Dr. Afiq Durrani bin Mohd Fahmi is a Senior Lecturer, Marine Microbiologist, Ocean Literacy Expert, and Science Communicator from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) and holds a Ph.D from Heriot Watt University. He is also the founder of Sustainable Ocean Alliance Malaysia, working closely with youths and community. Through initiatives such as Blue School Malaysia, he and his team has engaged schools and coastal communities in hands-on learning and marine exhibitions, gaining national recognition for their approach.

Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) is a public university based in Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia. UMT was founded in 2001, centering on providing quality education in diverse fields and with a strong focus on environmental studies, marine sciences and other related disciplines. In 2025, UMT officially launched Phase 3 of the Guardian of the Reefs campaign which is a a national initiative to restore coral reefs in Malaysia.