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

Dr. Noramin Farid, or Soultari Amin Farid, is a Singaporean choreographer, arts educator, researcher, and performance curator. He is currently a Senior Lecturer in Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.A recipient of the ASEAN-India Youth Award (2018), Singapore Youth Award (2017), National Arts Council Scholarship (2017) and Goh Chok Tong Mendaki Youth Promise Award (2016), Amin holds a PhD in Theatre, Drama and Dance Studies from Royal Holloway, University of London, UK.He is the founding member of a few collectives in Singapore and Malaysia: DIAN Dancers, a youth Malay Dance group; Arki-Gen, a research collective focused on Southeast Asian performing arts and Ruai Kolektif, a collective to promote Bornean Arts in Peninsular Malaysia and beyond.

      Dr Siti Adibah Othman qualified as Bachelor of Dental Surgery from the University of Malaya, Malaysia in 2000. She completed her Clinical Doctorate in Dental Surgery in Orthodontic at the University of Bristol and obtained her Membership in Orthodontics from the Royal College of Surgeon of Edinburgh in 2005. Having obtained the qualifications, she was appointed as Senior Lecturer at Department of Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics in Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya from 2006 to 2011 and was appointed as Associate Professor in 2012. She obtained her full Professorship in 2019. She was the Head of Department of Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, the coordinator of the postgraduate orthodontic programme and currently is the Deputy Dean of the Postgraduate. She is actively involved in teaching of the undergraduates, postgraduates, reviewing of the curriculums and also actively treating orthodontic patients at the University of Malaya and at the University Malaya Specialist Centre. Besides that, she is also doing research and has published a few research papers in academic journals. Her areas of interest are orthodontics, clinical research, cleft lip and palate abnormalities and 3D imaging. She is member of World Federation of Orthodontists, Malaysian Association of Orthodontists, Malaysian Dental Association and the life member of the Cleft Lip and Palate Association of Malaysia. In 2013, she was awarded Membership in Orthodontics Ad Eundem from the Royal College of Surgeons of England, and being appointed as an examiner for the Membership of Orthodontics Examination of the Royal College of Surgeons of England for overseas diet.