Prof. Lin Xiu

University of Minnesota Duluth

Research Area: labor market dynamics, HR analytics, compensation systems, and the intersection of leadership and employee well-being

Brief introduction: Dr. Lin Xiu received her Ph.D. from the University of Toronto in 2010 and is currently a Professor in the Department of Management Studies at the University of Minnesota Duluth. She also holds appointments as a Fellow at the Institute on the Environment and as a Research Faculty Member at the Minnesota Population Center, at the University of Minnesota. 

Dr. Xiu has authored over 30 peer-reviewed publications, including articles in leading academic journals such as the British Journal of Industrial Relations, Journal of Total Rewards, Journal of Positive Psychology, Leadership & Organization Development Journal, Journal of Economic Psychology, and Personnel Review. She currently serves as Associate Editor for the International Journal of Manpower (SSCI; ABDC-A) and Evidence-Based HRM (ABDC-B).

Her academic impact extends beyond publications. She has led special journal issues, reviewed major research funding applications, and managed multiple externally funded grants. Through her consultancy and applied research, Dr. Xiu has contributed to improving organizational practices—such as wellness program design, leadership development and total reward compensation—and informing labor market policy development such as research on Paid Family and Medical Leave initiatives.

Prof. Holger Mathias BRIEL

Beijing Normal-Hong Kong Baptist University

Research Area: media culture, sociology, and tourism management

Brief introduction: Professor Dr Holger BRIEL is Professor in Media and Communication Studies Programme. He holds a Ph.D. in Cultural Theory from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, an M.A. in Comparative Literature from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and a B.A. in English and German from Eberhardt-Karls-Universität Tübingen, Germany. A portion of his graduate studies was also undertaken at the Université de Paris, Sorbonne. 

Previously, Dr Briel has taught at New York University, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Aristotle University Thessaloniki, the University of Innsbruck, the University of Surrey, Indiana State University and Xi'an Jiaotong Liverpool University. He has held numerous Visiting Professorships and lectured at Oxford University, UC Berkeley, CUNY, Ateneo de Manila, the National University of Malaysia, the National University of Singapore, Universität Rostock and many others. Besides many other engagements, he continues to supervise Ph.D. and Master students in countries around the globe. 
He has published copiously in media and cultural studies, philosophy, the social sciences, and international management studies and remains active a as journalist for several international newspapers. For many years, he has been the Editor-in-Chief of the influential IAFOR Journal of Cultural Studies and sits as an Editor and Joint Editor on many journal boards. Furthermore, he is the recipient of numerous prestigious research grants and fellowships, most recently the endowed National South Korean Senior Fellowship in Cultural Studies. In recognition of his expertise in global education, he has been elected to several national education supervisory bodies, including those of Greece, Hungary and Spain and membership in the EU Council for Higher Education.

Prof. Nurul Shahnaz Ahmad Mahdzan

Universiti Malaya

Research Area: consumer finances and the economic psychology of households, covering topics such as financial literacy, financial well-being, fintech adoption, saving and investment behaviour, insurance studies, and financial fraud victimisation

Brief introduction: Dr. Nurul Shahnaz Ahmad Mahdzan is a Professor of Finance at the University of Malaya, where she served as Head of the Department of Finance (2019–2023). She holds a PhD from Nottingham University Business School, UK; an MBA from the University of Malaya; and a BBA (Finance) from Ohio University, USA. Her research focuses on consumer finances and the economic psychology of households, covering topics such as financial literacy, financial well-being, fintech adoption, saving and investment behaviour, insurance studies, and financial fraud victimisation. Her current project examines the impact of fintech use among millennials and Gen X on financial well-being. Prof. Shahnaz was recently a Plenary Speaker at the National Financial Literacy Symposium (NFLS 2023) and is regularly featured in Malaysian media for her insights on personal finance. Since 2020, she has served as a research grant assessor for the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE). Her interest in consumer finances is rooted in a decade-long career in the financial services industry, where she worked closely with consumers. This professional background continues to shape her academic work, public engagement, and policy contributions.