Speakers

Dr. Otto Kullervo Miettinen is a renowned mycologist and curator of fungi at the Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki. He earned his PhD in Biosciences (Botany) in 2011 and holds the academic title of Docent in Mycology. Dr. Miettinen’s research focuses on fungal taxonomy, evolution, and the role of fungi in forest ecosystems, particularly wood-decaying fungi.

He has led and participated in numerous international research projects, including grants from the Academy of Finland and the European Union. His impressive body of work includes over 90 peer-reviewed publications and the description of 93 new fungal taxa (including species, genera, and families).

As an experienced educator, Dr. Miettinen has taught field and microscopy courses on polypores and supervised several PhD students worldwide. His research has taken him to forests across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, including multiple expeditions to Indonesia and Southeast Asia.

Dr. Miettinen is a highly respected reviewer for international scientific journals and has served on the boards of the Finnish Museum of Natural History and the Finnish Mycological Society.

Tine Grebenc is a senior researcher at the Slovenian Forestry Institute and an expert in forest mycology, ecology, and environmental microbiology. With a PhD in Biology and over two decades of scientific experience, her work bridges fungal biodiversity, soil microbial communities, and sustainable forest management.

She has been actively involved in numerous international research projects, particularly focusing on the role of fungi in forest health and ecosystem functioning. Dr. Grebenc has also contributed to advancing DNA-based identification techniques and the application of mycorrhizal fungi in forestry and ecological restoration.

Known for her interdisciplinary approach and collaborations across Europe and Southeast Asia, Dr. Grebenc combines field expertise with cutting-edge molecular tools to address environmental challenges in forest ecosystems.

Prof. Diana Suhardiman is the Director of KITLV (Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies) and Professor of Natural Resource Governance, Climate, and Justice at Leiden University. Her research focuses on the politics and power dynamics of natural resource governance, including issues related to land, water, environment, and climate change in Southeast Asia.

With an academic background from Wageningen University and extensive experience as a senior researcher at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Diana has led numerous research programs and published over 80 scholarly works. Her work explores how policies and institutions reshape governance structures and processes from the local to transboundary levels, with particular attention to grassroots struggles and state transformation in countries such as Laos, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Thailand.

Prof. Masamitsu Onishi is a distinguished researcher at the Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University, specializing in disaster risk reduction, national resilience policy, and community-based preparedness in Japan. His work centers on understanding and improving how policies, institutions, and individuals respond to catastrophic disasters—ranging from earthquakes to climate-induced hazards.

Following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, Prof. Onishi has played a key role in shaping Japan’s national resilience strategies, including the Basic Plan for National Resilience. He advocates for “proactive disaster prevention”—investing in preparedness before disasters strike—and explores the balance between self-help, mutual help, and public help in disaster governance.

His research highlights the urgent need to bridge the responsibility gap between government and local communities and to promote inclusive, science-based approaches for disaster resilience. Through practical, community-engaged research, he pushes forward Japan’s efforts to adapt to increasing disaster risks in the era of climate change.

Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Zul Ilham is a Malaysian expert in biomass science and bioenergy, currently serving as Principal Fellow and Director at the Centre for Science and Environment Studies, IKIM. He holds a PhD from Kyoto University and is a recipient of prestigious awards from the Japan Institute of Energy and the American Oil Chemists’ Society. His research focuses on converting biomass into sustainable energy carriers and feed—supporting Malaysia’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.

A Fulbright Malaysian Scholar and certified energy manager, Dr. Zul Ilham is deeply involved in academic publishing and environmental education. He actively engages with youth through energy literacy and climate action initiatives, and collaborates widely through national and international research grants. He has held various leadership roles at Universiti Malaya and is frequently invited as a speaker and visiting scholar around the world.