Theme: TEDxUKM2025:WANDERING WEB

As humans, we are hardwired with an intrinsic desire to explore, learn, and grow. We yearn to better ourselves, to understand the world, and to contribute to something larger than ourselves. Yet, despite this innate drive, many of us hesitate at the first step. Wandering here refers not just to aimless drifting, but to the purposeful seeking of new knowledge, perspectives, and opportunities.

The web symbolises the interconnectedness of humanity—how intricately linked we are to one another. Much like a spider’s web, the threads that connect us are often subtle, not immediately noticeable, yet they are strong and influential. These hidden links quietly guide and shape the way we interact, creating a force that is both invisible and immensely powerful. Even though we may not always see the connections, they are there, working silently behind the scenes, constantly shaping our world. It emphasises that one choice, one influence, can trigger a cascading effect, shifting thoughts, behaviours, and even entire movements. It’s not just a ripple, but a dynamic web of influence that connects us all.

At its heart, Wandering Web is about recognizing the immense potential of that first step—of daring to wander, to seek, to discover. It is about the epiphany that comes when we step into this interconnected web, allowing ourselves to be influenced by others and, in turn, contributing our voice to a collective effort. By embracing the web of connections around us, we realise the strength that lies in unity.

Everyone, we invite you to join the Wandering Web—where we choose our own future, together.

Auditorium Siswa
Pusanika Level 2, The National University of Malaysia (UKM)
Bangi, Selangor, 43600
Malaysia

Arissa Jemaima

Founder & Executive Director of Doctors On Ground

Arissa Jemaima Ikram is the Founder and Executive Director of Doctors on Ground (DnG), a grassroots humanitarian organisation transforming healthcare access in underserved communities. Since 2020, DnG has supported over 6,000 families through direct medical aid, community capacity-building, and long-term health systems development. With over five years of experience in public health leadership and humanitarian project management, Arissa is currently pursuing a Master’s in Public Health and is passionate about strengthening health systems across the Global South. At TEDxUKM 2025 Wandering Web, Arissa will speak on “Healthy Living as a Collective Responsibility,” revealing how health is shaped not just by personal choices, but by the systems and environments we create together—from policy to the grassroots.

Briana Leong

Content Creator • Yoga Instructor

Briana studied anthropology, began her career in journalism, and later entered the advertising world. Today, she teaches yoga, is writing her first book, and creates reflective content on social media. Her popular ‘Solo Dates’ series offers a fresh take on city life—highlighting spaces shaped by purpose and imagination—while turning solo outings into a quiet, powerful act of self-trust. At TEDxUKM 2025, Briana explores how choosing to do something just for yourself—like taking yourself out—can spark a deeper sense of trust. She shares how these small, personal acts ripple outward, shaping culture and inspiring others to live more freely. Through these choices, we begin to weave a web of change—one decision, one moment at a time.

Dhar Veen Surendran

Theatre Director • Scenographer • Actor

Dhar Veen Surendran is an award-winning theatre director, actor, and scenographer trained at ASWARA, known for crafting immersive works that explore memory, identity, and emotion. His standout productions include The Last Conversation (I Wish I Had), Proses by Namron, and Aya: Anjalai Yen Amachi—a Tamil-language tribute to maternal resilience, staged during his Emerging Artist Residency at KLPAC. Blending technical skill with raw honesty, Dhar Veen brings powerful stories to life, whether behind the scenes or under the spotlight. At TEDxUKM, he shares theatre as sanctuary—a space where chaos becomes art, silence becomes voice, and misfits are finally seen. His idea is a call to those who feel different: the world is your stage, if you dare to play.

Fahani -

Flutist • Music Composer • Dreamer

Fahani is a multi-instrumentalist and composer from Shah Alam, Selangor, and a First-Class graduate in Music Composition from Universiti Teknologi MARA. Her journey with the flute began during her diploma studies, where she trained in both classical and contemporary styles. This sparked her curiosity in sound design, harmony, and emotional expression, leading her to explore neoclassical and experimental genres. She has performed as a flautist, composed for various ensembles, and collaborated as a session musician with singer-songwriters and indie bands locally and abroad. In 2023, Fahani launched her solo project to freely express her compositional identity—marked by contrast, subtlety, and emotional depth. At TEDxUKM, she presents “The Space Between: A Flute Performance,” featuring two original compositions and an ensemble piece that invite us to wander through the webs of sound, emotion, and imagination.

Ho Sing Foong

Regional Head of the Equity & Commodity Derivatives of Maybank Investment Group

Sing Foong leads the Equity & Commodity Derivatives (ECD) division at Maybank Investment Banking Group, Malaysia’s top issuer of structured warrants and equity-linked solutions. With 16 years of experience in equity derivatives and wealth management, he delivers advanced financial solutions to high net-worth, institutional, and corporate clients. He oversees the ECD business across Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, and Vietnam, backed by award-winning products and a strong regional presence. Though he began with a background in Chemical Engineering, Sing Foong later earned a Master’s in International Business from the University of Nottingham, UK, and made a bold career pivot into finance. At TEDxUKM, he will speak on “One Step Back, Two Steps Forward,” offering insights into how changing paths isn’t failure, but a strategic leap toward meaningful growth.

Izzat Zaid

Clinical Psychologist • Managing Director of Minda Inklusif • Mental Health Content Creator

Ms. Izzat Zaid is a registered clinical psychologist and mental health content creator based in Selangor, Malaysia, with over four years of experience. Passionate about neurodiversity and adult ADHD advocacy, she combines professional expertise with lived experience. She holds a Master of Human Sciences in Psychology (Clinical & Counselling) from IIUM and graduated with First Class Honours in Psychology. Currently, she is the managing director and clinical psychologist at Minda Inklusif, where she leads psychological assessments, interventions, and workshops—especially for adults with ADHD. Beyond her clinical role, Izzat is a strong advocate for neurodiversity. Through social media, she creates accessible, empowering content that educates the public and supports neurodivergent individuals. At TEDxUKM, Miss Izzat will speak on “Growing Up Different — The Power of Acceptance,” offering insights into embracing neurodivergence with compassion and strength.

Law Yao Hua

Environmental Journalist • Co-Founder of Macaranga

Law Yao Hua is an environment and science journalist based in Kuala Lumpur and co-founder of Macaranga, an independent newsroom covering the Malaysian environment. Trained as an insect ecologist with a Ph.D. in Entomology, he was formerly a senior lecturer at Universiti Putra Malaysia before transitioning into journalism in 2014. His work has appeared in Science, Nature, The Atlantic, Science News, and BFM89.9. Yao Hua has earned multiple accolades, including the Sigma Award (2023), MPI Environmental Reporting Award (2022), Said Zahari Award (2022), and One World Media Award (2020). As a fellow with the Pulitzer Center’s Rainforest Investigations Network, he exposed systemic flaws and fraud behind forest loss in Peninsular Malaysia, helping halt illegal projects and empower Indigenous legal action. At TEDxUKM, Yao Hua shares an idea to safeguard Malaysia’s environmental future—for a more just and sustainable society.

Lim Seng Joe

Associate Professor • Head of MANIS UKM

Dr. Lim Seng Joe is an Associate Professor and Director of the Innovation Centre for Confectionery Technology (MANIS). A Registered Food Analyst and Professional Technologist, his groundbreaking research explores functional foods, edible bird’s nest glycoproteins, and fucoidan-rich ingredients from Malaysian brown seaweed. With accolades including the Erasmus Mundus ALFABET Award, ASEA-UNINET Scholarships, National Young Scientist Award 2024, and the Crown Prince CIPTA Award, he has also served as a visiting professor in Thailand, Japan, and Indonesia. Dr. Lim has published 78 journal articles, two research books, and eight book chapters, and is currently an editor for Sains Malaysiana. At TEDxUKM 2025, he will share “Making Science Simpler” — a talk aimed at breaking down complex scientific ideas to connect and inspire people from all walks of life.