Effariza Hanafi received the B.Eng. in Telecommunications (first class honours) from the University of Adelaide, Adelaide, S.A., Australia, and the Ph.D. degree in electrical and electronic engineering from the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand, in 2010 and 2014, respectively. She joined the Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where she is now a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Engineering. She is actively involved in research as a principal investigator and has secured research grants from Fundamental Research Grants Scheme (MOE, Malaysia) and internal research grants in Universiti Malaya. She has published more than 40 journal papers in ISI-indexed publications and refereed conference papers. She is an active reviewer for numerous high-quality journals such as IEEE Transactions on Communications, IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, IEEE Access and several international conferences such as IEEE Global Communications Conference.   She is currently a Senior Member for IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers). She was the recipient of the MARA Scholarship for undergraduate study, and the Codan Achievement Prize in 2010. She was also the recipient of Scholarship from the Ministry of Higher Education and University of Malaya, Malaysia for her doctoral studies, and the best student poster presentation at the Australian Communications Theory Workshop (AusCTW) 2013. In 2015, she was the recipient of the University of Malaya Excellence Awards. She was an awardee for financial support from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for AUN/SEED-Net Regional Conference on Computer and Information Engineering (RCCIE) 2018.   Her main research interests span widely across the area of Internet of Things (system integration, smart system), wireless communication (5G networks, channel characterization, cooperative and distributed communications, non-orthogonal multiple access), RF technologies (PCB fabrication, UHF RFID tag antenna) and optical communications (fiber laser and sensor).

Associate Professor Dr Asrul is currently in the Department of Architecture at the Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Malaya,  Kuala Lumpur, and has worked for the past 20 years. Has extensive teaching portfolio included, but is not limited to, teaching responsibilities, academic leadership responsibilities, the design, development, and accreditation of curriculum for both the Bachelor of Science in Architecture and Master of Architecture degrees, participation in research and scholarly activities, and involvement in teaching, learning, and qualified practise. As a result of his extensive background, he has been invited to join the non-executive council member in the board of Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM),  and has been Accreditation Board of Architects Malaysia (LAM). Dr Asrul has served as Deputy Dean of Research and Development. Additionally, he has been appointed as visiting lecturer in Universiti Islam Indonesia in the year 2018 among others and presented as keynote speakers in international conferences organised by Architectural Institutions as well as universities locally and overseas. Academic and Research Career: With a desire to delve deeper into the world of academia, Dr. Asrul pursued higher studies and obtained a Doctorate in Architecture from University of Nottingham UK. Their research work in this area garnered significant attention and acclaim, establishing in the domain on sustainabile architecture and urban habitat. Dr. Asrul's relentless pursuit of excellence extended beyond the confines of their research lab. He actively engaged with students and fellow researchers, fostering a culture of intellectual curiosity and scientific rigor. This dedication to the profession and commitment to academic excellence earned Dr Asrul the "Certificate of Excellence Services" in 2006, 2020, and 2022, and also "Excellent Service Award," 2021, signifying the profound impact he had on the academic community over the years. His academic journey is a testament to the power of dedication, passion, and a commitment to excellence. Their numerous overseas engagement awards and accolades, including the "Diamond Award" British Invention Show", "Certificate of Excellence Services," "Excellent Service Award," and the "Vice Chancellor Price," exemplify their exceptional contributions to academia, research, and the promotion of sustainable development. Dr. Asrul's has sat and contribute as internal/external/chairman of over 15 thesis proposal Defence (PD), Candidature Defence (CD) and also Thesis Seminar, he had scholarly impact on the academic community and the dedication to environmental stewardship will continue to shape a brighter and more sustainable future for new generation of academia. Dr. Asrul has accomplishments and contributions have created significant impacts both locally and internationally. Earlier in May 2022, he took on the role of External Examiner for the Architectural Programme at the International University Kuala Lumpur (IUKL). This position allowed him to apply his expertise to influence the quality and direction of architectural education in one of Malaysia's prominent universities. In August 2022, Dr. Asrul achieved a significant milestone when he became the first Malaysian RU lecturer to deliver a public lecture at the University of Mongolia. His participation in ARCHASIA 2022-Ulanbatar paved the way for international academic exchange and further showcased his thought leadership in the field of architecture. Furthermore Dr. Asrul was appointed as the only Malaysian coordinator for the Indonesian Universities Architectural School Validation at Universitas Islam Indonesia. This esteemed role, entrusted to him by the Board of Architects Malaysia, in October 2022, demonstrates his knowledge and skills in architectural education. Dr. Asrul's organizational skills and academic prominence were further recognized on June 24, 2023, when he was appointed as the sole Malaysian RU Academic staff joint conference coordinator for the World Architectural Forum, scheduled to be held in 2024. The Malaysian Institute of Architects, a highly respected professional body, entrusted him with this important responsibility. His international reach, Dr. Asrul was appointed as the only Malaysian External Examiner and Guest Lecturer for the 2023-2024 academic session at the Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Hasanuddin in Sulawesi, Indonesia. This appointment, effective from June 26, 2023, signifies the respect and trust placed in his professional judgment and educational capabilities. Dr. Asrul's career and profound contributions to architecture and education have contribute to Universiti Malaya, his department and the nation. His commitment to fostering international collaboration and promoting excellence in architectural field and education continues to inspire his peers and the next generation of academia.

Associate Professor Dr. Peter Aning Tedong joined the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at the Universiti Malaya in December 2014. He currently serves as the Deputy Dean (Undergraduate) at the Faculty of Built Environment. Prior to this role, he was the Head of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning from 2023 to 2026 and previously served as the Head of the Centre for Malaysian Indigenous Studies from 2018 to 2023. As a scholar in urban studies and housing, Dr. Peter Aning Tedong’s research interests broadly focus on housing policy and governance, the political economy of urban planning, as well as neighbourhood sustainability and planning. He has received numerous research grants from both the public and private sectors and has led several high-impact national and international projects. Notably, he served as Project Leader for the Family Wellbeing Index funded by the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN), with findings published in the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13). He is also the Project Leader for a study on poverty alleviation funded by the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) Sarawak, and the Principal Investigator of a comparative study on informal housing in Makassar (Indonesia) and Sabah (Malaysia) funded by the Association of Asian Social Science Research Councils (AASSREC). His recently completed projects explored socio-spatial planning in the context of Malaysia’s urban future and the dynamics of poverty among Indigenous communities in rural areas. He has also conducted extensive work on the role of governance in addressing the needs of vulnerable communities—including refugees, stateless persons, and foreign workers—while examining broader issues of housing and migration in Malaysian cities. His latest research interests center on multi-layered governance of affordable housing, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in relation to neighborhood and community planning, and the impacts of migration on regional and urban development. While his empirical focus is on Southeast Asia, Dr. Peter Aning has also conducted fieldwork in Europe, the Borneo Islands, North America, and Oceania.