Irina Safitri Zen

Irina Safitri Zen
Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Built Environment
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia

Biography

Irina Safitri Zen, PhD has recognized as an environmental management & sustainability expert with 15 years of experience (1999 – now) in various consultancy and research projects. She is the author of more than 50 scientific-technical publications in this field including peer-reviewed articles, book chapters and conference papers. As a Research Fellow and Head of Sustainability Unit at the Institut Sultan Iskandar, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Dr Irina also a Senior Lecture who teach environmental studies and management, introduction to environmental economics, environmental management and planning at Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Faculty of Built Environment. Dr. Irina had lead the UTM Campus Sustainability since 2011 and during her leadership in transform sustainable development in campus, she introduces the Living Laboratory approach, an integrating research, teaching & learning and operations. The approach as to promote of the sustainable culture to the campus society in more structured way, promotes inter- and trans-disciplinary approach of complex human-environment problem. Dr Irina lead coordinator in Low Carbon Cities Framework (LCCF) & Assessment ‘, a four year of Strategic Partnership between UTM Campus Sustainability (UTM CS) and Malaysia Green Technology Corporation (MGTC) & Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water in develop UTM as a model of Low Carbon Campus in Malaysia (2012 – 2016), during her directorship in UTM Office of Campus Sustainability (OCS), she is a secretariat for UTM Campus Sustainability Organization, which consist of a group UTM top management as a Sustainable Council member and a group of Sustainable Technical Expert. During her involvement UTM CS. She is also coordinate and working closely with 50 Green Managers and Students council to mobilize the UTM CS effort. During her period, UTM CS has improve its’ ranking at UI GreenMetric University Global Ranking from 139 rank in 2012 to 86 rank in 2014. She is a lead author of UTM Campus Sustainability report ‘UTM Low Carbon Campus’ (2009 -2013), which follow the Global Report Initiative (GRI) approach. She is initiate the sustainability science approach has been apply as to create the co-management and co-implementation towards campus UTM campus sustainability governance and to support the financial sustainability approach. Dr. Irina was one of the team member in develop the campus sustainability section of UTM Plan Global 2015-2020. She is actively involves in sustainability related initiatives at global, regional, national and local level such as i. invited guest speaker at the International Conference of International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN) at National University of Singapore (NUS) in 2012, ii. invited speaker at International Workshop of Global Green University Ranking 2011 - now, iii. promotes environmental science through as MasterClass Series of Sustainable Development, at School Of Internet (SOI), CoNNECT Asia UNESCO (United Nation Education Scientific Culture Organization) Science Berau, Jakarta Office 2013 - now, iv. promotes Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) to the various Institution of Higher Education in Malaysia with Academic Leadership for Higher Education of Malaysia (AKEPT) at a national level (2011 – now). She involves actively as a member of working group in Sustainable Development Solution Network (SDSN) (2014 – now), Malaysia Chapter and Sustainable Consumption & Production (SCP) Malaysia (2013 – now), setting up the Environmental Governance Index for Environmental Protection Index (EPI) Malaysia under Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (2011 – now) and conduct an action and inter- trans-disciplinary research of ‘Towards Low Carbon Society ‘Waste Minimization’ in Iskandar Malaysia (2011 -2013). She is also active in promotes environmental health of asbestos in Asia. As one of the Board of Advisor at the first International Islamic EcoGreen School in Malaysia, as resources person for Sustainable Development section at UNESCO ScienceBerau, Dr Irina passion in sustainability and her main concerns on the application of sustainable development through research, teaching, learning and training and community development continuously grows and support by her networking with other sustainability leaders in Malaysia and Asia Pacific region.

Awards Received
• Citra Kharisma 2013. Anugerah Perkhidmatan Cemerlang. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.
• Receiver, Zamalah Scholarship, Centre for Graduate Studies, National University of Malaysia 2002-2003.
• Best Student in Master of Environmental Management (M. Env. Mgmt) Program, Centre for Graduate Studies, UKM, 1998.
• National University of Malaysia (UKM) Arts Inauguration for 5 years Dedication as a University Piano Player (1997 – 2002).
• Member of Malaysian Representative on Educational Tour and Students EXPO in Buenos Aires, Argentina 1995.

Research Interest

Education for sustainable development (ESD), urban environment, sustainability and environmental management and policy.

Field of Specialization
i. Environmental Studies & Management.
ii. Sustainable Development & Sustainability
iii. Sustainability Assessment & Research Methodology
iv. Solid Waste Management & Recycling Behavior.
v. Environmental Policy & Laws