Dr. Farazila Binti Yusof, or Fara as she is affectionately known was born and raised in the scenic town of Muar, Johor, Dr. Farazila Binti Yusof has carved a distinguished path in the academic and engineering worlds. Known for her profound dedication and expertise, Fara’s journey from a curious village girl in Muar to an influential academic leader is a story of passion, dedication, and perseverance. Dr. Farazila embarked on her academic journey with a Bachelor’s Degree in CAD/M Engineering, followed by a Master of Engineering Science at Universiti Malaya, and culminating in a Doctor of Engineering at Japan. Each step in her educational path fortified her foundation and fueled her commitment to advancing the engineering field. Currently serving as the Executive Director at the Centre of Foundation Studies in Sciences, Universiti Malaya, Dr. Farazila has held several pivotal positions within the university. Prior to her current role, she was the Head of the Mechanical Engineering Department from 2021 to 2022 and the Deputy Dean of Postgraduate Studies at the Faculty of Engineering from 2019 to 2021. Her leadership roles are characterized by visionary guidance and a relentless pursuit of excellence in engineering education and research. Dr. Farazila is a renowned scholar in the fields of welding, joining, and additive manufacturing. Her academic contributions include supervising over 25 PhD candidates and 7 masters students, alongside publishing more than 120 refereed journal articles. Her work not only advances the state of engineering but also mentors the next generation of engineers and researchers. When she is not immersed in her academic and professional endeavors, Dr. Farazila enjoys traveling. Her travels are not just escapes but also another way for her to explore and understand the engineering marvels of the world, blending her personal interests seamlessly with her professional passions. Her vision in the future to become a leading expert in advanced manufacturing technology specifically in additive manufacturing which contributing to efficient, safer and sustainable manufacturing process as well as mentoring the next generation of technology professionals.

Dr. Noor Hashimah Hashim Lim is a Senior Lecturer in Urban and Regional Planning at the Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Malaya, Malaysia. Her interdisciplinary research examines the intersection of participatory planning, social urbanism and planetary health, leveraging information and communication technologies to inform research within these interrelated domains. She is currently an appointed member of the Expert Panel Working Group on Land Use Analytics by PLANMalaysia in the development of the Malaysian Urban Observatory (MUO), a national data-sharing platform initiated by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government. Her recent works include exploring spatial-health linkage and engaging underprivileged B40 children in participatory design for conducive learning environments.

Amy Then is a senior lecturer at the Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Malaya. She obtained her Ph.D. in Fisheries Science from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, USA in 2014. Amy’s research interests are highly diverse and focused on animal- environment-human interactions to inform meaningful, data-driven conservation and management efforts in the coastal and marine realms. Currently, she is working on broad topics of mangrove ecology, restoration and ecosystem services assessment, shark and ray fishery assessment, marine megafauna bycatch and linkages between marine protected area and the well-being of both ecosystems and humans. She co-developed a number of successfully funded local and international proposals that were highly interdisciplinary in the last six years with funding from the Global Challenges Research Fund, Newton Fund, and British Council. To successfully deliver these projects, she had been actively using multiple science and social science approaches and with relevant stakeholder engagements at varying levels. In addition to scientific contributions in high-impact journals that included Scientific Reports, Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, and Ecosystems, she also has diverse experiences in organizing international meetings, including the Third International Symposium on Mangroves as Fish Habitat (MAFH3).