PANELISTS
"Building Student Mobility Networks between ASEAN and Australia and within ASEAN"
Chani Gunasekera - Student, Macquarie University New Colombo Plan at Sunway University Malaysia
Chani Gunasekera is a 2nd year student studying a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Marketing and a Bachelor of Psychology (Hons) at Macquarie University in Australia. Over the last four months Chani has been studying at Sunway University as a New Colombo Plan Scholarship recipient. Born in Australia with Sri Lankan heritage Chani has always held deep interest to experience and learn about other countries, cultures and meet new people through total immersion.
Dr Baiduri Widanarko - Chair, AUN ASEAN Credit Transfer System (ACTS)
Since 2018, Dr Baiduri (a.k.a. Uri) is the head of International Office at Universitas Indonesia and Chair of ASEAN University Network – ASEAN Credit Transfer System (AUN AUCTS).
In 2015 she moved back to Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Indonesia, and expanded her research project in occupational fatigue area among coal mining, manufactures, and petroleum refinery unit workers. Similar to her previous research, these projects largely focus on understanding the physical and psychosocial factors as the risk factors of occupational fatigue.
Uri has published several journal articles in international journals in ergonomics area, including Applied Ergonomics, Ergonomics, International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, and other health related journals. She is a reviewer for international journals in ergonomics area. She also attended several conferences in ergonomics as well as sustainability areas.
In 2015 to 2017 Uri was appointed as Head of Occupational Health and Safety Undergraduate Program, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Indonesia. In 2015 to 2018 she was also appointed as expert member in UI Greenmetric (http://greenmetric.ui.ac.id/). In 2017 to 2018 she was the head of Assessment and Application of Occupational Health and Safety Research Centre.
Dr Muhizam Mustafa - Director, International Mobility and Collaboration Centre (IMCC), Universiti Sains Malaysia,
Dr Muhizam Mustafa was a lecturer with the Visual Communication faculty of Birmingham Institute of Art and Design, Birmingham City University, with teaching experiences in Hong Kong and in Bangkok before joining the School of Art, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang in 2009. His background in Art and Architecture has led him to research on Public Art and its impact on social, political and economic development. He attained his PhD from Birmingham Institute Art and Design, Birmingham City University with his thesis titled ‘Public Art in Malaysia: A Case study of Putrajaya’. Presently, he serves as the Director of International Mobility and Collaboration Centre (IMCC), Universiti Sains Malaysia.
Prof Dr Supachai Yavaprabhas - Former AUN Executive Director, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok
Professor Dr. Supachai Yavaprabhas is a lecturer at the Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University at which he had served as Dean from 2010-2014. Previously, he was a Director of SEAMEO Regional Institute of Higher Education Development (RIHED) (2006-2010) and an Executive Director of the ASEAN University Network (AUN) from 1997-2005 and former Vice-President for International Affairs, Chulalongkorn University. His research interests include public sector reform, especially in the sector of higher education, basic education, and public health. His interest in regional higher education development is shown in his research on higher education innovation, university governance in Southeast Asia and the publication titled ‘Harmonisation of Higher Education: Lessons Learned from the Bologna Process’ (SEAMEO RIHED, 2008). In his mid-career, he served as Secretary to the Minister of University Affairs for a few years. In the last decade, he held many positions as the main committee, external QA assessor, advisor and senior administrator in both public and higher education sectors.
He is now serving as a Chair of the Royal Thai Police Academy as well as a member of the university council of a number of universities in Thailand.
Ir Pieter Pottas - Chief Operating Officer, Curtin University Malaysia
Ir. Pieter W Pottas, born in South Africa and now residing in Malaysia. He graduated in Engineering and after completing Military service, he started his career as an engineer. He then furthered his studies and was awarded a Degree in Business Administration.
Prior to being Chief Operating Officer in Curtin Malaysia, he was Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director for Australia Mining Resources, a Malaysian multinational company.
Pieter also held multiple senior leadership positions in Asia and Africa. He was Project Director with Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper and established one of the biggest paper factories in South East Asia as well as spearheading and pioneering the development of Biofuels and Renewable energy in Indonesia. Pieter has extensive experience in Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Papua New Guinea, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore and Thailand.