Vilashini Somiah is an anthropologist who is a senior lecturer at the Gender Studies Programme at Universiti Malaya. She received her PhD from the National University of Singapore, an MA from Ohio University, an MRes from Universiti Malaya and a BA from the Universiti Malaya. She maintains a keen interest for underrepresented narratives of women, migrants and Borneans living in the interiors. She is the co-editor of “Sabah From the Ground: The 2020 Elections and the Politics of Survival (SIRD/ISEAS, 2021), and her first book, “Irregular Migrants and the Sea at the Borders of Sabah, Malaysia: Pelagic Alliance'' with Palgrave Macmillan (TBC 2022). Outside of academia, she writes ethnographic articles on the local socio-political landscape.

Dr Adibi M. Nor is a multidisciplinary marine biologist and aquaculturist by training, with 20 years of experience in the fisheries sector. His work focuses on fisheries policy, particularly the sustainability of seaweed commercialisation among Malaysian coastal communities and the impact of this activity on their livelihoods. He was an employee of the Department of Fisheries (DOF) Malaysia, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, from 2003 until 2018. Dr Adibi was involved with the development of the national seaweed policy, in particular the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of this policy. He is now a senior lecturer and PhD and MPhil programme coordinator at the Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS), Universiti Malaya. Throughout his career as a policymaker, scientist, and business development leader with the agri/aquaculture company, he has developed a deep understanding of and a strong background in food security and agri/aquaculture, specialising in addressing the challenges and complexities of the global food system. This breadth of experience has shaped his insights into the flow of using scientific evidence in the policy-making process. To ensure sustainability and share his expertise with society, Dr Adibi has developed the Student Holistic Empowerment (SHE) academic course known as Nasi Lemak and Food Systems at Universiti Malaya. He has published widely on seaweed and fisheries research related to policy, biology, and value chain aspects. He was appointed as a reviewer for the International Journal of Food Science & Technology, the Journal of Aquaculture, Fish, and Fisheries, the Journal of Quality and Quantity, the Journal of Applied Phycology, the Journal of Socioeconomics and Development, and Botanica Marina in 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, and 2019. He was a consultant for international and local seaweed projects from 2019 until 2025 and a scientific advisor and business development planner for the Abalone Aquaculture Company in 2018. Currently, he is actively pursuing innovation in seaweed cultivation as nature-based solutions (website: https://drcweedaquasolutions.com/). Dr Adibi experimented with new farming methods, such as Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture (IMTA) systems, to enhance seaweed production for food security while minimising environmental impact. His research led to discoveries that improved seaweed disease management and optimised the extraction of valuable compounds for various industries, including food, cosmetics, bioplastics, biostimulants and animal feed. He is passionate about making aquaculture development sustainable and equitable for the local community and the environment. Endearingly, his social media pages (Facebook and Instagram) are called Dr C+Weed, which he started in July 2021 as a forum for conversing with and educating people about seaweed. Dr Adibi intends to make seaweed a superfood to combat global and local food security issues. His publications and research areas can be accessed at https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Adibi_Nor Current Research Endeavours: Seaweed Cultivation for Blue Carbon: Advancing Sustainable Decarbonization Efforts. Evaluating Integrated Multi-trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) Implementation Among Malaysian Aquaculturists, Using the Quantitative Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices (KAP) Survey Technique.   Sea Grapes Seaweed Cultivation Offers Avenue Toward Greater Food Security, Healthier Diets, and Better Nutrition in Malaysia. Seaweed Cultivation for Climate Mitigation, Food Security, and Local Community Development in Abandoned Shrimp Ponds in Kota Kuala Muda, Kedah, Malaysia Food Security in Malaysia: The Effect of the Covid-19 Pandemic on the Paddy and Rice Industry in Malaysia. The Integrated Multi-trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) Approach Using Land-Based Farming System Between Seaweed and Marine Finfish. Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) on GlobalSeaweedSTAR program: Safeguarding the Future of the Seaweed Industry in Developing Countries.  Influence of Black Soldier Fly Larvae and Gracilaria sp. seaweed on Physiological and Fillet Quality of Tilapia, Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS). Developing Regenerative Aquaculture in Southeast Asia. Seaweed Cultivation: A Nature-Based Solution to Climate Change and Food Insecurity. Revitalising the Malaysia Seaweed Industry through the Blue Economy.        

Zulazhar Bin Tahir is a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Law, University of Malaya after he ceased his legal practice at Messrs Hamid Sultan & Rakan-Rakan in 2000. Currently, Dr. Zulazhar teaches courses on the Malaysian Legal System, Criminal Procedure, and Criminal Law at the Faculty of Law, University of Malaya. His research interests include criminal law, the Malaysian legal system, child law, welfare law, and elderly law. He has authored and co-edited numerous books and publications within these areas of expertise.