Dr. Sarma Binti Aralas is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Business, Economics and Accountancy, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), where she also served as the Director of the Centre for Economic Development and Policy. She holds a Ph.D. in International and Environmental Economics from Michigan State University, and both her MA and BSc in Economics from the University of Houston, USA. Since joining UMS in 1996 as a pioneer academic staff, Dr. Sarma has held several key administrative positions including Dean and Deputy Dean. Her areas of expertise include environmental and resource economics, international trade, development economics, and econometrics. She has led and contributed to numerous high-impact research projects and has published extensively in SCOPUS- and WOS-indexed journals. A recipient of multiple academic and service awards, she is also an active member of several professional bodies including the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists (AERE) and the Malaysian Economic Association (MEA), and is an Associate Member of the Majlis Profesor Negara.

Dr. Ruben M. Nayve Jr., PhD, DBE, is a distinguished academic and consultant with over 25 years of experience in higher education and industry. He currently serves as Dean of the College of Business Administration at Adamson University and holds extensive academic leadership experience including roles as Vice President for Academic Affairs (OIC), Graduate School Dean, and Research Director. With a doctorate in Economics from the University of Santo Tomas, Dr. Nayve is recognized for his contributions to economics education, research, and consultancy across the Philippines and Southeast Asia. He has published widely, chaired numerous national and international conferences, and received several accolades including the 2024 AD Scientific Index recognition. As founder and Chairman Emeritus of the Council of Economics Educators (CECON), he has been instrumental in shaping economics education in the region and is actively involved in international collaborations with institutions in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and the U.S.