Distinguished Speakers
Plenary Forum
Prof. Dr. Toshihiro Miyao
Zero Emission MIRAI Research Center & Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Nanomaterials Center, University of Yamanashi, Japan.
Biodata
Toshihiro Miyao is Professor at the Clean Energy Research Center, University of Yamanashi, Japan. He also serves as Vice Director of the Global Research Institute for Energy and Environmental Neutrality (GR/EEN) and Director of the Zero Emission MIRAI Research Center. He received his B.Eng., M.Eng., and Dr. Eng. degrees in Engineering from Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology.
Before joining academia, Prof. Miyao worked at Asahi Glass Co., Ltd. and Nissan Chemical Industries, where he conducted research and development on advanced functional materials. He joined Kanagawa University as an Assistant Professor in 1998 and moved to the University of Yamanashi in 2008 as a Specially Appointed Associate Professor. After serving as Specially Appointed Professor, he was appointed Professor in 2024.
His research focuses on heterogeneous catalysis and nanostructured materials for sustainable energy technologies. His major research areas include electrocatalysts for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), hydrogen production, ordered mesoporous carbon materials, catalyst design for fuel synthesis and reforming, and reaction mechanisms on supported metal catalysts. More recently, his research has expanded to the catalytic conversion and utilization of biomass resources for the production of sustainable fuels and chemicals. He is currently leading international collaborative research on advanced catalyst materials for hydrogen and carbon recycling technologies.
Prof. Miyao has authored 84 peer-reviewed journal papers, presented more than 250 papers at international and domestic conferences, and is an inventor of 24 patents. He has conducted extensive collaborative research with universities, research institutes, and industrial partners in Japan and abroad, particularly in the fields of hydrogen energy, fuel cells, biomass utilization, and sustainable catalysis.
He also serves as Education Chair of the newly established Clean Energy Chemistry Course in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Yamanashi, where he leads educational activities and is actively involved in the education and supervision of undergraduate and graduate students.
Prof. Miyao is a member of the Catalysis Society of Japan, the Chemical Society of Japan, the Japan Petroleum Institute, the American Chemical Society (ACS), and The Electrochemical Society (ECS).
Dr. Ng Sing Muk
Head of Research and Development, Sarawak Energy Berhad, Malaysia.
Biodata
Dr. Ng serves as the Head of Research and Development at Sarawak Energy. Sarawak Energy headquartered in Kuching, is Malaysia’s largest renewable energy developer and the main electricity provider for the State of Sarawak, serving nearly 3 million people. With over a century of experience, its energy mix is led by hydropower and supported by indigenous gas and coal. The company is also advancing regional energy integration through cross-border interconnection projects. He holds a doctoral degree in Instrumentation and Analytical Science and oversees the company’s innovation initiatives in clean energy exploration, energy management, small grid solutions, environmental sciences, and autonomous and robotic technology. Previously, he was Executive Director at the School of Research, Swinburne University of Technology. His technical research encompasses sensors, instrumentation and remote monitoring, including the development of sensing materials, nanomaterials, portable sensor devices, and new applications for arrays of sensing signals. In addition to his technical work, he works on transferring research into practical use and guiding organizations in innovation and strategy during periods of technological change. His current activities involve advancing technology to support energy transition efforts. He also focuses on promoting an innovative ecosystem within the utility sector, addressing governance and compliance issues associated with uncertain work environments, and ensuring all projects meet regulatory and ethical standards.
Ts. Dr. Mohd Nur Ikhmal bin Salehmin
National Nanotechnology Centre (NNC), Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), Malaysia.
Biodata
Ts. Dr. Mohd Nur Ikhmal bin Salehmin is Principal Assistant Director at Malaysia’s National Nanotechnology Centre (NNC), under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI). He earned his Ph.D. in Hydrogen Energy from Fuel Cell Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) in 2018. His expertise spans hydrogen energy, bioenergy, electrolyzer technology and nanotechnology applied to clean energy.
Ts. Dr. Mohd Nur Ikhmal Salehmin is an active researcher and academic specializing in hydrogen energy, waste-to-energy applications, electrochemical systems, and nanotechnology. He has established a significant scholarly record with over 1,600 citations, an h-index of 19, and an i10-index of 26, demonstrating the significant impact of his work within the international scientific community.
At NNC, Dr. Ikhmal coordinates and oversees the implementation of key initiatives under Malaysia’s National Hydrogen Economy and Technology Roadmap (HETR), collaborating with stakeholders across the hydrogen value chain to advance governance, economic instruments, innovation, talent development, and awareness. He also serves as the Secretariat to the HETR Steering Committee, supporting the coordination and monitoring of the roadmap’s action plans across three strategic clusters: hydrogen production and conversion; transportation and storage; and end-use applications and market development.
Dr. Ikhmal’s experience in hydrogen technology, renewable energy, and sustainable innovation enables him to contribute valuable perspectives to discussions on Malaysia’s hydrogen economy and technology development. Supported by his academic background, professional technologist credentials, and involvement in national hydrogen-related initiatives, he brings both research and practical insights to the field. As a panelist, he is expected to emphasize how research-driven innovations can deliver actionable solutions in energy and environment policy.
Prof Ir. Dr. Siti Kartom Kamarudin (Moderator)
Director, Fuel Cell Institute (SELFUEL), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Malaysia.
Biodata
Plenary Speakers
Prof. Dr. Eng Eniya Listiani Dewi
Director General of New, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Indonesia.
Biodata
Prof. Dr.-Eng. Eniya Listiani Dewi, B.Eng., M.Eng., IPU is one of Indonesia’s foremost figures in advancing clean energy technologies and the transformation of the national energy system. Born in Magelang, Indonesia, on 14 June 1974, she currently serves as the Director General of New, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of the Republic of Indonesia. In this capacity, she is primarily responsible for formulating and implementing policies related to the development, regulation, supervision, and oversight of new and renewable energy, as well as energy conservation initiatives.
Prof. Eniya completed her entire higher education at Waseda University, Japan, where she obtained her Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees in Applied Chemistry. Her master’s studies focused on Industrial Chemistry, while her doctoral research specialized in Polymer Engineering. In both the professional and research spheres, Prof. Eniya is widely recognized as a driving force behind the advancement of emerging energy technologies, particularly in the fields of hydrogen, fuel cells, and clean energy systems. Throughout her career, she has held several prominent leadership positions, including serving as Chairperson of the Indonesian Polymer Association (HPI), leading the Institute for the Democratization of Science and Technology at The Habibie Centre, and founding and serving as President of the Indonesia Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association (IFHE). These roles reflect her longstanding commitment to fostering an integrated ecosystem that connects research, industry, and public policy in support of a science- and innovation-driven energy transition. Her dedication and leadership have received recognition at both national and international levels. Among the distinctions she has received are the The Habibie Award in Engineering and Technology (2010), the 8 Inspiring Women Indonesia Award (2012), the Habibie Technology Award (2018), the General Electric Inspiring Woman in STEM Award (2018), and the Liputan 6 Energy Award for Orchestrating Science and Energy Transition Policy (2025), in addition to more than thirty other awards and honors. These achievements further reinforce her reputation as one of Indonesia’s leading figures in advancing energy technology and promoting scientific dan technological development.
Prof. Emeritus Dato’ Ir. Dr. Wan Ramli Wan Daud
Professor Emeritus, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
Biodata
Prof. Dato’ Ir. Dr. Wan Ramli Wan Daud is Emeritus Professor (2024-) at Department of Chemical & Process Engineering (DCPE), Faculty of Engineering & Built Environment (FEBE), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).
Career: He began his career at UKM as a Tutor (1979-1984), lecturer at Department of Chemical Technology, Faculty of Applied Physical Sciences (1984-1986) and then at DCPE, Faculty of Engineering (FE) (1984-1989), and Associate Professor at DCPE, FEBE, UKM (1989-1995). He was Head of DCPE (1985-1988), Deputy Dean, FE, UKM (1990–1993), then FEBE, UKM (1995–1998) He was elevated to full Professor of Chemical Engineering at DCPE, FEBE, UKM (1996-2021), Principal Research Fellow at the Fuel Cell Institute (Selfuel), UKM (2007-2021), Founding Director of Sel Fuel, UKM (2007-2014), UKM-Petronas Professor of Sustainable Hydrogen Energy UKM (2019- 2021), Principal Research Fellow, University of Malaya (2022-2024),
Education: BEng (First Class Hons.) in chemical engineering from University of Monash, Victoria, Australia (1978) and PhD in chemical engineering from University of Cambridge, United Kingdom (1984).
Professional Affiliations: Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (2012-), Fellow of The World Academy of Sciences (2022-), Fellow of The Institution of Chemical Engineers (2007-), Founding President of the Malaysian Association of Hydrogen Energy (MAHE) (2018-2024), Professional Engineer with Practicing Certificate (PEPC) (1997-) and Chartered Chemical Engineer (CEng) (2007-). He advocates hydrogen economy and led development of the Roadmap of Hydrogen Energy and Fuel Cells Malaysia 2006 and Malaysia’s Hydrogen Economy and Technology Roadmap HETR 2023.
National Awards: Won prestigious Merdeka Award 2016, the top Malaysia’s science award.
International Awards: World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds. World’s, top 1% scientists and Highly Cited Researcher 2015-2021 and World’s top 2% Scientist 2019-2025. Won Award for Excellence in Research in Drying of Agricultural Products and the Outstanding Contribution to the Development of Drying Technology 2011, Outstanding Contribution to the Drying Community Award 2009, IChemE Highly Commended Shell Energy Award 2008 and ASEAN Energy Award 2007.
Main Research Areas: green hydrogen energy from water splitting in photoelectrochemical cell (PEC), proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) and microbial electrolysis cell (MEC); proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC), solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), microbial fuel cells (MFC) and direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC); solar, spray, drum, steam, microwave and fluidized bed drying; and history and philosophy of Malay & Islamic technology.
Intellectual Property: Granted 30 patents and 1 Trademark.
Publications: Published 432 articles in international journals, 402 articles in proceedings of international conferences and 235 articles in proceedings of national conferences. Up to 7 October 2025, he is cited in WOS 17,098 times with H-index 66; SCOPUS 19,628 times with H-index 72, and Google Scholar 26,332 times with H-index 81.
International Keynotes: Invited to present 62 international plenary keynote and 10 invited papers on hydrogen energy, fuel cells and drying technology in China, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand. National Keynotes: Invited to present 30 national plenary keynote papers.
Ir. Tengku Kahar Muzaffar Tengku Mohd Yusof Anuar
NanoMalaysia Berhad, Malaysia.
Biodata
Ir. Tengku Kahar was appointed as Vice President, Strategy in January 2024. He is an active member involved in leading various consortium and associations that NMB was involved in such as the Swappable Battery System Consortium, ASEAN Battery Network, Malaysia Nanotechnology Industrial Group (MNIG), and Malaysia Hydrogen Industry Alliance (MHIA). He also initiated new battery development training programmes for the Hydrogen – EV – Battery Centre (HEBATT) to fulfil its role as a Centre of Excellence. Prior, he held the position of Vice President of Special Projects Office. Under his care, a number of major R&D project works were completed involving hydrogen technologies and EV’s especially related to energy storage. He led the development of a white paper to convert ICE to EV that was approved by the Government in 2023 for JPJ and MOT to adopt. Prior to joining NMB, he was with the Ministry of Transport in the Strategic Planning and International Division, transferred after the dissolution of the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) in 2018.
Prof. Dr. Junji Inukai
Clean Energy Research Center, University of Yamanashi, Japan.
Biodata
Professor Junji Inukai is a Professor of Clean Energy Research Center and Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Nanomaterial Center at the University of Yamanashi, Japan. He received his PhD degree from the University of Tokyo in 1992. Now he is a full professor at the University of Yamanashi. His research focuses on Materials Analysis of and System Diagnosis for polymer electrolyte fuel cells. He commercialized two analytical apparatus collaborating with SHIMADZU Corp.
Over the course of his career, Professor Junji has published extensively in the fields of Surface Electrochemistry, Analytical Chemistry, and especially Fuel Cell and has led numerous nationally and internationally funded research projects, including on-going NEXUS joint-project with UKM. He has served on various academic and professional committees and has contributed significantly to the advancement of the bonds between academia and industry in Japan. He contributes to the educational relationship between ASEAN countries and Japan. He invites more than 10 students and interns from south Asian countries every year for research and training, mainly from Malaysia. The three Graduate students are Malaysians, too.
Professor Junji has received several prestigious awards in recognition of his contributions to research and education, which includes Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan for “Study on Innovative Polymer Membranes to Be Applied for New-Generation Fuel Cells”. He is a frequently invited speaker at international conferences and continues to actively collaborate with researchers and industries worldwide.
Dr. Mahendra Roa Somalu
Senior Principal Scientist, Lynas Rare Earth Ltds Malaysia, Malaysia.
Biodata
Dr. Mahendra Rao Somalu is currently a Senior Principal Scientist at Lynas Rare Earths Ltd located in Kuantan, Malaysia. He is a material science and clean-energy R&D leader with a strong foundation built over 17 years in academia before moving into industry. As an Associate Professor in academia, he specialized in solid oxide fuel cells, electrolyzers, nanomaterials, battery materials, gasification, ink-paste system and hydrogen production. During this time, he supervised more than 20 PhD researchers and led multiple high-impact projects focused on advanced materials and sustainable energy. He was awarded the PhD degree from the Imperial College London in 2012 and succesfully established SOFC/SOEC lab with various facilities in UKM. He has received several awards, including the Best Researcher Award in 6th Edition of International Research Awards in New Science Inventions (NESIN Award 2023). He also received the Article of the Year 2021 Award from the Hindawi for Journal Entitled “Structural and Electrochemical Properties of Lanthanum Silicate Apatites La10Si6-x-0.2AlxZn0.2O27- for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs)” published in the International Journal of Chemical Engineering. He was awarded the Gold Award in the 4th International Malaysia-Indonesia-Thailand Symposium on Innovation and Creativity 2021 (SIC 2021), UKM’s Honourable Research Award 2018 etc. He has published more than 150 scientific articles in various high-impact journals, 4 scientific books, and hold 3 patents. He has been invited as a keynote speaker, invited speaker, and scientific committee chair in various national and international conferences. In industry as a role of Senior Principal Scientist at Lynas Rare Earths Ltd., he now leads strategic materials innovation & process development, guiding multidisciplinary teams to develop, optimize, and scale advanced materials and catalysts for the applications of fuel cells, electrolyzers, gasification, ammonia cracking, battery systems including end-of-life recycling. He provides scientific leadership in defining research direction, ensuring alignment with product performance, safety standards, and commercial goals. His role also includes managing research and innovation lab operation, mentoring engineers and scientists in product and process development, and fostering collaborative, high-performance research culture. He remains actively engaged in the global scientific community, representing his organization at international conferences, scientific committees and maintaining strong academic and industry networks to stay at the forefront of emerging materials and clean-energy technologies.
Ir. Ts. Mohd Yusri Mohamed Yusof
Senior Vice President, Projects, Engineering & Technology PETRONAS / Adjunct Professor, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia.
Biodata
Ir. Ts. Mohd Yusri Mohamed Yusof is the Senior Vice President of Projects, Engineering & Technology at PETRONAS, where he leads PETRONAS’ centre of excellence for project delivery, engineering, technology and digital. In this role, he oversees the integration of technical expertise, innovative solutions and disciplined governance to support safe, reliable and value-driven delivery across the Group.
With over 36 years of experience in the energy industry, Ir. Ts. Yusri has held various senior leadership roles across PETRONAS. Prior to his current role, he served, among others, as Senior Vice President of Chemical Business and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of PETRONAS Chemicals Group Berhad, and Vice President of Refining & Trading.
Ir. Ts. Yusri brings deep industry experience spanning operations, project delivery, technology deployment, business leadership and enterprise transformation. His leadership continues to support PETRONAS’ efforts in strengthening engineering excellence, accelerating digital and technology adoption, and advancing practical pathways for the energy transition.
Keynote Speakers
Prof. Dr. Eng. Nobuyoshi Nakagawa
Graduate School of Science and Technology, Gunma University, Japan.
Biodata
Professor Nobuyoshi Nakagawa completed his doctoral studies at the Tokyo Institute of Technology in 1989, earning a Doctor of Engineering degree. His doctoral dissertation focused on solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) employing stabilized zirconia electrolytes.
After serving as an Assistant Professor at the Research Laboratory of Resources Utilization, Tokyo Institute of Technology, he joined the Department of Biochemical and Chemical Engineering at Gunma University, where he was promoted to Associate Professor and later appointed Professor in 2006.
Since joining Gunma University, his research interests have broadened to include proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) and direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). His work has focused on the relationship between electrode structure and cell performance, where electrochemical reaction fields and mass transport phenomena are closely coupled, as well as on the development of electrode catalysts and electrolyte membranes for high-performance fuel cells. His research is characterized by the design and development of advanced fuel cell systems from a chemical engineering perspective. His achievements have been published in approximately 200 papers in international peer-reviewed journals. He has also deepened his ties with the Fuel Cell Institute of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia since 2009. From 2021 to 2022, he served as Chair of the Energy Division of the Society of Chemical Engineers, Japan, and was elected Fellow of the Society in 2022. He has also served as Associate Editor of Carbon Resources Conversion since 2018.
Prof Dr. Rasyikah Md. Khalid
Dean, Faculty of Law, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Malaysia.
Biodata
Professor Dr. Rasyikah Md Khalid is the Dean of the Faculty of Law at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and a Distinguished Fellow of the Fuel Cell Institute, UKM. She was appointed by the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia as Chairman of the Law Deans’ Council. She holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B Hons) from the University of Sheffield, United Kingdom, a Master of Laws (LL.M) from Universiti Malaya, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Law from UKM. In 2012, she completed postgraduate studies in Building Resilience to Climate Change (BRCC) at the United Nations University (UNU), Tokyo. She was also a visiting researcher at the UNESCO Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science, University of Dundee, Scotland, and was selected as a Young Scholar at the Asian Law Institute, National University of Singapore (NUS) in 2013. Professor Dr. Rasyikah is a certified mediator with the Malaysian Mediation Centre and has served as a consultant to federal and state agencies, the World Bank Group, and various media organisations on legal and environmental matters. She is an active member of the International Water Association (IWA) and the International Sustainable Development Research Society (ISDRS), where she served as a Board Member from 2021 to 2024. She has been widely invited to speak at both national and international seminars and has published extensively with reputable local and international publishers. Her teaching and research interests include water law, energy law, heritage law, federalism, human rights, environmental governance, climate change, and sustainable development. In addition, she is actively engaged in organising environmental awareness programmes for schools, community leaders, and government officials nationwide.
Prof. Dr. Yun Hau Ng
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia.
Biodata
Yun Hau Ng received his Ph.D. from Osaka University in 2009. Prior to his current position at KAUST, he was a tenured faculty member at UNSW Australia (2009-2018) and City University of Hong Kong (2018-2024). He was the director of Low-Carbon and Climate Impact Research Centre at City University of Hong Kong. His research focuses on solar energy conversion, particularly photocatalysis and photoelectrochemical system for chemicals/fuels production. He currently serves as an associate editor for Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry and Sustainable Materials and Technologies.
Prof. Dr. Mohammad Ali Abdelkareem
Sustainable and Renewable Energy Engineering Department, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE.
Biodata
Professor Mohammad Ali Abdelkareem is a distinguished global researcher and academic leader in Sustainable Energy. He specializes in Fuel Cells, Green Hydrogen production, and Advanced Electrochemical Energy Storage. As a testament to his significant international impact, he has been designated a Highly Cited Researcher (Clarivate 2023) and consistently ranked among Stanford University’s Top 2% of Scientists worldwide since 2019. He is also ranked 111th globally in the Energy field. Professor Abdelkareem earned his PhD from Gunma University, Japan, where he pioneered novel fuel cell designs. His current, highly applied research focuses on developing innovative standalone electrodes for fuel cells, supercapacitors, and redox flow batteries, as well as the AI-driven optimization of integrated energy systems. He has secured over $3 million in research funding and holds five granted US patents in energy technologies. His academic and research leadership has been recognized with the prestigious 2024 Khalifa Award for Education (Distinguished University Professor) and the 2025 Abdul Hameed Shoman Arab Researchers Award for Alternative and Renewable Energy Storage Technologies.
Prof. Dr. Sammy Lap Ip Chan
National Central University (NCU) & Honorary Professor at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia.
Biodata
Professor Sammy Chan is presently a chair professor at the National Central University (NCU), Taiwan, and an honorary professor at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia. Prof Chan started his career in Materials Engineering in England, where he received an Honours BSc(Eng) degree in Metallurgy from Imperial College, and a PhD from the University of Cambridge. He held professorial positions at different universities, including National Taiwan University in Taiwan and UNSW, Sydney, Australia. Chan’s expertise lies in the areas of materials design and energy materials. Chan has received numerous research and teaching awards, and is an Academician of the Asia Pacific Academy of Materials. He is also Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (UK), Australian Institute of Energy and Materials Research Society (Taiwan). Chan serves as a Discipline Expert (Materials Science) for Engineers Australia. Chan has been listed among the top 2% of the Stanford University World’s Ranking of all researchers (Career) and yearly since 2021, Professor Chan is a co-editor-in-chief of Materials Chemistry and Physics (Publisher: Elsevier; Journal Impactor Factor = 4.7) and the founding editor-in-chief of MCP Sustainability and Energy, also by Elsevier.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chiu Wee Siong
Department of Physics, University Malaya, Malaysia.
Biodata
Dr. Chiu Wee Siong is currently an Associate Prof. at Department of Physics in University Malaya. He received both of his Bachelor of Science (Nuclear Science) and Master of Science (major in Materials Science) in UKM. Thereafter, he enrolled his Ph.D. degree in Chemical Engineering at University of Nottingham. His research interests cover the aspects of synthesis and characterization of solid-state nanostructural materials, which consisted of oxide- and 2D-based semiconductor and magnetic-nanomaterials, graphene nanocomposite, novel metal nanoparticles as well as photocatalyst nanocomposite. His current research work mainly focuses on the design of value-added nanostructural photocatalyst materials for photoelectrochemical application in producing hydrogen gas through water splitting reaction. He has published 121 papers in ISI-cited peer-reviewed journals and 30 conference proceedings. He has earned 3665 citations with total H-index of 35 according to ISI-Web of Science. Up to date, he has led 7 external grants and 7 internal grants with the sum of exceeding 2-million and successfully filed two patents. Furthermore, he has received Young Scientist Award from Malaysia Association for Solid State Science and Technology. For the number of postgraduate students, he has successfully produced 11 PhD students and 2 master students. Moreover, he is actively involved in social engagement activity inclusive of serving as auditor/reviewer for numerous of well-known international fundings cum renowned publishers. His dedication in research also has honoured him with 17 awards both internationally and locally. In the meantime, he is also honoured with “Trusted Reviewer by UK Institute of Physics” in addition to the honour of Recognized Reviewer Award for numerous of ISI-cited journals under Elsevier Publisher. Furthermore, he has being appointed as Scientific Coach by Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) for International Nanotechnology Olympiad (INO) and won gold medal with the honour of Best Project in Science and Technology Development. In the meantime, he also has won gold medal twice for the Green Hydrogen Technology Invention in International Materials Invention Competition in Nov 2024 and Sep 2025, respectively. With respect to his expertise in nanoscale materials for hydrogen production, lately, he has been elected as Guest Editor for a journal (Discover Nano with impact factor 4.5) published by Springer Nature, in managing publications associated to the “Green Hydrogen Production via Nanoengineering Approach”. On the other hand, his well-recognized expertise in semiconductor physics and photoelectrochemistry also renders him to be invited as plenary speaker and invited speaker in both international- and local-conferences. He contribution in semiconductor physics and materials science has made him to be conferred as a Fellow of the Malaysia Association of Solid State Science and Technology (FMASS) by the Malaysia Association for Solid State Science and Technology (MASS). Currently, he is holding the position of Deputy Director for Low Dimensional Materials Research Centre in assisting to empower and shape the centre toward a more robust yet impactful achievement in materials research at nanoscale dimension.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohammed Ismail
School of Engineering and Technology, University of Hull, United Kingdom.
Biodata
Dr Mohammed Ismail is a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Chemical Engineering at the University of Hull, United Kingdom. His research focuses on green hydrogen conversion technologies, with particular expertise in: (i) characterising and developing efficient, cost-effective materials, and (ii) creating multiscale and multiphysics models for polymer electrolyte fuel cells and electrolysers. He has authored or co-authored more than 65 peer-reviewed articles in leading international journals on renewable energy, attracting around 2,800 citations and achieving an h-index of 32. Over the past six years, Dr Ismail has served as Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator on research grants exceeding £1.1 million. He is also a Deputy Editor-in-Chief for Fuel (Elsevier), overseeing submissions related to hydrogen conversion technologies.
Prof. Dr. Dedi Rohendi
Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences / Center of Excellence Research for Fuel Cell and Hydrogen (CER Fuel Cell and Hydrogen), Universitas Sriwijaya, Indonesia.
Biodata
Dr. Dedi Rohendi was born in Garut, West Java, Indonesia. He completed his undergraduate studies in Chemistry at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), in 1991.
His interest in fuel cell technology began in 1999 during his master’s studies in Chemical Engineering at Sriwijaya University, where he researched fuel cell electrodes. He subsequently pursued his doctoral degree at the Fuel Cell Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), and completed his Ph.D. in 2014 with a dissertation focusing on Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs).
In 2013, together with the Fuel Cell Institute UKM research team, he received the Gold Medal and the prestigious “Best of the Best PECIPTA 2013” award for the innovative Fuel Cell Golf Cart project. He currently serves as a lecturer and researcher in the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Sriwijaya University. He also served as Director of the Center of Excellence for Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Research, Sriwijaya University, from 2019 to 2023.
Throughout his academic career, has actively participated in numerous national and international research collaborations. These include collaborative research projects with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), the USAID SHERA–SMART CITY Consortium led by the University of Indonesia (2018–2019), and the USAID SHERA–National Center for Sustainable Transportation Technology (NCSTT) led by Institut Teknologi Bandung (2018–2019).
As a fuel cell researcher, he has participated in specialized training and technical visits, including fuel cell training at Imperial College London in 2015, visits to University College London (UCL) and Arcola Energy (United Kingdom), and an industrial visit to CHEMS Co., Ltd. in Taipei, Taiwan, in 2023. During the 2018 Asian Games, he was actively involved in the Hydrogen Zero Emission Mobility initiative organized by Ecubes Arcola, UK. His research activities primarily focus on Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) development for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFCs) and Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs). His research has been supported through various competitive funding schemes, including National Research Grants, Fundamental Research Grants, Applied Research Grants, International Collaborative Research Grants, and Innovative Research Grants.
Prof. Dr. Ya-Rong Zheng
Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Value-Added Catalytic Conversion and Reaction Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, China.
Biodata
Ya-Rong Zheng is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Hefei University of Technology (HFUT) and currently serves as the Vice Dean of the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. He received his Ph.D. degree from University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) in 2015 under the supervision of Shu-Hong Yu. He subsequently conducted postdoctoral research at USTC from 2015 to 2018 and at Technical University of Denmark with Ib Chorkendorff, before joining HFUT in 2021. His research focuses on electrocatalytic materials and electrochemical energy conversion, particularly water electrolysis and hydrogen energy-related technologies. Multiple papers have been published as first or corresponding author in journals including Nature Energy, Nature Communications, and Advanced Materials with more than 10,000 citations and an H-index of 37. He is a council member of the Anhui Chemical Society, a Young Editorial Board Member of Nano-Micro Letters. His group has led several projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Anhui Provincial Natural Science Foundation, and State Grid Corporation of China, among others.
Prof. Dr. Toshihiro Miyao
Zero Emission MIRAI Research Center & Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Nanomaterials Center, University of Yamanashi, Japan.
Biodata
See the detail in Forum Panelist