Dr. Abubakar Abubakar Usman is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of International and Strategic Studies at Universiti Malaya (UM), Malaysia, where he specializes in globalization, development, and the politics of Africa and the Middle East. With a multidisciplinary academic background spanning International Relations, Diplomacy, and Islamic Finance, Dr. Usman is a prolific scholar whose work bridges theory and policy. Academic LeadershipDr. Usman currently serves as a Guest Lecturer at the University of Nottingham Malaysia, teaching Politics and International Relations of the Middle East. He has also been invited as a Guest Speaker at institutions such as Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Nile University Nigeria, where he shared expertise on diplomacy, conflict resolution, and strategic studies. His teaching philosophy emphasizes critical thinking and real-world applicability, honed through roles as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) and as an English instructor for Saudi Schools Kuala Lumpur. Research ContributionsA dedicated researcher, Dr. Usman has held prestigious fellowships, including as a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at IIUM’s Institute of Islamic Banking and Finance (IIiBF), where he explored the intersection of Islamic finance and global development. As a Senior Fellow and Coordinator of the Africa Studies Circle at the Asia Middle East Centre for Research and Dialogue (AMEC), he fosters cross-civilizational dialogue and evidence-based policy recommendations. His research has been published in high-impact journals such as South African Journal of International Affairs, Global Society, and Contemporary Islam, and he has contributed chapters to Routledge and Palgrave Macmillan volumes on Islamic finance, African diplomacy, and human rights. Dr. Usman actively engages in peer review for Web of Science-indexed journals, including Security Journal and SN Social Sciences, and is currently developing two book projects: The Political Economy of Africa-Asia Relations (Routledge) and Coups in 21st Century Africa (Palgrave Macmillan). His doctoral thesis on Boko Haram’s media strategies and master’s research on Islamic finance as a development tool reflect his commitment to addressing pressing global challenges. Policy and Public EngagementBeyond academia, Dr. Usman is a sought-after commentator on African geopolitics, contributing to platforms like Africa@LSE, Daily Trust, and The Conversation. His analyses on ECOWAS, military coups, and Nigeria’s foreign policy have shaped public discourse. He has also served as an interpreter and translator for Malaysian government agencies, leveraging fluency in English, Arabic, and Hausa. Education and Honors PhD in International Relations (Globalization & Development), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Master of Diplomacy and Strategic Studies (CGPA: 4.00), UKM Master of Political Science (CGPA: 3.83), International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) BA in Arabic/Mass Communication, Bayero University Kano, Nigeria Professional Affiliations Member, International Studies Association (ISA) Associate Member, International Society for Development and Sustainability (ISDS) For a full list of publications and research projects, visit his Google Scholar or ORCID profiles. Contact:Email: abubakar.usman@um.edu.my | Phone: +60 162417993Address: Department of International and Strategic Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Universiti Malaya

Dr. Amarul Arief Mohd Shuhaimi is a Malaysian academic and researcher specialising in Halal industry management, organisational management, talent development, and food systems governance. He currently serves as a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Management and Islamic Finance, Academy of Islamic Studies, Universiti Malaya. His teaching and postgraduate supervision focus on Islamic management, organisational behaviour, marketing, and the Halal industry. He also contributes to academic governance through curriculum review, programme development, and doctoral title evaluation. Dr. Amarul holds a PhD from The University of Newcastle, Australia, undertaken in collaboration with Universiti Putra Malaysia. His doctoral research examined talent management and career development within the Halal industry. His academic work integrates sociological perspectives with management studies and policy analysis, particularly within Islamic institutions and food-based organisational systems. He has published extensively in Scopus- and Web of Science–indexed journals, including the Journal of Islamic Marketing, International Food Research Journal, and Journal of Culinary Science & Technology. His research addresses Halal governance, workforce sustainability, talent development, certification and compliance systems, organisational development, and Islamic ethical leadership. Beyond academic publishing, he contributes to public and policy discourse through national media platforms such as The Star, New Straits Times, and Utusan Malaysia. Dr. Amarul is actively involved in international research collaborations and regularly participates in academic conferences across Asia, Australia, America and Europe. His work contributes to policy development, academic innovation, and the advancement of a sustainable and globally competitive Halal ecosystem.

Dr. Siti Munirah stands at the forefront of change as a lecturer in the Department of Social Administration and Justice at Universiti Malaya. With profound expertise in social advocacy, she goes beyond the classroom, actively engaging with civil society, including non-governmental organisations (NGOs), charitable organisations, faith-based organisations, and research organisations. Driven by a passion for societal well-being, she focuses on creating awareness on crucial social issues affecting the lives of older adults. Her research interest on exploring diverse social advocacy strategies that reach and uplift vulnerable groups on a wide scale.