Meet the mentors
Dr Mark Huxham
Professor
Teaching and Research in Environmental Biology, Edinburgh Napier University
Dr. Mark Huxham is a Professor working on the ecology of coastal ecosystems, with particular expertise in mangroves, having spent many years striving to conserve and restore these remarkable forests. After researching how mangroves trap and store carbon, he helped establish the world’s first community-based mangrove conservation project to be funded by the sale of carbon credits. Mark also researches teaching and learning in higher education, looking at new models of partnership between teachers and students and how to use feedback and assessment to encourage deep learning.
Dr Amy Then Yee Hui
Senior Lecturer
Institute of Biological Sciences, Universiti Malaya
Dr Amy Then is a senior lecturer at the Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya. She received her PhD degree in Fisheries Science from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, USA. Although her earlier research projects were species and habitat specific, her recent works had been highly interdisciplinary. Her mangrove work includes food web studies, mangrove restoration, socio-ecological dimensions of mangrove-based fisheries, ecosystem service assessments and recently 2 mangrove-related policy initiatives.
Dr Anita Ogilvie
Executive Manager (Strategy)
Edinburgh Napier University
As a project/programme manager and senior leader, Anita offers over 20 years of experience across the private, voluntary and public sectors. Her unique track record includes the successful delivery of complex product development (FMCG), youth development and business change programmes in the UK and overseas. She has proven expertise in strategic planning and development at an organisational and national level, as well as driving sustainability agendas. She also has experience of managing a range of corporate services including programme support, performance analysis and reporting, policy and continuous improvement.
Dr Goh Hong Ching
Associate Professor
Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Universiti Malaya
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Goh Hong Ching is a senior lecturer at the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Malaya. She earned a Doctor of Natural Science degree (Geography) from Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universitaet Bonn, Germany. Her recent research interests focus on the interface of development and conservation domains and the cross-cutting challenges and implications including the multi-level governance of natural resources and protected areas. Apart from the ongoing academic and research leaderships, mentoring early career researchers has been her recent focus.
Dr Gráinne Barkess
Head of Researcher Development
Researcher Developer, Edinburgh Napier University
Dr. Grainne Barkess is affiliated to the School of Applied Sciences, Edinburgh Napier University, where Dr. Grainne Barkess is currently working as Leader of Researcher Development. Dr. Grainne Barkess has numerous publications within the specialty and published in reputed national and international peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Grainne Barkess is actively associated with different national and international societies and academies. Dr. Grainne Barkess gained recognition among the honourable subject experts with the contributions made. Dr. Grainne Barkess has been appreciated by several reputed awards and funding support. Dr. Grainne Barkess major research interest is in studies related to Pedagogy.
Dr Helena Varkkey
Associate Professor
Department of International and Strategic Studies, Universiti Malaya
Dr Helena Varkkey has been interested in sustainable development throughout her academic career. Her research focuses on the governance of transboundary pollution or ‘haze’ in Southeast Asia and related issues, including the political economy of agribusiness and climate governance. Dr Helena recently led a multidisciplinary team of researchers on a “Communication Science for Climate Action” grant to develop a uniquely Malaysian online platform to promote climate action among Malaysian youths. This completed project addresses the issue of low awareness on the importance of coastal ecosystems to climate mitigation and adaptation.
Dr Chee Su Yin
Senior Lecturer
Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies (CEMACS), Universiti Sains Malaysia
Dr. Chee Su Yin has been working on Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and Integrated Green-grey Infrastructure (IGGI) in marine and coastal environments for 7 years. During this time, Dr. Chee has led 9 international, local, and industrial grants, and authored 17 journal publications, three policy briefs, 17 proceedings, six articles in mass media, three magazine articles, and one book. She has peer-reviewed 27 articles, won local and international innovation awards, and has a patent filed for an IGGI product from her research. She is an affiliate member of the Young Scientists Network-Akademi Sains Negara and the northern node of Malaysian Society of Marine Sciences. She is also a Review Editor for the journal Frontiers in Marine Sciences.
Dr Jillian Ooi Lean Sim
Senior Lecturer
Department of Geography, Universiti Malaya
Dr. Jillian Ooi Lean Sim is a Senior Lecturer with expertise in marine biogeography and in particular, seagrass ecology. She has led projects to study dugong feeding behavior in subtidal seagrass meadows, fish communities in seagrass, coral reef rehabilitation, and predictive models of seagrass distribution in Southeast Asia. With regard to blue carbon ecosystems, Jillian is part of a new initiative on establishing seagrass-based blue carbon programs in Johor, Malaysia, and has attended blue carbon training and networking sessions in the region (4th WESTPAC Training Course on Assessment of Carbon Stock and Sequestration in Seagrass, Bintan Island, Indonesia). She is also one of the champions in Sharing Session and Impact Case Study Writing Workshop.
Dr Lee Soon Loong
Post Doc
Instittute of Biological Sciences, Universiti Malaya
Dr. Lee Soon Loong is a PhD. graduate from the University of Malaya trained in the field of marine ecology and biodiversity. His research interests are broadly focused on various aspects of marine and estuarine ecology, fisheries management and environmental monitoring and assessment. Currently he is a postdoctoral fellow for the Newton-funded Nexus Action for Mangroves in Selangor, Malaysia (NexAMS) project which is aimed at advancing policy and business initiatives for improved, inclusive mangrove protection through sustainable use, and building public-private-community partnerships. In the past year he has received training and exposure to multidisciplinary approaches, including systematic literature review, to address research questions related to mangrove conservation and management, blue carbon cycle, and ecosystem service valuation.