Assoc. Prof. Dr. Roslizawati Che Aziz is a distinguished academic and the Director of the Entrepreneurship Research Centre at Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK). A senior faculty member in the Faculty of Hospitality, Tourism and Wellness, her expertise lies at the intersection of sustainable ecotourism, social entrepreneurship, and hospitality digitalization. With a robust research portfolio focused on rural development and SME growth, Dr. Roslizawati is widely recognized for her work in community-based tourism and green hospitality practices. She is a prolific author and an active consultant, holding professional ties with the Institute of Hospitality (UK). Her leadership in innovation and academic excellence makes her a leading voice in shaping the future of the regional tourism and entrepreneurial landscape.
Professor Dr. Vijayaletchumy A/P Subramaniam is a preeminent authority in Malay Linguistics and Psycholinguistics from Universiti Putra Malaysia. With a distinguished career spanning nearly three decades, Professor Vijayaletchumy has redefined the landscape of language acquisition and pedagogy through her pioneering research in interactional learning and inclusive education. A prolific scholar and visionary innovator, she has authored over 100 publications and successfully mentored 30 PhD graduates, cementng her legacy as a titan of academic mentorship. Her commitment to practical educational solutions has earned her multiple International Gold Medals for her inventive teaching kits at prestigious platforms like ITEX and MTE. In recognition of her extraordinary contributions to the national language, she was named the 2018 National Malay Language Academic Icon.
Mr. Mohammad Faisal bin Abu Suaib Khan is the Director General of the Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC), an agency under Malaysia’s Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. Appointed in January 2026, he leads the strategic development of Malaysia’s Muslim-Friendly Tourism and Hospitality (MFTH) ecosystem, focusing on internationalizing standards like the MFAR recognition. With over 15 years of experience in corporate communications and destination marketing, including specialized work in the China market, Mr. Faisal brings a global perspective to faith-based travel. He is currently a Doctoral candidate at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) and holds an MBA from UniRazak. His leadership is central to positioning Malaysia as a Regional Umrah Hub and a premier sustainable destination for the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign.
Mr. Fazal Bahardeen, the Founder and CEO of CrescentRating and HalalTrip. A true pioneer in the global travel industry, Mr. Bahardeen is widely recognized as the world’s leading authority on the Halal travel market. Under his visionary leadership, CrescentRating launched the world’s first ranking system for Muslim-friendly travel and the annual Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI), the industry’s most trusted benchmark. With over two decades of corporate and entrepreneurial experience—including a distinguished tenure at Alcatel-Lucent—he has transformed how destinations and brands engage with the multi-billion-dollar Muslim travel segment. An influential speaker and strategist, he has been named among the Top 50 Leaders in the Global Islamic Economy.
