Prof. Michael Driscoll

Vice-Chancellor and President, Taylor’s University

Professor Michael John Driscoll is the Vice Chancellor (VC) and President of Taylor’s University. Formerly the longest serving Vice Chancellor in the United Kingdom (UK) at Middlesex University for 20 years, Professor Driscoll brings with him extensive experience and knowledge in the higher education industry.

In his capacity as VC of Middlesex University, among many others Professor Driscoll was responsible for a major transformation of the University’s estate in London which culminated in the development of an impressive modernist world-class campus. He also led the development of Middlesex as a leading international university with successful international campuses in Dubai, Mauritius and Malta, and developed successful partnerships with leading higher education providers around the world which earned the university two Queens Awards for Enterprise for International Trade. His legacy also includes substantial improvements in the success of Middlesex students, the quality of teaching, and the scale and impact of its research, placing the university among the top new universities for research.

In his previous positions, Professor Driscoll was active in representing UK universities nationally and was also the Chair of MillionPlus, the Association for Modern Universities in the UK, and a voice for 21st century higher education. His leadership and knowledge benefitted numerous higher education boards including Universities UK, London Higher and the North London Learning Skills Council. 

Under his leadership, Taylor’s University will move towards Balanced Excellence in teaching, research and enterprise. He has set a target for Taylor’s University to be in the top 100 universities in Asia by year 2022. 

Professor Driscoll holds a Bachelor’s degree in economics from Nottingham Trent University. He is passionate about sports, and best known for his active participation in endurance running and cycling.

Prof. Dr. Hassan Bin Ali

• Chairperson for 2u2i Guidelines,
• Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic & International), Universiti Utara Malaysia

Hassan Ali is a Professor at School of Business Management, College of Business, Universiti Utara Malaysia. He holds a BSc. Agribusiness from Universiti Pertanian Malaysia , an MBA from the University of Keele, England, a Ph.D in Management from Aston University, England, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Entrepreneurship from Cambridge University. 

Hassan Ali is currently the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International) at Universiti Utara Malaysia. Universiti Utara Malaysia is an active partner of the World Assocation of Cooperative Education (WACE) . WACE actively promotes all kinds of co-op and work integrated learning (WIL) programs. 

Hassan Ali was appointed as Chairman of the National Taskforce for 2u2i Guidelines by Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE). He is responsible to lead the committee to develop the guidelines for the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) for the implementation of Work Integrated Education called 2u2i for both public and private universities. The 2u2i guideline is expected to be launched in August 2017 by Minister of MOHE.

Prof Madya Dr. Mohamad Abdullah Hemdi

• Deputy Chairperson for 2u2i Guidelines
• Dean (Faculty of Hotel and Tourism Management), UiTM

Hemdi is Professor and Dean, Faculty of Hotel & Tourism Managament, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. He earned his PhD from the Universiti Sains Malaysia (2006) (Human Resources Management) and a MSc in International Hospitality Management from Sheffield Hallam University, England (1996).

Hemdi has focused his researches and publications on Hospitality Human Resources Management and Tourism Management particularly in the area of employees’ work-related beliefs, attitudes, and behavioral outcomes as well as Tourism destinations planning and development, medical tourism, and tourism economics. On higher education policy, he has been appointed by Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia as the panel experts (Deputy Chairman) to develop the Implementation Guideline for 2u2i Mode of Study. Hemdi was also the Panel Expert Chairman for the development of Guideline to Good Practices: Work-Based Learning (GGP: WBL) for Malaysian Qualification Agency (MQA). He was also appointed by MQA as the panel experts for the development of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Criteria and Standards for Programme Accreditation as well as panel members to to develop Standard Program for Hospitality and Tourism Education. Currently, Hemdi is appointed as Accreditation Committee Members for Arts and Social Sciences by MQA.

Hemdi has been actively promoting the development and implementation of Work-based Learning (WBL) and Mode of Study 2u2i and has been frequently invited to give lecturers and sharing konowledge with higher educational instititions in Malaysia. He has also been invited as keynote spreaker at International and National Conferences.

Prof. Dr. Carol Costley

Director, Institute for Work Based Learning, Professor in Work Based Learning (IWBL), Middlesex University, United Kingdom

Carol Costley is a Professor in Work Based Learning and Head of Research and Research Degrees at the Institute for Work Based Learning. She gained her PhD (1995) from the University of Surrey and she holds a Master's Degree in Work Based Learning Studies. She also holds professional qualifications in teaching and learning.

Under her leadership, Middlesex IWBL has been identified as one of the top 50 universities in the European Union for university-business cooperation (UBC) through the work of the Institute for Work Based Learning (IWBL). The Institute for Work Based Learning is internationally recognised for innovation and expertise in professional and work-based learning. The Institute offers organisations and individuals the opportunity to gain formal recognition and academic credit for learning that occurs in the workplace.

Carol works with organisations in the private, public, community and voluntary sectors internationally in the learning and teaching of work-based, taught and research degrees. She was an executive member of the Universities Association for Lifelong Learning (UALL) 2005-2011 and convenor of the UALL network for Work Based Learning 1998-2011.

Prof. Sr. Ir. Dr.Suhaimi Abdul Talib

• Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International), University of Technology MARA (UiTM)
• Professor Faculty of Civil Engineering, UiTM, Malaysia

Suhaimi Abdul Talib, is currently serving as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International) at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), as well as a Professor at the Faculty of Civil Engineering. He received his B.E (Hons) in Civil Engineering in 1986 at the University of Melbourne, Australia. In 1996 he obtained his Master of Science in Water and Environmental Management with Distinction at University of Loughborough, UK and in 2002 he completed his Ph.D. in Water and Wastewater Engineering at the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM).

He was appointed as a member of the Expert Panel for the drafting of Standard on Engineering and Engineering Technology Programmes and also the Technical Committee for Malaysian Qualification Framework by the Malaysian Qualification Agency (MQA). He is the member of Panel of Examiners for Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) Professional Assessment Examination and Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) Professional Interview. (2004-present).

Professor Suhaimi has an extensive experience in development and review of curriculum for engineering programmes at UiTM, including addressing the requirements of MQA and the EAC in curriculum development, delivery and assessment.  He has served as member panel and later as lead panel for engineering accreditation for both the Engineering Accreditation Council (EAC) and Malaysian Qualification Agency (MQA) since 2004. He was later appointed as Member to the EAC for the session 2008-2010.  He is currently driving the initiatives on the implementation of flexible curriculum, iCGPA and 2u1i at UiTM.

Prof. Ir. Dr. Shahrir Abdullah

• Director, Centre for Quality Assurance, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
• iCGPA Technical Committee Member, Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia

Shahrir Abdullah received his doctorate degree from Swansea University in 1997 in the field of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). He currently serves as a full professor in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). His academic expertise is in the field of nanofluids, thermofluids and thermal systems, particularly those involved with computer simulation using commercial CFD tools and customised source codes. He is appointed as an associate principal fellow in the Centre for Automotive Research at the same faculty as well as holds an administrative position as the founding director of the Centre for Quality Assurance, UKM. In quality assurance, He has been involved as senior lead assessor for Malaysian Qualifications Agency, Engineering Accreditation Council and ASEAN University Network for programme and institutional assessment and accreditation. He is also a professional engineer with practicing certificate and has involved in more than 40 engineering consultancy projects.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jaafar Jantan

• Fellow, Institute of Leadership and Development (ILD), Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM)
• Former Director, Academic Development Management Division, Higher Education Department, Ministry of Education Malaysia

Associate Professor Dr Jaafar Jantan or better known as Dr JJ is currently a Fellow, at ILD UiTM since August 2016. He is the former Director of Academic Management Development Division at the Higher Education Department, Ministry of Higher Learning in Malaysia (2014-2016). 

He is a major contributor to the Shift 1 initiatives of the Malaysian Education Blueprint 2015-2025 (Higher Education) launched by the Prime Minister in April 2015 both as an author and as a primary facilitator to provide understanding and knowhow in designing curriculum for Integrated Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) implementation. His strong and meaningful contribution to iCGPA policy and implementation was recently acknowledged by the Minister of Higher Education in his 2017 yearly address to the higher education learning community. 

Dr JJ is the sole recipient of the coveted and prestigious Anugerah Akademik Negara (National Academic Teaching Award), in the category of Teaching of Pure Sciences, an award bestowed by the country only to the most creative and innovative higher education science teachers. In addition, he actively coaches and facilitates via keynotes, invited talks and workshops, faculty members and higher institution leadership in Malaysia on Outcomes-Based and iCGPA curriculum design, meaningful delivery, outcomes assessment and Constructive Alignment Principles. 

Prof. Dr. Shirley Alexander

Deputy-Vice Chancellor & Vice-President (Education & Students), University of Technology Sydney, Australia

Shirley Alexander is Professor of Learning Technologies at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) where she is currently Deputy Vice-Chancellor & Vice President (Education and Students). She has worked at UTS for over twenty years; having previously held the positions of Director, Institute for Interactive Media and Learning and Dean, Faculty of Education.

Professor Alexander is responsible for leading the achievement of the University’s key priorities in teaching and learning, the student experience and the use of data analytics in all aspects of the university’s work. Her responsibilities also include increasing the opportunities for student and staff learning, and the development of a strong student culture across the University.

The University of Technology Sydney has been engaged in a major $1 billion campus redevelopment project. Professor Alexander is leading a system of projects to ensure these developments support the future of learning. The projects won the prestigious Wharton-QS Stars Reimagine Education Awards 2015, in the category of Hybrid Learning.

Prof. Dr. Pradeep Nair

Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer, Taylor’s University

Professor Pradeep Nair is an educator and leader, having been in Higher Education for 27 years. Key positions held include: Chief Operating Officer (COO), Taylor’s College, Petaling Jaya & Taylor’s Business School (2005-2009); COO, Taylor’s School of Hospitality & Tourism (2001-2009); and currently, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer, Taylor’s University (TU) since 2009.

Under Pradeep’s leadership, awards earned include: Culinary Institution of the Year (2012 World Gourmet Summit); Hospitality Institution of the Year (Hospitality Asia - 2008, 2010, 2012 & 2014); Putra Brand Gold Award for TU (2010 - 2014 consecutively); and Reader’s Digest Trusted Brand Gold Award for TU, from 2011 - 2014 consecutively. 

Focusing on innovation in higher education, Pradeep has led numerous institutional turnarounds and pioneered new initiatives including the introduction of dual award degrees, SHINE Award Programme, the 2nd Transcript, X-Space Classrooms of the Future, ReWIND Lecture Capture System, Learning Analytics, Teaching Engagement Scale and Faculty Track System.

Pradeep is the co-founder of the Tourism Educators Association of Malaysia (TEAM), Founding President of the ASEAN Tourism Research Association (ATRA) and currently the Deputy President of the Malaysian Association of Private Universities and Colleges. 

Pradeep himself is also highly decorated for his contributions, in 2012 winning the World Education Congress Leadership Excellence Award for Exemplary Leadership in HE, and also being selected as one of the Top 100 Personalities in Hospitality by Hospitality Asia Magazine (2008). For his contributions to TH&E education, in particular the setting up of the National Hotel Industry Apprenticeship Scheme, he received the PATA Gold Award for Education and Training and, later, the title KMN (Officer of the Order of the Defender of the Realm) by His Majesty, the King of Malaysia. In 2014, he became the first Asian to be made a Fellow of the International Centre of Excellence (THE-ICE) in Tourism and Hospitality Education. In 2015, he awarded the National Outstanding Educator Award (University Category) for his contributions to private higher education in Malaysia. In 2016, he was made Officer for the l'Ordre des Palmes Académiques, by French Government. This is a national order of France for distinguished academics and figures in the world of culture and education.

Mr. Simon Si

Head of Regional Communications, Seek Asia (formerly Jobstreet)

Simon is the Head of Regional Communications with SEEK Asia, the organization that operates JobStreet.com and jobsDB which are leading online job board in the region. He is responsible for the marketing operations in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam.  He has been with the organization for 10 years.

Besides overseeing the marketing communication functions at SEEK Asia, Simon is also a JobStreet Certified Regional Trainer for The JobStreet Academy on recruitment best practices. 

Simon also work with Industry Advisory Board on graduate employability with various universities and is passionate about helping fresh graduate prepare for the job market. 

Prior to being in the world of online job market place Simon has spent more than 15 years in the advertising and marketing industry. He has worked with leading international advertising agencies like McCann Erickson as Account Director , OgilvyOne ,  as Group Account Director and  Euro RSCG  as Business Group Director. 

The sum of Simon’s working experience gives him a high level understanding of marketing dynamics that range from brand building to customer relationship. His work covers a wide range of industries Telecommunication to FMCG, Financial Institutions to Automobiles.

Anisha Sasheendran

Head of Youth, Maxis

Anisha joined Maxis in March 2015 bringing over 17 years of local and international experience with her. She currently serves as Head of Youth responsible for managing and developing young talents through designing and facilitating new edge talent programmes like the Maxis Management Associate Programme, Maxis Scholarship and Maxis Internship Programme. To date, Anisha has interviewed almost 12,000 candidates and personally hired over 500 individuals.  

Anisha served as Chief Talent Officer for Groupon Malaysia focusing on driving people strategies, talent management, leadership development and effective organisation growth. Before Groupon Malaysia, she led the recruitment campaign as Talent Manager in Youth Asia and managed internal communication initiatives around recruitment in PwC Malaysia.

Anisha is actively involved with AIESEC; the world’s largest youth leadership development organisation which is present in over 100 countries and territories. Her leadership qualities were evident when she became the first Malaysian selected to be part of the global leadership team of AIESEC International. Anisha established global partnerships with corporate and non-corporate organisations mainly around the topics of youth development, HIV/AIDS, entrepreneurship and leadership development.

Software Developer, Configura

Dinesh Karthikesu work as a software developer at Configura, where they build custom solutions for their customers to help them design a space in an efficient manner. Dinesh have been working with Herman Miller, one of the biggest office furniture manufacturers in the world, to have their products and business logic implemented in our software.

He also work closely with partner developers, and heavily involved with the planning of conferences and events meant for both Configurans as well as customers.

Nurul Amalina Che Ariffin

Co-Founder, Chili Padi Academy

Amalina is one of the Co-Founder of the Chili Padi Academy and the alumnus of YSEALI 2015 Institute on the Environment at the East-West Center, Hawaii. She obtained her LLB from the International Islamic University Law in 2015 where she represented her alma mater in different competitions and conferences. She was called to the bar in April 2017. Amalina sees growth in herself by joining leadership programs such as the McKinsey Youth Leadership Academy, Powershift Malaysia Leadership Camp, and Global Peace Leadership Camp. She also interned at the South Africa Human Rights Commission to get her taste in fighting for human rights. Amalina hopes to be working on the front lines of environmental justice in the future.