ASSOCIATE PROF. DR. NOR SHAHILA BINTI MANSOR

Associate Professor Dr. Nor Shahila Mansor is a Malaysian scholar-translator whose work sits at the intersection of multilingualism, sociolinguistics, communication strategies and translation studies. Currently, she is serving as the Head of the Department of Asian and European Languages at the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, Universiti Malaya. She possesses native fluency in reading, writing, and speaking the Spanish language. She has an abiding, passionate and almost obsessive interest in the Spanish language and linguistics, and has built a distinctive academic profile that bridges Spanish-Malay-English language scholarship with pressing global concerns such as sustainability and cross-cultural communication. She holds a PhD in Spanish Language and Linguistics from the University of Valladolid, Spain. Trained as a linguist and translator, Associate Professor Dr. Nor Shahila Mansor's research advances a central conviction: language is never neutral. Whether analysing parallel crime news reports across multilingual Malaysian media, interrogating cultural representation in beauty advertising between Malaysia and Spain, or examining localisation in geopolitical narratives, her work reveals how translation practices shape power, identity, and public trust. Her scholarship is marked by methodological rigour, often combining corpus analysis, qualitative inquiry, and digital tools, while remaining firmly grounded in real-world impact. Associate Professor Dr. Nor Shahila Mansor is equally recognised for her work in Spanish language promotion in Malaysia. Through innovative teaching modules, translation training, and intercultural communication courses, she has strengthened Spanish as a foreign language within the Malaysian context. Her publications and forthcoming books, including works on translation from a Malaysian perspective and on the rise of Spanish in Malaysia, reflect her long-term commitment to cultivating multilingual competence in Southeast Asia. Beyond academia, her research agenda aligns with the national and global frameworks, including sustainable development, gender equity, and inclusive access to information. She has led and collaborated on grant-funded projects that address language barriers in poverty alleviation, multilingual sustainability education, and cross-cultural communication in diverse communities. Her approach integrates scholarly depth with societal relevance. An accomplished keynote speaker and research supervisor, Associate Professor Dr. Nor Shahila Mansor continues to mentor postgraduate scholars while publishing in high-impact venues. Her intellectual trajectory reflects both ambition and clarity of purpose: to position multilingualism and translation not as peripheral skills, but as foundational infrastructures for equitable global communication. Through scholarship, teaching, and leadership, she stands as a transformative voice in contemporary translation and multilingual studies, advancing not only academic knowledge but also the ethical and technological futures of language in society.

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PROF. DR. AZHAR BIN ARIFFIN

Professor Dr. Azhar Ariffin earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with honors from Universiti Malaya in 1993, followed by a Ph.D. in Asymmetric Organic Synthesis from the University of Nottingham, UK, in 1999. Upon completing his studies, he returned to Malaysia and began his career as a young lecturer in the Chemistry Department at the University of Malaya. Over the years, he climbed the academic ranks, achieving the status of Associate Professor in 2003 and attaining the position of full Professor in 2016. From 2021 to 2022, Professor Dr. Azhar Ariffin served as the Head of the Chemistry Department before assuming the role of Deputy Dean of Research at the Faculty of Science from 2022 to 2024. Currently, he holds the position of Deputy Dean of Development at the Faculty of Science. His research endeavors predominantly focus on organic synthesis, with a specific interest in developing bioactive compounds, including derivatives of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), oxadiazole, thiadiazole, and triazole for use as antioxidants. Additionally, he explores the synthesis of various derivatives of quinazoline for potential applications in anticancer treatments. Currently, his research involves the creation of carbazole derivatives for their utility in organic light-emitting diode (OLED) materials, with a focus on improving the C(sp²)-N bond formation through the Buchwald-Hartwig reaction under microwave irradiation. Professor Dr. Azhar Ariffin's contributions extend beyond his home institution, as he served as an Experienced Researcher at Kaunas University of Technology from 2019 to 2023 under the MEGA HORIZON 2020 PROJECT: MARIE SKĊODOWSKA-CURIE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION STAFF EXCHANGE.

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DR. MOHAMMAD KHAIRI MOKTHAR

Mohammad Khairi Mokthar is currently a Senior Lecturer at the Dance Department of the Faculty of Creative Arts at Universiti Malaya. He completed his doctoral studies at Universiti Malaya, specializing in ethnography with a focus on Terinai, a traditional Malay Classical Dance of Perlis. He holds a Master of Fine Arts in Dance Performance, with a major in contemporary dance, from Korea National University of Arts, (K'ARTS) Korea, where he was awarded a scholarship by the Korea Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. His dance journey began during his teenage years when he was exposed to Malay traditional dance. He pursued his tertiary dance education at the National Academy of Arts, Culture, and Heritage (ASWARA), Malaysia, where he received formal training in various dance forms, including Malay classical and folk dance, Chinese folk dance, ethnic dance, and Indian classical dance. He completed his Diploma in Dance in 2010 and his Bachelor of Dance (Performance) in 2013 at ASWARA. In 2013, he made his debut as an Indian classical dancer with a Bharatanatyam Arangetram. He has also worked professionally, including as a principal dancer at ASK Dance Company and in England with the Shobana Jeyasingh Dance for the Classic Cut Tour in 2012 and 2013. He has received numerous awards and recognitions for his contributions to dance, including Best Choreographer in Full-length Work at the 12th BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Malaysia in 2015, 2nd prize in the Seoul International Dance Competition in 2015 and 2016, and being named one of the Top 10 New Generation Malaysian Cultural Dancers in 2017. In addition to his performance work, Mohammad Khairi Mokthar has also served as a part-time lecturer and coach at various institutions, including Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI) and ASWARA. He received The Shining Star Awards in 2019, organized by the Uniques Arts Culture and Heritage Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture Malaysia. In 2019, he collaborated with choreographer Mavin Khoo and TFA Inner Space Dance Company for a performance titled "I am Ravana" at Sadler's Wells in London. He is recognized as an educator, choreographer, dancer, and scholar in the field of dance.

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