Assoc. Prof. Dr. Saiful Anwar Mohd Nawawi is an academic in Islamic Studies, trained in both Shariah and Science. He holds a Bachelor of Shariah, a Master of Science, and a PhD from the Universiti Malaya.  His research focuses on how astronomy serves Islam - including Crescent Moon Visibility, the Hijri Calendar, Fiqh al-Falak, Falak and Sustainable Development, Qibla and Prayer Time. He has contributed to numerous national and government-supported projects, including studies on moon-sighting criteria, imaging techniques for crescent observation, synchronization of the Hijri calendar, zoning for prayer times, refinement of Subuh  parameters, lunar influences on climate. Shariah-based frameworks for sustainable astronomical practices,  the determination of two marhalah, qaryah, and balad rates from a contemporary fiqh perspective as well as Qibla, and halal compliance. Many of these initiatives, developed in collaboration with Malaysia’s national agencies and fellow researchers have contributed to shaping national policies, enactments, or guidelines. Dr. Saiful and his team publish in Islamic Studies journals, including Jurnal Syariah, Jurnal Fiqh, Malaysian Journal of Syariah and Law, Jurnal al-Tamaddun, and the Journal of Islamic Marketing. They also contribute to  scientific journals such as New Astronomy, Astronomy and Computing, ICARUS, and Sains Malaysiana, Malaysian Journal of Science among others. Many of their publications are indexed in Scopus and Web of Science. He has also contributed to several books, including Python for Islamic Astronomy: Modern Computational Approaches to Hijri Calendar, Qibla, and Prayer Times (CRC Press, Routledge, 2025), as well as other works published by university publishers. He currently serves as Associate Professor at the Department of Fiqh & Usul, University of Malaya, President of the Islamic Astronomers Association of Malaysia, and Deputy President of the Southeast Asia Islamic Astronomy Association. He also sits on expert panels for various government agencies related to his field.

Marlenny Deenerwan holds a PhD in Theatre Performance from Monash University, Australia (2016), a Master of Arts (2011) and a Bachelor of Performing Arts in Drama (2007) from Universiti Malaya and a Diploma in Creative Writing from the National Arts Academy, now known as ASWARA (2002).  Before entering the academic world, she was a teacher at SM Shan Tao in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, and worked as a sub-editor at Daily Express Sabah. As an academic, her research is in the field of Malaysian traditional and ritual theatre: Bobolian rituals in Sabah, the traditional theatre of Wayang Kulit, Makyong and Bangsawan, research on the Minang community in Kuala Lumpur and the Kaul event of the Melanau community in Mukah. Her most recent research focused on the development of interactive theatre as an alternative to teaching and learning in primary school. This project started in 2017 in a rural school in SK Pekan Ranau, Sabah under the UMRG grant and was further developed into a DraFDidik module. This is a teaching and learning method using drama/theatre for passive children that was tested in five primary schools in the Klang Valley in 2023, funded by a UMCares grant. In November 2023, Marlenny won Silver Award in International Education Innovation Expo 2023 through the project DraFDidik. Marlenny has been a creative writer since 1999 and has published over 20 scripts for modern stage dramas and adaptations (Nur, Dari M ke M, Rumah Lama Kampung Baru, Melati & Melur, YB Jee, Lina & Lijah, No Smoking Please, Lima Bersaudara, Anak Raja Anak Papa, Zhao Si Anak Yatim, Hikayat Si Miskin Menjadi Raja, Elyas Emas, Perempuan-Perempuan Kampong Bharu, Transit Borneo-Malaya etc.), dozens of TV dramas since 2003 (Haryati II, Dilema Wanita, Kasihnya Di Bawah Bayu, Igauan Semalam, etc.). She also writes documentaries, television commercials, newspaper articles/critiques, short stories, poems, and song lyrics. She has worked as an actress, director, and theatre producer since 1998. Her directing credits include No Smoking Please (2003), The Glass Menageries (2006), Rachel Corrie (2007), Di Sebalik Pintu (2008), Melati & Melur (2008), The Zoo Story (2009), Rumah Lama Kampung Baru (2010), Bangsawan Anak Raja Anak Papa (The Prince and The Pauper) (2015), Zhao Si Anak Yatim (2017 & 2018), Asiah Samiah (2019), Hikayat Si Miskin Menjadi Raja (2021), Bangku (2022), Saya... Dari Hujung Kota (2023), Transit Borneo-Malaya (2023), Wanita dan Senjatanya (2023), Perempuan-Perempuan Kampong Bharu (2024), Sirih Bertepuk Pinang Menari (2024), Tingginya Menyapu Awan (2025) and Muzikal Uda & Dara (2025). She co-founded the theater group Mekar Budaya in 2002 and the group Bangsawan Opera Sri Bandaraya under the patronage of Kuala Lumpur City Hall in 2008. She won the Best Actress Award at the Malaysian Theater Festival 2003, the Best Director Award at the Kuala Lumpur Theater Festival 2009, the Young Theater Artist Award by the Selangor State Government in 2010, and the Best Original Script Cameronian Boh Award 2025. Her Bangsawan script Lima Bersaudara was recorded in the Malaysia Book of Records as the first Bangsawan script for children in 2010. She was appointed by the National Ministry of Culture and Arts as the Head of Jury for the 2016 Malaysian Theater Festival. She was the Head of Jury for the Universiti Malaya (Kaviter UM) Theater Carnival from 2017 to 2024.  Apart from being an author for the Sekolah Seni Malaysia textbooks, Marlenny has published several academic books, including "Bobolian Seni Teater Etnik Dusun" (2015, JKKN), "Siri Teater Muzikal" (2024, DBP), and her latest publication, "Seni Teater Bangsawan" published by DBP in 2025. During her stint with the NGOs, Marlenny was the former President of ASWARA Alumni Association 2015-2018 and is currently the Chairperson of Persatuan Rumpun Seni Mekar Budaya Kuala Lumpur (since 2020). She has also been a member of Ikatan Penulis Sabah since 1992. In December 2024, she received the Anugerah Khas Cendekia (Seni Teater) at Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Kuala Lumpur.

Dr. Yoong Soo May received her Bachelor degree in Remedial Education; both Masters and Ph.D. in Special Education. She is currently a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Educational Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Education, Universiti Malaya, where she began her appointment on 26 September 2025. Prior to joining Universiti Malaya, she served as an Assistant Director at the Special Education Division, Ministry of Education Malaysia from 27 December 2022 to 25 September 2025. Dr. Yoong’s research interests include special education, learning disabilities, specific learning disorders, and inclusive education. She has obtained 3 copyrights for her innovative works: Dyscalculia Module, Metic Board, and Dyscalculia Checklist. In addition, she had received 9 international awards and 7 national awards. Among them are: Platinum Award in 2nd Innovation for Disability-Inclusive Education Competition (iDIEC2025), Excellent Paper Award in International Conference on Arts, Education and Social Science (ICAES 2023) in Paris, Top 20 Finalist in Special Education Innovation Award (SEIA) 2022, and Best Paper Award in International Conference on Education, Ethics, Legal, Social Science and Technology (ICEELST2020). Dr. Yoong has actively participated in innovation competitions, where she has received 4 Gold, 4 Silver, and 1 Bronze medals. Dr. Yoong was also actively participated in 3 Minute Thesis Competition, where she was also the Third Place Winner at the National Level Virtual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition organised by Universiti Malaya in 2022. She has published 30 articles, (4 Scopus, 13 ERA, 13 refereed journal), 2 articles in conference proceeding, 8 books, 2 chapters in book, and 1 living reference work entry in Encyclopedia of Educational Innovation (SpringerNature Link). She had conducted many presentations either as invited speaker, workshop presenter, conference presenter at international and national conferences. Dr. Yoong also contributes to academic leadership as an External Examiner for the Diploma in Early Childhood Special Education Programme at Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT), from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2027. Her community engagement includes delivering workshops, conducting train-the-trainer programmes for special educators and parents, serving as a jury member in innovation competitions, and reviewing for several reputable academic journals. Currently, she supervises Ph.D. students (Thesis), Master’s students (Project) and Bachelor Degree students.