Jillian Ooi started out as an environmental social scientist but shifted to studying marine plants because she is fascinated by the sea. For her Master’s degree in Environmental Management, she explored the effects of disturbances on seaweed communities. She later earned a PhD in Seagrass Biogeography at the University of Western Australia as an Endeavour International Postgraduate Scholarship recipient. Working under the mentorship of Professor Gary Kendrick and the late Dr Kimberly Van Niel, she studied the spatial patterns and ecology of subtidal seagrasslands in the Johor islands. There, she fell irrevocably under the spell of these overlooked yet vital ecosystems. Jillian’s research consists of 3 themes: (1) investigating ecosystem functions of seagrass, particularly their roles as habitats and feeding grounds for fish and megafauna, (2) developing spatial distribution models for seagrass species in Southeast Asia, to provide an understanding of what makes a suitable seagrass habitat, and (3) developing effective restoration methods for seagrass and coral reefs. Her work has contributed to the gazettement of the Kepulauan Lima marine park in Johor (2023), strengthened protection for the Tioman Marine Park in Pahang (2007), and supported the establishment of a dugong sanctuary in Johor (2005 and 2017). Jillian enjoys working with local communities, spearheading and nurturing community-driven seagrass conservation initiatives in the Sungai Johor and Sungai Pulai estuaries. Her efforts focus on empowering local stakeholders through capacity building in seagrass monitoring and mapping. In 2015, Jillian received the Komai Fellowship to study the satoumi approach to seagrass restoration in Japan. In 2022, she was among six global researchers awarded the Pew Marine Fellowship for her work in seagrass restoration and to raise awareness about seagrass in Malaysia through the cultural arts approach. She blended the performing arts with science to create Seruan Setu, a groundbreaking gamelan music concert dedicated to seagrass ecosystems. When she is not underwater watching grass grow, Jillian is the Artistic Director and Music Director of Rhythm in Bronze, an award-winning contemporary gamelan ensemble based in Kuala Lumpur. Founded in 1997, Rhythm in Bronze is known for its pioneering efforts in showcasing the Malay gamelan as its main medium of musical expression. Jillian’s music direction and compositions for the gamelan have won awards and/or received nominations at the BOH Cameronian Arts Awards, which celebrates outstanding performances in music, dance, theatre and musical theatre in Malaysia. She considers the Sea her main source of musical inspiration. 

DR. ZURAIDAH ABDULLAH  is a senior lecturer in Faculty of Education, University of Malaya. She received her Ph.D. degree from the University of Malaya, in Principalship Studies in 2010. Her career began as a teacher in SMK (P) Methodist Malacca, SMK Victoria Kuala Lumpur, Kolej Sultan Abdul Hamid Kedah, SMK (P) Sri Aman Selangor,  and SMK USJ 23 Selangor  since 1989 until 2002. She was then appointed as a Senior Assistant (Academic) in SMK Seksyen 18 Selangor from 2002 until 2004 before she pursued her studies and becoming one of the lecturers in University of Malaya. She was also attached to University of Glasgow, United Kingdom for an academic internship in 2010.  Soon after, she was seconded to the  Centre For Civilisitional Dialogue, University of Malaya as a Deputy Director since 2011. In the year of 2014 to 2015, she has been appointed as a coordinator, representing Univerisity of Malaya in Outdoor Education And Leadership Programme with Providence University of Taiwan. Ever since she has been focusing on promoting  intercultural communication in civilisational dialogue. Her research is basically focusing on society from the perspective of education such as the issue of Professional Learning Community (PLC) in schools, Inclusive education programme, the National School Empowerment based on the PPPM 2013-2025, trans-genders, resiliency of university students and also promoting peace education to secondary level students in order to maintain peaceful and boosting unity. Currently, Dr. Zuraidah Abdullah involves in consultation project for social issues in collaboration with JAKIM, IPGM, BPSH, UNESCO Malaysia, DMDI and KPWPM. For her passion and great contribution in such critical areas, she has been conferred the Bintang Cemerlang Melaka  by TYT Yang di-Pertua Negeri Melaka and was awarded the Pingat Perkhidmatan Cemerlang (PPC) from the Ministry of Education (MOE) of YAB Tan Sri Dato ' Haji Muhyiddin Hj Mohd Yassin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister KPM (MOE). She received the medal for the high quality service based on her annual performance and contribution given which covers activities within and outside the Organization training, leadership and personal qualities.  

Prof. Dr. Jennifer Ann Harikrishna is a Professor of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics at the Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Malaysia. Prof. Jenni is a British citizen with permanent residence status in Malaysia. After completing her Bachelor of Sciences degree in Microbiology at the University of Surrey, U.K. she was awarded a Whitbread Scholarship to pursue her doctoral thesis on the molecular genetics of industrial yeast at the Cranfield Institute of Technology, Cranfield University, U.K. She graduated in 1990 winning the Chancellors Gold Medal for the most outstanding graduate student of the year. Dr. Jenni then moved to the U.S.A. to take up a two year post-doctoral fellowship at the University of California in San Francisco (UCSF). Dr. Jenni moved to Malaysia in 1991 where she continued her post doctoral research at the University of Malaya, Department of Biology, before joining TropBio Research Sdn Bhd, a small private plant biotechnology company in 1996. In 2001 she joined the Institute of Bioscience at University Putra Malaysia (UPM) as an Associate Professor. Prior to re-joining the University of Malaya in 2006, Dr Jenni was an Associate Professor of Biotechnology at the Malaysia University of Science and Technology (MUST). Prof. Jenni became a full Professor at the University of Malaya in 2011 and holds joint positions as a member of the Faculty of Science and as the Director of the Centre for Research in Biotechnology for Agriculure (CEBAR), University of Malaya. Prof. Jenni also holds a current appointment as an Honorary Visiting Fellow in the Department of Genetics and Genome Biology at the University of Leicester, UK. Her current research focus is on functional genomics and biotechnology for tropical crop improvemnt.