Prof. Dato’ Sr. Dr. Omar Osman was born in Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang, and has built a distinguished career as an academician, quantity surveyor, and university leader. He began his education at Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan Sungai Setar before continuing to the Penang Free School. He obtained a Diploma in Quantity Surveying from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in 1981, a Bachelor of Science (Hons.) in Quantity Surveying from the Polytechnic of Wales (now the University of Glamorgan) in 1984, and later pursued postgraduate studies at Heriot-Watt University, United Kingdom, where he completed his Master of Science in Construction Management in 1985 and his Ph.D. in Project Management in 1989.

He began his academic career at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) in 1989, serving at the School of Housing, Building and Planning (HBP). His dedication and leadership saw him rise through various administrative positions, including Director of the Corporate and Sustainable Development Division (2005–2007) and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs and Development) in 2007. On 28 September 2011, he was appointed as the Vice-Chancellor of USM, leading the university through its Apex University phase with a focus on sustainability, innovation, and global competitiveness. Under his leadership, USM strengthened its commitment to human capital development and institutional sustainability through strategic initiatives such as the Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE) Penang on Education for Sustainable Development.

Throughout his more than three decades in academia, Prof. Dato’ Sr. Dr. Omar Osman has contributed significantly to project management, quantity surveying, and sustainable education. His thought leadership has influenced policies in higher education and sustainable institutional governance, earning him national recognition. Among the honors he has received are the Bintang Cemerlang Negeri (BCN) from the Penang State Government (2009) and the Darjah Dato’ Setia Paduka Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin (DSPJ) from Perlis (2010). His lifelong commitment to education and sustainability continues to inspire a generation of scholars and leaders in Malaysia and beyond.

Dato’ Dr. Hafsah Hashim is a highly respected figure in Malaysia’s public service and corporate leadership landscape, renowned for her decades-long contribution to the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and women entrepreneurship. She holds a Bachelor of Applied Science from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), an MBA from Aston University in the United Kingdom, and an Honorary Doctorate in Management and Entrepreneurship from Universiti Tenaga Nasional. She also holds an Honorary Fellowship from the ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organisations. Her early career saw her in various roles across several key ministries, including the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ministry of Primary Industries. These roles laid the foundation for her extensive experience in policy formulation, trade facilitation, industrial development, and entrepreneurship promotion.

Dato’ Dr. Hafsah served as the Chief Executive Officer of SME Corporation Malaysia for 14 years, where she led the development and execution of the SME Masterplan, the national strategic blueprint to guide SME growth up to the year 2020. Her leadership saw the introduction of impactful programs and reforms aimed at enhancing competitiveness, innovation, and market access for Malaysian SMEs. She also played a key role in promoting women entrepreneurship through national and international initiatives, including OIC training programs, international study missions, and the publication of a comprehensive directory of women entrepreneurs. Her efforts have led to strengthened SME linkages with countries such as Thailand, South Korea, Turkey, and India. Beyond her public service role, she has also served on various high-level advisory councils and technical committees on halal standards, technical and vocational education, branding, and regulatory reform.

Currently, Dato’ Dr. Hafsah continues to contribute to Malaysia’s socioeconomic development through leadership roles in the corporate sector and academia. She is the Non-Executive Independent Chairman of Pharmaniaga Berhad, Malaysia’s largest pharmaceutical logistics and manufacturing group, where she brings her deep public policy insight to the healthcare industry. She also serves as the Chairman of USAINS Holding, the commercial arm of USM, where she leads efforts in research commercialization and university-industry collaboration. In recognition of her vast contributions, she has received multiple national honours, including the Darjah Setia Pangkuan Negeri (which carries the title “Dato’”), the Ahli Mangku Negara (AMN), and multiple excellence service awards. Dato’ Dr. Hafsah remains a strong advocate for women in leadership, often emphasizing the importance of discipline, integrity, and good governance in both public and private sectors. Her legacy continues to inspire future generations of leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers across Malaysia.