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.