Dr Khoo Wee Vien is a clinical lecturer and Developmental Paediatrics Fellow at Universiti Malaya. Her areas of interest are child population health, Autism Spectrum Disorder, learning difficulties and long term developmental outcomes in children experiencing adversity. She has publications in a number of peer-reviewed journals and wrote a book chapter. Dr Khoo is very passionate in the area of child advocacy and believes in knowledge translation about child health to parents and caregivers. She also enjoys teaching undergraduate and postgraduate medical students in the area of paediatrics. She is actively involved in planning, coordinating and examining at undergraduate and postgraduate theory and clinical examinations at the Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya.  Dr Khoo was a recipient of JPA scholarship for undergraduate medical studies in the United Kingdom and received the Hilda Margery Cuff Prize for best student in the Medical posting. She furthered her training in Master of Paediatrics and obtained her membership with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. She is currently continuing her sub-specialty training in Developmental Paediatrics.  

Umi Kalsum Zolkafli @ Zulkifly  holds the Bachelor of Quantity Surveying from Universiti Teknologi Mara. She attained her Master of Science in Construction Contract Management from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in the year 2008.  She completed her Doctoral degree in Built Environment from Universiti Teknologi Mara in the year 2017 and is now persuading her research interest in construction contract management and professional practice in built environment areas.  She worked with the industry for 10 years prior joining Universiti Malaya, as a Quantity Surveyor and Management Representatives at ARR QS Consultancy. Ever since joining UM as a Lecturer in 10th October 2008, Umi Kalsum Zolkafli @ Zulkifly received the certificate of Excellent Service by UM in the year 2012.  She has produced 2 Master graduates and currently supervising 5 PhDs.  She currently holds 26 publications including books, ISI-ranked articles, Scopus-indexed articles, chapters in book, as well as, in refereed international and national journals. She also has presented papers in conferences locally and internationally.   In addition, she also won Gold, Silver and Bronze awards for her innovation through research and development in multiple national competitions. One of her innovations through community reserach project had also received Intellectual Properties Copyrights. In terms of research grant, Umi Kalsum Zolkafli  has received  in total of RM 2,462,813.66 as principal investigator and co-researcher. She is also a reviewer for multiple international journals and conference proceedings. She is also actively involved with Board of Quantity Surveyors of Malaysia (BQSM) and Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Malaysia (RISM) as organizing committee for several international conferences, seminars and workshop Umi Kalsum Zolkafli @ Zulkifly registered as Consultant Quantity Surveyors (CQS) under the Board of Surveyors Malaysia  and a Fellow of The Royal Institution of Surveyors Malaysia (FRISM). She has served as a main committee of Quantity Surveying Division, RISM for more than 5 years.  In addition, she has contributed her expertise in accreditation of Degree programme for public and private Universities under Board of Surveyors Malaysia. She also one of the assessor for the Diploma accreditation programe with Royal Instituitions of Surveyors Malaysia

Jillian Ooi started out as an environmental social scientist but shifted to studying marine plants because she is fascinated by the sea. For her Master’s degree in Environmental Management, she explored the effects of disturbances on seaweed communities. She later earned a PhD in Seagrass Biogeography at the University of Western Australia as an Endeavour International Postgraduate Scholarship recipient. Working under the mentorship of Professor Gary Kendrick and the late Dr Kimberly Van Niel, she studied the spatial patterns and ecology of subtidal seagrasslands in the Johor islands. There, she fell irrevocably under the spell of these overlooked yet vital ecosystems. Jillian’s research consists of 3 themes: (1) investigating ecosystem functions of seagrass, particularly their roles as habitats and feeding grounds for fish and megafauna, (2) developing spatial distribution models for seagrass species in Southeast Asia, to provide an understanding of what makes a suitable seagrass habitat, and (3) developing effective restoration methods for seagrass and coral reefs. Her work has contributed to the gazettement of the Kepulauan Lima marine park in Johor (2023), strengthened protection for the Tioman Marine Park in Pahang (2007), and supported the establishment of a dugong sanctuary in Johor (2005 and 2017). Jillian enjoys working with local communities, spearheading and nurturing community-driven seagrass conservation initiatives in the Sungai Johor and Sungai Pulai estuaries. Her efforts focus on empowering local stakeholders through capacity building in seagrass monitoring and mapping. In 2015, Jillian received the Komai Fellowship to study the satoumi approach to seagrass restoration in Japan. In 2022, she was among six global researchers awarded the Pew Marine Fellowship for her work in seagrass restoration and to raise awareness about seagrass in Malaysia through the cultural arts approach. She blended the performing arts with science to create Seruan Setu, a groundbreaking gamelan music concert dedicated to seagrass ecosystems. When she is not underwater watching grass grow, Jillian is the Artistic Director and Music Director of Rhythm in Bronze, an award-winning contemporary gamelan ensemble based in Kuala Lumpur. Founded in 1997, Rhythm in Bronze is known for its pioneering efforts in showcasing the Malay gamelan as its main medium of musical expression. Jillian’s music direction and compositions for the gamelan have won awards and/or received nominations at the BOH Cameronian Arts Awards, which celebrates outstanding performances in music, dance, theatre and musical theatre in Malaysia. She considers the Sea her main source of musical inspiration.