Meet the LEAFA Team

Aini Hasanah Abd Mutalib, Co-Organizer

Aini Hasanah Abd Mutalib, PhD, is a research officer in the Institute of Tropical Biodiversity and Sustainable Development, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu. She is working towards advancing herself in terrestrial wildlife’s bioacoustic research, and overall is very enthused in working towards conservation management and capacity building. Aini was one of the winners of Merdeka Award of Grant for International Attachment (MAGIA), and that led her way as a visiting researcher of K Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics in Cornell University, US. She is one of the organizers of the Locally-Led East Asian Flyways for Acoustics (LEAFA) Program, and Bioacoustics, Equipment and Training (BEAT) Program. She is actively involved in co-founding and steering the Malaysian Primatological Society (MPS) and truly is supportive of conservation and research of terrestrial wildlife. She helped facilitate the foundation of Shorebirds of Peninsular Malaysia Project in terms of outreach of this research and conservation group. She believes that conservation should encompass diversity and inclusivity of people with differing backgrounds and abilities. She is also captivated by the story of the fearless migration of the shorebirds, and most importantly, working together for protecting the key biodiversity areas they and people depend on.

Alexander Kurniawan Sariyanto Putera

I am working as a lecturer from Universitas Sulawesi Barat, West Sulawesi province. The 14 years experience in the ornithology such as bird diversity consultant to Internasional Animal Rescue (IAR) in the Ketapang, West Kalimantan, and published many scientific articles related to the bird research bring me to share my knowledge and experience to the local people in the West Sulawesi. The sharing knowledge and experience aims to encourage the youth in the West Sulawesi to understand and deeply learning about the bird conservation and research, both migratory and endemic birds. Limited information about the birds, especially shorebirds as migratory birds in the West Sulawesi, took me to explore wetland location along the coastal ecosystem of West Sulawesi. The result of exploration reveal the flock of shorebirds. Most of them are migratory birds visiting the fish ponds and beach annually since January 2023. Hopefully, through Locally-Led East Asian Flyway Acoustics (LEAFA) program, we can improve our monitoring the bioacoustic, behavioral ecology, population dynamic, community ecology, spatiotemporal of various habitat, species distribution and adaptation to the new steps for their benefit in the future as the bird conservationist, bird ecologist, and last but not least, the ornithologist via the passive recorder like AudioMoths.

Amira Rahman, Co-Organizer

Amira Rahman is a final year doctoral student Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary focusing on bat’s behavior around anthropogenic objects, precisely on tilted acoustically smooth surfaces. Amira is currently working as a bioacoustic analyst with K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics, Cornell University and very much interested in monitoring wildlife using passive acoustic monitoring (PAM), especially in
bird taxa like hornbills.

Ana Gabrielle Alcantara

Ana Gabrielle Alcantara is a postgraduate student pursuing a Master of Science in Biology at the University of the Philippines Diliman. She has been given the Department of Science and Technology-Accelerated Science and Technology Human Resource Development (DOST-ASTHRDP) scholarship to support her academic goals. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the same institution where she studied the geographic song variation of endemic avian species with dubious taxonomic classifications. Her research interests center around the bioacoustics and behavioral ecology of Philippine endemic birds, demonstrating her dedication to studying her country’s unique avifauna.

In addition to her research work, she is involved in various organizations that promote Philippine culture and biodiversity. She writes for the newsletter of the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines (WBCP), assists in guided bird tours at the same group, volunteers at the Zoology Division of the National Museum of the Philippines (PNM), and plays different Filipino ethnic instruments in showcases around the country for the Kontemporaryong-Gamelan Pilipino (Kontra-GaPi) performing group. Despite her busy schedule, she finds ways to balance her academic pursuits with her interests and passions beyond the laboratory and field.

Ashraft Yusni, Co-Organizer

Ashraft Yusni is a dedicated Master’s student pursuing studies in Ecological Processes at the prestigious Institute of Tropical Biology and Conservation (ITBC), Universiti Malaysia Sabah. With a particular focus on hornbill conservation and conservation bioacoustics, Ashraft actively engages in wildlife monitoring projects. These endeavors entail deploying cutting-edge automated recording units to study hornbills within the
human-dominated landscape of the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary in Malaysian Borneo.

Asman Adi Purwanto, Co-Organizer

Asman Adi Purwanto is a senior bird watcher who has worked in the field of conservation of endangered wildlife for more than 15 years in Indonesia. Currently, in addition to conducting research and conservation efforts on endangered species, he is working with BISA Indonesia Society to increase the population of endangered birds through community involvement and empowerment activities, particularly with community groups in the buffer zone of the research site. Asman is one of the cohorts of the program Bioacoustics, Equipment, and Training Program Year 1, and now He is one of the organizers of the Locally-Led East Asian Flyways for Acoustics (LEAFA) Program.

Dean G. Gangko

Dean G Gangko is a passionate conservationist with a six-year track record of experience in the field. His journey began in the lush rainforests of Johor and Pahang, Malaysia, where he honed his skills with the esteemed Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), and thereafter WildCru (Oxford University) in Taman Bukit Tawau (Sabah Parks), and lastly joined as a Programme Officer in Sabah Environmental Trust. He played a role in managing conservation projects, collaborating with local communities and advocating technology to improve knowledge of wildlife and forest protection. Beyond his professional pursuits, Dean actively volunteers with the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) Sabah Branch to assist the migratory shorebird project by lending relevant expertise. Since then, he has grown interested in the conservation of migratory shorebirds. Presently, Dean is pursuing his Master’s degree in Ecological Processes at the Institute for Tropical Biology & Conservation (ITBC) at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), to address knowledge gaps in migratory shorebirds in Sabah, Malaysia Borneo. Dean’s journey, marked by diverse experiences and unwavering dedication, paints a picture of a young conservationist on a promising trajectory to make significant contributions to the future of conservation in Borneo and beyond.

Heri Tarmizi

A conservation activist with at least ten years of experience in raptors and bird monitoring, managing conservation programs, and engaging multi-stakeholders. Effectively deliver communication and collaboration with local communities. Successfully worked with local civil society organizations and governments on various levels to promote bird protection and policy development.

Izereen Mukri

With over 10 years of experience in biodiversity and conservation, began his career as a field biologist with WWF-Malaysia. With great enthusiasm on ornithology, he has contributed to several bird tourism masterplans and arbitrated various bird races and counts. As the Biodiversity Expert at ERE Consulting Group Sdn. Bhd., he handles Ecological Impact Assessments and policy formulation. He was also the Principal Investigator for the Research and Conservation of Hornbills in Merapoh Forest Complex. He currently serve as the Resident Ecologist for Sime Darby Property Berhad since 2022, formulating strategies for urban biodiversity management.

Jerome Chie-Jen Ko

I’m a keen birder interested in population dynamics, audio-survey techniques, and data-sharing frameworks of wildlife. I have over 15 years of field experience in surveying populations of migrating shorebird and breeding landbirds, with specific interest in bird vocalizations. I also have over 5 years of experience in leading a biodiversity open data platform aimed for increasing data applications. Currently has a position in Taiwan Biodiversity Research Institute as an associate researcher.

Dr. Loo Yen Yi

Dr. Loo Yen Yi is a dedicated ornithologist who specializes in bioacoustics research within evolutionary biology, ecology, and conservation. Currently serving as a Post-doctoral Research Fellow at the Sunway Centre for Planetary Health, she actively collaborates with local NGOs in Malaysia for biodiversity conservation. She leads four passive acoustic monitoring research projects in diverse locations, employing innovative bioacoustics data analysis to harness big data for conservation purposes. Her commitment to advancing knowledge is evident through eight peer-reviewed publications covering vocal learning, bird ecology, innovative education, and climate change. She also volunteers for monthly migratory shorebird surveys, contributing to Asian Waterbird Census. Beyond research, she actively engages in capacity-building by designing and conducting bioacoustics workshops, mentoring local communities, students, and researchers, thereby empowering locally-led conservation efforts. Her academic qualifications are PhD in Biological Sciences (University of Auckland, New Zealand), MSc in Bird Conservation (Manchester Metropolitan University, UK), and BSc (Hons) in Environmental Science (University of Nottingham, Malaysia).

Nor Atiqah Norazlimi

Nor Atiqah Norazlimi embarked on her academic journey as a lecturer at Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) in 2017. Her expertise in the realm of shorebirds and waterbirds traces back to her doctoral studies in 2013, where she delved into the diversity and foraging behavior of shorebirds and waterbirds, including migratory species along the Selangor Coast. During her tenure in Johor, she strategically shifted her focus towards avian species, encompassing both forest and coastal birds. Her research ventures extended to various locations in Johor, such as Tinggi Island, Tanjung Piai, Kukup Island, Pontian Kechil, Tanjung Laboh, and North Ayer Hitam Utara Forest Reserve, among others. Serving as the principal investigator for multiple ornithological research grants, she has been at the forefront of advancing our understanding of birdlife in diverse ecosystems.

Nur Munira Azman

Nur Munira Azman is an ornithologist. She is a senior lecturer in the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science & Mathematics, at Educational University of Sultan Idris and she is also the coordinator of Shorebirds Peninsular Malaysia Project (SPMP). She obtained her PhD in Wildlife & Ecosystem Management in 2017 from Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang. She is a key individual who coordinates and is responsible for each activity proposed in SPMP’s project. She has vast experience in conducting programs with locals, NGOs, and government agencies. She also frequently conducts shorebird surveys with researchers from local universities, government agencies (Department of Wildlife and National Park), and NGOs (Malaysia Nature Society & NEST). SPMP has also been tasked with technical input for coastal development at the state and national levels. She leads a strong team comprising academicians, researchers, fishermen communities and bird photographers. Her team has been successfully awarded a few local and international grants on the shorebird project in the Teluk Air Tawar-Kuala Muda, Key Biodiversity Area. She hopes that the international collaboration between SPMP and many researchers in LEAFA program will encourage more understanding about shorebirds and an interest in protecting the birds and their habitat.

Shih Hung Wu

I have 30 years of birdwatching experience and a deep interest in avian behavior and ecology. Currently, I serve as an associate researcher at the Taiwan Biodiversity Research Institute, where my main research projects include the automatic recognition of wildlife sounds, passive acoustic monitoring (PAM), the monitoring of migratory waterbird populations, especially the Black-faced Spoonbill, and wetland biodiversity monitoring. To date, we have established 19 long-term PAM sites across Taiwan, from the plains to the high mountains. The sites set up by the LEAFA program will also be incorporated into our long-term monitoring network, allowing for a comprehensive analysis of the population dynamics of migratory birds in Taiwan.

Sineang San

Sineang San is a Project Coordinator at NatureLife Cambodia, with experience in sustainable agriculture and advocating for indigenous rights in natural resource management. He graduated with a degree in agricultural engineering. In the past two years, he transitioned to work in conservation. Currently, he leads various conservation projects around the Tonle Sap Great Lake. His focus is on capacity building, site management, community engagement, awareness campaigns, livelihood initiatives, gender empowerment, and species protection. Despite not having a formal background in biology, Sineang has developed a passion for bird conservation and surveying. Through the EAF program, he hopes to refine his skills in bird surveying with acoustic programs and make significant contributions to regional conservation efforts.