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.         

  Started his research career in the think tank sector, Dr. Lee Chee Leong (Karl) is attracted to the rise of non-traditional diplomacy in the international order today. Such appeal has taken Dr. Lee into new research horizons that started with his Monash University's doctoral research on the Chinese sub-state diplomacy in China-ASEAN economic cooperation. With constructive supervision by Professor Helen Nesadurai and Associate Professor Kuik Cheng Chwee, Dr. Lee completed his doctoral thesis that unravels how a faraway and least developed sub-state of Guangxi managed to overcome its own hurdles, navigate the complexities within the Chinese state and become the frontline actor in China-ASEAN economic cooperation.  Following his doctoral completion, Dr. Lee's research on non-traditional diplomacy has expanded into Taiwan’s quasi-state diplomacy in Southeast Asia. Such quest has led him spending at great length in comprehending the concept of soft power, a concept that finds its relevance to Taiwan, which has no official diplomatic with Southeast Asia but is heavily connected to the region and has to rely on soft power in its engagements with these Southeast Asian nations. By comparing different case studies of Taiwan's quasi-state engagement within Southeast Asia, Dr. Lee has developed the soft power diffusion process to explain how such phenomenon operates in the real world. His ongoing and incoming research projects include Unpacking ‘De-risking’ China in the Indo-Pacific Region: Economic Statecraft (ES) & Geoeconomics, Taiwan's New Southbound Policy (NSP) and NSP+: The Domestic-International Dichotomy, The Taiwanese Connections in Nvidia's Global AI Supply Chain and Taiwan and Ireland: The Story of Two Tech Powerhouses.  To date, Dr. Lee was the recipient of several scholarships and fellowships in Malaysia and overseas: University of Malaya’s Graduate Fellowship (2010-2011); Monash University’s Merit Scholarship (2016-2019); Chinese Government Scholarship (2018-2019); and Taiwan Fellowship (2020). Prior to his appointment as Senior Lecturer at the Institute of China Studies (ICS), he was the Visiting Scholar at Guangxi University for Nationalities (GXUN) (2018-2019), Taiwan Fellow at National Chengchi University (NCCU) (2020) and Associate Fellow at ICS UM (2016-2019). He welcomes any potential PhD candidate who would like to work on Taiwan-Southeast Asia relations, comparative cases of ES between Asia and Europe, US-China-ASEAN semiconductor geoeconomics and case studies of donut economies in Asia. He is also willing to discuss with potential doctoral candidates on proposals related to the Chinese sub-state (provincial and city) diplomacy toward ASEAN, comparative cases of sub-state diplomacy between Asia and Europe as well as conceptual innovations of sub-state diplomacy vis-a-vis soft power.     

Dr. Shafa'atussara Silahudin, born in Muar, Johor, is a distinguished Senior Lecturer and Programme Coordinator of Socio-Culture/Malay Arts at the Academy of Malay Studies, Universiti Malaya, Malaysia. She was a Guest Researcher (2021-2022) at the Faculty of Humanities, Leiden University, Netherlands. Her academic journey includes a Doctoral Degree from Leiden University, after completing her thesis titled 'Malay Singing in Pahang Villages: Identity and Practice', supervised by Prof. Dr. Bernard Arps and Dr. Suryadi at the Leiden Institute for Area Studies. She also obtained her Master of Malay Studies in Performing Arts and Bachelor of Science in Biohealth (Honors) from Universiti Malaya. Dr. Shafa's academic and community engagement roles span several years. She was an Assistant Fellow (2006-2007) and College Fellow/Secretary (2008-2013) at Kolej Kediaman Tun Syed Zahiruddin (Ninth Residential College) and held a fellowship at Universiti Malaya Community Engagement Centre (UMCares) from 2022-2023.  Dr. Shafa specializes in traditional/heritage music, Southeast Asian music history, alternative culture (including punk rock), arts community, popular media and music care. She is actively involved in interdisciplinary research, notably a project on music care for caregivers and older adults, collaborating with faculties of Medicine, Business and Economics, Creative Arts and Education under an IIRG grant (2022-2025). Her ethnographic research covers hybrid online-offline expressive cultural fields involving performers, industry professionals and audiences. As a traditional music practitioner in Malaysia, Dr. Shafa has recorded over 300 songs and has performed across Southeast Asia, China, Australia and the Netherlands. Her music performance videos are publicly accessible online. Dr. Shafa has an extensive publication record that includes: The book 'Malay Singing in Pahang Villages: Identity and Practice' published in 2023 by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) which was also the subject of her doctoral thesis. Co-authoring 'Wacana Pantun Melayu' in 2016, alongside Prof. Dr. Salinah Ja'afar, Associate Professor Dr. Tengku Intan Marlina Tengku Mohd Ali, and Malaysian National Laureate Datuk Dr. Zurinah Hassan, also published by DBP. Additional scholarly works from 2023 to present include topics such as music care for older adults and caregivers, Malay music in the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI), and reflections on music education and music community post-COVID-19.  Dr. Shafa has received multiple prestigious awards acknowledging her artistic and academic excellence: Darjah Paduka Mahkota Perak (P.M.P.) awarded in conjunction with Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah's 68th birthday, recognizing her distinguished contributions to arts and culture. Anugerah Cemerlang Universiti Malaya (ACUM) 2024 for Arts, Culture & Creativity (Academic Staff), highlighting her outstanding academic and creative achievements. Anugerah Penggiat Seni (Seni Berbahasa) Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur in 2023. Anugerah Biduan Syair ASEAN in 2022. Anugerah Bitara Syair Nusantara in 2021. Champion, International Dendang Syair Competition in 2019. Skim Latihan Akademik Fellowships by Universiti Malaya 2008-2011 & 2013-2016. Significance and Impact: Dr. Shafa's body of work consolidates traditional Malay music and cultural heritage with contemporary academic inquiry and community engagement. By marrying ethnographic research with artistic practice, she fosters greater understanding and preservation of Malay cultural identity. Her interdisciplinary approach, involving collaborations across various university faculties and international ties, notably with Leiden University, underlines her impact on music care, cultural sustainability and the arts both within Malaysia and beyond. Her multifaceted achievements illustrate her role as key figure who bridges academia, arts, and community outreach, advancing Southeast Asian music and Malay arts scholarship while promoting cultural care practices and supporting artists and caregivers alike.