Dr. Zubaidah Ya’cob is a Senior Lecturer and Researcher at the Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre (TIDREC), Universiti Malaya, whose academic career has been defined by a strong commitment to advancing One Health principles, impactful infectious disease research, transformative education, and community engagement. In recognition of her international collaborations and academic contributions, Dr. Zubaidah was appointed in 2025 as an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the School of Infections and Microbiomes, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom, strengthening her global research engagement and fostering long-term collaboration in vector ecology and emerging zoonoses. Her research expertise lies in medical and veterinary entomology, with a specialization in public health vectors, particularly ticks, mosquitoes, chiggers, sandflies, blackflies, and biting midges (Culicoides), and their roles in transmitting vector-borne diseases such as scrub typhus, rickettsioses, onchocerciasis, simian malaria, and leishmaniasis. A major focus of her current research is understanding the population dynamics of dipteran vectors, including mosquitoes, biting midges (Culicoides), and sandflies (Phlebotomus), across changing tropical landscapes, emphasizing how environmental disturbances and land-use transformation influence vector ecology, host–parasite interactions, and disease emergence in tropical ecosystems. Dr. Zubaidah has published over 70 ISI-indexed articles in reputable international journals such as One Health, Insects, PLOS ONE, Scientific Reports, Acta Tropica, Insects, Journal of Medical Entomology, and Pathogens. She has successfully secured a range of competitive national and international research grants, reflecting her strong research credibility and global engagement. Among her internationally funded projects, The Royal Society (UK) supported her work titled “Mites with Wings”, which investigates the role of avian hosts in the spread of scrub typhus–carrying mites. Through funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC, UK), she explored pathogen detection in Simulium black fly populations associated with Onchocerciasis transmission in sub-Saharan Africa. She is also an international member of a global research consortium on Onchocerciasis elimination in sub-Saharan Africa, working collaboratively with experts from the University of Liverpool, University of Oxford, New England Biolabs (USA), and the University of Sheffield, contributing entomological expertise in vector identification, pathogen detection, and disease transmission ecology. Her collaboration under the International Science Partnership Fund (UK) has led to groundbreaking research on rodent genomics and the prevalence of Orientia bacteria in domestic poultry, revealing complex zoonotic transmission pathways. Domestically, she was awarded the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) to study black fly–filarial parasite associations in Malaysia and has partnered with the Institute of Research for Development (IRD), France, to examine zoonotic disease risks in oil palm agricultural landscapes through a One Health lens. Her partnership with UMCARES extends her impact to underserved communities, delivering vector-borne disease awareness programs for primary schoolchildren and Orang Asli families, translating scientific knowledge into actionable public health benefits. Her multidisciplinary research integrates field entomology, molecular diagnostics, ecological modeling, and population genetics, demonstrating her capacity to lead innovative, solution-oriented research that advances both scientific understanding and disease control strategies. Her future work aims to investigate genetic determinants of vector competence, ecological drivers of disease emergence, and sustainable, ecologically sound vector management under the One Health framework. As an educator, Dr. Zubaidah has shown excellence in teaching and mentoring at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. She teaches Biology of Organisms, Biostatistics, Statistics, and Research Methodology, promoting active learning and scientific inquiry while nurturing students’ analytical and critical thinking skills. She currently supervises five PhD candidates (two graduated) and eight Master’s students (three graduated, five ongoing). Beyond academia, Dr. Zubaidah is a science communicator and public health advocate, frequently featured on TV1’s Selamat Pagi Malaysia and Bernama TV, offering expert commentary on vector-borne diseases, particularly during flood seasons. Her community-driven initiatives, delivering health education to Orang Asli and B40 communities, earned her the Universiti Malaya Excellence Award (ACUM) in 2023 for impactful community engagement. Dr. Zubaidah also plays an active role in Malaysia’s professional entomology community. She serves as Secretary of the Entomological Society of Malaysia (ENTOMA) and is an Academic Associate Member of the Public Health Entomology Association (PEKA), reflecting her dedication to advancing entomological science and promoting national and international collaboration. Her ability to integrate science, policy, and community action continues to enhance Universiti Malaya’s reputation as a leader in public health engagement, societal impact, and One Health research excellence.

Assoc. Prof. Dr Nor Fadhilah Mohamad is an ophthalmologist sub-specialising in neuro-ophthalmology and has a strong background in clinical practice and education. She completed her fellowship training at Moorfields Eye Hospital and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (NHNN) in London in 2012, where she gained expertise in managing complex neuro-ophthalmological conditions. Dr. Nor Fadhilah is the Postgraduate Programme Coordinator at the Department of Ophthalmology. In this role, she oversees the training and development of postgraduate students, ensuring that the programme supports academic and clinical excellence. She is also involved in shaping ophthalmology training in Malaysia, contributing to advancing education and professional standards in the field. Her clinical and academic interests include optic neuropathies and improving patient-centred approaches to care. Dr. Nor Fadhilah has shared her work at various conferences, reflecting her dedication to advancing knowledge and improving clinical practices. Committed to mentoring the next generation of ophthalmologists, Dr. Nor Fadhilah focuses on fostering a supportive learning environment for her students and peers, encouraging professional growth and lifelong learning.

Dr. Rozaimah Zainudin is an accomplished Associate Professor in the Department of Finance at the Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Malaya. She obtained her Ph.D. in Finance from Universiti Malaya in 2011. She earned an MBA and a BBA (Finance) from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Malaysia. Dr. Zainudin's expertise in corporate finance, international finance and risk management. Her research contributions are widely recognized, evident in her extensive publications in reputable journals such as the International Journal of Emerging Markets, Borsa Istanbul Review, Journal of Business Ethics, and many others. She has also co-authored a book entitled “The Malaysian Banking Industry: Policies and Practices after the Asian Financial Crisis” published by Routledge in 2018 with the other two authors (BOOK : The Malaysian Banking Industry after the Asian Financial Crisis (Please click this link https://rdcu.be/4fwg). The book offers valuable insights into the evolution of policies, risk management, and bailout strategies. This comprehensive resource fills a crucial gap in the market, providing students, researchers, and practitioners with up-to-date knowledge on the dynamic landscape of Malaysian banking post-AFC. Dr. Zainudin's research interests extend to national and international projects, where she has been involved in several research grants focusing on topics like Financial Technology Usage and Financial Wellbeing, Shariah-Compliant Firms, Corporate Fraud, Financial Literacy and Corporate ESG-related studies. She presented her work findings at various international conferences, further demonstrating her commitment to advancing knowledge in finance. As an academic, Dr. Zainudin is involved in teaching and supervising postgraduate students, contributing significantly to the development of future scholars in her field.