Ali Jalalian Daghigh, PhD, is a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, Universiti Malaya (UM). He teaches a range of translation as well as discourse analysis courses at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. His main research interests include Translation Studies as well as (Critical) Discourse Studies.

Fumitaka Furuoka is a Japanese economist who has lived in Malaysia since 1987. From 1991 to 1999, he worked as a senior assistant at the Consulate General of Japan in Penang. Fumitaka then moved to academia and has taught economics for 25 years at three Malaysian public universities, namely, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, and Universiti Malaya. His academic expertise is in the field of applied economics which involves applying economic and econometric theories to address real-world critical economic issues and problems. As an applied economist, he aims to provide insights from his research for hammering out effective policies that foster sustainable development, enable a reduction of regional disparities, and move society towards achieving economic and social justice.  In his research in the field of applied economics, he focuses on economic equity between countries (i.e., the problem of inequality of economic development level in different countries), as well as economic equity within countries (i.e., the problem of inequality of income distribution in a specific country). Regarding economic equity between countries, he has conducted extensive research on diverse and pertinent global economic issues, such as poverty reduction, unemployment, economic growth/development, and renewable energy. In 2006, he published a book on Japanese foreign aid titled New Challenges for Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) Policy. The book examines how Japan’s aid policy can contribute to reducing poverty and improving the well-being of developing countries, particularly Southeast Asian economies. As to economic equity within countries, the main focus of Fumitaka's research is promoting “employment for all” which is closely aligned with Target 8 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He strongly believes that employment for all, including people with disabilities, is the basic foundation for a sustainable and more humane economy (Ekonomi Madani). This belief has led him to write a book on employment for people with disabilities entitled Disability and Employment: Towards a Humanistic Economy. The book was published by Springer in 2024. This research direction has a strong practical orientation, and Fumitaka considers work in this area to be of ultimate importance for achieving economic equity and providing employment opportunities to people with disabilities. In short, his research aims to identify barriers and initiate policies that promote and enable economic inclusion, employment, and justice for all.

Dr. Phang Kean Chang is a distinguished clinical scientist, academician, and bioethicist currently serving as Senior Lecturer at the Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya. With a multidisciplinary foundation comprising a PhD in Pathology, dual Master’s degrees in Health Research Ethics and Medical Sciences (Pathology), and a BSc in Biohealth Science, Dr. Phang has built an exceptional career at the intersection of molecular medicine, ethics, and leadership in academic research.   He heads the Medical Research Ethics Unit (MREU) at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre, where he has led transformational improvements in ethical review systems, spearheaded training programmes for researchers and reviewers, and successfully hosted the 23rd FERCAP International Conference. As Coordinator of UMHealth under the Associate Vice Chancellor's Office, Dr. Phang has also played a key role in institutional strategic health initiatives with the five key health entities in the University. His research spans molecular diagnostics, digital pathology, cancer immunotherapy, and bioethics. He is actively involved in multiple national and international research projects, including private clinical trials and the Wellcome funded Global Health Bioethics Network (GHBN), a collaboration with the University of Oxford. His scholarly contributions include peer-reviewed publications in pathology, oncology, and bioethics, and he has co-authored national and international policy papers, such as Malaysia’s Decentralised Clinical Trials (DCT) Guidance Document. Dr. Phang is a Chartered Scientist (UK Royal Society of Biology), a Senior Research Fellow with the GHBN, and an affiliate member of the Young Scientists Network-Academy of Sciences Malaysia. He has received multiple recognitions, including the Certificate of Excellent Service (UM, 2025), and fellowships from WHO, NIH (USA), and WCG IRB–New York University Langone Health. Renowned for his commitment to ethical leadership and interdisciplinary collaboration, Dr. Phang continues to influence health policy, research governance, and academic development both nationally and internationally.