TEDxHELP University

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Dr. Anna Krasilnikova

  Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Antiviral Drug Researcher

  Dr. Anna Krasilnikova, an Associate Professor of Pharmacology at the International Medical University (IMU), holds an MBBS, MD, and Ph.D. in Clinical Pharmacology from Volgograd State Medical Academy, Russia. She began her academic career as an Assistant Professor and served as Director of the Regional Center for Drug Safety Monitoring in Volgograd. From 2010 to 2023, she was an Associate Professor at Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. Her research spans antiviral and antibacterial drug development, ocular pharmacology, and pharmacovigilance, with a focus on new antiviral drugs for Dengue and Chikungunya. Author of over 30 publications, she has presented her work globally. A recipient of the Pavlov’s Scholarship and Honour Pin in Bronze from the International Academy of Science H&E, she is a life member of the Malaysian Society of Pharmacology and Physiology.

• Dr. Benjamin Loh

  Senior Lecturer, Media Scholar, and Digital Ethnography Researcher

  Benjamin Yew Hoong Loh is a senior lecturer at the School of Media and Communication, the Director of the Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions Impact Lab at Taylor’s University and a Visiting Fellow at the ISEAS Yusof-Ishak Institute. He is a media scholar who employs digital ethnography in studying emergent cultures and issues affecting the digital public sphere. Using his research, he has a strong focus on public engagement through his many op-ed publications in Malaysiakini, Nikkei Asia Review, South China Morning Post, Free Malaysia Today, Malay Mail and the Vibes. He regularly speaks about media issues on BFM and Astro Awani. His published works include co-edited books “Sabah from the Ground: The 2020 Elections and the Politics of Survival” (ISEAS/SIRD 2021) with Bridget Welsh and Vilashini Somiah, and “New Media in the Margins: Lived Realities and Experiences from the Malaysian Peripheries” (Palgrave 2023) with James Chin.

• Dr. Nicole Chen

  Clinical Director & Licensed Family and Couples Therapist

  Dr. Nicole Chen is a licensed counsellor with over 23 years of experience and the founder and Clinical Director of Heal Systemic Therapy Centre. Specializing in Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy and Multigenerational Family Therapy, she has dedicated the past 11 years to supporting couples and families. Previously an Associate Professor with 15+ years of teaching experience, Dr. Nicole has published several journal articles and presented at national and international conferences. She has also served as a research paper reviewer for psychology and qualitative studies and was a committee member of the Qualitative Research Association of Malaysia (QRAM) from 2018 to 2020. An active board member of the Malaysian Marriage and Family Therapy Association (MyMFT), Dr. Nicole served as President from 2021–2023 and was reappointed for 2023–2025.

• Dr. Normasita Sidek

  Sectoral Specialist for BNPL at the Consumer Credit Oversight Board Task Force

  With a wealth of experience spanning 23 years working at Bank Negara Malaysia, Dr.Normasita Sidek has managed the complexities of policy, strategy, and market growth in shaping the landscape of e-payments, currency and consumer credit in the country. She is currently the sectoral specialist for BNPL at the Consumer Credit Oversight Board Task Force.

• Dr. Syafiqah Rahamat

  Senior Lecturer in Dietetics and Foodservice Management Researcher

  Dr. Syafiqah Rahamat is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Dietetics at Universiti Putra Malaysia. Holding a PhD in Hospitality Management, her research focuses on foodservice management, particularly in the areas of menu labeling and consumer behavior. Dr. Syafiqah's work has been published in reputable journals, and she currently serves as Principal Investigator for a funded research on menu labeling using eye-tracking technology to enhance foodservice consumers' decision-making process. Additionally, she is a co-investigator on a research project funded by the Ministry of Health Malaysia, examining menu labeling from the foodservice industry perspective.

• Zara Phang

  Sustainable Economy Lead at WWF-Malaysia and Climate Advocacy Specialist

  Zara Phang is WWF-Malaysia’s Sustainable Economy Lead and has been with WWF-Malaysia for 9 years, providing content, research, analysis and insights on relevant issues to effectively communicate and support advocacy work on Sustainable Economy. She is co-Chair of the board for the Climate Action Network South-East Asia and is a lead author on the IPBES Regional Assessment report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for Asia and the Pacific.