The Biosafety Heroes program by International Federation of Biosafety Associations (IFBA) aims to identify and celebrate extraordinary individuals who make significant contributions to help others in the field of biosafety and biosecurity. IFBA is a non-profit non-governmental organization of regional and national Biosafety Associations from all areas of the world. The IFBA was founded in 2001 and consists of scientists, biosafety professionals, laboratory personnel, architects, engineers, academics and policy makers who have common interest in advancing biosafety and biosecurity. IFBA Biosafety Heroes are exceptional and inspiring individuals honored by the global biosafety community and made a difference for the better. They serve as role models, showing that everyone can contribute to the global fight against infectious diseases. Selection are based on their uniqueness, the specific accomplishments they achieved and the impact their work had on others.
Faizatul Lela Jafar, Biosafety and Scientific officer from Institutional Biosafety and Biosecurity Committee, University of Malaya, is one of the two IFBA’s 2017 Biosafety Heroes awardee. Faizatula has passionately advocated for biorisk management at the institutional, national and international levels. She assisted the development and implementation of the IFBA Professional Certification program at international level and was among the first candidates who earned the Professional Certification in both Biorisk Management and Biosecurity in Southeast Asia. She plays a huge role as the resource person and trainer for Professional Certification in Biosecurity.
Faizatul has coordinated numerous training and certification sessions, benefiting more than 300 biosafety professionals from Malaysia and the ASEAN region. Meanwhile, at the national level, she serves as Assistant Secretary for the Malaysia Biosafety & Biosecurity Association and was part of the committee that developed the Malaysia Laboratory Biosafety and Biosecurity Policy and Guidelines at the Ministry of Health. She was also an editor for the document and participated in awareness–raising activities via information distribution to the community. As a Biosafety Officer for the Institutional Biosafety and Biosecurity Committee, she helps the university to develop, establish and implement the biorisk management program, as well as the Biosafety and Biosecurity Manual and Code of Conduct.
