Professor YH Taufiq-Yap was born in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. He earned his BSc (Hons) and MSc in 1992 and 1994, respectively at Universiti Putra Malaysia. He then went on to earn his PhD (1997) in heterogeneous catalysis at University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST), United Kingdom. Professor Taufiq-Yap started his career as a tutor in July 1993 and then lecturer at the Department of Chemistry, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) since August 1997. He was promoted to Associate Professor on 1st May 2002 and to full professor on 1st October 2007. He was the founding Head of Catalysis Science and Technology Research Centre (PutraCAT) from 1st Sept 2008 until Sept 2014. Professor Taufiq-Yap was appointed as Vice Chancellor of Universiti Malaysia Sabah from July 2019 - July 2022. In April 2024, he was appointed as the Chairman, Board of Director, University College of MAIWP International (UCMI) in Kuala Lumpur. Professor Taufiq-Yap’s research interest lies in the catalytic production of bioenergy from biomass and wastes. He published 528 Scopus indexed scientific publications includes various reviews on biodiesel, biojet and hydrogen production with a h-index of 78 and citation of 22,358. Throughout his career, Professor Taufiq-Yap has been the recipient of the following Awards and Distinctions: National Young Scientist Award (2002); The Outstanding Young Malaysian Award (2008), Top Research Scientist Malaysia (2013), Malaysia’s Research STAR Award (2018) and listed as World’s Top 2% Scientist by Stanford University, USA. He received the highest award Gold Medal for Excellent in Chemistry 2022 from the Malaysia Institute of Chemistry (IKM).

Dr. Brandon Prins is professor of Political Science at the University of Tennessee and Head of the Department of Political Science. His research interests involve the conditions associated with political and economic violence, including interstate and civil war, terrorism, and maritime crime. Dr. Prins serves as Lead Editor for the journal International Studies Quarterly and he is currently working on a research project that explores the underlying causes of maritime crime and conflict in the Indo-Pacific region funded through the US Department of Defense Minerva Initiative.

Dr. Manuela Capello is a researcher at the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD), focusing on marine research and the sustainable management of ocean resources. Her scientific work emphasizes the interactions of marine ecosystems, biodiversity conservation, and the responsible utilization of fisheries resources to support environmental sustainability and the welfare of coastal communities. Through international collaboration, she contributes to advancing scientific knowledge and shaping policies that are relevant to ocean health and the achievement of sustainable development goals.

Prof. V. N. Attri is Chair of Indian Ocean Studies (CIOS) at the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), University of Mauritius, and a leading expert on the Blue Economy recognized by the UN and World Bank. He is lead editor of the Blue Economy Handbook, founder of the Journal of Indian Ocean Rim Studies (JIORS), and has authored policy briefs for UN Global Sustainable Development Reports. Prof. Attri has delivered keynote addresses at major international forums on sustainability, renewable energy, climate change, and disaster risk management, while actively fostering global collaboration and shaping discourse on an inclusive and sustainable Blue Economy.

Alexandre Jeronimo de Freitas is an academic at the Rural Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with expertise in Development Economics. His research focuses on sustainable development, economic transformation in developing countries, and the interconnection between economic growth, public policy, and social welfare. Through his scholarly work and involvement in international academic forums, he contributes to advancing new insights in development economics that are highly relevant to global and regional challenges.

Amandine Vuylsteke is a marine conservationist with a strong background in ecotourism and ocean sustainability. Inspired since childhood by marine life and the vision of protecting the ocean, she has dedicated her career to integrating conservation with responsible tourism. She currently leads the marine conservation and education programs at Nikoi Private Island, Indonesia, where she develops and manages initiatives such as sea turtle protection, coral reef restoration, and community engagement within the Bintan Marine Protected Area.