Dr. Nur Kusaira is a dedicated plant biotechnology researcher with a deep passion for unlocking the therapeutic and nutritional potential of plant natural products. Her academic journey began with a Bachelor's degree in Plant Resource Science and Management from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) in 2008, majoring in Plant Systematics. She was awarded the Best Undergraduate Thesis that year. She went on to earn a Master's in Healthcare Biotechnology from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), where she focused on in silico screening of phytocompounds against H5N1 and H1N1 influenza viruses under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Habibah Abd Wahab. In 2012, she undertook a research attachment at UC San Diego, where she conducted molecular dynamics simulations of plant-based inhibitors targeting the NS2B/NS3 protein of Dengue virus type 2 (DENV-2). Her career then led her to Malaysian Institute of Pharmaceuticals and Nutraceuticals (IPharm), where she managed the USM-RIKEN natural product discovery grant, working on the development of a comprehensive library of Malaysian plant extracts intended for diverse bioactivity screenings, laying the groundwork for systematic exploration of Malaysia’s phytochemical biodiversity. Though initially set to pursue her PhD at USM, Dr. Nur Kusaira was awarded an international PhD scholarship by Universiti Malaya and joined the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, under Prof. Dr Henrik Toft Simonsen. Her PhD work made headlines in plant synthetic biology, she pioneered the use of Physcomitrella patens for stable in vivo assembly of biosynthetic gene clusters, achieving the first stable plant-based production of artemisinin, a vital antimalarial drug, marking a breakthrough in sustainable pharmaceutical production. Her research continues at the intersection of plant science, biotechnology, and health. She focuses on: Functional Food Innovation: Developing plant-based bioactives with nutraceutical properties for preventive health and wellness. Drug Discovery: Leveraging computational tools to identify potent, selective plant-based inhibitors targeting cancer, viral and microbial proteins. Plant Synthetic Biology: Exploring plant platforms like moss and medicinal species for scalable biosynthesis of valuable therapeutic molecules. Dr. Nur Kusaira’s work reflects a commitment to sustainability, global health, and innovation paving the way for plant-derived therapeutics that are effective, affordable, and accessible worldwide.

Mr. Norhafizan Bin Ahmad is a distinguished academician and researcher at the University of Malaya, with an illustrious career spanning more than two decades. Renowned for his pioneering work in technology research and development, he has consistently delivered outstanding results in teaching, coaching, and leadership—earning recognition both locally and internationally. His groundbreaking contributions have been extensively published and cited in leading international journals and conferences, covering diverse fields such as industrial ergonomics, biomechanics, sport engineering, and renewable energy. These works have positioned him as a thought leader and innovator in advancing science and technology for societal impact. As a Project Leader, Mr. Norhafizan has successfully spearheaded numerous prestigious grants, including the High Impact Research Grant (HIR), Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS), the MOSTI Science Fund, Universiti Malaya Deep Tech (UMDT), Universiti Malaya Research Grant (UMRG), Collaboration Research University Grant (CG), and the Research University Grant (RU). His ability to secure and lead these high-value projects underscores his credibility as a trusted driver of innovation and research excellence. In recognition of his visionary work, he was named a Finalist in the Global Cleantech Innovation Programme (GCIP) in 2015, and subsequently honored with the Anugerah Harta Intelek Negara (Patent Category) in 2016—a testament to his ability to translate research into impactful, market-ready innovations. Most notably, Mr. Norhafizan is the founder of SOLWAV, a revolutionary sustainable energy project that integrates three natural offshore energy resources into a single system. This bold initiative has attracted significant attention for its potential to reshape the renewable energy landscape, offering scalable solutions for a greener and more sustainable future. With his proven track record of academic excellence, visionary leadership, and commercial innovation, Mr. Norhafizan continues to inspire the next generation of researchers while building bridges between academia, industry, and society. His work exemplifies the power of knowledge-driven innovation in creating lasting global impact.

Dr Lee obtained a Japanese Government scholarship to pursue his Ph.D in Hokkaido, Japan. Upon graduation, he continued his research in marine microbial ecology in Malaysia. Throughout his service at University of Malaya, he was awarded fellowships as visiting lecturer to the Faculty of Earth & Environmental Sciences, Hokkaido University and to the Research Center for Environmental Change, Academia Sinica, Taiwan. Dr Lee is interested in marine microbial ecology, studying the abundance and diversity of microorganisms, ecological drivers for microbial dynamics, microbial process rates, and the interaction of microorganisms in the sea. Knowledge from these observations and measurements are applied to our understanding of the microbial food web and carbon fluxes. This in turn, can help us better understand how the marine environment responds to environmental changes especially eutrophication and climate change.