Noran N Hairi is the Deputy Dean for Research at the Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, and Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health. Medically trained at Universiti Malaya (UM), she served in Malaysia’s Ministry of Health before earning both an MPH and an MPH (Epidemiology) with distinction from UM, and a PhD from the University of Sydney, Australia. Noran is best known for her work on the epidemiology of ageing, with a particular focus on sarcopenia, and frailty. She has made significant contributions to research on elder abuse, neglect, and financial mistreatment among older adults. She led the Prevent Elder Abuse and Neglect Initiative (PEACE), which adopted a holistic, interdisciplinary approach to address late-life abuse through professional training, public awareness campaigns, and policy advocacy. PEACE provided a platform for legislators and policymakers, leading to calls for better elder protection framework. The PEACE 1.0 study identified financial exploitation as the most common form of elder abuse, prompting the PEACE 2.0 project, a collaborative effort with Agensi Kaunseling dan Pengurusan Kredit (AKPK) under Bank Negara Malaysia. Currently, the PEACE 3.0 team is working with the World Health Organization (WHO) to evaluate elder abuse assessment tools. She has published extensively, supervised over 80 postgraduate students, and held key leadership roles including Dean (Health and Wellbeing Research Cluster), Chair (Research Cluster), and Head of Research Centres such as the Julius Centre University Malaya and the Centre for Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Practice. Dr. Noran has contributed significantly to research, policy development, and public engagement in Malaysia. As a Member of the National Senior Citizens Advisory and Consultative Council (MPPWEN) and a Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health, UK, she is deeply committed to advancing public health and championing critical ageing issues. Her work focuses on elder protection, combating age discrimination, and promoting social inclusion, reflecting her dedication to research excellence, education, and collaborative leadership to improve the lives of older adults.

Dr. Baskaran Angathevar is Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Department of Political Science, Public Administration and Development Studies, Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Malaya. He holds PhD (Science & Technology Policy Studies, Sussex, UK), MSc (Financial Management, Middlesex, UK), MPhil (International Studies, JNU, India), MA (History, Punjab, India), MA (Political Science, Madurai, India), and BA (History & Pol. Sci., Madurai, India). His reseaerch interests include Economics of Innovation, National Innovation Systems, Innovation and Entrepreneurship; Environmental Sustainability in Organisations, with the main focus on multidisciplinary themes reltes to emerging and developing economies. He has led several research projects including: "Business Incubators for Social Enterprise, Social Inclusion, and Inclusive Growth", "Role of Social Enterprise in Poverty Alleviation and Inclusive Development in Malaysia", "Exploratory Study of the Solar Industry Ecosystem in Malaysia (University Grants); Developing Environmental Reporting Framework for the Small and Medium Enterprises in Malaysia: Using Q-Methodological Approach" (FRGS, Government of Malaysia) and "Catching-up along the Global Value Chain: models, determinants and policy implications in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution" (European Commission Grant). Currently leading projects on: "I-RECYCLE - MALAYSIA: Innovative Recycling of E-Waste for Critical Metals and Sustainable Economy in Malaysia" (WP5: Global Value Chain, Polocy Development, and Stakeholder Engagement), in colloboration with Queen's University of Belfast, UK; and Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) – Government of Malaysia: “Looking Beyond Digital Adoption among the SMEs in Malaysia: Developing a Framework for Enhancing Digital Utilisation and Resilience".  He has also contributed to reseaerch projects for UNESCO, the OECD, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), and United Nations Global Compact (Malaysia and Brinei). His previous work experience includes: Research Fellow, Lecturer and Senior Lecturer at Middlesex University Business School, London, UK (1999 to 2014); Senior Associate Research Fellow, SARChI Chair Programme, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa. He has taught several courses at UG level including:  Entrepreneurial Economics, Small Entrepreneurship Development/ SME Development, Research Methodology (at University of Malaya); Business Decisions; Managerial Finance; Corporate Reporting; Research Project; Accounting for Business; Accounting Theories and Research Methods (at Middlesex University). PG courses: Entrepreneurship and Development, Sustainable Development and Environmental Management, Environmental Sustainability in Organisations, Globalization and Development, Poverty and Inequality, and Development Theory and Practice (at University of Malaya); Research Methodology, Financial Management for the Small Business; Entrepreneurial Finance; and Financial & Management Accounting (at Middlesex University). He supervised over 100 UG projects including industrial placement projects (over 50 at University of Malaya); over 150 Masters Dissertations and Research Projects (Over 50 Projects at University of Malaya); and 14 Doctoral completion (11 at University of Malaya).  Examined over 30 PhD Thesis for universities in the UK, Italy, Malaysia, and India. Produced over 150 publications, including 15 books, 30 book chapters, and over 50 articles in internationally refereed journals. Contributed to UNESCO Science Report 2015, OECD - Microenterprise Breakout Strategy in Malaysia and Oxford Analytica, UK - Indian National Innovation System. Reviewed research funding applications for Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS), Government of Malaysia, DFID-ESRC Growth Research Programme, UK and Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), and reviewed several papers for journals and conferences.  Led several research projects including: "Business Incubators for Social Enterprise, Social Inclusion, and Inclusive Growth", "Role of Social Enterprise in Poverty Alleviation and Inclusive Development in Malaysia", "Exploratory Study of the Solar Industry Ecosystem in Malaysia (University Grants); Developing Environmental Reporting Framework for the Small and Medium Enterprises in Malaysia: Using Q-Methodological Approach" (FRGS, Government of Malaysia) and "Catching-up along the Global Value Chain: models, determinants and policy implications in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution" (European Commission Grant). Currently leading projects on: "I-RECYCLE - MALAYSIA: Innovative Recycling of E-Waste for Critical Metals and Sustainable Economy in Malaysia" (WP5: Global Value Chain, Polocy Development, and Stakeholder Engagement), in colloboration with Queen's University of Belfast, UK; and Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) – Government of Malaysia: “Looking Beyond Digital Adoption among the SMEs in Malaysia: Developing a Framework for Enhancing Digital Utilisation and Resilience". He has research collaborative links in several countries including South Africa, China, India, Bangladesh, Italy, Finland, and UK. Actively involved in GLOBELICS, ASIALICS, and AFRICALICS research networks.  He was invited as expert speaker on innovation systems by several institutions including UNCTAD, Department of Science and Technology in South Africa, CASTED & IPM, Chinese Academy of Sciences (Beijing), and invited speakers at universities in Denmark, Finland, China, India, and South Africa.  He is Co-Editor-in-Chief, African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development (AJSTID); Member, Editorial Board in: International Journal of Technological Learning, Innovation and Development, Asian Journal of Technology Innovation, and Innovation and Development.         

Dr. Nur Hairani Abd Rahman has been a Senior Lecturer in Public Policy and Administration at Universiti Malaya since 2017. She holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy from Universiti Sains Malaysia, a Master of Public Administration from Universiti Malaya, and a Bachelor of Social Science (Honours) from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Dr. Nur Hairani is highly regarded for her expertise in social policy, with particular focus on social care, governance, social inclusion and exclusion, inequality, and well-being. Beyond her teaching responsibilities, Dr. Nur Hairani plays an integral role in academic leadership. She currently serves as Associate Editor for the Journal of Public Administration and Governance and sits on the Editorial Board of the Malaysian Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities. Her membership in the Social Policy Association in the United Kingdom further amplifies her influence on an international level. In addition to her academic contributions, Dr. Nur Hairani is actively engaged in administrative roles, including coordinating both the Outbound Mobility Program and the Master of Public Administration Program. She is also a member of various faculty and university committees, where she contributes to policy development and strategic planning. Nationally, Dr. Nur Hairani serves as a Field Expert for the Malaysian Research and Development Classification System (MRDCS) under the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI). She has also been involved in consultancy projects aimed at poverty eradication, funded by Malaysia’s Economic Planning Unit. Her international experience includes serving as a Visiting Scholar at the University of Messina in Sicily, Italy. In 2023, she was awarded a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship, allowing her to join the University of California, Berkeley, as a Visiting Scholar. Dr. Nur Hairani’s dedication to her field has earned her numerous accolades, including the Excellent Service Award (2022) and the Certificate of Excellent Service (2021) from Universiti Malaya. She was also recognized with the Best Presenter Award at the Asian Universities Alliance & Universitas Indonesia (2021). Her research has been published in high-impact journals indexed in Web of Science and Scopus, including Public Policy and Administration and Ageing International. For more information on Dr. Nur Hairani Abd Rahman’s work, please visit her profile at UM Expert, or reach out to her directly at nurhairani@um.edu.my.