Dr. Mohammed H. Alaqad is an Assistant Professor of Translation & Interpreting Studies at the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, Universiti Malaya. He has more than 15 years of academic and research experience. His main areas of research interest include translation studies and conference interpreting, forensic linguistics, artificial intelligence (AI), and socio-ideological aspects of the Arabic language. He is also the founder and CEO of the Asian Federation of Translators and Interpreters, Malaysia, where he contributes to advancing professional standards and fostering regional collaboration in the language services industry. Previously, he served as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Hashim Sani Centre for Palestine Studies, University of Malaya. From February 2019 to January 2024, Dr. Alaqad was an Assistant Professor at Management & Science University (MSU), where he led both the diploma and bachelor programs in translation and interpreting. During his tenure, he made significant contributions to establishing and shaping the university’s translation programs. He also served as an Associate Professor of translation and interpreting in the English Language Department at the Faculty of Humanities, Israa University, Gaza, Palestine, from 20 September 2023 to 31 December 2023. Dr. Alaqad has held several academic appointments at the University of Malaya, including: Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Hashim Sani Centre for Palestine Studies (July 2024 - August 2025) Universiti Malaya Elite Fellow, Faculty of Languages and Linguistics (December 2024 – December 2025) Visiting Lecturer, Faculty of Languages and Linguistics (February 2023 – February 2024) Lecturer (English & Arabic subjects), Center for Continuing Education (July 2017 – July 2018) Research Assistant, Asia-Europe Institute / The Centre for ASEAN Regionalism Universiti Malaya (CARUM)/ Humanities Research Cluster, IPPP (February 2013 – July 2017) He has been invited as a keynote/guest speaker at more than 40 international conferences and academic events, contributing to global discussions on language, translation, education, and artificial intelligence (AI). He is also a seasoned conference interpreter, having participated in over 150 conferences and events; this experience informs his academic work and deepens his understanding of the practical challenges and complex scenarios in interpretation and communication. His scholarly contributions include numerous peer-reviewed research articles, books, and book chapters. In addition to his research, Dr. Alaqad is the managing editor of The International Journal of Palestine Studies, UM. He also serves on the editorial boards of Cambridge Scholars of Language & Linguistics (UK), the International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation (IJALT) (USA), and the Journal of Intercultural Communication Research (a Scopus-indexed Routledge journal) from 2022 to 2025. He is also an editorial board member of The Southeastern Philippines Journal of Research and Development (a Scopus-indexed Q2 journal) in the Philippines from 2022 to 2027.   

Dr. Nurshafarina serves as a senior lecturer in the Department of Building Surveying at Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Housing, Building, and Planning (Building Surveying), a Master’s in Building Technology, and a PhD in Construction Materials and Technology, all conferred by Universiti Sains Malaysia. Before joining Universiti Malaya, Dr. Nurshafarina amassed considerable industry experience with a leading construction chemicals firm, where she specialized in designing sustainable concrete solutions and developing advanced chemical admixtures for both ready-mix and pre-cast concrete applications. Her research portfolio encompasses a breadth of cutting-edge construction technologies, with particular focus on sustainable cementitious materials, concrete admixtures and durability enhancement.

Dr. Che Chong Chin is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya. She holds a PhD in Nursing Science from Universiti Malaya, along with a Master of Nursing (Education) and a Bachelor of Nursing from Monash University. With more than 30 years of combined academic and clinical experience, she is recognized as a committed scholar, educator, and advocate for advancing nursing education, practice, and research. Dr. Che’s pioneering work on the development of a time banking model has positioned her at the forefront of innovation in community health. Beyond this flagship initiative, she contributes to international efforts on environmental sustainability in healthcare through the Green-Care Toolkit and continues to advance psychosocial strategies for preventing healthcare-associated infections. A prolific researcher, she has published widely in WoS- and Scopus-indexed journals on caregiving, cancer survivorship, advance care planning, women’s health, and empowerment in vulnerable populations. Her article in the Journal of Advanced Nursing was recognized as one of the most highly cited in 2017. She also serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of Nursing Open, reviews for international journals, and is a life member of the Golden Key International Honour Society. As a dedicated educator and mentor, Dr. Che has nurtured the growth of many postgraduate students and remains deeply engaged in community health. Her vision is to drive research that not only advances academic knowledge but also transforms practice and informs policy.