Dr. Noorilham Ismail is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of History, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Universiti Malaya. He earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Universiti Sains Malaysia before completing his PhD in History at Universiti Malaya. His expertise centers on Modern United States History, with particular emphasis on the foreign policy of President Ronald Reagan. His doctoral dissertation, Penglibatan Amerika Syarikat dalam Perang Falkland, 1982-1983 (United States' Involvement in the Falklands War, 1982-1983), analyses Washington's role in the conflict. His academic interests further extend to Modern European History, Latin American History during the Cold War, United States-Southeast Asia relations during the Malayan Emergency (1948-1960), and the History of Islam in Johor. Throughout his career, he has received several notable honours, including the Gold Medal Award (2016) from the Malaysian Historical Society, the USM Fellowship Award (2017-2018), and the Ryoichi Sasakawa Young Leaders Fellowship Fund (Sylff) for 2022-2024. As a Sylff alumnus, he was also awarded the Sylff Research Grant (SRG) by the Tokyo Foundation for his research project titled, United States' Role in Consolidating Democratic Values in Malaya, 1948-1960. He actively writes Scopus indexed and WoS indexed articles, while also producing writings for Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.  

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. Zainal Abidin is a senior lecturer at Pusat Asasi Sains Universiti Malaya (PASUM). His researches focus on the synthesis and characterization of nanoparticles, with a particular emphasis on their antimicrobial, photocatalytic, photonics and morphological properties.