ASSOCIATE PROF. DR. LAU MAY NAK

Associate Professor Dr. Lau May Nak serves as an Associate Professor and Consultant Orthodontist at the Department of Paediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya. She obtained her Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree from the University of Malaya in 2008. After working as a dental officer in the Ministry of Health, Malaysia for 5 years, she pursued further studies at the University of Malaya, graduating with a Master of Orthodontics (With Distinction) and Membership in Orthodontics from the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 2017. Joining the University of Malaya as a lecturer in 2018, Dr. Lau is actively involved in teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students, conducting research, and treating orthodontic and obstructive sleep apnoea patients. She is among the pioneers who established a multidisciplinary team with various medical and dental specialists at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) for the management of obstructive sleep apnoea. She also serves in the Combined Oro-Craniomaxillofacial Deformities Clinic and Combined Paediatric Saliva Control Clinic at UMMC. Dr. Lau's research interests span a wide range of topics including orthodontics, anchorage, retention and relapse, teaching and learning methodologies, mandibular advancement appliance therapy, obstructive sleep apnoea, orthodontic materials, 3D printing, and orthognathic surgery. She holds the honorary position of assistant secretary at the Malaysian Association of Orthodontists, and she is a member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England and Glasgow. Additionally, Dr. Lau is a life member of the International Association of Student Clinicians – American Dental Association (SCADA).

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DR. FATIHA BINTI SENOM

Dr. Fatiha Senom is a Senior Lecturer and a Teacher Educator in the Department of Language & Literacy Education, Faculty of Education, Universiti Malaya, as well as a homegrown scholar whose work bridges rigorous scholarship with real-world impact in TESOL and Second Language Teacher Education (SLTE). She earned a B.Ed TESL from Universiti Malaya with distinction and was awarded the Anugerah Pelajaran Diraja (2009), followed by a fast-track Ph.D. in Education (TESL) in 2016. With research interests on ESL teacher identity; mentoring and professional development; translanguaging and language-learning investment; and ESL writing anxiety, her work advances TESOL and SLTE through research-informed pedagogy and curriculum reform, evidenced by excellent PhD research supervision and publications in Scopus/WoS venues, books with Routledge and Pearson, and chapters with leading presses. As principal investigator, Dr. Fatiha has successfully led four national and two international research grants in her areas of expertise and has served as co-researcher on eighteen additional national and international projects. She also leads language recovery and enrichment projects for underserved primary and secondary learners, most recently, the WIRA EDUCARE project in Kg. Melayu Wira Damai, Gombak, under the Ministry of Higher Education's Kampung Angkat Madani initiative, embodying the university’s mission of social responsibility and educational equity. Nationally, she serves as an expert panel member for the 2027 school curriculum reform (Kurikulum Persekolahan 2027) for Ministry of Education, chairperson of the evaluation panel for the English Textbook Package, 2027 School Curriculum for Dewan Bahasa dan Pustakaa MUET (Malaysian University English Test) item developer with Malaysian Examination Council, and a consultant to National Institute of Public Administration Malaysia (INTAN) on CEFR-aligned assessment; internationally, she has served as a consultant for Universitas Negeri Medan on Outcome-Based Education and delivered keynotes at several international conferences. As M.Ed ESL Programme Coordinator (2018–2024), she led curriculum design, review, and sustainability initiatives, introduced flexible study plans to support timely completion, and curated a world-class learning experience that strengthened postgraduate scholarly skills. Recognised with the Certificate of Excellent Service (2021, 2023) and the Excellence Service Award (2024), Dr. Fatiha advances UM’s academic footprint through research, teaching, policy engagement, and community partnership, shaping confident, ethically grounded English language professionals for a rapidly changing world.

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DR. SHAFA'ATUSSARA BINTI SILAHUDIN

Born in Muar, Johor, Dr. Shafa is a Senior Lecturer and Programme Coordinator of Socio-Culture/Malay Arts at Academy of Malay Studies, Universiti Malaya, Malaysia. She is a Guest Researcher affiliated with Faculty of Humanities, Leiden University, Netherlands. Dr. Shafa was a Fellow at Universiti Malaya Community Engagement Centre (UMCares) for 2 years (2022-2023). Dr. Shafa experienced as Assistant Fellow (2006-2007) and College Fellow/Secretary (2008-2013) at Kolej Kediaman Tun Syed Zahiruddin (Ninth Residential College). In 2013-2019, Dr. Shafa lived in Leiden, Netherlands to continue her doctorate studies. Starting January 2024 until present, Dr. Shafa serves as College Fellow/Treasurer at the same residential college.  Dr. Shafa obtained her Doctoral Degree from Leiden University, Netherlands on a thesis titled "Malay Singing in Pahang Villages: Identity and Practice" under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Bernard Arps (promotor) and Dr. Suryadi (co-promotor) from Leiden Institute for Area Studies (LIAS), Faculty of Humanities, Leiden University, Netherlands. Dr. Shafa earned her Master of Malay Studies in Performing Arts and Bachelor of Science in Biohealth (Honors), both from Universiti Malaya. Dr. Shafa specialises in heritage/traditional music, Southeast Asia music history, alternative culture (including punk rock), arts community, popular media and music care. Currently, she is working on a project - music care for caregivers - with her team members from Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Business and Economics, Faculty of Creative Arts and Faculty of Education. This project is under IIRG grant (2022-2025). As an ethnographer whose research sites exist between the online and offline in hybrid fields, Dr. Shafa's interdisciplinary music and/or expressive culture research moves with performers, industry professionals and audiences. In 2016, Dr. Shafa with Associate Professor Dr. Salinah Ja'afar, Associate Professor Dr. Tengku Intan Marlina Tengku Mohd Ali and Datuk Dr. Zurinah Hassan (Malaysian National Laureate) published a book titled "Wacana Pantun Melayu" (Publisher: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka). In 2023, Dr. Shafa published her book titled "Malay Singing in Pahang Villages: Identity and Practice" (Publisher: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka). In 2024, Dr. Shafa received Darjah Paduka Mahkota Perak (P.M.P.) in conjunction with Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah's 68th birthday. Dr. Shafa was awarded Anugerah Penggiat Seni (Seni Berbahasa) Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur in 2023, Anugerah Biduan Syair ASEAN in 2022 and Anugerah Bitara Syair Nusantara in 2021. Also, Dr. Shafa was awarded Skim Latihan Akademik Fellowships (2008-2011 & 2013-2016) from Universiti Malaya. In 2025, Dr. Shafa received Anugerah Cemerlang Universiti Malaya (ACUM) for the category of Arts, Culture & Creativity (Academic Staff) 2024. Dr. Shafa is a traditional music practitioner in Malaysia and has recorded more than 300 songs. She experienced in performing music in Southeast Asian Countries, China, Tasmania and the Netherlands. Her videos of music performance can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/@syafasara/videos

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