I am an anthropologist by training and I am involved in research on community development and engagement. All of my work with the communities have been supporting and creating a structure for them to participate in circular economy by empowering them with skills and knowledge that are relevant for them to establish community-based enterprise or to enhance their knowledge on being an Indigenous entrepreneurs at the rural regions. For this purpose, I adopt participatory community-based action research and ethnographic study, particularly when I conduct social impact assessment before conducting the research and after the implementations of the projects. My primary research focusing on community-driven development project that includes the applications of Indigenous knowledgeas tools for the community livelihood development in the circular economy on community-based cultural and knowledge conservation by engaging the makers, artisans and women to actively participate in the projects. The most successful research and sustainable community engagement has been the development of the Indigenous knowledge of the traditional textile, the Iban pua kumbu that has led to a series of educational polysensory exhibition, the “Textile Tales of the Pua Kumbu since 2015. I am also an art curator, curating cultural exhibitions and based on the HIR (2013-2016), I created a community-based enterprise that promotes the traditional Iban Pua Kumbu internationally.

Aisya is a former Legal Adviser at the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) and Head of Law Division at Malaysia’s national human rights institution, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM). For over a decade, she has worked with diverse stakeholders at all levels to support and promote respect for the rule of law, internationally and domestically. Aisya has provided technical guidance and support to decisionmakers and policymakers in many areas of international humanitarian and human rights law. She has actively contributed to regional and national implementing law processes and projects, including related to translation of the Geneva Conventions, children in migration protection, sexual harassment and gender equality. She has also facilitated high-level humanitarian dialogues; delivered humanitarian assistance to detainees; and developed specialised training tools and info materials. She also assisted rule of law, human rights, transitional justice, and post-conflict development projects in/on Colombia, Ukraine, Scotland, and South Sudan. Within her first four years of practice at the Malaysian Bar, Aisya appeared as counsel in over 15 reported cases at Malaysia’s highest courts, including a landmark workplace sexual harassment case.    

Ar. Dr. Hazrina Haja Bava Mohidin is a registered professional architect and senior lecturer at Universiti Malaya, with core expertise in architectural design, spatial analysis, housing studies, heritage, and urban design. She has worked in academia for 10 years upon her graduation in 2015. Since joining the Department of Architecture at Universiti Malaya in 2018, she has demonstrated strong leadership and academic service, including her appointment as the Program Coordinator for the Master of Architecture, where she led curriculum development and student support initiatives. Her teaching portfolio spans undergraduate and postgraduate levels, with an emphasis on architectural design studios, architectural history, theory, and master’s and doctoral thesis supervision. Her pedagogical approach integrates critical thinking, cultural context, and real-life application, making her a dedicated and reflective educator. In research, Dr. Hazrina has secured over RM190,000 as Principal Investigator and contributed to multidisciplinary grants as a Co- Researcher. Her projects have addressed key national issues such as improving B40 housing, preserving heritage in Melaka, and designing inclusive educational environments. She has published two books and multiple journal articles, reflecting a growing academic profile. Beyond UM, Dr. Hazrina is an active figure in the wider academic and professional community. She has been invited as a guest lecturer and external assessor for final-year reviews and design studios at prominent institutions including UTM, USM, UPM, UTAR, Taylor’s, USCI, and universities in Indonesia. She has also delivered invited talks at ARCHIDEX and served as a visiting lecturer at Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta and Diponegoro University. She was also recently appointed as Technical Advisory Committee (Academic) by School of Architecture and Interior Design, Faculty of Asia Built Environment, Universiti Geomatika Malaysia (UGM) and Diploma in Architecture, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in their curriculum and accreditation development process. In recognition of her commitment to teaching, she was recently awarded Fellowship (FHEA) by Advance HE, a UK-based international body that grants professional recognition to university educators. This award, effective from 1st July 2025 (Fellowship reference PR283845), acknowledges her attainment against the Professional Standards Framework for teaching and learning support in higher education. She holds corporate memberships with Lembaga Arkitek Malaysia (LAM), Pertubukan Akitek Malaysia (PAM), and ICOMOS (Malaysia and International), underscoring her active engagement with the architectural profession. Dr. Hazrina’s academic trajectory reflects a dynamic and well-rounded profile that bridges teaching, research, and professional engagement. Her ability to integrate design thinking with contextual and community- based approaches demonstrates a clear commitment to architectural education that is both critical and responsive. Through her leadership roles, scholarly outputs, and regional collaborations, she continues to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of architectural knowledge and practice.