Prof. Dr. Jennifer Ann Harikrishna is a Professor of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics at the Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Malaysia. Prof. Jenni is a British citizen with permanent residence status in Malaysia. After completing her Bachelor of Sciences degree in Microbiology at the University of Surrey, U.K. she was awarded a Whitbread Scholarship to pursue her doctoral thesis on the molecular genetics of industrial yeast at the Cranfield Institute of Technology, Cranfield University, U.K. She graduated in 1990 winning the Chancellors Gold Medal for the most outstanding graduate student of the year. Dr. Jenni then moved to the U.S.A. to take up a two year post-doctoral fellowship at the University of California in San Francisco (UCSF). Dr. Jenni moved to Malaysia in 1991 where she continued her post doctoral research at the University of Malaya, Department of Biology, before joining TropBio Research Sdn Bhd, a small private plant biotechnology company in 1996. In 2001 she joined the Institute of Bioscience at University Putra Malaysia (UPM) as an Associate Professor. Prior to re-joining the University of Malaya in 2006, Dr Jenni was an Associate Professor of Biotechnology at the Malaysia University of Science and Technology (MUST). Prof. Jenni became a full Professor at the University of Malaya in 2011 and holds joint positions as a member of the Faculty of Science and as the Director of the Centre for Research in Biotechnology for Agriculure (CEBAR), University of Malaya. Prof. Jenni also holds a current appointment as an Honorary Visiting Fellow in the Department of Genetics and Genome Biology at the University of Leicester, UK. Her current research focus is on functional genomics and biotechnology for tropical crop improvemnt.

Dr. Nurul Nadhirah, a Senior Lecturer at the Glami Lemi Biotechnology Research Centre, Universiti Malaya, is a renowned researcher in plant biotechnology. She has specialized expertise in the tissue culture of fern species and selected crop plants, making significant contributions to the understanding and cultivation of these plants for both scientific and practical applications.       In addition to her work in plant tissue culture, Dr. Nadhirah has extensive knowledge in taxonomy, systematics, and biodiversity of ferns (pteridophytes). Her academic interests are centered on exploring the vast diversity of ferns, studying their classification, and understanding their ecological roles in different environments. She obtained her PhD in Botany from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, where her research focused on spore culture of various fern species found in Malaysia.      She has published numerous papers on plant tissue culture, fern taxonomy, and biodiversity, establishing her as an expert in the field. She is an active participant in scientific expeditions, collaborating with government and NGOs, to collect valuable data on plant species and contribute to conservation efforts aimed at protecting Malaysia's natural heritage.

Dr Melati Sumari, is a Professor and a Registered Counselor. She joined UM as a tutor and was later appointed as a lecturer at the Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling. Dr Sumari pursued her doctoral degree in Counselor Education and Supervision, at Western Michigan University, USA. She specializes in Marriage and Family Therapy and College Counseling. She teaches counseling courses at the undergraduate, masters and doctoral levels. Dr Sumari has also presented at national and international conferences. She has published in local and international journals. Most of her publications focus on family, adolescents, and young adults.