BOARD OF GOVERNORS
DATIN PADUKA SETIA DATO’ PROF DR AINI IDERIS
DATIN PADUKA SETIA DATO’ PROF DR AINI IDERIS
PhD, SSIS, SPMK, DSIS, KMN, DVM, MVSc,, FASc, FIAS, FMCVS, FTWAS, FMSA, FMIM, SSIS, DPMK, DSIS, PSK, KMN
Biography
Datin Paduka Setia Dato' Prof Dr Aini is a distinguished scientist and a pioneering figure in avian medicine, renowned for her exceptional contributions to poultry health both nationally and internationally. Her groundbreaking work includes the successful development and commercialization of crucial poultry vaccines, such as the heat-stable Newcastle disease vaccine (V4UPM) and Fowl pox vaccine, playing a vital role in advancing efforts towards food security and sustainable food production in developing countries. Her leadership extends to various committees at the Ministry of Higher Education, Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, and Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry. She has held key positions in academic institutions, serving as the Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) from 2016 to 2020, where she made significant contributions to education and research.
Her extensive list of accolades includes Fellowships from prestigious organizations, such as the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, the Islamic World Academy of Sciences, and The World Academy of Sciences. Datin Paduka Setia Dato' Dr Aini has received numerous awards for her outstanding achievements, including the National Academic Award and the Top Research Scientists Malaysia. In addition to her academic and scientific endeavors, she actively engages in leadership roles within various organizations and boards, contributing to the advancement of education, research, and agricultural sciences. As the Pro-Chancellor of the International Medical University, she continues to make a lasting impact on higher education and healthcare.
With a wealth of experience in avian medicine, administration, and academia, Datin Paduka Setia Dato’ Dr Aini Ideris remains a prominent figure in the scientific community, recognized for her dedication to poultry health, education, and research.
DATO’ DR. HAFSAH HASHIM
Biography
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.
PROF. DATO' DR. MUHAMAD MUDA
Biography
Prof. Dato’ Dr. Muhamad Muda was born on 16 November 1955 in Kuantan, Pahang. He holds a Ph.D. in Banking and Finance from the University of Manchester, United Kingdom (1993), an MBA (1984) from the University of Cincinnati, a BBA (1979) from Ohio University, and a Diploma in Banking from UiTM (1977). With over 30 years of experience in higher education, his academic journey began at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) in 1983, followed by Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) in 2001 until August 2016, and subsequently at Universiti Islam Malaysia (UIM) from September 2016 onwards.
At USIM, Prof. Dato’ Dr. Muhamad Muda began his service as the founding Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Muamalat from 2001 to 2007, playing a key role in its establishment. He was then appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International) until 31 November 2009, and later served as USIM’s second Vice-Chancellor, succeeding YBhg. Prof. Emeritus Tan Sri Dato’ Dr. Haji Abdul Shukor bin Haji Husin, from December 2009 to November 2012.
As Vice-Chancellor, his vision was to position USIM as a knowledge-driven institution that nurtures holistic graduates, capable of leading in various sectors and excelling globally. He upheld the philosophy: “We are a human development institution; we educate students and mould them into a noble human resource for the next generation of leaders.”
Today, his wealth of experience and insights are highly valued at UIM, where he continues to contribute to the development of an excellent, knowledge-based society. His leadership aligns with UIM’s vision of integrating knowledge and wisdom to produce balanced scholars and forward-thinking intellectuals.
DATO’ DR. NORHASNI BINTI ZAINAL ABIDIN
Biography
Prof. Dato’ Dr. Norhasni binti Zainal Abidin is a prominent academician and administrator at Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM), where she currently serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic & International) and concurrently holds the portfolio for Development & Academic Quality. She is also a senior professor at the Faculty of Defence Studies and Management, contributing significantly to UPNM’s growth in academic governance, international collaboration, and quality assurance. With years of experience in higher education leadership, she has played an instrumental role in enhancing the academic integrity and global positioning of UPNM. She has also been entrusted with national-level responsibilities, including her appointment as the Chair of the National Youth Excellence Awards Panel 2022 by the Ministry of Finance.
Prof. Dato’ Dr. Norhasni holds deep expertise in Human Resource Development, with a strong focus on the integration of leadership, education, and competency development. Her academic contributions span various fields of research, including youth development, professional education, and institutional transformation. Her work has been widely published, and she is actively involved in national and international research projects. Her leadership is guided by a commitment to nurturing talents who are intellectually grounded, morally upright, and ready to lead in both civilian and defence sectors. She is known for her strategic thinking, strong advocacy for academic excellence, and unwavering support for student and faculty development.
In her academic capacity, she is also responsible for enhancing curriculum innovation, improving academic delivery systems, and strengthening the university’s ties with global partners. As an educator and researcher, she has supervised numerous postgraduate students and contributed scholarly articles in Scopus-indexed journals. Her office is located at the Faculty of Defence Studies & Management, Lestari Building, UPNM, Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur. She can be reached via email at norhasni@upnm.edu.my or through her office line at +603-9051 3400.
PROF. DR. WAN MOHD AZIZI WAN SULAIMAN
Biography
Prof. Dr. Wan Mohd Azizi bin Wan Sulaiman holds a Medical Doctorate from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), a Master’s in Herbal Medicine from the University of Sydney, and a PhD in Pharmacology from the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). He currently serves as the Vice Chancellor of University College of MAIWP International (UCMI), formerly known as PICOMS, an institution established in 1993 under the patronage of the Majlis Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan (MAIWP) and His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. UCMI was founded with a vision to provide educational opportunities for the B40 community, supported by zakat and endowed as a waqf-based institution.
Before assuming his leadership role at UCMI, Prof. Dr. Wan Mohd Azizi served as an academic and researcher at the Kulliyyah of Pharmacy, IIUM. His research expertise lies in natural product development with a focus on diabetes mellitus, wound care, and cancer. Notably, he pioneered the introduction of Maggot Therapy for Diabetic Foot Ulcer treatment in Malaysia. He has secured numerous research grants from government bodies and private sectors, including MOSTI, MOHE, BiotechCorp, MARDI, and various industry partners. He has held key consultancy roles, such as Head of Research for the Herbal Development Office (HDO) under the Ministry of Agriculture’s National Key Economic Area (NKEA), and Head of Commercialisation at the Integrated Care for Research Animal and Use (ICRACU), IIUM. His efforts contributed to promoting OECD-compliant animal research and advancing Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) accreditation, including the management of the zebrafish laboratory for toxicology and drug discovery.
Prof. Dr. Wan Mohd Azizi also served as the Head of INHART Kuantan (Halal Research Institute), where he led initiatives on Halal Pharmacy and contributed to the development of MS 2424: Halal Pharmaceutical Standards for Malaysia. He has played a pivotal role in Traditional and Complementary Medicine (T&CM), including the establishment of the T&CM Unit in IIUM, the promotion of Unani medicine through a strategic MoU with Aligarh Muslim University (India), and the implementation of Maggot Therapy in public healthcare. As a medical consultant to Azwa Pharma Sdn. Bhd., he has successfully registered six Ayurvedic products with the NPRA, collaborating with East India Technologies Pvt. Ltd. Additionally, he founded the Malaysian Medical Hemp Society, advocating responsible medical cannabis research through global networks in Thailand, Indonesia, Korea, Australia, and the Netherlands. At UCMI, he has forged multiple partnerships with traditional medicine industries, developed accredited programs such as the Diploma in Traditional Malay Medicine and other skill-based diplomas, and contributed to national standards under NOSS, including initiatives in Islamic medicine, Malay manuscript research, music therapy, and holistic healing practices.