The 56th Asia-Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health (APACPH) Conference was held from 4 to 7 November 2025 at Mae Fah Luang University in Chiang Rai, Thailand. Centred on the theme “Public Health Challenges in a Disruptive World,” the event brought together leading experts, researchers, and students from across the region to explore pressing health issues shaped by climate change, digital transitions, pandemics, and socio-economic inequalities.
Strong Representation from Universiti Malaya
Universiti Malaya (UM) had a robust presence at the conference, with significant academic leadership and student engagement. Representing the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Professor Dr Noran Naqiah Mohd Hairi participated actively in several key sessions, alongside Professor Dr Claire Choo Wah Yuen and Dr Ng Ai Kah, who were involved in pre-conference workshops, panel discussions, and scientific sessions. UM’s academics contributed as chairs and judges for both oral and poster presentations, highlighting the university’s commitment to academic excellence and knowledge sharing.
Numerous postgraduate students from the Faculty of Medicine also presented their research during the free paper sessions, reflecting the Department’s emphasis on developing research capacity and fostering young public health scholars.
Leadership Recognition for Universiti Malaya
This year’s conference marked a significant milestone for Universiti Malaya (UM), highlighting its growing influence in the regional and global public health arena. Several senior academics from the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine (SPM), Faculty of Medicine, received key appointments during the APACPH General Assembly:
- Professor Dr Maznah Dahlui was reappointed as Vice-President (Admin) of APACPH and continues her role as Regional Director for Malaysia, affirming her leadership in steering public health collaboration in the Asia-Pacific.
- Professor Dr Low Wah Yun continues to serve as Editor-in-Chief of the Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health (APJPH) and was recently elected as the President-Elect of the Global Network for Academic Public Health (GNAPH). Her dual role underscores the increasing visibility and engagement of APACPH, and by extension, UM, on the global stage.
- Professor Dr Victor CW Hoe was elected as the Secretary General, a leadership position within APACPH, reinforcing UM’s long-standing commitment to advancing occupational and public health in the region.
These appointments reflect the department’s sustained contribution to shaping policy, academic discourse, and capacity-building in public health.
Transitions in APACPH Secretariat and Editorial Office
We extend sincere appreciation to Dr Syazmi Mohd for his dedicated service as Executive Officer of the APACPH Secretariat, a role he has now passed on to Darwish Mohd Isa. The APACPH Secretariat Office and the APJPH Editorial Office are both hosted within the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine (SPM) at UM, underscoring UM’s central role in supporting the operational and editorial backbone of APACPH.
A Forward Path for Public Health Education and Research
The active involvement of UM’s faculty and students at APACPH 2025 reflects our enduring commitment to thought leadership, collaboration, and capacity building in public health. These engagements are essential as we collectively navigate the disruptions reshaping health systems globally.
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