Speakers - Media and Mass Communication Conference 2025

medcom 2025

Keynote Speakers

Prof. (Dr.) Kay O'Halloran

Chair Professor and Head of Department of Communication and Media
School of the Arts
University of Liverpool
United Kingdom

Profile

Professor Kay O’Halloran is Head of the Department of Communication and Media (2019–present) and Co-Director of the Digital Media & Society Institute (2023—present) at the University of Liverpool. Prior to this, she held Research Director roles in the School of Education at Curtin University (2013–2019) and the Interactive & Digital Media Institute at the National University of Singapore (2007–2013). She was also a member of the Department of English Language & Literature at the National University of Singapore (1998–2013). Her research area is multimodal analysis involving the study of language, images and other resources in texts, interactions and events. Over the past two decades she has focused on the development and use of digital tools and techniques for multimodal analysis and mixed methods approaches to big data analytics of digital communications. Her current research involves context-based information fusion approaches for analysing online and social media. She has over 150 publications in key international journals and with leading publishers. She is the founding editor of the Routledge Studies in Multimodality research book series which has published 57 books with further forthcoming volumes. She has given over 50 plenary and keynote presentations and 60 invited seminars and workshops in Australia, Asia, Europe, North America and South America.

Assoc. Prof. (Dr.) Victor Lim Fei

Deputy Head (Research), English Language & Literature, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Associate Professor, National Institute of Education, Singapore

Profile

Dr Fei Victor LIM is a literacy researcher and an educator. His expertise is in multimodality in education, with a focus on multimodal literacy, multimodal discourse analysis, and digital learning. He is interested in how and what we should teach learners in today’s digital and multimodal age. He is guided by his conviction that literacy education must be future-oriented and should progress with the evolving contemporary communication landscape. Victor is passionate about education and its value in improving in both personal and societal well-being. His research has a strong practice orientation that shapes his teaching and service.

Victor is Principal Investigator and Co-Principal Investigator of several large research grants. He has been invited to present his work around the world. Victor has published in top-tier journals on multimodality in education and is author of the book Designing Learning with Embodied Teaching: Perspectives from Multimodality, and lead author of the book, Designing Learning for Multimodal Literacy: Teaching Viewing and Representing, both published in the Routledge Studies in Multimodality. Victor was recognised as amongst the top 2% scientists worldwide in the sub-fields of education, languages & linguistics, and communication & textual studies, by Stanford University in 2023.

Victor teaches pre-service and postgraduate courses on multimodality in education. He also supervises PhD, Masters, and undergraduate students’ research projects based on his research expertise. He has received several teaching awards including the Nanyang Education Award (School) in 2023.

Victor is an editor for Multimodality and Society and serves as an associate editor for Computers and Composition, and Designs for Learning. He is on the editorial board for Frontiers in Communication, Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, Journal of Studies in the English Language, Insights into Language, Culture and Communication, and Visual Communication. He serves as the Awards Chair (2023-present) for the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Semiotics in Education Special Interest Group (SIG). He also leads the Multimodality Special Interest Group at NIE to build up a community of faculty and students who share an interest in multimodality in education.

Victor started his career as a General Paper teacher in a junior college before his posting in 2011 to the Singapore Ministry of Education where he was Deputy Director, Technologies for Learning, and Lead Specialist (now Master Specialist), Educational Technology till joining NIE in May 2018. He has experience in translational research, policy formulation, and programme development, with a focus on how educational technology can improve teaching and learning. He contributed to the conceptualisation of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in Education Masterplan to nurture future-ready and responsible digital learners, the development of strategies and initiatives for MOE’s translational research, innovations, and scaling efforts, as well as the strengthening of cyber wellness education in Singapore. He has previously served on the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competences (PIAAC) Expert Advisory Group, SkillsFuture Singapore (2018-2021) and as a consultant with the World Bank on digital skills (2019-2022).

Assoc. Prof. Shane Homan

Head of the School of Media, Film and Journalism

Monash University

Melbourne, Australia

Profile

Associate Professor Shane Homan is Head of the School of Media, Film and Journalism at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. The School is home to the Constructive Institute Asia Pacific, a new venture examining the role of media in tackling the crises of our age; and the Monash Climate Change Communication Research Hub, which examines the effective communication of climate adaptation and implementation of climate solutions.

Shane’s research interests are in the areas of cultural and media policy, especially the music industries. He has been awarded over $6 million in research grants, including commissioned research on the recording sector; music cities; live music policy; music export strategies; and urban culture strategies. Shane is currently leading an Australian Research Council project, Community Music Radio: Building the Music-Media Ecosystem (2023-2025) examining the cultural and economic value of community music radio to the Australian cultural economy.

He is the recent editor of the Bloomsbury Handbook of Popular Music Policy (2022) and co-author of Music City Melbourne: Urban Culture, History and Policy (Bloomsbury, 2021). He is also a past co-editor of the Popular Music History journal (Equinox).

Plenary Speakers

Prof. (Dr.) Suda Ishida

Professor and Department Chair
Department of Communication Studies and English
Hamline University
United States

Profile

Dr. Ishida earned her B.A. in English and Journalism from Chiang Mai University, Thailand; an M.A. in International Communication from Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia; and a Ph.D. in Mass Communications from the University of Iowa.

As soon as completing her undergraduate studies, Dr. Ishida worked at an Indochinese refugee camp under the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Thailand. She also served as a news reporter for prominent Bangkok-based news agencies in Thailand, including a national English-language daily, The Nation newspaper, the U.S. news agency The Associated Press, and the British news agency, Reuters.

Currently, Dr. Ishida serves as Chair of the English and Communication Studies Department at Hamline University. Her academic focus lies in Critical Media Studies, Media in the Digital Age, Media in Global Perspective, Media and Global Environmental Conflicts, Intercultural Communication, and Global Advertising.

Dr. Ishida has contributed significantly to academic literature, with notable publications including her book Heightening Environmental Awareness as a Political Strategy: The Journalistic Construction of an Anti-Dam Movement by the Press in Thailand. Recognized for her commitment to global journalism and environmental advocacy, Dr. Ishida secured grants from the Round Earth Media Program of the International Women’s Media Foundation. This funding enabled her and Hamline students to collaborate with Thai journalists and The New York Times correspondent Richard Paddock, producing impactful environmental news reports from Thailand in 2020, 2022, and 2023.

Dr. Ishida has been working in the fields of Global Communication and Media Studies for more than 30 years since early 1990 from floppy disks to Artificial Intelligence and Web 3.0

Dr. Suda earned her Ph.D. in Mass Communications from the University of Iowa, United States. Currently, she serves as Chair of the English and Communication Studies Department at Hamline University. Her courses at Hamline include Critical Media Studies, Media in the Digital Age, Media in Global Perspective, Media and Global Environmental Conflicts, Intercultural Communication, and Global Advertising. Dr. Ishida has been working in the fields of Global Communication and Media Studies for more than 30.

Dr. Abdul Basit

Assistant Professor
School of Media and Communication Studies
University of Management and Technology
Pakistan

Profile

Dr. Abdul Basit is a distinguished professional with over seven years of extensive experience in teaching, research, and professional practice across various public and private universities and media organizations. His expertise lies in Research, Advertising, and Public Relations; where he has successfully supervised numerous research and professional projects at the Bachelor’s, Master’s, and M.Phil levels.

Dr. Basit possesses a robust research acumen, demonstrated by his numerous publications in both National and International research journals. His research interests encompass Critical Discourse Analysis, Crisis Communication, Islamophobia, Health Communication, Digital and New Media, Advertising and PR Campaigns, Peace Journalism, Effect Studies, and Political Communication.

Throughout his career, Dr. Basit has made significant contributions to academia and the professional realm, integrating theoretical insights with practical applications in media and communication studies. He continues to be a pivotal figure in advancing knowledge and practice in his field, influencing both scholarly discourse and industry practices alike. Currently, he serves as an Assistant Professor, M.Phil program head & Coordinator in the School of Media and Communication Studies at the University of Management and Technology, Lahore.

Prof. (Dr.) Çiler Dursun

Professor
Faculty of Communication
University of Ankara
Türkiye

Profile

Professor at Ankara University Faculty of Communication and teaching theories of communication and news sociology since 1994. She has conducted many national field researches and international EU projects since 2004. Science communication, gender studies, ideology and discourse analysis, cultural studies and philosophy of communication are her main research and teaching areas. Science Communication (Turkish with O.Dursun, 2021), Communication, Tehory and Critique (2015, Turkish), Ideology in TV news (2016, Turkish), News, Truth and Power (2002, Turkish) are her major boks published in addition to her many articles. She is currently editing a book on The Future of Journalism and coordinating and Erasmus+ EU Project called as Digidarts.

Prof. Dr. Bhavna Wal

Assistant Professor
Amity School of Communication
Amity University
Lucknow Campus
India

Dr. Sascha H. Funk

Head of Media Studies
Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication
Thammasat University, Thailand

Profile

Sascha H. Funk is the Head of Media Studies at Thammasat University. He is an expert in the field of media and communication, and has extensive experience in both academia and the private sector. He has published numerous articles and books on the subject, and is a highly respected authority in the field.

Dr. Haseeb UR Rehman

Director, Institute of Media Sciences
Pakistan

Profile

Dr. Haseeb holds over 14 years of comprehensive experience in academia, research, production, and administration within the field of media and communication. His journey in the realm of media and communication has been multifaceted, beginning with a tenure as Director of Production before transitioning into academia. During his time in production, he successfully managed the creation of over 8000 minutes of video content, honing his skills in project management, team leadership, and creative direction. His commitment to advancing knowledge in media and communication led him to
pursue an academic career. Currently serving as director, institute of Media sciences, Islamabad. Previously, he has the honor to establish 2 media departments as Head of the Department. Firstly, Department of Arts and media at Foundation University Islamabad and secondly Department of Media and Communication Studies at the National University of Modern Languages, Rawalpindi Campus. He has had the privilege of guiding and mentoring the next generation of media professionals. These roles has allowed him to merge his passion for research with his dedication to teaching, fostering an environment of intellectual curiosity and critical inquiry. In addition to his academic pursuits, he has contributed significantly to scholarly discourse through the publication of two books and 34 research papers in renowned international journals. His research interests span a range of pertinent topics, including political communication, journalism studies, and peace and conflict journalism

Workshop Speaker

Dr. Luis Almeida

Department Chair of Mass Communications
University of Claflin
United States

Profile

Luis Camillo Machado Osorio de Almeida, Ph. D., is an award-winning professor, published scholar of technology, book author, recipient of 16 international media production awards, former President of the Cleveland Media Association, currently serving as the Department Chair of Mass Communications at Claflin University. His academic work has been featured in various scholarly journals and books, including the British Journal of Mass Communication and Research, Tech Trends, Journal of Digital Games Research (DiGRA), the International Journal of Education Reform, and Praeger Handbook of Latino Education In the United States. The Wall Street Journal, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Advertising Federation, and The Chattanougan have featured Dr. Almeida’s contributions to leadership and media. A TEDx Speaker, Leadership graduate faculty (Ed. D) for the University of Dayton during the Summer months, and affiliated faculty at RUTGERS Center for Minority Serving Institutions, Dr. Almeida is a multihyphenate lifetime member of the Holmes Partnership, a minority serving organization located in DC dedicated to training graduate students of color to become academic leaders in institutions nationwide. In 2017, he received an honorary doctorate (D. Min) for his global outreach work— intercultural communication and assistance to people of color worldwide. He is a double recipient of the PRNEWS Oustanding HBCU Educator of the Year in 2022 and 2023, and in 2023, he was a PRNEWS Communicator of the Year nominee among non-profits. He is also a faculty Champion for the Center for Community News at the University of Vermont and completed the MDP certificate program at Harvard University.