Tarik Ahmed Rashid is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (PFHEA-UK) and a Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Kurdistan Hewlêr (UKH), Iraq, where he also serves as the Director of the Artificial Intelligence and Innovation Center. He completed his Ph.D. in Computer Science and Informatics at University College Dublin (UCD), Ireland, followed by a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in the same institution. His research spans Artificial Intelligence, Nature-Inspired Algorithms, Machine Learning, Computational Intelligence, and DNA Computing, with contributions to metaheuristic optimization. He has developed multiple optimization algorithms (FDO, FOX, SHOA, etc.) and machine learning techniques (Artificial Liver Classifier (ALC), Foxtsage). Recognized among the Top 4 researchers in Iraq (2019–2023) and listed in Stanford University’s "World’s Top 2% Scientists" (2021–2024), he has 140+ Scopus and Web of Science-indexed publications, including books and book chapters with Springer, Elsevier, and CRC. He is a keynote speaker, journal editor, and IEEE/MIR Labs member, actively contributing to international conferences as a chair and program committee member.

Dr. Subhas Chandra Mukhopadhyay (M’97, SM’02, F’11) currently is working as a Professor of Mechanical/Electronics Engineering with the School of Engineering, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia. He is the Discipline Leader of the Mechatronics Engineering Programme. He is also the Director of International Engagement for the School of Engineering. His fields of interest include Sensors and Sensing Technology, Instrumentation, Wireless sensor networks, Internet of Things, Mechatronics and Robotics, Drones etc. He has authored/co-authored 14 patents, 10 books, over 450 papers in different international journals, conferences and book chapter. He has edited eighteen conference proceedings. He has also edited forty special issues of international journals as guest editor and fifty books. He is a FIEEE (USA), a FIET (UK) and a FIETE (India). He is a Topical Editor of IEEE Sensors journal, an Associate Editor of IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurements and an Associate Edior of IEEE Review of Biomedical Engineering. He is EiC of S2IS journal and Series Editor of Smart Sensing, Measurements and Instrumentation, Springer-Verlag. He was the Founding Chair of the IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Society New South Wales, Australia Chapter and currently chair of the chapter. He is also the Founding Chair of the IEEE Sensors Council New South Wales, Australia Chapter. He was a Distinguished Lecturer of the IEEE Sensors Council 2017-2022. He has delivered 450 seminars, including keynote, invited, tutorial and special talks. He has organized over 20 international conferences either as General Chair or Teachnical Programme Chair. He has organized the IEEE Sensors Conference 2009 at Christchurch, New Zealand as General Chair and 2021 in Sydney as General Co-chair.