Fumitaka Furuoka is a Japanese economist who has lived in Malaysia since 1987. From 1991 to 1999, he worked as a senior assistant at the Consulate General of Japan in Penang. Fumitaka then moved to academia and has taught economics at three Malaysian public universities, namely, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), and Universiti Malaya (UM) for more than 25 years. His academic expertise is in the field of applied economics, which involves applying economic and econometric theories to address real-world critical financial issues and problems. As an applied economist, he aims to provide insights from his research to inform the development of effective policies that foster sustainable development, reduce regional disparities, and move society toward achieving economic and social justice.  In his research in the field of applied economics, he focuses on economic equity between countries (i.e., the problem of inequality of economic development level in different countries), as well as economic equity within countries (i.e., the problem of inequality of income distribution in a specific country). Regarding economic equity between countries, he has conducted extensive research on diverse and pertinent global economic issues, such as poverty reduction, unemployment, economic growth/development, and renewable energy. In 2006, he published a book on Japanese foreign aid titled New Challenges for Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) Policy. The book examines how Japan’s aid policy can contribute to reducing poverty and enhancing the well-being of developing countries, particularly those in Southeast Asia. As to economic equity within countries, the primary focus of Fumitaka's research is promoting “employment for all” which is closely aligned with Target 8 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He firmly believes that employment for all, including people with disabilities, is the basic foundation for a sustainable and more humane economy (Ekonomi Madani). This belief has led him to write a book on employment for people with disabilities entitled Disability and Employment: Towards a Humanistic Economy. The book was published by Springer in 2024. He also wrote another book, co-authored with Dr Yosuke Uchiyama, on employment for people with disabilities, entitled "Youth and Employment: Creating a Productive and Dynamic Society," which was published by the same publisher in 2025. This research direction has a strong practical orientation, and Fumitaka considers work in this area to be of ultimate importance for achieving economic equity and providing employment opportunities to people with disabilities or young people. In short, his research aims to identify barriers and initiate policies that promote and enable economic inclusion, employment, and justice for all.

Shalini Nadaswaran holds a PhD in English specializing in African Women's Literature from the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia (UNSW). Her PhD was supervised by eminent postcolonial expert, Professor Bill Ashcroft, exploring Igbo women writers and contemporary Nigeria. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in English and Master of Arts in English at the English Department, University of Malaya. Her research interest considers the constant evolving representations of women in local and global spaces. She is currently a Senior Lecturer with the English Department, University of Malaya and has worked on a research project which examines cultural formations. She has published in the field of African literature and women’s literature in journals such as African Literature Today, Matatu, Wasafiri and Tulsa Studies in Women’s Literature. She has also contributed book chapters to various book projects. She serves as a peer reviewer for a number of journals, two of which are ISI and Scopus cited. While her primary focus falls under the remit of African (Women’s) literature, she also has additional interests in research that explores modern day slavery, literature and injustice, and the figure of the ‘child’ in postcolonial literature. She welcomes research students working on any area in women’s literature, African literature and postcolonial women’s literature to contact her.

Nur Fitri binti Yusoff memperoleh Ijazah Sarjana Muda Syariah (al-Fiqh dan Usul al-Fiqh) dari Universiti Al-Albayt, Jordan pada tahun 2018. Seterusnya, beliau melanjutkan pengajian dalam Diploma Pascasiswazah Pendidikan (Pendidikan Islam) di Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) pada tahun 2022 dan berjaya menamatkannya pada tahun 2023. Semasa menuntut di Jordan, beliau diberikan amanah dan tanggungjawab sebagai Timbalan Bendahari dan Ahli Majlis Tertinggi, Persatuan Mahasiswa Malaysia Universiti Al-Albayt (PRISMA). Dalam peranan ini, beliau terlibat aktif dalam pelbagai program yang dianjurkan oleh persatuan, memberikan beliau pengalaman berharga dalam pengurusan dan kepimpinan. Selepas kembali ke Malaysia, beliau berkhidmat dalam pelbagai peranan berkaitan pendidikan. Antaranya, beliau pernah menjadi Guru Kelas al-Quran dan Fardu Ain (KAFA) di bawah Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor, guru ganti Pendidikan Islam di bawah Pejabat Pendidikan Daerah Seremban, dan pernah bertugas sebagai Guru KAFA di bawah Jabatan Hal Ehwal Agama Islam Negeri Sembilan. Dengan latar belakang akademik dan pengalaman yang ada, beliau kini bertugas sebagai Pensyarah Asasi di Akademi Pengajian Islam Universiti Malaya, Pusat Pendidikan Universiti Malaya (UMEC), Bachok, Kelantan (Oktober 2024-kini).