Interdisciplinary scholar with a Ph.D. in Social and Behavioural Science—Sociology and Cultural Studies, with a focus on gender. My research engages feminist and decolonial methodologies to explore gender, power, and governance in post-colonial African contexts, with a focus on rural and indigenous communities, youth agency, and social justice. I have conducted fieldwork-driven research, contributed to policy dialogues, and collaborated on interdisciplinary studies in diverse feminisms and Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS).Alongside my academic work, I bring over a decade of experience in civil society, multilateral institutions, and international governance spaces across more than 20 countries. I am committed to bridging academia and activism through knowledge production that informs policy, practice, and inclusive governance.

Dr. Anis Rageh Al-Maleki is a senior lecturer (assistant professor) in the Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine at University of Malaya (UM), Malaysia. He received his PhD in Medical Microbiology from UM, and postdoctoral fellowship at Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Malaysia. His research expertise lies in microbiology, immunology, integrated omics, bacterial pathogenesis, biomarker discovery, and genetic engineering for several pathogens and oral microbiota. He has published several research articles and served as Editorial Board Member; Clinical Pathology & Research Journal (CPRJ), Asian Council of Science Editors (ASCE), Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology Journal and Clinical Microbiology Journal, Professional Member; Engineering Research and Publications, Malaysian Society for Microbiology Member, Associate Member, Malaysian Society of Microbiology (MSM), & IFERP Professional Membership. Reviewer in many Journals. Dr. Anis has an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding Research Expertise and high impact publications: Dr. Anis is internationally recognized for his exceptional achievements in omics studies and cancer-related infections. With a robust record of high-impact, peer-reviewed publications, his work is widely cited, demonstrating significant contributions to scientific knowledge and earning global validation. Innovation in Techniques: by employing advanced techniques in next-generation sequencing and integrating various 'omics' approaches, Dr. Anis has modified analysis methods which led to new insights, adopted by researchers, underscoring his leadership in the field. Collaborative Projects: he actively engages in collaborative projects with leading researchers and institutions worldwide, resulting in co-authored publications, joint research grants, and the sharing of knowledge and resources. These collaborations are crucial for advancing scientific discovery on an international scale. Recognition and Awards: his excellence in research has been recognized with numerous awards, affirming his reputation in the scientific community. Appointed as speaker: he has been appointed as a speaker at several prestigious international conferences and serves as an editor for a respected scientific journal. These roles acknowledge his past achievements and potential for future contributions. Supervisor for international students: mentors the next generation of scientists, sharing his expertise and fostering advancements in science. Workshops & training: he conducts workshops, talks, and training sessions globally, indicating his commitment to education and capacity building in the scientific community, enhancing the skills of researchers worldwide.

Dr Nishakanthi Gopalan is a Senior Lecturer at the Medical Humanities and Ethics Unit (MedHEU), a newly established unit within the Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya (UM). She is a biotechnologist by training with a PhD in research ethics and policy implication particularly looking at stem cell technology. During this time, she published her key findings in several reputable high-impact bioethics journals. Dr Nisha is the former programme coordinator of the Master of Health Research Ethics (MOHRE), a programme developed in collaboration with the Berman Institute of Bioethics, Johns Hopkins University (JHU). Besides teaching in MOHRE, she also provides ethics lectures in other programmes in the faculty. Dr Nisha also contributes as an external member of the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) Medical Research Ethics Committee. She is one of the instructors for the Introduction to Health Research Ethics, an online course in FutureLearn. She also facilitates the APRU Health Research Ethics course. Dr Nisha’s research interest includes different aspects of ethics such as bioethics, research and clinical ethics on diverse topics ranging from emerging technologies (such as regenerative medicine, stem cells, and genetic testing), health research, and aesthetic medicine. She is an expert in qualitative research methods such as in depth interviews, focus group discussion (FGD), inductive and deductive analysis, thematic analysis, grounded theory, as well as narrative and scoping reviews. Currently, she is working on the Fogarty International Centre (FIC), NIH bioethics training grant with Johns Hopkins University (JHU) as well as on the ethics of genetic testing among Parkinson’s patients (USMC Care Fund). She is constantly on the look out for collaboration on local /regional / international projects on the various topics involving ethics.