Prof. Dr. Atif Ahmad
Title: Building Cyber Resilience in Malaysia: Bridging Innovation, Ethics, and National Security
Dr. Atif Ahmad is a Professor at the University of Melbourne’s School of Computing & Information Systems, where he serves as Deputy Director of the Academic Centre of Cyber Security Excellence. With over 25 years of experience, Dr. Ahmad leads groundbreaking research in cybersecurity management and organizational resilience, having published over 100 scholarly articles and attracted more than AUD$6 million in research funding.
Dr. Ahmad’s work uniquely bridges academic theory with industry practice, conducting in-depth studies of cyber defense capabilities across critical infrastructure organizations. His current high-impact projects, funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, focus on developing cyber resilience capabilities in Malaysia and combating disinformation in the Philippines, directly contributing to regional security and prosperity.
An award-winning educator and filmmaker, Dr. Ahmad has produced internationally acclaimed educational films on cybersecurity practices, earning accolades including “Best Original Screenplay” at the London International Film Festival. His industry expertise spans consulting for global firms including Pinkerton and WorleyParsons, and he holds certification as a Protection Professional with the American Society for Industrial Security.
Dr. Ahmad’s research-driven approach to cybersecurity capacity building makes him a leading voice in developing robust digital defenses for emerging economies and Muslim-majority nations.
Prof. Emeritus Dato' Dr. Mohamed Ridza Wahiddin
Title: Bridging Artificial Intelligence and Real Intelligence
Prof. Ridza obtained his PhD (UMIST, UK) in August 1989 in Quantum Optics, and a higher doctoral degree DSc (UMIST, UK) in December 2004. He is the MOSTE 1994 National Young Scientist Award winner in recognition of his research in Quantum Optics.
Ts. Dr. Haslina Md Sarkan
Title: Managing Innovation with Purpose
Ts. Dr. Haslina Md Sarkan is a researcher with nearly three decades of experience in academic and applied computing. Her work focuses on developing practical, responsible technologies through collaboration with cross-sector partners.
Prof. Dr. Teddy Mantoro
Title: Paradigm Shift Driven by Generative AI: From Prediction to Creation
Teddy Mantoro is a Professor of Computer Science (1050) at Nusa Putra University, Jakarta, Indonesia. His research interest is in the areas of Artificial Intelligence, Information Security, Wireless Sensor Networks, and Intelligent Environment.