Department, Faculty of Languages and Linguistics. After more than two decades of working in language, communication and skills development, I joined UM in 2019 to contribute to progressing the field of health(care) discourse in Malaysia and beyond. In my current role, I teach languages and linguistics courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level, while supervising and conducting research. Research Focus - Improving Health & Wellbeing by Applying a Discursive ToolkitI study matters related to language, health(care) and wellbeing, applying qualitative and discursive perspectives to address problems and inform practice in provider-patient interaction, health education and other related topics. I am particularly interested in analysis of real-life interaction, to answer questions on how people "do things" with language in health-related contexts. For example, how do doctors and patients collaboratively make decisions about treatment, manage chronic health conditions, and discuss concerns by interacting with each other in person or online? I'm also interested in communication in healthcare education, interprofessional discourse and patient education, alongside how people express and make meaning of health-related issues via their talk and stories. My current funded  projects include studies on professional socialisation of house officers (FRGS), patient experience of gum disease (IIRG, UM). Expertise -Enhancing Language and Communication in Diverse SettingsBeyond my research and academic duties, I help enhance language and communication in academic and professional settings, applying a diverse knowledge and skillset composed over 25 years of experience. Before joining academia, I was engaged in various positions mostly as a consultant/independent contractor, including as a language/content service provider for over 15 years and as a language/communication skills instructor for over 17 years. In these roles, I provided language consulting services and skills training for corporate and individual clients in Malaysia and internationally. I have a CELTA qualification and am a HRDF certified trainer. My work history is available at https://my.linkedin.com/in/ayeshah-syed-0468293 Professional Activities and LeadershipAt UM, I have been actively involved in advancement of research and academic practices. From 2022-2024, I led the research portfolio at the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics as the Deputy Dean of Research and Innovation, with other appointments including as the Protem-Deputy Head of the Medical Devices Centre of Excellence, UM and Taskforce member for UM's Programme Educational goals. Outside the university, I  am involved in professional associations related to languages and linguistics and social advancement, including Persatuan Bahasa Moden Malaysia (President, 2022-2024, Vice President-2024 - 2026, Exco member since 2013) and the citizens' movement organisation, the Association of Voices of Peace, Conscience and Reason (Exco member - since 2016, Treasurer-2025-present).Research Collaboration and Supervision Opportunities I welcome potential collaborations aligned with my expertise and also enjoy connecting with other researchers to learn about their work, gain insight into new contexts, fields and perspectives and explore how I might contribute to their research activities.  In terms of postgraduate supervision, I supervise projects that apply discursive approaches to address problems in health-related contexts, focusing on interaction. Note to potential supervisees: I have limited availability for 2025-2026 due to a heavy supervision load. 

Dr. Zarina Zakaria is an Associate Professor at the Department of Accounting, Faculty of Business & Economics, University of Malaya. She received her PhD of Business & Management from the Nottingham University Business School, United Kingdom, in 2011. She obtained her Masters of Business Administration (Accountancy) from the University of Malaya, and her Bachelor in Accountancy from Cardiff Business School, United Kingdom.  She is currently the Audit & Risk Management Committee of Pelaburan Mara Berhad and the Chairperson for the Board of Trustee of the Malaysian Accountancy Research and Education Foundation (MAREF) as well as a member of the Interpretations Committee for the Malaysian Accounting Standards Board (MASB). She is also a member of MICPA Education & Technical Committee since 2017. She is an associate member of MICPA, MIA and ACCA and during her tenure as the MIA Council, she sat in various Committees including MIA Disciplinary Committee, MIA Examination Committee and the MIA Audit & Risk Management Committee. She has published numerous articles and book chapters in her area of expertise including in the Accounting Forum and Management Decision. Her research interests include sustainability, accountability, and governance. Zarina has also acted as a reviewer for several journals, including Management Decision, Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies, and a variety of international conferences

Dr. Sareena Hanim Hamzah is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Sports and Exercise Science, Universiti Malaya for over 20 years and currently she serves in an administrative role as Deputy Dean of Higher Degree, Research and Innovation. Dr Sareena completed a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry at Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur. Then she studied at University of Glasgow, Scotland where she obtained her Master of Medical Sciences in Human Nutrition and PhD in Sports Nutrition. Dr. Sareena teaches and researches within the area of Sports Nutrition and Biochemistry of Exercise. Her primary interest concerns the association of nutrition with health, fitness and exercise performance. Dr. Sareena’s research is focused on the influence of diet on exercise energy metabolism and sports performance as well as on body weight management. Her research interest also includes the effects of natural products on antioxidant activity and oxidative stress. Dr. Sareena has been invited as keynote and guess speaker at various conferences, congresses and seminars, both locally and internationally. She also serves as an editorial board of international journals and has been appointed as an Executive Committee member of Asian Nutrition Society of Sports and Health (2015 to present).