Dr Khai Lin Chong is Director of the Disaster Management Institute and Senior Lecturer at Universiti Utara Malaysia’s School of Technology Management and Logistics. She holds a PhD in Civil and Earth Resources Engineering from Kyoto University (2017), complementing her environmental engineering degrees from Malaysian institutions. An active UNESCO-IHP participant, her research focuses on flood modelling, water pollution control, disaster resilience, and integrated watershed management. Dr Chong has authored over 50 journal publications and led/participated in 20+ national and international research projects. Her recent work includes optimising sponge city controls and exploring waste recycling in construction. Recognised globally, she has held visiting appointments at Kyoto University (Japan) and Ningbo University (China), validating her expertise in hydrological modelling and disaster risk reduction strategies. Her ongoing research investigates the ecological impacts of hydrological processes and flood inundation dynamics.