Originally trained as a synthetic polymer chemist specialising in living anionic polymerisation of methacrylates, Shameer went beyond that to tailoring azobenzene-functionalised molecules and studying their photoisomerisation dynamics. Now, he is working on incorporating these photoswitches in various matrices to make new and interesting smart materials. Occasionally he can be found experimenting with organic emitters and hiking in his leisure time to remain cool under fire.

Dr. Mohd Fairuz Zamani, commonly known as Fairuz Zamani, is currently serving as an academic at the Faculty of Creative Arts, Universiti Malaya (UM), where he holds the position of Deputy Dean of Postgraduate, Research & Innovation. His research focuses on contemporary Malaysian music composition, with particular interest in developing analytical frameworks for the works of Malaysian composers. Dr. Fairuz has published in several esteemed academic journals, including Muzikološki Zbornik, Malaysian Journal of Music, Harmonia: Journal of Arts Research and Education, Wacana Seni, and 3L: Language, Linguistics, Literature. His forthcoming articles are scheduled for publication in Wacana Seni (late 2025) and Resonancias (mid 2026). He has led research projects aimed at promoting Malaysian piano repertoire to wider audiences and currently oversees a grant focused on analytical methodologies for selected works by Razak Abdul Aziz. Beyond academia, Dr. Fairuz is an active composer. He has been a member of the Malaysian Composers Collective since 2022, under which he premiered Phrygian Fantasy (2023), Kenyalang Rhapsody (2022), and Two Miniatures (2022). During his tenure as resident arranger for Koir Kebangsaan Malaysia and Permata Seni Koir, he composed two commissioned works for the Department of Culture and Arts, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC): Nuance of Rebab Fantasy (2013) and Mek Mulung Cycle (2018). His choral arrangements continue to be performed in national and international competitions, often by award-winning ensembles. Dr. Fairuz is also a seasoned performer and adjudicator. In June 2025, he was awarded the Prix de Perfectionnement à l’unanimité for outstanding performance at the Conservatoire International de Musique de Paris. His recent notable performances include Music of Johan Othman and Razak Aziz (2023), The Carnival of the Animals (2022) with the National Symphony Orchestra of Malaysia, and Beethoven’s 250th Birthday Celebration Concert at the German Embassy in Kuala Lumpur (2021). He has also served as adjudicator for events such as the MAME Folksong Festival (Piano category) and the 2nd China-ASEAN Music and Arts Cultural Exchange in 2024.

Dr. Norhayati is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Malaya in Malaysia. Holding a PhD from the University of Reading, UK, awarded in 2011 under the Indoor Environment and Energy Research Group, she has cultivated a strong academic and research background. In addition to her academic pursuits, Dr. Norhayati holds the position of Registered Building Surveyor and is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Malaysia (MRISM), bringing a practical and professional dimension to her research. Her leadership journey in academia encompasses her role as the Deputy Dean (Development) for the Faculty of Built Environment presently and prior roles as the Head of the Department of Building Surveying and the Head of the Research Unit for Building Science & Performance at the Faculty of Built Environment, University of Malaya, from 2014 to 2018. Currently, she holds the position of Deputy Dean (Development) for the faculty. Her research contributions extend beyond academia, with active participation in SIRIM International Organization for Standardization (ISO) as a Technical Committee of ISO/TC 146/SC2 for “IAQ and Workplace Atmospheres”. Dr. Norhayati has been actively involved in cutting-edge research in the fields of Indoor Environmental Quality and Zero Energy Buildings securing both national and international grants to support her research endeavors. Her work encompasses innovative approaches to enhancing indoor air quality, ventilation systems, and optimizing building energy and thermal performance. Her exceptional research efforts have earned her several awards, including the University of Malaya Excellence Service Award, Gold Awards at diverse International Research Innovation Competitions and the prestigious Hitachi Research Fellowship Award from The Hitachi Scholarship Foundation Japan. Demonstrating a notable research impact, she has published over 60 research articles with more than 1000 citations.