Dr. Muhamad Shakirin Mispan is currently a senior lecturer at the Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, teaching BSc courses including Ecology and Management of Weeds, Soil Ecology and Management, and Quantitative Ecology. He also teaches MSc courses including Applied Weed Science, Pest Management in Organic Crops, and Tropical Crop Management. He received a bachelor’s degree (BSc) in Ecology and Biodiversity in 2006 and a master’s degree (MSc) in Biology in 2010 from Universiti Malaya. He is a PhD holder in Biological Sciences from South Dakota State University, USA working on QTL mapping for weedy adaptive traits in rice; haplotype analysis for a major seed dormancy QTL region in rice; and seed longevity and photoperiod sensitivity in weedy rice. His current research focuses are mainly on the ecological genetics of weedy rice focusing on adaptation to various ecological systems, seedbank dynamics and longevity, environmental impact from various weed management, integration of sustainable agriculture for rice production, agroecology, and precision agriculture in rice farming.

Dr. Mohd Faizal Hamzah served as a Senior Librarian at the University of Malaya (UM) and was appointed as the Acting Head of the Museum of Asian Art, a position he held until 2024. His academic journey began in 2006 with the completion of a Diploma in Information Management from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), followed by a Bachelor’s degree (2008) and a Master’s degree (2011) in the same field. In 2019, he earned a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Information Management, specializing in work design and work performance. With over 15 years of experience in Information Science, Library Science, and Information Management, Dr. Faizal has contributed extensively to academia, authoring over 50 publications. His achievements have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards, including the Malaysia Aspiring Librarian Award (2015), the Masti Gemilang Administrator Award for Social Writing (2022), and the Masti Gemilang Administrator Award for Research (2022). He was also the recipient of the TalentCorp Sdn. Bhd. Travel Grant Award (MJVC 2024) and Best Presentation Awards at ICEEL 2024, ICIM 2023, and AIC 2018. In recognition of his dedication to academic excellence and service, he received several institutional accolades, including the University of Malaya Excellence Service Award (2014, 2024), the UM Certificate of Excellent Service (2013), and the UM Excellence Award (2014). Dr. Faizal has also played a significant role in professional organizations. He serves as Vice President I of the Malaysian Librarian Association (2024-present) and Chairman for Special Disabled Users in Libraries (2016-present). Additionally, he is a member of the International Library Advisory Board for Woxsen University, India, and a Standing Committee member of the IFLA Equitable and Accessible Library Services Section. LinkedIN: Mohd Faizal Hamzah

Dr. Tan Ai Huey is a Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya (UM) and Consultant Neurologist and Physician at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre. As a clinician-scientist, she dedicates her career to excellence in patient care, and medical research and education, particularly in the neurological subspecialty area of Parkinson's disease (PD) and Movement Disorders. After completing her specialty training in Internal Medicine and subspecialty training in Neurology in 2015, Dr. Tan obtained a PhD degree (with thesis distinction), in which she explored the role of the gut microbiome and novel therapeutic approaches, such as probiotics, in PD. Leading an inter-disciplinary research team at UM, her research has since expanded to genetic and biomarker discoveries in PD and rare movement disorders (e.g., dystonia and ataxia), with the aim to uncover factors that are unique and relevant to the Asian population. Other key research areas include uncovering the impact of geriatric conditions, comorbidities, and non-motor features, as well as understanding patient/caregiver perspectives, in PD. Through collaborations with local and international partners, Dr. Tan and her team work tirelessly to advance personalized, holistic, and patient-centered care in PD and related disorders. Dr. Tan has published extensively in leading medical journals, including first-author publications in Nature Reviews Neurology, Annals of Neurology, Neurology, and Movement Disorders, and co-authorship publications in Lancet Neurology, Nature Genetics, and JAMA Neurology. Her research has received support from renowned funding organizations including the Michael J. Fox Foundation, Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) via the Global Parkinson’s Genetic Program (GP2), and the Toray Science Foundation. She currently serves as an Associate Editor for Parkinsonism & Related Disorders, a reputable journal in the field. Dr. Tan was elected as President of the Malaysian Society of Neurosciences (MSN) from 2018 to 2022, the professional body that represents Malaysian neurologists and neuroscientists. She currently serves as the Chair of the MSN Movement Disorder Council, within which she co-authored the National Consensus Treatment Guidelines for PD. She has played key roles in developing the national neurology subspecialty training curriculum. Internationally, she was Treasurer of the ASEAN Neurological Association and has been appointed to Chair several committees of the International Parkinson & Movement Disorder Society (MDS, the world body representing clinicians and scientists in the PD/Movement Disorder field), including the MDS Communications Oversight Committee and the MDS Web-based Learning Subcommittee. She is also the Secretary-Elect of the MDS Asian-Oceanian Section Executive Committee and a member of the MDS Evidence-Based Medicine Steering Committee. Grateful for the mentors in her career, she is highly passionate about teaching and believes in developing the next-generation talent in medicine and science. She was twice voted Best Clinical Lecturer Award at the UM Faculty of Medicine. More recently, she won the University's Excellent Lecturer Award and the Yound Educator Award from the College of Physicians, Malaysia. Frequently invited as an expert faculty member at various national and international conferences and workshops, Dr. Tan is dedicated to enhancing education and training in PD and movement disorders, especially in underserved regions around the globe, where these efforts can have the most significant impact.