Zulhelmi Amir, a researcher and senior lecturer attached to the Department of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Malaya, Malaysia since 2020.  He received B.Eng in Chemical Engineering from Yamagata University (Japan) in 2011, MEng.Sc in Chemical Engineering from Universiti Malaya in 2016 and completed his PhD in Petroleum Engineering from Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS in 2020. He is currently teaching Chemical Engineering undergraduate courses including Engineering Drawing, Integrated Design and Field Processing and Treatment of Natural Gas. His research interests are oilfield water control, conformance control, polymer gel for oil and gas applications, completion and drilling fluids and flow assurance. He has published technical papers in ISI indexed journals and presented papers in international conferences including Society of Petroleum Engineers organized conferences. Zulhelmi can be reached at zulhelmi.amir@um.edu.my.

Shirley Chua Jin Lin holds a PhD degree in Asset & Facilities Management and Bachelor degree in Building Surveying from the Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Malaya, Malaysia. Her research interests are in Facilities Management and Analytic Hierarchy Process. She has also been involved in various research grants and has published some ISI and Scopus-indexed technical publications in journals and proceedings pertaining building maintenance and facilities management. She has also received a few awards throughout her studies and career path which include Building Surveying Excellent Award, Universiti Malaya Book Prize, Universiti Malaya Excellence Award 2015, Certificate of Excellent Service 2018 and Excellence Service Award 2020.

Dr. Abubakar Abubakar Usman is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of International and Strategic Studies at Universiti Malaya (UM), Malaysia, where he specializes in globalization, development, and the politics of Africa and the Middle East. With a multidisciplinary academic background spanning International Relations, Diplomacy, and Islamic Finance, Dr. Usman is a prolific scholar whose work bridges theory and policy. Academic LeadershipDr. Usman currently serves as a Guest Lecturer at the University of Nottingham Malaysia, teaching Politics and International Relations of the Middle East. He has also been invited as a Guest Speaker at institutions such as Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Nile University Nigeria, where he shared expertise on diplomacy, conflict resolution, and strategic studies. His teaching philosophy emphasizes critical thinking and real-world applicability, honed through roles as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) and as an English instructor for Saudi Schools Kuala Lumpur. Research ContributionsA dedicated researcher, Dr. Usman has held prestigious fellowships, including as a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at IIUM’s Institute of Islamic Banking and Finance (IIiBF), where he explored the intersection of Islamic finance and global development. As a Senior Fellow and Coordinator of the Africa Studies Circle at the Asia Middle East Centre for Research and Dialogue (AMEC), he fosters cross-civilizational dialogue and evidence-based policy recommendations. His research has been published in high-impact journals such as South African Journal of International Affairs, Global Society, and Contemporary Islam, and he has contributed chapters to Routledge and Palgrave Macmillan volumes on Islamic finance, African diplomacy, and human rights. Dr. Usman actively engages in peer review for Web of Science-indexed journals, including Security Journal and SN Social Sciences, and is currently developing two book projects: The Political Economy of Africa-Asia Relations (Routledge) and Coups in 21st Century Africa (Palgrave Macmillan). His doctoral thesis on Boko Haram’s media strategies and master’s research on Islamic finance as a development tool reflect his commitment to addressing pressing global challenges. Policy and Public EngagementBeyond academia, Dr. Usman is a sought-after commentator on African geopolitics, contributing to platforms like Africa@LSE, Daily Trust, and The Conversation. His analyses on ECOWAS, military coups, and Nigeria’s foreign policy have shaped public discourse. He has also served as an interpreter and translator for Malaysian government agencies, leveraging fluency in English, Arabic, and Hausa. Education and Honors PhD in International Relations (Globalization & Development), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Master of Diplomacy and Strategic Studies (CGPA: 4.00), UKM Master of Political Science (CGPA: 3.83), International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) BA in Arabic/Mass Communication, Bayero University Kano, Nigeria Professional Affiliations Member, International Studies Association (ISA) Associate Member, International Society for Development and Sustainability (ISDS) For a full list of publications and research projects, visit his Google Scholar or ORCID profiles. Contact:Email: abubakar.usman@um.edu.my | Phone: +60 162417993Address: Department of International and Strategic Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Universiti Malaya