Dr Subarna Sivapalan

Subarna Sivapalan FRSA is presently Associate Professor and Head of the School of Education, University of Nottingham Malaysia and Research Lead of the Sustainability and Transformational Education Research Cluster (STERC). She is also the Lead of the University of Nottingham UNESCO Chair in International Education and Development Malaysia Office. She has over 20 years of experience within the higher education sector.

At the national level, Subarna is actively involved in sustainability education advocacy. She is presently the Co- Chair of the National Education for Sustainable Development Association of Selangor. She also sat on the National Committee of WWF Malaysia's Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) Eco Schools Programme, and has held the role of Chair and Deputy Chair of the FEE Eco Campus Programme. At the international level, Subarna is an Acumen Fellow, the world's school for social change. She is also a fellow of the United Nations University Pro.SPER.Net Leadership "Building Transformational Leadership Towards The SDGs" fellow. Subarna is the recipient of WWF Malaysia's National Eco-Lecturer Award for her efforts in advocating for greater awareness amongst youth to champion sustainability. She has also received awards for Effective Education Delivery and Academic Leadership. Subarna obtained her PhD in Education from the University of Nottingham.

Dr Tina Byrom 

Tina has worked in education for 30 years across both the compulsory and post-compulosry sectors. As an engaging and experienced educator, Tina has extensive experience in lecturing and tutoring in research methods, education and social policy and social justice. Tina’s research interests include widening participation, student voice, education policy, reproduction of inequality, vulnerable and disadvantaged groups and qualitative methods.

She has led and contributed to high profile social research studies including teenage pregnancy, homelessness amongst young people and young people’s transitions into higher education. Her PhD focused on interventions that support students who go into higher education from disadvantaged backgrounds, with a focus on the role of the Sutton Trust. She has significant consultancy experience with a pharmaceutical company, conducting and disseminating research on a number of health-related studies. An effective leader and manager, Tina has extensive experience in leading strategy, change programmes and developing staff.

Her most recent role as Head of Enhanced Academic Practice places her at the forefront of strategic developments to enhance the practice of staff, leading to improved experiences and outcomes for university students. Beyond academia, Tina provides strategic leadership as a non-executive Director (current Board Chair) at the National Ice Centre.