Lee Su Teng possesses academic and industrial experience. A seasoned Human Resource professional with years of progressive experience. Her extensive experience includes hands-on engagement in managing a full spectrum of HR, working with human resources information systems, spearheading HR business contingency plans and serving as an HR representative for an acquisition exercise. She left the corporate after being awarded a full scholarship to pursue her doctorate. Following her PhD, she has now moved on to her academic career with the Faculty of Business and Economics, Universiti Malaya, Malaysia where she teaches Human Resources. Her research is multidisciplinary, focusing on generational cohorts, employee engagement, and Human Resources. Her research has been published in WoS and SCOPUS-indexed journals, books and proceedings at international conferences.

Jillian Ooi started out as an environmental social scientist but shifted to studying marine plants because she is fascinated by the sea. For her Master’s degree in Environmental Management, she explored the effects of disturbances on seaweed communities. She later earned a PhD in Seagrass Biogeography at the University of Western Australia as an Endeavour International Postgraduate Scholarship recipient. Working under the mentorship of Professor Gary Kendrick and the late Dr Kimberly Van Niel, she studied the spatial patterns and ecology of subtidal seagrasslands in the Johor islands. There, she fell irrevocably under the spell of these overlooked yet vital ecosystems. Jillian’s research consists of 3 themes: (1) investigating ecosystem functions of seagrass, particularly their roles as habitats and feeding grounds for fish and megafauna, (2) developing spatial distribution models for seagrass species in Southeast Asia, to provide an understanding of what makes a suitable seagrass habitat, and (3) developing effective restoration methods for seagrass and coral reefs. Her work has contributed to the gazettement of the Kepulauan Lima marine park in Johor (2023), strengthened protection for the Tioman Marine Park in Pahang (2007), and supported the establishment of a dugong sanctuary in Johor (2005 and 2017). Jillian enjoys working with local communities, spearheading and nurturing community-driven seagrass conservation initiatives in the Sungai Johor and Sungai Pulai estuaries. Her efforts focus on empowering local stakeholders through capacity building in seagrass monitoring and mapping. In 2015, Jillian received the Komai Fellowship to study the satoumi approach to seagrass restoration in Japan. In 2022, she was among six global researchers awarded the Pew Marine Fellowship for her work in seagrass restoration and to raise awareness about seagrass in Malaysia through the cultural arts approach. She blended the performing arts with science to create Seruan Setu, a groundbreaking gamelan music concert dedicated to seagrass ecosystems. When she is not underwater watching grass grow, Jillian is the Artistic Director and Music Director of Rhythm in Bronze, an award-winning contemporary gamelan ensemble based in Kuala Lumpur. Founded in 1997, Rhythm in Bronze is known for its pioneering efforts in showcasing the Malay gamelan as its main medium of musical expression. Jillian’s music direction and compositions for the gamelan have won awards and/or received nominations at the BOH Cameronian Arts Awards, which celebrates outstanding performances in music, dance, theatre and musical theatre in Malaysia. She considers the Sea her main source of musical inspiration. 

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.