Asst. Prof. Ts. Dr. Irina Safitri Zen is a sustainability and climate change researcher with over 20 years of experience, specialising in the intersection of ecological conservation and indigenous knowledge. Her work focuses on Sabah’s Tagal system, a traditional community-based fisheries management practice in the Crocker Range Biosphere Reserve, which she is supporting for UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage recognition. She has conducted research, stakeholder workshops, and field engagements with local communities and Sabah Parks, contributing to sustainability science capacity building and advancing understanding of Tagal’s role in biodiversity conservation and livelihoods.

International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) is a research-driven public university in Malaysia focusing on the ”Islamisation of Knowledge,” which means they teach standard modern sciences, law, and humanities while incorporating ethical, moral, and Islamic perspectives. IIUM focuses on global research in sustainable engineering, community and biotechnology. In mid-2026, IIUM signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Enggang Management Services which encourages university research and boots-on-the-ground resources to protect critical habitats of highly endangered species, specifically focusing on the Malayan Tiger.