Education

Dr. Farman Ali is an accomplished researcher and academic specializing in UAV communications, free space optics, nonlinear optical systems, and AI-integrated communication technologies. He is currently serving as a Postdoctoral Researcher at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, China, where he is engaged in cutting-edge research in UAV-to-ground/ship communication modeling, AI-driven optical systems, and channel modeling under urban and maritime conditions. Previously, Dr. Ali held the position of Associate Professor and ORIC In-charge at Qurtuba University of Science and IT, Pakistan, where he also convened the Occupational Safety and Health Committee within the Faculty of Engineering. With a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Iqra National University (2019), an M.S. from Sarhad University (2014), and a Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering (2011), his educational foundation underpins his prolific research output. Dr. Ali has authored over 70 peer-reviewed articles in leading journals including IEEE Transactions, Optics & Laser Technology, and Fiber and Integrated Optics, amassing over 645 citations, with an h-index of 15 and an i10-index of 24. His work has contributed to major projects funded by the Chinese National Key Research Program, European Union Horizon 2020, and multiple Middle Eastern and European academic grants. In addition to his research, he has also contributed to innovation through patents, notably in UAV-based maritime communication models. Dr. Ali’s interdisciplinary expertise bridges optical networks, machine learning, and wireless communications, making him a key contributor to the future of 5G+ and next-generation aerial communication systems.

Dr. Muhammad Abdul Basit is an established academician who is concomitantly working in science and arts, accomplishing the publications of multiple books as well as more than 100 international research publications in the field of nanomaterials, thin-film techniques, and photoenergy applications. Dr. completed did his PhD & Post-Doc. from Hanyang University, south Korea and currently serving as an Associate Professor at the Institute of Space Technology, Pakistan where he is leading the Nanomaterials for Advanced Energy Applications research group and lab. Dr. Basit has won multiple intellectual capability awards from various agencies such as HEC Pakistan, PCK Korea and DAAD-Germany.

Shimi Chak is a climate advocate and Indigenous youth leader. Her interest lies in renewable energy, policy advocacy, and community-led solutions, helping refugees and Indigenous groups adapt to climate change and preserve traditions.

Mosaddika Mounin is a dedicated researcher in education policy, refugee education, and AI in education. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics with minors in Finance and Development Studies and a Master's in Education from the Asian University for Women (AUW). Mosaddika is actively engaged in the education sector, serving as a primary school mentor and a high school teacher. Her work aims to bridge the gap between policy and practice, ensuring quality education for marginalised communities.

Tahiya Tasnim is a distinguished academic researcher and educator driving research-driven interventions that bridge academia and communities. She specializes in education, planetary health, and sustainability, empowering marginalized communities through research, developing curricula, and advocacy.

Priyanka Jayawardena is a Research Economist at the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS). Priyanka has over 20 years of experience in conducting economic policy related research on health, education, labour and fiscal distribution analysis. She is experienced in quantitative data analysis with applying econometric evaluation techniques -- distributional analysis, quasi-experimental methods, wealth index, equity in opportunity indices. She has conducted numerous research studies relating to the human resource development in Sri Lanka for a variety of development partners including World Bank, ADB and UNICEF and member of the Southern Voice network. Many of her recent research has been published in peer reviewed national and international journals and book chapters.

Sadia Salim is an environmental and public health researcher working on climate change, planetary and environmental health, WASH, sustainability, education and empowerment, and grassroots community development and resilience in vulnerable regions.

A dynamic force in social creative catalyst, navigates the global landscape with a unique perspective, work across disciplines in sustainability, creativity, human factors, entrepreneurship and innovation.

Wan F. A. Jusoh is currently a Senior Lecturer in Biodiversity and Conservation and serves as the Honours Program Director (Malaysia) at the School of Science, Monash University Malaysia. Her research focuses on the intersection of biodiversity and the history of natural heritage, ranging from studying flashing fireflies to reconstructing timelines of how ecosystems have evolved.

Nehaluddin Ahmad (born in 1952) is a public figure and prominent academician from India who served as a law professor at the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Faculty of Law, Sultan Sharif Ali Islamic University (UNISSA) in Brunei Darussalam

Zheimie H. Zamri is a Bruneian Senior Research Assistant and Tutor, pursuing a Ph.D. in Law at UNISSA, with research interests in human rights and legal social issues.

As a researcher, Chiungfen Chen serves as an Analysis and Project Manager at the Office of International Affairs at National Taiwan University (NTU). For the past decade, she has engaged in international higher education and undertaken numerous international projects to facilitate faculty and student exchanges worldwide. In addition to participating in presentations with university partners at international higher education conferences such as Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA) and Association of International Educators (NAFSA), she has contributed articles at international media outlets such as QS Global Education News and South China Morning Post in order to highlight issues of international higher education. Meanwhile, she delivered presentations related to international education across the globe including in Germany, Spain, India and Thailand and participated in Erasmus+ programs in Sweden and Turkey to facilitate staff mobility. She obtained her master's degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

I'm currently an adjunct professor at the Asian Institute of Management in Manila. I crafted a course called Art-Science Thinking based on my dissertation on Culture as Transformative Innovation: Filipino Care in the Practice of Family Medicine. Since 2017, my consultancy & studio has been collaborating with the Dept. of Science & Technology in the Philippines.

Ph.D. candidate at the Faculty of Economics, Chaing Mai University with prior experience in public policy and research, especially in Myanmar's economic development.

Ts. Uganeeswary Suparmaniam, AMIChemE (UK) is a multiple award-winning young scientist, sustainability advocate, and climate activist attached to the HICoE-Centre for Biofuel and Biochemical Research, Institute of Self-Sustainable Building, PETRONAS University of Technology, Malaysia.

Dr. Chong Li Choo is an accomplished academic, Associate Professor at Taylor's University, expert in food technology, and innovative product design. Award-winning researcher, director for Food Security & Nutrition Impact Lab, and impactful leader in the field.

Sierin Lim is an Associate Professor of Bioengineering at the School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology and the Associate Dean (Global Partnerships) at the Graduate College of Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU). Her research group focuses on the design and engineering of biological entities for applications in health and the environment. She is the co-founder of Women@NTU, Society of Women in Engineering (SWE@SG) and Promotion of Women in Engineering, Research and Science (POWERS) programme.

His personal aspiration is to teach English and linguistics, educate bilingual for ethnic students in Viet Nam, and do language research.

Sunimalee Madurawala is a Research Economist at the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS) with over 15 years of research experience. Her expertise lies in the areas of gender, health economics, and population studies.

Biology of Spiders is my interest for research. Thai spiders are my focus group.

Afroz Shah is an earthquake scientist, educator, and National Geographic Explorer who specializes in structural geology and seismic hazards. He is a Senior Assistant Professor at the Department of Geosciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD). His research focuses on earthquake-causing faults and the deformation of lithospheric plates, particularly in South and Southeast Asia. Afroz earned his Ph.D. in 2010 from James Cook University, Australia, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at the Earth Observatory of Singapore (2013). He began his academic career as a Senior Lecturer in Structural Geology at Curtin Sarawak, Malaysia, before joining UBD, where he leads geoscience education and outreach initiatives.

I am a microbiologist currently working as a lecturer in the Medical Microbiology Department, Faculty of Applied Science, Hajjah University, Yemen. I am interested in research areas related to the prevalence of infectious diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites in different areas in Yemen.

Hamidah Othman, obtained her Bachelor of Nursing Science in 2008, Master of Nursing in 2013 from the University of Malaya and PhD in Nursing, 2022 from International Islamic University Malaysia. Her interest was a critical care in nursing and psychological need towards family members with patients’ admit to the Intensive Care Unit, End of Life care and research in relation to the evidence based practice in nursing. She is currently working as Head and Lecturer at School of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sultan Zainal Abidin, Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia.

Trần Thị Vân Dung was born in Vietnam in 1978. In 2006, she graduated from Hue University with a Bachelor of Pedagogy in Linguistics. In 2013, she received a Master of Vietnamese Literature from the University of Sciences, Hue University. Currently, she is undertaking a Ph.D. course in Vietnamese Literature at Hanoi National University of Education, Vietnam. She has been the principal lecturer at Thua Thien Hue Pedagogical College since 2013. She sits on the reviewer board of Horizon Journal of Humanities & Social Sciences Research, a prominent scholarly peer-reviewed leading journal.

Former journalist turned academic

University professor with 20 years of experience in Thailand's secondary and higher education sectors.

I am Grace Joy Palmes Betonio currently taking Bachelor or Secondary Education Major in Filipino. I am in my 4th year.

DOCTORAL CANDIDATE AT JAWAHARLAL NEHRU UNIVERSITY, NEW DELHI, INDIA

Sauqi Futaqi is Lecturer and Researcher at the Department of Islamic Education in Universitas Islam Darul Ulum, Lamongan, Indonesia. He has expertise in multicultural education. His doctoral program focuses on multicultural religious education.

Ilham Akhsanu Ridlo is an early-career researcher and assistant professor at Indonesia's Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Airlangga. He is a Ph.D. student at Institut für Kommunikationswissenschaft und Medienforschung (IfKW), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. Ilham believes science communication is crucial in bridging the gap between research practice and health policy implementation. His research area concerns how scientists and journalists influence decision-makers to understand scientific uncertainty in public health.