Born in Muar, Johor, Dr. Shafa is a Senior Lecturer and Coordinator of Programme of Malay Studies, 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 in 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 2023, Dr. Shafa published her book titled "Malay Singing in Pahang Villages: Identity and Practice" (Publisher: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka). 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 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. 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

Dr Hany Mohamed Aly Ahmed was born in Göttingen, Germany in 1980. He is an Egyptian and was graduated from Faculty of Dentistry, Ain Shams University (ASU), Egypt, with a Bachelor's Degree in Dental Sciences (B.D.S.) in 2002. He started his clinical postgraduate program in Endodontics with a Higher Dental Diploma (H.D.D.) degree in 2006, and he is registered as a Dental Specialist in the field of Endodontics by the Egyptian Dental Syndicate in 2012. Dr. Ahmed continued his postgraduate studies, and joined a Master Degree program (M.Sc.D.) at the School of Dental Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) in 2009 which was converted to Ph.D. in 2011. In July 2023, he has been promoted to Consultant of Endodontics by the Egyptian Dental Syndicate. Dr. Ahmed has been granted a number of awards for his research on the application of Portland cements in Endodontics including the IADR (SE Asian division) for the best laboratory research in 2014. He has also been granted several awards, in Malaysia and Singapore, as a supervisor for several elective research projects. Dr. Ahmed has published more than 120 articles in recognized international journals such as Journal of Endodontics and International Endodontic Journal. In 2012, Dr. Ahmed has introduced a new classification for endoperio lesions, which was published in ENDO, and with experts from Brazil and UK, he has also introduced a new system for classifying the root and root canal morphology in 2016, in addition to accessory canals and dental anomalies in 2018. With an expert from Australia, he has also introduced the PROUD guidelines (Preferred reporting items for root canal morphology in the human dentition), published in the European Endodontic Journal. Dr Ahmed has delievered a number of scientific and clinical lectures and workshops in several countries such as Australia, Austria, Italy, Vietnam, Thailand and Egypt. He was also invited as a Keynote Speaker by the European Society of Endodontology which was held in Vienna, 2019, Budapest 2022 and Helsinki 2023, and he also lead a number of workshops related to root and canal morphology. Currently, he is an associate professor of Endodontics at the Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Malaya, and he leads a number of grants in Malaysia related to root canal morphology and endodontic bio-materials. He has received two awards from the UM - Excellent service certificate (2019) and Excellent service award (2022). In 2021, he has obtained the membership diploma from the Faculty of Dental Trainers, Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh), and he became a fellow of the International College of Dentists, USA. Dr Ahmed has also been listed in the top 2% Scientists worldwide, Stanford university report, 2022, 2023, USA. He is a scientific reviewer and editorial board member in national and international journals. He is an editorial board member of the International Endodontic Journal (The official publication of the British Endodontic Society). He also is the Deputy Editor-In- Chief of the European Endodontic Journal. He is one of the editors for the book entitled "Endodontic Advances and Evidence Based clinical guidelines" published by Wiley in 2022. 

ChM. Dr. Liew Sook Yee (MRSC) is a senior lecturer in Chemistry Division, Centre for Foundation Studies in Science, Universiti Malaya. She obtained a BSc from Universiti of Terengganu (UMT) with first class honour and have been awarded “Anugerah Graduan Terbaik Keseluruhan Fakulti Sains dan Teknologi/Program Sarjana Muda Sains (Sains Kimia)”. Then, she directly pursued PhD study (fast track) with SLAI scholarship in UM and graduated in 2014. Her fields of expertise and specialization are Natural Product Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, Bioorganic Chemistry, Enzyme Inhibition and Kinetic studies. She has plenty of experience in isolating and purifying compounds as well as structural elucidation of compounds. She also developed her expertise in cutting-edge techniques which is 13C NMR-based dereplication in natural product studies. She is a member of Royal Chemistry of Society (UK) and Institut Kimia Malaysia as well as an associate member of CENAR (UM). Her research works are conducted in Phytolab (IFM NatProLab), Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and she welcomes all the collaborations from academician, scientist, researcher, company and etc.