Prof Dr Vikineswary started her academic career after completing her PhD in the Institute of Postgraduate Studies in 1989 as a lecturer.  She ventured into search, discovery and utilisation of indigenous microorganisms including actinomycetes and phototrophic bacteria for feed, feed or fine chemicals. Her research activities diversified and while studying the potential of mushrooms and in particular the white - rot fungi in environmental biotechnology, she had the opportunity to work with mushroom farmers.  Together with the growers, the Mushroom Research Association of Malaysia was founded in 2000 and as the founding  president she has highlighted the importance of mushrooms and the industry in Malaysia.  She is well known for the research conducted which includes systematic and bioactivity of marine actinomycetes, mushroom biology and their bioactive metabolites, phototrophic bacteria for bioremediation and as a live feed enhancer. She has  successfully trained 50 Masters and 20 PhD students and a number are currently pursuing their postgraduate studies under her supervision. Her research activities are sponsored by national and international grants including industrial funding.  Prof.  Vikineswary has won several awards for her research findings both in Malaysia and at International Exhibition.  She has collaboration with overseas scientists through CICHE, JSPS and EU programmes. She has published 265 papers in peer reviewed journals, proceedings, bulletins, chapters in books  and  books.  In recognition of her contribution in microbiology and active participation as member of the Malaysian Society for Microbiology she was elected as the first woman President of the Society in 2001. In 2014 she was nominated as one of the Top Research Scientist Malaysia by Academy Science Malaysia. In 2015 she was nominated as a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia.

  Chen Chen is a Professor at the Department of Economics, Faculty of Business and Economics, Universiti Malaya. She is also the Founder and CTO of IOMInsight Sdn Bhd, a spin-off company from Universiti Malaya Centre of Innovation and Enterprise focusing on developing Economic System modeling for scenario analyses involving 62 countries and 35 economic sectors. With over 9 years of experience in consultancy work with government and private agencies, such as PwC, ILO, EPU (currently known as the Ministry of Economy), MOHR (currently known as KESUMA),MASTIC, CIDB, SOSCO, WorldBank, JPAL, PE Research Sdn Bhd and etc), she also actively involved in research collaboration work with the University of Pennsylvania, World Bank, Harvard University, J-PAL, Singapore Food Agency and local/international Universities/Institutions. She has contributed to research and book publications, facilitate learning and programme development, and foster professional growth together with the stakeholders of the University.  

Dr. Ezlika M. Ghazali is an Associate Professor of Marketing at the Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She holds an MBA from the Universiti Malaya and a Ph.D. in Marketing from Warwick University, United Kingdom. Dr. Ghazali’s career is marked by significant contributions to academia through teaching, research, and administration, as well as active engagement in social causes. Academic and Professional Background Dr. Ghazali’s academic journey is underpinned by rigorous training and extensive experience. She served as the Head of the Management Department at her faculty, demonstrating strong leadership and administrative capabilities. In addition, she is a member of several professional bodies, including the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Academy of Marketing, reflecting her commitment to ongoing professional development. Research Contributions With an output of over 130 scholarly publications, Dr. Ghazali’s research interests span consumer behaviour, sustainability, and cultural influences in marketing. Her work has been published in high-impact international journals such as the Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Electronic Markets, Internet Research, Industrial Management & Data Systems, Journal of Consumer Behaviour, Journal of Service Theory and Practice, International Journal of Hospitality Management, and the International Journal of Consumer Studies, among others. She has investigated diverse topics ranging from digital consumer engagement to pro-environmental consumption patterns in different cultural contexts. Several of Dr. Ghazali’s publications are highly cited in the field. For example, her study on consumers’ values in purchasing organic personal care products (published in the Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services) has been cited over 500 times, reflecting its significant impact. Another notable paper, exploring pro-environmental behaviours through the lens of Value-Belief-Norm theory (in Sustainability), has garnered over 250 citations, underscoring her influence in sustainability research. Additionally, her work on mobile commerce adoption in Malaysia (in the Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics) has accumulated over 200 citations, highlighting her contributions to understanding technology adoption in emerging markets. Teaching and Mentorship She has over 25 years of teaching experience across undergraduate, master's, and doctoral levels. She began her academic teaching career with courses such as Retailing and Promotional Management, and was among the first in the faculty to develop and teach Electronic Marketing in the early 2000s. Since 2015, she has concentrated on postgraduate teaching, particularly within the MBA, Master of Management, and Master of Marketing programs. Her teaching portfolio includes Strategic Marketing, Consumer Behaviour, Marketing Research Methods (MRM), and Marketing Data Analysis (MDA), both of which she helped develop and currently teaches. At the doctoral level, Dr. Ezlika co-developed and teaches Theories and Practices in Marketing and Information System for the DBA program. She has supervised over 40 Master’s theses and several PhD candidates, and is known for her structured, student-centered approach to mentorship. Her average student evaluation score stands at 4.5/5. She has been invited to deliver research training workshops both locally and internationally, including sessions at Pharos University in Egypt and a few universities in Indonesia. Her teaching reflects a deep commitment to clarity, relevance, and long-term student development. Internationalisation and Global Impact A hallmark of Dr. Ghazali’s career is her extensive international collaboration and global engagement. She has co-authored journal articles and conference papers with scholars from more than ten countries – including the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, China, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Indonesia, Oman, and Australia – reflecting a global research network. She has also co-edited academic volumes with international collaborators and contributed chapters through leading publishers such as Springer, Elsevier, and Emerald, showing the global reach of her scholarly work. Dr. Ghazali actively contributes to international conferences: notably, she was on the organizing committee for the IBA-UM International Marketing Conference 2016, and she presented her research at global forums such as the Academy for Global Business Advancement (AGBA) World Congress and the Association for Consumer Research (ACR Europe) conference. Her professional affiliations further highlight her global outlook, as she holds memberships in worldwide networks like the American Psychological Association (APA), the Association of Consumer Research (ACR), the Academy of Marketing (AMA), and ServCollab, and she serves on the editorial boards of international journals as well as on global research and grant review committees. Through internationally funded research projects, including a collaborative initiative on innovative insect-based protein sources and various sustainability-focused studies, Dr. Ghazali works with cross-border teams to address pressing marketing and consumer challenges around the world. Awards and Recognitions Dr. Ghazali’s work has been acknowledged through numerous awards, including Best Paper Awards, a “Top Viewed Article” award, and two Wiley “Top Cited Article” honors. As of 2025, her scholarly output has achieved an h-index of 26 and an i10-index of 38 on Google Scholar, along with an h-index of 19 on Scopus, reflecting the influence and reach of her research contributions. Social and Community Engagement Dr. Ghazali is deeply committed to social causes, particularly the well-being of children and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). She has contributed to translating autism-related literature from Malay to English, enhancing accessibility to critical resources for families and practitioners. Her community engagement efforts demonstrate a dedication to leveraging her expertise for social good. Dr. Ezlika M. Ghazali’s impactful research, innovative teaching, and dedicated societal engagement exemplify her significant contributions to the field of marketing and academia. She continues to explore the intricate intersections between technology, culture, and sustainability in marketing, ensuring her ongoing influence and leadership in her field.