Associate Professor Dr Afizan Azman

Digital Innovation and Smart Society Impact Lab Director

afizan.azman@taylors.edu.my

Associate Professor Dr Afizan Azman is the Digital Innovation and Smart Society Impact Lab Director. He was a former Deputy Vice-Chancellor at University College of Islam Melaka (KUIM), now known as Universiti Melaka (UniMel). Prior to that, he was a President/Chief of Executive at Melaka International College of Science and Technology (MiCoST), Melaka and a former Deputy Dean at Multimedia University.

AP Dr Afizan completed his PhD in Computer Science from Loughborough University, and his Masters of IT from University College of London (UCL). He has been in academia for more than 15 years and has always had interest in the field of Digital Technology, focusing on Human Computer Interaction (HCI), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data Analytics and Machine Learning, Vehicle Systems and Technology, and the Internet of Things. 

To achieve his goal of creating an efficient ecosystem in Malaysia through digital technology, he has been involved with many research activities as a project leader and project member for the government and universities. Some of his projects include: Development of System UPU Online for Melaka; Establishing Universiti Melaka with a Concept of Digitalising Humans; Connected Car Services - Automatic Facial Expression Recognition for Driver Satisfaction Detection and for Vehicle Data Analytics; Fatigue Attentive System for Drivers; A Real-Time Multilingual Customer Sentiment Mining; A Framework for Vehicle Mobility Communications in Urban Environments; and more. 

Until today, AP Dr Afizan is actively involved with the State Government of Melaka through consultation and advocacy work. He was previously appointed as a Think Tank Member under Portfolio Exco Pendidikan dan Teknologi Negeri Melaka. His responsibility was to align digital technology and education through Pelan Strategik Melakaku Maju Jaya 2035.

Affezah Ali

Mental Health and Well-being Impact Lab Deputy Director

affezah.ali@taylors.edu.my

Affezah Ali is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Psychology, Taylor’s University. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Psychology, with a specialisation in Industrial and Organisational Psychology. She holds a Master of Human Sciences (Psychology) and a Bachelor of Cognitive Science (Hons).

With over 16 years of experience in teaching, research, and consultancy, Affezah has led numerous projects in collaboration with both governmental and private organisations. Her expertise spans mental health, mentoring and psychological support, training needs analysis, cyberpsychology, online privacy and literacy, as well as social impact studies.

Her research also focuses on marginalised communities, including low socioeconomic groups, the Deaf community, and individuals with rare diseases. She actively collaborates with international institutions from Indonesia, Brunei, Australia, and France to promote employee mental health and well-being.

Affezah has been featured in various media and radio interviews, where she shares her insights on employee well-being and organisational psychology.

Associate Professor Ts Dr Chong Li Choo

Food Security and Nutrition Impact Lab Director

lichoo.chong@taylors.edu.my

Associate Professor Ts Dr Chong Li Choo is the Food Security and Nutrition Impact Lab Director and the Programme Director for the Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Culinology. AP Ts Dr Chong is passionate about transforming future foods to be nutritious, sustainable, safe, yet indulgent. As an accomplished academician, she aims to educate and empower the next generation to advocate for children’s health, transforming the current food industry towards a healthier and more sustainable future. She strongly believes in educating children about healthy eating and nutrition through community projects and primary school activities.

In seeking to bridge education, practice, and research, she curated and led several distinctive collaborative projects in collaboration with the Food Aid Foundation, Thought for Food Foundation, various food MNCs, and the Ministry of Agriculture & Food Industry (MAFI) – working on national food and nutrition sustainability, and tackling food waste issues though research and education.

For almost two decades, AP Ts Dr Chong has been an active researcher who has ventured into the field of healthy and functional food product development through sustainable local agriculture. She is also engaged in various research grants on green technology approaches to provide solutions for obesity and hypertension issues caused by unhealthy food and eating habits, as well as pesticide issues in post-harvest processing.

She is recognised as an expert and advocate in healthy and sustainable food product development, and has received several national and international awards in the field of sustainable food product development. Her persistence in inspiring students and making significant impact led AP Ts Dr Chong to be honoured with the President’s Award by The Research Chefs Association (RCA), United States in 2020.

Associate Professor Dr Chong Wei Ying

Eradicating Poverty Impact Lab Deputy Director

weiying.chong@taylors.edu.my

Associate Professor Dr Chong Wei Ying is a distinguished academic and practitioner with over 15 years of experience in higher education, specialising in strategy, innovation, and entrepreneurship. She holds a PhD in Entrepreneurship and brings a strong entrepreneurial foundation from her earlier career in retail and business development, which enriches her academic practice with real-world relevance.

Her research focuses on startup valuation, entrepreneurial ecosystems, family business, and financial behaviour, with an emphasis on the role of intangible resources, shared identities, and innovation in shaping entrepreneurial success. She has supervised numerous PhD candidates to completion and has published widely in indexed journals, contributing to both theoretical advancement and practical application. AP Dr Chong is currently involved in multiple research projects funded by the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) and institutional impact grants.

As the Deputy Director of the Eradicating Poverty Impact Lab at Taylor’s University, she leads high-impact initiatives focused on entrepreneurial learning, social well-being, and community empowerment through design thinking. Deeply committed to bridging academia and practice, AP Dr Chong champions inclusive, interdisciplinary collaboration to drive social equity, lifelong learning, and transformative innovation across communities.

Associate Professor Ts Dr Goh Wei Wei

Digital Health and Medical Advancement Impact Lab Deputy Director

weiwei.goh@taylors.edu.my

Associate Professor Ts Dr Goh Wei Wei is the Digital Health and Medical Advancement Impact Lab Deputy Director, Programme Director of the Bachelor of Information Technology, and Senior Lecturer at the School of Computer Science at Taylor’s University. She received her Ph.D. major in E-Learning from the University of Derby, and has been in the academic field for the past 20 years.

AP Ts Dr Goh Wei Wei has been working on learning, teaching and assessment design strategies, online learning technologies, social media technologies, knowledge management, Machine Learning, and Internet of Things (IoT) research. She enjoys developing technology-rich classrooms and has worked on various multi-disciplinary projects with The Design School.

AP Ts Dr Goh Wei Wei won 2 gold medals and 1 bronze medal at the International University Carnival on E-Learning (IUCEL) 2022, and 1 bronze medal award at eCondev 2022 for her experience in developing technology-rich classrooms initiatives. She introduced the Engage VR platform to create an immersive presence in the virtual learning environment for her students. She also enabled her students to have hands-on experience in using the Oculus Quest 2 and HoloLens to experience Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality.

At the Malaysia Technology Expo (MTE) 2021 and 2022, AP Ts Dr Goh Wei Wei also won a total of 4 silver medals for her innovative IoT prototype development related to digital health and innovation. She also won a silver medal for Smart Medication Management and Medicine Delivery System at the 32nd International Invention, Innovation and Technology Exhibition in 2021.

Dr Jaganraj Ramachandran 

Jaganraj.Ramachandran@taylors.edu.my

Dr Jaganraj Ramachandran is the Deputy Director of the Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions Impact Lab, and a Senior Lecturer at Taylor’s University with over 12 years of experience in legal education in his repertoire as of 2025. Dr Jaganraj obtained an LLB from the University of London International Programs, along with LLM and PhD from the University of Malaya. His area of research and publication is largely centered around Human Rights, Constitutional & Administrative Law, Employment Law, Labour Law, Company Law, Corporate Governance along with other related areas of the legal field. 

He is passionate about matters that relate to fundamental rights and freedoms and aims to explore the intricacies of the law on rights and freedoms via the Federal Constitution, and by analysing similar laws from other jurisdictions. Dr Jaganraj’s PhD research was on Constitutional Protection of Documented Migrant Workers in Malaysia, and his thesis was entitled “Documented Migrant Workers in Malaysia: Key Issues on Passport, Work Permit and Special Pass Pending Investigation” It was through this research that he was exposed to various NGOs, governmental agencies, embassies that function in the enforcement of laws and policies of migrant workers in Malaysia and internationally. This area of research did not merely cover issues of rights concerning documented migrant workers in Malaysia, but it extended to issues on Employment law, Labour law, and International Treaties that concern documented migrant workers in Malaysia. 

This groundbreaking work and experience have provided him an invaluable experience in navigating different agencies. Having interviewed members of NGOs, governmental departments, and embassies, he has realised that there is much that can be done to reform and benefit all members of society. 

Dr Jaganraj believes in making a change in the world through awareness and education. Being a prolific writer, he has written and published many law-based articles that are thought-provoking and dwell upon fundamental liberties, rights of citizens, systems of governance, fairness, and many others. His work reflects a steadfast commitment to promoting awareness and education as tools for societal transformation. 

He hopes to bring about a change via the Impact Lab in areas that concern rights and governance. His interdisciplinary approach, coupled with his real-world experience, positions him as a key advocate for reform and innovation in the legal field. With a career dedicated to the advancement of justice, education, and societal well-being, Dr Jaganraj embodies the spirit of a scholar with a deep commitment to integrity, fairness, and the pursuit of knowledge, constantly striving to make meaningful contributions that uplift both individuals and communities.

Dr Jenita Kanapathy

Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions Impact Lab Director

jenita.kanapathy@taylors.edu.my

Dr Jenita Kanapathy is the Director of the Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions Impact Lab at Taylor’s University, where she leads initiatives aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 16 (SDG 16), focusing on governance, justice, institutional reform, and the rule of law. She is a distinguished legal scholar, educator, and policy-oriented academic with experience spanning legal practice, higher education, and interdisciplinary research.

An alumna of the University of Malaya, Dr Jenita obtained her Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in 2001 and was admitted as an Advocate & Solicitor of the High Court of Malaysia. She spent a decade in legal practice before returning to academia, completing her Master of Laws (LLM) in 2012 and earning her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in 2022.

She is currently a Senior Lecturer at Taylor’s University under the School of Law & Governance, where she actively advances research, policy engagement, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Dr Jenita is also committed to student development and serves as an Advisor to the Asian Law Students’ Association (ALSA) Malaysia.

Her scholarly contributions include Scopus-indexed books, peer-reviewed publications, and professional legal articles, with work published in journals such as the Journal of the Malaysian Bar, the Journal of the Selangor Bar, and the Current Law Journal. Her research interests span constitutional law, human rights, legal governance, judicial reform, and emerging challenges at the intersection of law and technology, particularly legal education and artificial intelligence.

Dr Jenita’s teaching and research excellence has been recognised through multiple awards, including the Best Paper Award (2023), Silver Awards at the International E-Content Development Competition (2022 and 2023), and a Bronze Award at the International University Carnival on E-Learning (2022).

She is an active contributor to academic and professional discourse and has been invited as a speaker and panellist at numerous national and international platforms, including the Annual Anti-Fraud Leaders’ Summit, the Asia Legal Tech Leaders’ Summit, ALSA Malaysia Expo (AMExpo), and HWPL’s Commemoration of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW).

Through her leadership, scholarship, and public engagement, Dr Jenita seeks to contribute meaningfully to legal education, governance reform, and interdisciplinary innovation.

Dr Joseph Malaluan Velarde

Education For All Impact Lab Director

joseph.velarde@taylors.edu.my

Dr Joseph Velarde is the Director of the Education for All Impact Lab at Taylor’s University and is also a lecturer from School of Education, Taylor’s University.  He holds a PhD in Education and Master of Educational Leadership from the University of Malaya, Malaysia, while his undergraduate degree of Communication Arts is from the University of the Philippines. 

For almost 20 years, Dr Joseph has taught in various educational institutions across all levels (primary, secondary, and tertiary)  in the Philippines, Singapore, and Malaysia, primarily focusing on the teaching of English language and literature.  He has published several articles in high-indexed publications on school leadership and management.  Also, he wrote a book entitled, “Leading in Multicultural Schools,” published by Routledge.

Dr Joseph’s passion for teaching and advocacies for inclusive education led him to commit to projects on cross-cultural communications training of student teachers at Taylor’s University and body positivity programs in local schools in Subang Jaya, Malaysia.  These initiatives led him to win several awards in local conferences and be a finalist in AKRI2022.

Dr Lee Yee Ling

Education for All Impact Lab Deputy Director

yeeling.lee@taylors.edu.my

Dr Lee Yee Ling is the Deputy Director of the Education for All Impact Lab and a Senior Lecturer at the School of Education, Taylor’s University. She holds a PhD in Curriculum and Instructional Design and a Master of Education in Science Education from the University of Malaya. She earned her Bachelor of Science with Education from the University of Science Malaysia. Before joining Taylor’s University, Dr Lee taught science subjects, with a particular focus on Biology, at secondary schools in Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam.

Driven by the belief that education is transformative and has the power to change lives, Dr Lee actively engages in initiatives that promote equitable education for underprivileged communities. She collaborates closely with refugee communities, providing professional development training for refugee educators and conducting educational workshops for refugee children. Additionally, she contributes to the design and development of curriculum materials for alternative learning centres. Previously, she worked alongside international academics to develop home-based learning resources for children with special educational needs.

Dr Lee’s dedication to teaching and innovative pedagogy has earned her numerous accolades at various conferences and competitions, including EMAS, IUCEL, eCondev, the International Conference on Sustainability Education Development 2023, the Malaysian Education Deans Council National Seminar 2024, and the Malaysia Grand Invention Expo 2024.

Dr Lim Con Nee

Active Ageing Impact Lab Deputy Director

connee.lim@taylors.edu.my

Dr Con Nee is the Deputy Director of Active Ageing Impact Lab at Taylor’s University. She started her teaching career in 2005 and has never had a more gratifying job than being able to impart her skills and knowledge to the younger generation. She is also a TTT Certified Trainer.

She has about two decades of experience in both administrative and academic roles. At Taylor’s University, Dr Con Nee has taught many marketing-related subjects across different levels of students from Foundation, Diploma, and Degree programmes. Throughout her teaching career at Taylor’s University, she has consistently received “Excellent Teaching Engagement” scores. She has also been awarded as one of Taylor’s Distinguished e-Learning Educators (DoE) for the Class of 2021 as she exemplifies innovative and engaging learning practices in her teaching and delivery. Her research areas include social media marketing, online shopping, and digital marketing.

Dr Con Nee’s services in the early years revolved around community work, charity drives, and field visits. Recently, she contributed to two successful major events organised under the Active Ageing Impact Lab, known as the “Active Ageing Festival” in 2023 and 2024. Her grit and determination, as well as a love for people of all ages, has kept her in high spirits to continue to serve in any capacity that champions healthy living, especially in the golden years. Looking into the well-being of the young and old, particularly the senior communities, brings her tremendous joy.

She is also a passionate educator who loves using new technology to teach and share skills with her students and adult learners via workshops. In her interactive classes, she inspires them to use technology in creative ways. She also firmly believes that learning is a lifelong process and as a passionate facilitator/coach/mentor to the young generation and adult learners, she will continue to give her utmost to provide a safe, fun, dynamic and exciting learning environment.

Dr Malarvilly Ramayah

Liveable Urban Communities Impact Lab Deputy Director

malarvilly.ramayah@taylors.edu.my

Dr Malarvilly Ramayah is the Deputy Director of the Liveable Urban Communities Impact Lab. Prior to this, she held the role as Hub Leader of Socially Inclusive Spaces – promoting inclusive and accessible urban spaces, including advocating for safe and affordable housing.

Dr Malarvilly is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Accounting and Finance, Faculty of Business and Law, and holds a PhD in Business. She developed her teaching skills through lecturing in twinning programmes; being appointed as an Associate of the Faculty of Business, University of Technology Sydney, Australia from 2003 to 2006.  She then led the programme structure development team for Banking, Finance and Economics programmes under the dual award degrees with University of the West of England and became Programme Director of these programmes from 2012 to 2015. 

As a multi award-winning educator, Dr Malarvilly won a Silver medal in the International University Carnival on e-Learning (IUCEL) Competition, Ministry of Higher Education 2022 (Creativity) and "Leading Innovation Towards Digitalised Community“ 2021 (Creativity). She also won an award at The Virtual International e-Content Development Competition 2021.

Dr Muhammad Afnan Mahusain 

Sustainable Tourism Impact Lab Deputy Director

afnan.mahusain@taylors.edu.my 

Dr Muhammad Afnan Mahusain started his career in hospitality from the ground up, beginning humbly as a waiter, tour operator, and front desk assistant. With over ten years of progressive experience across multiple departments, from Food & Beverage and Room Division to strategic leadership roles including Senior Operations Manager with Chatridge International Group in the UK, he gained extensive expertise in managing teams, budgets, and operations.

Alongside this industry journey, he pursued his academic path, earning a Master’s in International Hospitality Management (Distinction) from the University of Birmingham and completing his PhD in Hospitality & Tourism at Taylor’s University as a proud recipient of the Taylor’s University Research Scholarship.

An active researcher and technical editor, Dr Afnan has authored multiple journal articles and conference proceedings focused on succession planning, leadership, and job satisfaction in the hospitality sector. Today, he serves as Deputy Director of the Sustainable Tourism Impact Lab and Hub Leader for Innovation & Technology for Sustainable Hospitality, where his work bridges research, industry, and community.

His current projects include sustainable solutions such as greywater management in hotels, ecotourism initiatives in Fraser’s Hill, and international collaborations with universities in India and Bulgaria. Looking ahead, he is developing the Kopi Kaséh initiative, a social innovation project aimed at empowering asnaf communities through entrepreneurship, reflecting his commitment to making hospitality a force for both sustainability and social good.

Ir Ts Dr Nagentrau Muniandy 

Clean Technology Impact Lab Deputy Director

Nagentrau.Muniandy@taylors.edu.my

Ir Ts Dr Nagentrau Muniandy (REEM, CEM, P.Eng, P.Tech, PhD, ACPE, MIEM, CPMV, ASEAN Eng., APEC, IntPE)  is the Deputy Director of the Clean Technology Impact Lab, and a Senior Lecturer at the School of Engineering, Faculty of Innovation and Technology, Taylor’s University Malaysia. He has been teaching Mechanical Engineering related subjects for the past seven years and is actively involved in research focusing on energy efficiency/management, finite element method (FEM), mechanics of material, biomechanics and tribology areas.

Ir Ts Dr Nagentrau Muniandy is an International Professional Engineer. He is a Registered Professional Engineer (P.Eng) and Professional Technologist (P.Tech) under the Board of Engineers (BEM) and Malaysian Board of Technology (MBOT) respectively. In addition, he is also a Registered Electrical Energy Manager (REEM) who registered with the Malaysian Energy Commission (Suruhanjaya Tenaga). He is an APEC Engineer, ASEAN Engineer, ASEAN Chartered Engineer, ASEAN Certified Energy Manager (CEM) and Certified Professional in Measurement and Verification (CPMV), who has 7 years of experience in energy management and big data analysis related to sustainable energy management systems (EnMS). 

In addition, he has also been engaged as a Quality Assurance: Measurement & Verification engineer in a chiller optimisation company and responsible to analyse and verify chiller energy saving data at various sites including Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines and Indonesia in accordance with International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol (IPMVP) based energy calculation programs. As an energy efficiency enthusiast, he played a major role in driving buildings to be awarded with Low Carbon City Challenge (LCC) 2030 Diamond recognition from the Ministry of Environment and Water (KASA) and Low Carbon Building (LCB) GreenPASS recognition by the Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) Malaysia. On top of that, he also has been appointed as a strategic partner by Shah Alam City Council (Majlis Bandaraya Shah Alam) for low carbon city initiatives. 

He is also a member of the Young Scientist Network Akademi Sains Malaysia (YSN-ASM). Last but not least, he also actively engages in CSR and STEM activities for indigenous (Orang Asli) Community with the aim of enabling students to utilise information and insights in the scientific field, technological areas, engineering and mathematics.

Dr Nagathisen Katahenggam

Sustainable Tourism Impact Lab Director

nagathisen.katahenggam@taylors.edu.my

Dr Nagathisen Katahenggam (Dr Naga) is the Director of the Sustainable Tourism Impact Lab and is also a senior lecturer with the School of Hospitality, Tourism and Events.. He holds a PhD in Tourism and Hospitality from Taylor’s University. He obtained his Masters and Undergraduate degree from Universiti Utara Malaysia as a part time student while working as a civil servant. With 20 years of experience in government service, he is well versed with the intricacies of engagement with the public sector. 

Dr Naga is passionate about empowering heritage cities and towns to tap into the potential benefits of heritage tourism, in turn benefiting local communities. He has also published several articles on tourism, ranging from heritage tourism to climate change. Dr Naga firmly believes in building bridges between academics, the government and industry to further empower communities through sustainable tourism.  

Norshahila Binti Mohamad Razak

Eradicating Poverty Impact Lab Director

norshahila.mohamadrazak@taylors.edu.my

Norshahila is the Eradicating Poverty Impact Lab Director, and the Programme Director for the Centre for Languages and Liberal Studies at the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences (SLAS), Taylor’s University.

Her expertise is in Malay linguistics, and her research interests are phonetics, phonology, and morphology. She obtained a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in Malay Language Studies. She is pursuing a Ph.D. at Universiti Putra Malaysia in Malay Language Studies and working on a phonology thesis at Hulu Tembeling, Pahang. She has been involved with an NGO named Persatuan Seni Silat Cekak Malaysia (PSSCM) as a freelance proofreader and editor for almost 8 years. Her most recent editing work is titled “Dari Dapur Srikandi dan Nikmat yang Agung”.

Community work has always been her passion. During her tenure as the Hub Leader for Meeting Basic Needs under the Eradicating Poverty Impact Lab, she led a project titled “My Period Story” to promote cost-effective period products for B40 women and girls through expert guidance, and to help girls be more confident during menstruation.

Ir Dr Phang Swee King

Digital Innovation and Smart Society Impact Lab Deputy Director

sweeking.phang@taylors.edu.my

Dr. Phang is currently serving as the Digital Innovation and Smart Society Impact Lab Deputy Director and a Senior Lecturer at Taylor’s University's School of Engineering. He has received his Bachelor of Engineering and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the National University of Singapore (NUS).

As an academic, Dr. Phang has been involved in a range of multidisciplinary industry-based projects, working with companies such as Alphaswift Industries, Daikin Malaysia, and HSS Engineers to cultivate and inspire creativity and innovation in young engineers. He is an expert in automation and robotics, with a particular focus on autonomous vehicles.

He has presented at numerous international conferences and published over 70 peer-reviewed articles with a Scopus Citation h-index of 14. Additionally, he currently serves on the Board of Editors for Unmanned Systems, a Q1 journal indexed in Web of Science, and has served as an editor for multiple international conference proceedings in the past five years.

Dr. Phang is also a Corporate Member of the Institute of Engineers Malaysia (MIEM), a registered Professional Engineer (PEng) with the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM), and a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) from the United States. These professional affiliations reflect his ongoing commitment to staying up-to-date with the latest developments and best practices in engineering.

Dr Praveena Nair Sivasankaran

Clean Technology Impact Lab Director

praveena.nair@taylors.edu.my

Dr. Praveena is a dedicated academician, researcher, and educator with over 10 years of experience in clean technology. Currently serving as the Director of Clean Technology Impact Lab, she is passionate about promoting sustainable solutions and environmentalism.

As a social entrepreneur, she has established her own enterprise focusing on green solutions. Dr. Praveena collaborates with local authorities to organize seminars on plastic overuse and conducts workshops to teach communities how to repurpose cooking oil. She actively engages with government authorities on waste plastic disposal initiatives.

With expertise in green materials and biomimicry, she contributes to research and education in clean technology. Driven by her commitment to animal welfare, she serves as the Vice-President of the Malaysian Animal Welfare Association (MAWA). Her accomplishments have earned her recognition as a successful leader and women's advocate. Through her multifaceted roles, Dr. Praveena continues to inspire and empower communities towards a sustainable and greener future. 

Associate Professor Dr Priya Madhavan

Digital Health and Medical Advancement Impact Lab Director

priya.madhavan@taylors.edu.my

Associate Professor Dr Priya Madhavan holds a PhD in Medical Microbiology from University Putra Malaysia (2014), an MSc in Biology (2003), and a BSc (Hons) in Biology with a major in Microbiology and a minor in Business Management from the University of Science Malaysia (1999). She further enhanced her professional credentials with certifications in Biorisk Management and Biosecurity from the International Federation of Biosafety Associations (Canada) and the Malaysian Biosafety and Biosecurity Association in 2017. These qualifications reflect a strong academic foundation in microbiology and biosafety, laying the groundwork for her contributions to infectious diseases and biomedical sciences.

Professionally, Dr Priya has amassed over two decades of teaching experience across various institutions. At Taylor’s University, she serves as an Associate Professor in the School of Medicine. Her teaching portfolio spans microbiology, immunology, and community medicine, delivered to undergraduate and postgraduate students. She has played a pivotal role in academic administration, including curriculum development, quality assurance, and postgraduate supervision.

In research, Dr Priya has made significant strides in antimicrobial resistance, biofilms, drug discovery, and nanomedicine. She has led and collaborated on numerous national and internal grants, published extensively in peer-reviewed journals, and authored several book chapters. Her supervision of postgraduate students has resulted in impactful research on fungal pathogenesis, neurodegenerative diseases, and nanotechnology-based therapeutics. Currently, she is also the lead investigator for Nanoflex and NanoShield – two translational research projects with patents pending. 

Dr Priya’s scholarly achievements are complemented by numerous accolades and recognitions that underscore her impactful contributions to science and education. Among her notable awards is the Award for Excellence in Microbiology at the 2nd Annual Healthcare Meet in Chennai, India (2019), a testament to her leadership in the field. She has also won Best Poster Award at the Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society Pharmacy Scientific Conference (2011) and Best Oral Presentation at the 1st International Conference of Health and Medical Sciences (2019). Her commitment to educational innovation has been recognised through Gold Awards at the International e-Content Development Competitions in 2021 and 2023 for her open educational resources, and a Bronze Award in 2024 for public health-focused educational tools.

Beyond academic circles, Dr Priya has garnered significant public attention through media features and community engagement. Her research on natural remedies for dementia and antimicrobial resistance was featured in several prominent Malaysian newspapers, including The Star, Berita Harian, and Asia News Today. Notably, she was highlighted by Living Malaysia on World Humanitarian Day 2020 as one of '10 Malaysian Women Who Exemplify its Meaning', in recognition of her humanitarian outreach.

Professor Dr Rozainee Khairudin 

Mental Health and Well-being Impact Lab Director

rozainee.khairudin@taylors.edu.my

Professor Dr Rozainee Khairudin is the Director of the Mental Health and Well-being Impact Lab. She earned her Master’s and PhD degrees in Cognitive Science from the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom, following a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Reading, United Kingdom. Her primary research interests include mindset and cognitive decline. Recently, she was awarded an international grant for a multidisciplinary research project focused on knowledge and education. The project employs remedial interventions targeting marginalised groups – such as individuals from low socioeconomic backgrounds, single mothers, and autistic individuals – to enhance their entrepreneurial skills through the application of a growth mindset, with the goal of improving their quality of life. Additionally, she served as the project leader for a study that secured a RM2.5 million grant from the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE). This research aims to delay normal cognitive decline in older adults and utilises a pre-post longitudinal experimental design incorporating both physical and cognitive interventions.

Dr Siti Norzaini Zainal Abidin

Liveable Urban Communities Impact Lab Director

sitinorzaini.zainalabidin@taylors.edu.my

Dr Siti Norzaini Zainal Abidin is the Liveable Urban Communities Impact Lab Director, and a Senior Lecturer at Taylor’s University with 23 years of experience teaching Architecture, Interior Architecture, and Design Management. Her expertise spans a wide range of areas, including passive design for green buildings, integrated design processes, sustainable living, energy and architecture, and daylighting in airport design. 

Dr Siti has contributed to several notable publications, such as The Resilience of Tradition, Modernity, Nation and Urban-Architectural Form: The Dynamics and Dialectics of National Identity vs Regionalism in a Tropical City and the Handbook of Research on Issues, Challenges, and Opportunities in Sustainable Architecture. She has been involved in impactful research projects, including Taylor’s University’s Sustainable Living Module, which focuses on architectural strategies to mitigate environmental impacts and enhance community well-being through Flood Mitigation for Community Resilience in the year 2023 and Biodiversity Awareness and Community Engagement in collaboration with GEC and Majlis Perbandaran Sepang in 2024.

Her research endeavors are supported by prominent grants, including Taylor’s Internal Research Grant Scheme and Impact Labs Grant Scheme, with projects addressing climate-responsive design for housing and sustainable e-waste management. Dr Siti’s commitment to innovative education is demonstrated through her award-winning projects on e-learning and project-based learning and innovative solutions, which earned Silver Awards at IUCEL 2021 and 2023, and eCondev 2024 prior to the recent MyFlood App for flood mitigation and community resilience project.

Associate Professor Dr Yau Weng Keong

Active Ageing Impact Lab Director

wengkeong.yau@taylors.edu.my

Associate Professor Dr Yau Weng Keong, an elected Fellow of Royal College of Physicians London, is a graduate from Universiti Sains Malaysia. He has extensive and diverse clinical experience as a physician with almost three decades in Internal Medicine and more than 25 years in Geriatric Medicine as a geriatrician. After 33 years with the Ministry of Health (MOH) Malaysia, he is now continuing his mission in elderly care by concentrating on teaching, mentoring and fostering the younger generation to be advocates for the welfare and future of older adults. Dr Yau also seeks to make an impact on the academic and research front. He was Principal Investigator for a few dementia-related clinical studies done in Malaysia and has written chapters in handbooks on various elderly care topics. 

Dr Yau is recognised as one of the pioneering geriatricians who was instrumental in establishing a solid foundation for Geriatric Services in MOH Malaysia. As the former Head of Geriatric Services in MOH for 5 years, Dr Yau sat in various elderly care committees including Private Aged Healthcare Facilities and Service Act’s (Act 802) regulation committee. He was actively involved in the clinical administration, training, planning, development and expansion of various geriatrics services from just four geriatricians and two centres in 1997, to over 60 geriatricians nationwide in 2023. Special dementia, delirium, falls, orthogeriatric, geriatric rehabilitation and seamless integrated geriatric care are some examples of services started by Dr Yau. 

He has also been an organising chairperson, scientific chairperson, plenary speaker and invited speaker for multiple national and international geriatric and dementia courses, workshops, seminars, conferences and congresses over the years.

Associate Professor Dr Yeo Siok Koon

Food Security and Nutrition Impact Lab Deputy Director

siokkoon.yeo@taylors.edu.my

Associate Professor Dr Yeo Siok Koon has a Bachelor of Technology and PhD degree from Universiti Sains Malaysia, and is now a senior lecturer in Taylor’s University, Malaysia. Her passion in teaching and research is recognised through her attainment of various national and international awards for excellence in teaching and research. She has accumulated more than 10 years of experience in academia, and before she joined as an academician, she worked as a postdoctoral researcher in Korea. Her research work focuses on probiotics and prebiotics. She has vast experience in food microbiology and developing food products with probiotics and food waste. To date, she has published more than 40 indexed journals and book chapters. She has also shared her findings and knowledge in various national and international conferences. She is an active member in the Malaysian Institute of Food Technology (MIFT), having served the institute as an Exco for more than 6 years.