Started his research career in the think tank sector, Dr. Lee Chee Leong (Karl) is attracted to the rise of non-traditional diplomacy in the international order today. Such appeal has taken Dr. Lee into new research horizons that started with his Monash University's doctoral research on the Chinese sub-state diplomacy in China-ASEAN economic cooperation. With constructive supervision by Professor Helen Nesadurai and Associate Professor Kuik Cheng Chwee, Dr. Lee completed his doctoral thesis that unravels how a faraway and least developed sub-state of Guangxi managed to overcome its own hurdles, navigate the complexities within the Chinese state and become the frontline actor in China-ASEAN economic cooperation. Following his doctoral completion, Dr. Lee's research on non-traditional diplomacy has expanded into Taiwan’s quasi-state diplomacy in Southeast Asia. Such quest has led him spending at great length in comprehending the concept of soft power, a concept that finds its relevance to Taiwan, which has no official diplomatic with Southeast Asia but is heavily connected to the region and has to rely on soft power in its engagements with these Southeast Asian nations. Taking Malaysia as the first case study of Taiwan's soft power in the region, Dr. Lee is developing the third intervening variable correlating both Taiwanese soft power resources and outcomes, in his course of providing a dynamical explanation for such phenomenon. For the coming years, his research focus and publications will be on the different areas featuring Taiwan-Malaysia and Taiwan-Southeast Asia cooperation such as digital social innovation (DSI) for climate change, industry-based education/training programmes, smart cities, tourism, digital democracy, agriculture, public health and medicine, ornamental aquaculture and aquascape. To date, Dr. Lee was the recipient of several scholarships and fellowships in Malaysia and overseas: University of Malaya’s Graduate Fellowship (2010-2011); Monash University’s Merit Scholarship (2016-2019); Chinese Government Scholarship (2018-2019); and Taiwan Fellowship (2020). Prior to his appointment as Senior Lecturer at the Institute of China Studies (ICS), he was the Visiting Scholar at Guangxi University for Nationalities (GXUN) (2018-10992019), Taiwan Fellow at National Chengchi University (NCCU) (2020) and Associate Fellow at ICS UM (2016-2019).He welcomes any potential PhD candidate who would like to work on Taiwan-Southeast Asia relations, Taiwan's soft power in Southeast Asia and Taiwan-Malaysia DSI cooperation for climate change. He is also willing to discuss with potential doctoral candidates on proposals related to the Chinese sub-state (provincial) diplomacy toward ASEAN, China's soft power in ASEAN, Southeast Asian sub-state diplomacy, comparative cases of sub-state diplomacy around the world and conceptual innovation of sub-state diplomacy as well as soft power. 

Dr. Farazila Binti Yusof, or Fara as she is affectionately known was born and raised in the scenic town of Muar, Johor, Dr. Farazila Binti Yusof has carved a distinguished path in the academic and engineering worlds. Known for her profound dedication and expertise, Fara’s journey from a curious village girl in Muar to an influential academic leader is a story of passion, dedication, and perseverance. Dr. Farazila embarked on her academic journey with a Bachelor’s Degree in CAD/M Engineering, followed by a Master of Engineering Science at Universiti Malaya, and culminating in a Doctor of Engineering at Japan. Each step in her educational path fortified her foundation and fueled her commitment to advancing the engineering field. Currently serving as the Executive Director at the Centre of Foundation Studies in Sciences, Universiti Malaya, Dr. Farazila has held several pivotal positions within the university. Prior to her current role, she was the Head of the Mechanical Engineering Department from 2021 to 2022 and the Deputy Dean of Postgraduate Studies at the Faculty of Engineering from 2019 to 2021. Her leadership roles are characterized by visionary guidance and a relentless pursuit of excellence in engineering education and research. Dr. Farazila is a renowned scholar in the fields of welding, joining, and additive manufacturing. Her academic contributions include supervising over 25 PhD candidates and 7 masters students, alongside publishing more than 120 refereed journal articles. Her work not only advances the state of engineering but also mentors the next generation of engineers and researchers. When she is not immersed in her academic and professional endeavors, Dr. Farazila enjoys traveling. Her travels are not just escapes but also another way for her to explore and understand the engineering marvels of the world, blending her personal interests seamlessly with her professional passions. Her vision in the future to become a leading expert in advanced manufacturing technology specifically in additive manufacturing which contributing to efficient, safer and sustainable manufacturing process as well as mentoring the next generation of technology professionals.

Dr. Bala Murali Sundram is currently a Senior Lecturer in the Occupational and Environmental Health Unit, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur. He completed his Masters (MPH) and Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) from University Malaya. His areas of research interest are in Public Health, mainly in Occupational Health,  Environmental Health ,  Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Disease Surveillance, Predictive analytics in Public Health, Mental health and psycho-social biomarkers at the workplace. He has headed various critical and important posts in the Public Health Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) as a Public Health Medicine Specialist prior to joining University Malaya as a Senior Lecturer. Some of his notable positions in the Ministry of Health were as District Health Officer in Kunak, Sabah, Head of Occupational Health Unit and Biomedical Epidemiology Unit in the Institute for Medical Research (IMR)- National Institute of Health (NIH) and Head of Disease Surveillance and Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC),  Johor State Health Department. He had played a significant role and contributed immensely during the Covid-19 pandemic in disease surveillance, translational and impactful research for the relevant stakeholders, quarantine and isolation strategies, international health regulation and border health policies and state vaccination strategies during his tenure in MOH. Following this he had received recognition and the Exemplary Service Award  (Anugerah Perkhidmatan Awam) from the Johor State Health Department, Ministry of Health Malaysia. He has headed several internal and external research collaborations in the Ministry of Health Malaysia, University Malaya, United Nations University-International Institute for Global Health (UNU-IIGH) and other external research institutes like National Hydraulic Research Institute of Malaysia and Malaysian Meteorological Department.  He had obtained various research grants such as MOH research grants and UNDP research grants as Primary Investigator and was involved as co-investigator in some external research grants like FRGS grants. His research work has been presented in local and international conferences and has been published and cited in some high impact and peer-reviewed ISI journals in the field of public health. His work has also been accepted as a book publication in one of the international publishing groups. He was involved in the Public Health Subgroup in the Technical Working Group for the Vulnerability and Adaptation as well as Research and Systematic Observation for the 3rd National Communication and Biennial Update Report in which Malaysia is a signatory to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). He was a member of the Thematic Working Group 6 for Contingency, Preparedness and Response Plan for Environmental Health Disaster, National Environmental Health Action Plan (NEHAP), Ministry of Health. He was a member of the SCHEMA Working Group for United Nations University-International Institute for Global Health and Institutional Biosafety and Biosecurity Committee (IBBC). His technical skills and knowledge allowed him being chosen as a Medical Coordinator, Lead Evaluator and Controller in various Disease Surveillance and CBNRe (chemical, biological,nuclear, radiological and explosives) field simulation exercises and activities involving MOH, STRIDE-MinDEF, ASEAN Regional Capacity on Disaster Health Management (ARCH) and  WHO. He has also mentored and supervised numerous candidates in the Mentor-Mentee Program for the Public Health Medicine Speciality, MOH Malaysia. He is also attached to professional bodies like Malaysian Medical Association, Malaysian Society of Occupational Health Doctor and a scientific committee member in the International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH).