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. Cindy Teh Shuan Ju is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Medicine and a leading researcher in antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Dr. Teh has secured substantial research funding of more than RM10 million and has authored over 130 peer-reviewed publications. She has received research grants awarded by Malaysian Government and International agencies as well as Industry partners. Dr. Cindy Teh adopts a multipronged approach in addressing the challenge of multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens. Her research integrates molecular microbiology to uncover the mechanisms underlying resistance, virulence, and transmission dynamics of hospital-acquired pathogens. In addition to investigating the pathogens themselves, she also examines the impact of antibiotics on patients’ microbiomes and studies the carriage of multidrug-resistant organisms among hospitalized patients. Recognising the importance of behavioural factors, Dr. Teh explores the psychosocial aspects influencing healthcare workers’ compliance with hand hygiene practices. Beyond the laboratory and clinical settings, Dr. Teh is also deeply committed to community outreach. She actively engages with schoolchildren through educational initiatives aimed at increasing awareness of AMR. These programmes are designed to empower the younger generation with knowledge, encouraging them to play a proactive role in combating AMR from an early age. Dedicated to bridging science and society, she authored “AMR Diary” to raise public awareness in 2023. Beyond her research contributions, Dr. Teh has been playing several key leadership roles. As Chairperson of the Institutional Biosafety and Biosecurity Committee (IBBC), she has significantly strengthened biosafety governance and oversees all university activities involving infectious agents and toxins. She was appointed as the Quality Manager of the Faculty of Medicine from 2018 to 2022, where she played a pivotal role in enhancing academic quality and institutional standards. She has also been actively involved as the panel assessor for the accreditation of programs in the University since 2022. Dr. Teh also serves as the Coordinator of the Infra Microbiology Unit, where she leads a dedicated team actively engaged by government agencies and industry partners. Under her leadership, the unit conducts microbiological studies and delivers customised training programmes aimed at capacity building and strengthening technical competencies across sectors. Professionally, Dr. Teh serves as an Academic Editor for PeerJ. She provides expert consultation to national agencies and industry on ISO 17025 compliance and biosafety systems. She has also contributed as one of the module writers for the national biosafety training programme under the Malaysia One Health University Network (MyOHUN), helping to strengthen the country’s biosafety training framework. Additionally, she plays an active role in national policy development as a member of the National Committee for the Implementation of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC), supporting efforts to enhance biosafety and biosecurity governance at the national level. Dr. Teh’s contributions have been nationally and internationally recognised. She is a member of Young Scientists Network-academy of Sciences Malaysia (YSN-ASM) since 2018. She also received the prestigious L’Oréal-UNESCO Women in Science Fellowship in 2021 and the MSIDC-Institut Mérieux Young Researcher Award in 2018. In addition, her innovative work has earned multiple medals at both national and international innovation exhibitions. To date, Dr. Teh has successfully supervised and graduated 8 PhD and 16 Master’s students, reflecting her strong commitment to postgraduate training and research mentorship.

Ir. Ts. Dr. Yuen Choon Wah is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering. He is a registered Professional Engineer with the Board of Engineers Malaysia, and a registered Professional Technologist with the Malaysia Board of Technologists. Currently, he is the Pro Tem Head of Smart Mobility Centre of Excellence, and the Head of Centre for Transportation Research in the University of Malaya, a research centre that provides technical opinion and consultancy services in Transport Engineering beside actively involved in R&D projects. His areas of expertise are traffic engineering, traffic safety & sustainable transport study.