Machine Intelligence Meets Cybersecurity

Professor Dr. Selvakumar Manickam is a leading authority in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. As Professor in Cybersecurity & AI and Director of the Cybersecurity Research Centre (CYRES) at Universiti Sains Malaysia, he has contributed extensively to security and privacy research, including the development of algorithms and models for complex cybersecurity challenges.

His work connects theory with practice by integrating cybersecurity and AI across automation, manufacturing, energy and agriculture. A prolific researcher, author and conference speaker, he is also recognised for nurturing expertise at the intersection of AI and cybersecurity and for promoting secure, efficient and trustworthy real-world applications.

Associate Professor Dr. Varun Ojha is an artificial intelligence researcher at Newcastle University. He leads the Intelligent Systems Research Group, serves as the Safe AI lead at the Centre for AI Safety and is a Co-Investigator on the UKRI-funded National Edge AI Hub.

He previously served at the University of Reading, ETH Zurich and the Technical University of Ostrava as a Marie Curie Fellow. His research spans trustworthy AI, sparsity, explainability, security, deep learning, neural networks, machine learning and data science, with particular attention to safer and more energy-efficient AI systems.

Prof. Adian Fatchur Rochim is a Professor of Computer Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP), Indonesia. He currently serves as Vice Rector for Human Resources, Information Technology, Legal Affairs, and Organization at Universitas Diponegoro, where he leads strategic initiatives in digital transformation, information technology governance, and institutional development. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP), a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), and a Doctoral degree in Electrical Engineering (Computer Engineering) from Universitas Indonesia (UI).

Prof. Adian’s research focuses on Computer Networks, Cybersecurity, IT Governance, Scientometrics, Informetrics, Webometrics, Network Automation, and Digital Transformation in Higher Education. His work integrates advanced networking technologies with data-driven approaches to improve institutional performance, research visibility, and digital innovation.

Throughout his academic career, Prof. Adian has authored more than 150 scientific publications in reputable international journals and conference proceedings. He has actively led numerous nationally and internationally funded research projects, supervised graduate students, and collaborated with researchers and institutions worldwide. As a Senior Member of IEEE (SMIEEE), he continues to contribute to the advancement of computer engineering research and professional practice.

Professor Emeritus Dato’ Dr. Tengku Mohd Tengku Sembok has more than five decades of experience across various fields of information and communication technology (ICT). Throughout his distinguished academic career, he has taught at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels and successfully led numerous research, development, and consultancy projects.

He obtained a Diploma in Computer Science from the MARA Institute of Technology in 1974, a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Computer Science from Brighton Polytechnic in 1977, a Master of Science from the University of Iowa in 1981, and a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Glasgow in 1989. He is currently Professor of Computer Science and the Dean of Kulliyyah of Information and Communication Technology, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). He is also Professor Emeritus of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). Previously, he served as the first and the forth Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic and Internationalisation at the National Defence University of Malaysia.

His principal research interests include computational linguistics, information retrieval, and artificial intelligence. He has published more than 200 scholarly articles in these fields. His research innovations have received numerous awards at international invention and innovation exhibitions in Geneva, Brussels, and London.

In recognition of his contributions to ICT education, he received the National ICT Excellent Teacher Award, jointly conferred by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation; the Ministry of Energy, Water and Communications; the Malaysian National Computer Confederation; and Maxis Berhad. He is a Life Fellow of British Computer Society; a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia; and a Fellow of the Academy of Professors Malaysia. He is also a Founding Fellow of the Society of Information Retrieval and Knowledge Management. In addition, he was a Commonwealth Research Fellow at the University of Sheffield.