Dr. UZAIR ISHTIAQ received master’s degree in Computer Science from NUCES Islamabad, Pakistan, and the Ph.D. degree Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, Universiti Malaya, Malaysia. He worked as a Lecturer at COMSATS University Islamabad for more than 10 years and has been Senior Lecturer with the Department of Artificial Intelligence, FCSIT, Universiti Malaya, Malaysia, since 2025. He has published several articles in academic journals indexed in ISI and Scopus.

Marlenny Deenerwan holds a PhD in Theatre Performance from Monash University, Australia (2016), a Master of Arts (2011) and a Bachelor of Performing Arts in Drama (2007) from Universiti Malaya and a Diploma in Creative Writing from the National Arts Academy, now known as ASWARA (2002).  Before entering the academic world, she was a teacher at SM Shan Tao in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, and worked as a sub-editor at Daily Express Sabah. As an academic, her research is in the field of Malaysian traditional and ritual theatre: Bobolian rituals in Sabah, the traditional theatre of Wayang Kulit, Makyong and Bangsawan, research on the Minang community in Kuala Lumpur and the Kaul event of the Melanau community in Mukah. Her most recent research focused on the development of interactive theatre as an alternative to teaching and learning in primary school. This project started in 2017 in a rural school in SK Pekan Ranau, Sabah under the UMRG grant and was further developed into a DraFDidik module. This is a teaching and learning method using drama/theatre for passive children that was tested in five primary schools in the Klang Valley in 2023, funded by a UMCares grant. In November 2023, Marlenny won Silver Award in International Education Innovation Expo 2023 through the project DraFDidik. Marlenny has been a creative writer since 1999 and has published over 20 scripts for modern stage dramas and adaptations (Nur, Dari M ke M, Rumah Lama Kampung Baru, Melati & Melur, YB Jee, Lina & Lijah, No Smoking Please, Lima Bersaudara, Anak Raja Anak Papa, Zhao Si Anak Yatim, Hikayat Si Miskin Menjadi Raja, Elyas Emas, Perempuan-Perempuan Kampong Bharu, Transit Borneo-Malaya etc.), dozens of TV dramas since 2003 (Haryati II, Dilema Wanita, Kasihnya Di Bawah Bayu, Igauan Semalam, etc.). She also writes documentaries, television commercials, newspaper articles/critiques, short stories, poems, and song lyrics. She has worked as an actress, director, and theatre producer since 1998. Her directing credits include No Smoking Please (2003), The Glass Menageries (2006), Rachel Corrie (2007), Di Sebalik Pintu (2008), Melati & Melur (2008), The Zoo Story (2009), Rumah Lama Kampung Baru (2010), Bangsawan Anak Raja Anak Papa (The Prince and The Pauper) (2015), Zhao Si Anak Yatim (2017 & 2018), Asiah Samiah (2019), Hikayat Si Miskin Menjadi Raja (2021), Bangku (2022), Saya... Dari Hujung Kota (2023), Transit Borneo-Malaya (2023), Wanita dan Senjatanya (2023), Perempuan-Perempuan Kampong Bharu (2024), Sirih Bertepuk Pinang Menari (2024), Tingginya Menyapu Awan (2025) and Muzikal Uda & Dara (2025). She co-founded the theater group Mekar Budaya in 2002 and the group Bangsawan Opera Sri Bandaraya under the patronage of Kuala Lumpur City Hall in 2008. She won the Best Actress Award at the Malaysian Theater Festival 2003, the Best Director Award at the Kuala Lumpur Theater Festival 2009, the Young Theater Artist Award by the Selangor State Government in 2010, and the Best Original Script Cameronian Boh Award 2025. Her Bangsawan script Lima Bersaudara was recorded in the Malaysia Book of Records as the first Bangsawan script for children in 2010. She was appointed by the National Ministry of Culture and Arts as the Head of Jury for the 2016 Malaysian Theater Festival. She was the Head of Jury for the Universiti Malaya (Kaviter UM) Theater Carnival from 2017 to 2024.  Apart from being an author for the Sekolah Seni Malaysia textbooks, Marlenny has published several academic books, including "Bobolian Seni Teater Etnik Dusun" (2015, JKKN), "Siri Teater Muzikal" (2024, DBP), and her latest publication, "Seni Teater Bangsawan" published by DBP in 2025. During her stint with the NGOs, Marlenny was the former President of ASWARA Alumni Association 2015-2018 and is currently the Chairperson of Persatuan Rumpun Seni Mekar Budaya Kuala Lumpur (since 2020). She has also been a member of Ikatan Penulis Sabah since 1992. In December 2024, she received the Anugerah Khas Cendekia (Seni Teater) at Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Kuala Lumpur.

NG Boon Kwee obtained his PhD in Technological Innovation Management from Universiti Malaya in 2011. With over 20 years of university teaching experience, he is a dynamic educator specializing in technological innovation management, technology entrepreneurship, science policy, industrial S&T policy, and science diplomacy. His research is at the forefront of Policy and Management of Science and Technology, focusing on industrial science and technology policies, cluster innovation, innovation for inclusive development, grassroots innovation, and social innovation. His publications underscore the critical roles of social networks and embeddedness in national and regional innovation systems. Recognized for his expertise, Dr. NG has served as a consultant for esteemed international and national agencies, including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), International Development Research Centre Canada (IDRC), Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), Ministry of Economy, and the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM). In 2019, he was a full-time seconded Experienced Researcher at Bocconi University and UNU-MERIT under the European Union's Horizon 2020 Marie Curie Research and Innovation Staff Exchange programme. His accolades include the Asian Universities Alliance (AUA) Scholars Award (2019-2020), the Grassroots Science Advice Promotion Award (2023) from the International Network for Governmental Science Advice Asia Regional Chapter (INGSA-Asia), and Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affair (MOFA) Fellowship 2025. Currently, he is the Associate Editor of Technological Forecasting and Social Change (TFSC) and serves on the Editorial Board of the Asian Journal of Technology Innovation (AJTI). He was also the Head of Department of Science and Technology Studies (2020-2025) and the steering committee member of National Collaborative Networks of Science Centres of Malaysia since 2023-2025.