Professor Dr Sivakumar Krishnasamy is currently a senior lecturer and Senior Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon in University Malaya Medical Centre. He graduated from University Malaya in 2002.  He was awarded the gold medal for MRCS Edinbrugh examination (2006) as the best overall candidate for the exam.In 2010 he was awarded the Al-Hadi gold medal as the overall best candidate for the Masters in General Surgery. He is the first Asian to be awarded the Gold medal and overall best performer in the esteemed European Board of Cardiothoracic Surgery in 2016 and was given the book prize for the exam as the highest overall achiever in the history of the European Cardiothoracic Surgery exam. Prof Siva did his initial training in General Surgery in Ipoh General Hospital. He joined the Masters In General Surgery in 2006 and completed it in 2010. He subsequently worked as a General Surgeon in Kota Bahru before joining University Malaya as a senior lecturer in 2011. He did his initial years of Cardiothoracic training in University Malaya and went on to IJN in 2013. He left to the UK in 2014 and completed his FRCS (Edin )CTh in 2016. During his stay in the UK, he did a 1 year formal Aortic Fellowship under the guidance of Mr Jorge Masacro and 1 year of Thoracic fellowship in Heartlands Hospital which is a regional Thoracic Referral Centre for West Midlands.  He has a keen passion for MDT and since coming back he has setup the Aortic and Endovascular MDT in UM and also is actively involved in the Thoracic and lung cancer MDT in UM. Recently in 2019 he was awarded the prestigious Francis Fontan Uniportal VATS Fellowship by the European Board of Cardiothoracic Surgery (First in the world to receive the award). His fellowship was in the World’s largest Lung Cancer Hospital, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, where the centre does around 20000 lung resection cases per year. Since coming back he has developed the Uniportal VATS services in University Malaya.    Since 2017 , he has organised the Annual International Aortic Symposium , which is an event that is jointly done annualy with IJN. He has also been instrumental in holding the International FRCS Cardiothoracic Examination in University Malaya since 2018 , where he is the local organiser for the exam in Malaysia. Since 2018 he has been organising the International Cardiothoracic Review Course , which is the KL Review course which has endorsement from the Birmingham Review Course UK and is attended by all regional cardiothoracic trainees. The course has been running well annualy till date. Besides that he is also the Department of Surgery Quality Manager and recently has been appointed as a member of the Subspeciality Education Committee for Cardiothoarcic Surgery by the Malaysian Medical Council. He is also a board member of the Malaysian Board of Cardiothoracic Surgery which is the national training body for cardiothoracic surgery. Recently he has also been appointed as the chair for the National Curriculum writting group for Cardiothoracic Surgery. Being the Chair of the National Curriculum for Cardiothoracic Surgery , he has succesfully launched the Curriculum with members of the Cardiothoracic Society in April 2022. This was also done in conjuction with a memorandum of understanding with Royal College of Surgeons Edinbrugh to run the Parallel Pathway Programme for Cardiothoracic Surgery with University Malaya as the local Education Provider and Assoc Prof Sivakumar as the Administrator in Charge of it.  With a busy clinical and academic portfolio, he also has been actively involved in various publications in peer reviewed cardiothoracic journals and has been an emminent national and international speaker in various local and international meetings. He is also a reviewer for the Malysian Medical Journal and is part of the editorial for Journal of Interventional Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery. He is a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons Edinbrugh , Member of the European Society of Cardiothoracic Surgery , member of the Asian Cardiothoracic Society , Malaysian Cardiothoracic Society (MATCVS) and Southeast Asian Thoracic Society (SEATS). Prof Sivakumar is also a visiting consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon to Penang GH and IJN for complex Aortic Surgeries. Over the years he has worked togather with the team in Penang GH to developed the Aortic Arch and Complex Aortic Surgery Programme. He is a trainer for the local trainees under the Parallel Pathway Training Programme with Royal College of Surgeons Edinbrugh and also an appointed trainer for Uniportal VATS Surgery by SouthEast Asian Thoracic Society. His clinical experience cover the whole spectrum of adult cardiac surgery and the whole spectrum of Aortic Surgery ( open and endovascular). In thoracic surgery all aspects of thoracic surgery are done by him which includes minimally invasive thoracic surgery for all thoracic case like lung cancer and mediastinal tumours and complex thoracic cases which includles tracheal surgery , mesothelioma, chest wall resection and reconstruction.New clinical service in Aortic Surgery was started by Prof Sivakumar , mainly Total Arch Replacement with Frozen Elephant Trunk , Descending thoracic aorta replacement and Thoracoabdominal Aortic surgery. In Thoracic Surgery , he started the Uniportal VATS Surgery ( Single Key Hole VATS ) service and has established himself as a regional trainer for this procedure in Malaysia and Southeast Asia.   Since 2022 Prof Sivakumar has been appointed as the Main Coordinator for the Cardiothoracic Parallel Pathway training Program under Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh in Universiti Malaya. He is also an Examiner for the Quadripartite Exam for Cardiothoracic Surgery by Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh since 2022. Togather with the regional surgeons from Hong Kong and Singapore he also has contributed to the Exam bank of the College.   As a Professor in the University , he takes on clinical and pre clinical teaching for undergraduate students throughout the year. He also takes trainees from General Surgery for their cardiothoracic rotation posting. There have been 5 clinical masters student who has completed their research project under him and currently there are 4 ongoing Clinical Masters and 1 international PHd student. There many clinical trails and research colloborations locally and internationally that he is involved as principal investigator or co investigator.    Recent most appointment is the Head Coordinator for Masters in Cardiothoracic Surgery , Universiti Malaya which is being started as a new postgraduate progam under the Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya. Professor Dr Sivakumar is also the current Head of Cardiothoracic Surgery Universiti Malaya. Recent most award is from Royal College of Surgeons Edinbrugh where he was awarded the Fellow of the Faculty of Surgical Trainers which carries the title FFST (Edin). This was given in February 2025.  

Dr Sabri Sulaiman is a Senior Lecturer of Applied Sociology and Evidence-Based Intervention at the Department of Anthropology and Sociology, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Malaya (UM), Malaysia. Trained entirely at the University of Malaya (UM), where he completed his Bachelor’s degree in Social Administration and Justice (with a minor in Anthropology and Sociology), a Master’s in Social Intervention, and a PhD in Social Services, all from UM. His Master’s thesis examined Social Deprivation and the Social Well-being of Malaysian Children. His doctoral research on street-connected children contributed to the development of a Community-Based Social Care Model grounded in social rights, collective responsibility, and locally embedded systems of care. This work aligns with international debates on contextual safeguarding, prevention-oriented interventions, and socio-ecological approaches to child protection. His applied research and advisory roles extend to civil society and international organisations, reflecting his commitment to linking research with advocacy and policy reform. He has established an internationally recognised research profile, grounded in comparative, applied, and globally engaged sociology, spanning the Global South and the Global North.  As a sociologist and evidence-based intervention scholar specialising in applied and comparative sociology, social justice, and rights-based interventions, his research investigates life-course inequalities, violence, well-being, and vulnerability among marginalised and socially excluded populations, bridging rigorous academic analysis with evidence-based intervention-policy relevant and practical interventions for children, youth, families, young adults, and persons with disabilities across the Global South and North. A central focus of his scholarship is children, families, and life-course inequality, with particular attention to early-life adversity, family disruption, deprivation, violence, and social exclusion. His work explores how these conditions influence behavioural outcomes, educational pathways, health, and long-term life chances, situating antisocial and prosocial behaviour within broader social, economic, and community contexts rather than individual pathology. He also examines how political economy, governance, public policy, legal frameworks, welfare regimes, and social care systems structure these dynamics, with attention to the influence of children, family background and early-life adversity on child development, educational trajectories, adult health, and life expectancy. Using a mixed-methods approach, his research examines how governance systems, institutional arrangements, and policy frameworks influence social behaviour, human development, and well-being throughout the life course. His work spans child and family sociology, ageing, governance and human rights, population health, violence and protection, work and labour, digital sociology, and sustainable development, generating evidence to strengthen social protection, promote equity, and advance social justice globally. Dr Sabri’s research interests span from child and family sociology, ageing and the life course, governance and human rights, population health, violence and protection, work and labour, digital sociology, and sustainable development. Dr Sabri is actively engaged in national and international research, consultancy, and postgraduate supervision across these domains: Sociology of Children, Families, Ageing, and the Life Course: Focus on family and inequality across the life course, early child well-being, population ageing and care, family change, anti and prosocial behaviour, DFV, child abuse, deprivation, and children’s health outcomes. Global and Comparative Sociology: Analyses how capitalism, migration, displacement, climate change, housing, and governance shape inequality, poverty, and well-being. Uses comparative approaches to examine welfare systems, labour markets, family structures, and social protection. Sociology of Population Health, Human Development, and Well-Being: Explores how inequality, family, labour, housing, digital inclusion, and policy environments influence health, mental well-being, and human development, particularly for socially and legally excluded populations. Sociology of Governance, Law, and Human Rights: Examines how governance systems, legal frameworks, and rights-based policies shape inequality, institutional engagement, and social behaviour across children, families, persons with disabilities, and marginalised groups. Sociology of Violence, Vulnerability, and Protection: Focuses on interpersonal, structural, and institutional violence, including DFV, child abuse, gender-based violence, labour exploitation, and elder abuse, with emphasis on rights-based protection and evidence-informed interventions. Sociology of Work and Labour: Investigates how labour markets, institutional practices, and inequalities intersect with violence, exploitation, and criminalisation of homelessness, emphasising policy and intervention solutions. Applied Sociology, Measurement, and Evidence-Based Interventions: Applies sociological theory to policy evaluation, programme design, and intervention development, improving protection systems and behavioural, health, and well-being outcomes. Sociology of Sustainability and Development: Explores how social structures, inequality, poverty, and human behaviour interact with environmental limits, focusing on equitable and sustainable pathways. Applied Statistical, Quantitative, and Qualitative Methods: Develops and applies advanced quantitative and qualitative methods to analyse inequality, behaviour, institutional processes, and intervention effectiveness. Digital Sociology: Analyses how digital technologies, AI, and data shape social relations, inequality, behaviour, and human development, embedded in family, social, and institutional life. In addition to his academic roles in research and teaching, he currently serves as a Consultant to the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN), Malaysia. He is currently leading major research initiatives, including: A Study on Risk Behaviours among At-Risk Adolescents in Malaysia, examining life-course vulnerabilities, violence exposure, and prevention-oriented interventions; and Creating Inclusive Digital Education for Students with Disabilities in Higher Education Institutions in Malaysia, focusing on accessibility, equity, and rights-based digital inclusion in tertiary education. Dr Sabri is also the author of a forthcoming book, Community-Based Social Care Models for Protecting the Rights and Well-being of Street-Connected Children in Malaysia, which advances evidence-informed and rights-based approaches to child protection and social care practice. He has previously published Deprivasi Sosial Kanak-kanak Malaysia, a pioneering work that examines social deprivation and child well-being from children’s own perspectives, alongside policy and intervention strategies to reduce inequality and enhance social well-being. His work is internationally recognised, and he is an active member of the British Sociology Association, the Association of Southeast Asian Studies in the United Kingdom (ASEASUK), the Social Policy Association, the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (ISPCAN), the Malaysian Association of Social Workers (MASW), and the International Sociological Association (ISA). He has published widely in peer-reviewed journals, contributed to edited volumes, and presented at numerous international conferences. Dr Sabri welcomes collaborative research, policy, and practice-based partnerships with scholars, practitioners, and institutions committed to advancing justice, equity, and inclusive social care systems that leave no one behind.  

Dr. Woo is an academic and researcher specializing in next generation advanced batteries (SIBs, LIBs) and energy storage (supercapacitors). He is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics at Universiti Malaya. He received his B.Sc. (First Class Honours), M.Sc. and Ph.D in Advanced Materials from Universiti Malaya (UM). Prior to joining UM in 2014, Dr. Woo gained valuable experience in industry, teaching, and research through his work in the private sector and two private universities in Malaysia. His research focuses on the design and development of advanced energy materials, which includes electrode (SIBs, LIBs, EDLC, hybrid supercapacitor, DSSCs, QDSSCs), ceramic and polymer electrolytes (ASSBs), circular clean energy (regeneration of spent batteries), the applications of plasma technology and radiation in materials science. Dr. Woo's scholarship record is impressive, with over 3000 citations, h-index of 25 (Google Scholar) and has published over 80 research papers. As the corresponding author, he has published in leading journals, including Advanced Functional Materials, ACS Nano, Chemical Engineering Journal, Journal of Energy Chemistry & ACS Materials Letters, and has secured 22 research funds from University of Malaya (RU grant), Malaysian government funding agencies (FRGS, PRGS), international fund from Asian Office of Aerospace Research & Development (AOARD), Japan and Southeast Asia and Taiwan Universities (SATU) JRS. Moreover, he has successfully supervised the completion of 6 Ph.D. and 4 Master's Degree research candidates. Owing to his expertise in the field, he has served as a Visiting Professor to Peking University, Harbin Engineering University, Hebei University of Science & Technology, Universitas Sebelas Maret and Sharda University. Dr. Woo is the winner of many awards such as best flash-talk presenter of ICFMD2015, diamond award of I-Idea 2016, gold medal of Iiidjohor 2017, gold medal of Indes 2017, gold medal of Iriise 2018, gold medal of ITEX2023 and silver medal of MTE2024. In addition to his research work, Dr. Woo is also an active member of the academic community. He has delivered more than 35 keynote/invited/oral talks at international conferences, serving as reviewer for over 40 international journals (eg. Advanced Functional Materials, Small, ACS Energy Letters, Chemical Engineering Journal, Energy & environment materials, Energy storage materials, Journal of Energy Chemistry & Nano-Micro letters), treasurer of Institut of Physics, Malaysia (2017-present), External Assessor (EA) for Physics Academic Program at private university. and has been involved in organizing international conferences such as ICFMD 2013, 2015, 2017, 2022, 2024; Solar Asia 2013; APPC 2019, ICFPAM 2019 & AAPPS-DPP2024.