PROF. DR. S. VIKINESWARY SABARATNAM

  Prof Dr Vikineswary started her academic career after completing her PhD in the Institute of Postgraduate Studies in 1989 as a lecturer.  She ventured into search, discovery and utilisation of indigenous microorganisms including actinomycetes and phototrophic bacteria for feed, feed or fine chemicals. Her research activities diversified and while studying the potential of mushrooms and in particular the white - rot fungi in environmental biotechnology, she had the opportunity to work with mushroom farmers.  Together with the growers, the Mushroom Research Association of Malaysia was founded in 2000 and as the founding  president she has highlighted the importance of mushrooms and the industry in Malaysia.  She is well known for the research conducted which includes systematic and bioactivity of marine actinomycetes, mushroom biology and their bioactive metabolites, phototrophic bacteria for bioremediation and as a live feed enhancer. She has  successfully trained 50 Masters and 20 PhD students and a number are currently pursuing their postgraduate studies under her supervision. Her research activities are sponsored by national and international grants including industrial funding.  Prof.  Vikineswary has won several awards for her research findings both in Malaysia and at International Exhibition.  She has collaboration with overseas scientists through CICHE, JSPS and EU programmes. She has published 265 papers in peer reviewed journals, proceedings, bulletins, chapters in books  and  books.  In recognition of her contribution in microbiology and active participation as member of the Malaysian Society for Microbiology she was elected as the first woman President of the Society in 2001. In 2014 she was nominated as one of the Top Research Scientist Malaysia by Academy Science Malaysia. In 2015 she was nominated as a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia.

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PROF. DR. WOO YIN LING

Dr. Woo is a consultant gynaecological oncologist with clinical and research experience that ranges from prevention to treatment of cervical cancer and hereditary/ familial gynaecological cancers. She undertook her research in HPV immune-biology in the University of Cambridge under the Cancer Research UK Gordon Hamilton Fairley Fellowship and was awarded a PhD degree in 2008. As a clinician, she was awarded the gold medal by the Royal College of Obstetrician and Gynaecologist as the top ranked individual for the international examination. Having trained and worked in the UK, she returned to Malaysia in 2010 to take up a professorial post in the premier teaching hospital, University Malaya (UM). As a translational scientist, she has worked tirelessly to making this knowledge more accessible and applicable to the broader population through her advisory role on policy development nationally and internationally. She is also a recognized expert in HPV vaccination and is currently the country representative (Malaysia) for the Asia-Oceania Research Organisation in Genital Infection and Neoplasia (AOGIN), taskforce member for the Malaysian policy change to Primary HPV screening for cervical cancer, member of the Asia Pacific Economic Consortium (APEC) Cervical Cancer working group and is the founding principal investigator for Program ROSE (Removing Obstacles to cervical ScrEening, a revolutionary approach to cervical cancer screening. Program ROSE (www.programrose.org, @programROSE) that utilizes digital technology, self-sampling and HPV testing. The program was recently highlighted by the Economist Intelligence Unit (https://eiuperspectives.economist.com/healthcare/global-action-financing-cervical-cancer-elimination-funding-secondary-prevention-services-low). The program was a strong contender at the 2018 UICC Collaborative award, shortlisted among 2 other nominations globally, and has received many international accolades and praises. Program ROSE (www.programrose.org, @programROSE) utilizes digital technology, self-sampling and HPV testing to change the paradigm of conventional cervical screening, facilitating increased screening uptake for ALL woman. Dr Woo is also the founder of ROSE Foundation, a non-profit organisation, dedicated to making cervical cancer prevention accessible and affordable to the underprivileged. The success of Program ROSE is a testament to her incessant drive to make cervical cancer a rare disease in our lifetime. She also dedicates her time to working closely with other academic institutions, NGOS and also industry to educate, inform and advise on matters pertaining to control of HPV associated diseases. In recognition for her contribution to women's health, Dr. Woo was conferred the FIGO Awards in recognition of Female Obstetrician and Gynaecologist in 2021.

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DR. HAEZREENA BEGUM BINTI ABDUL HAMID

Dr. Haezreena is a Criminologist and a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Law, University Malaya. She was called to the Malaysian Bar in 1997 and has extensive experience in civil and criminal litigation. Her specialization includes; human trafficking, transnational crimes, criminology, incarceration, gender, women's rights, terrorism and violent extremism, and criminal justice. She is also a Visiting Scholar at the School of Law of University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. Dr. Haezreena Abdul Hamid has recently been appointed as an Expert by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the areas of Counter-Terrorism and Human Trafficking. She has been included in the ICC’s official List of Experts, marking a significant recognition of her expertise in international criminal justice and human rights. Given her extensive experience in anti-trafficking and human rights initiatives, Dr Haezreena was awarded a Grant by the United States Embassy of Kuala Lumpur in 2022 to conduct capacity building training for law enforcement officials and Protection Officers. She was also accorded a recognition for her role in elevating Malaysia to Tier Level 2 in the United States Trafficking in Persons Report by the Minister of Home Affairs, Datuk Seri Saifuddion Nasution in 2024. Dr Haezreena also received a Grant from ESIWA/EU (with the assistance of E8, Counter-Terrorism, PDRM) to interview returnees and ex-detainees from Syria and Afghanistan. Dr Haezreena was recently appointed by the Royal Malaysia Police to evaluate and assess two former Guantanamo Bay detainees who were affiliated with the Bali and Jakarta Bombings in 2002/2003. Dr Haezreena spent hundreds of hours with them and observed and evaluated their likelihood and propensity to re-offend, subsequently preparing a detailed report and recommendations for the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA). She has completed three separate projects which requires interviews and fieldwork. This includes spending thousands of hours interviewing 70 women prisoners across 6 prisons in Malaysia, 40 trafficking victims in shelters, and returnees and ex-detainees from Syria/Afghanistan who lived in conflict zones and were associated with terrorist groups. Her current achievement is her appointment as an expert for individuals charged with terrorism and terrorism related offences as well as the high profile GISBH case.  Dr Haezreena is guided by the works of Michael Foucalt who addresses the relationship between power and knowledge, and theorists such as Sandra Walklate and Nils Christie who believes that crime, offenders and victims are socially constructed.  Her thesis entitled 'Sex Trafficking: Victimisation and Agency: The Experiences of Migrant Women in Malaysia' received high praise from international scholars for its orginality and novelty. Her research did not only bring women’s voices and lived experience to the forefront but also revealed the women’s outlooks, vulnerabilities, and aspirations in order to improve the treatment of victims of trafficking. Dr Haezreena describes herself as a post-colonial theorist and a socio-legal scholar who thrives to uphold human rights and justice without fear or favour. Using her legal background and her criminological knowledge as her forefront, she strives to understand the fabrics of the society and make sense of the problems and dilemma faced by individuals from all walks of life. She is currently exploring the criminological theories that can be applied to terrorism, and the oscillation of victim to perpetrator to survivor.  Dr Haezreena has written books on trafficking in persons which are now used as a source and reference for enforcement officers and protection officers, as well as researchers. She has also written numerous articles on the continuum of harm of trafficking, victim blaming, inequality, social justice issues, and gender disparities. Her works are often cited and referred to by local and international NGOs, and government agencies.  Dr Haezreena's won the Excellent Lecturer's Award Universiti Malaya in 2024 and was given a plaque and certificate of recognition by His Royal Highness Sultan Nazrin Shah, Perak. She was also accorded the Sijil Perkhidmatan Cemerlang by the Faculty of Law in 2023.   

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