Tariq Umar is a leading researcher in the built environment and design, making a place in the top 2% scientists in the world. He has completed Ph.D. from London South Bank University, UK, and registered as a Chartered Civil Engineer (CEng) with Engineering Council UK. He is also a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers (MICE). He has more than 20 years of international experience involving different positions in academia and industry.

Tariq has published more than 100 research papers in the area of construction management, renewable energy, engineering sustainability, construction materials, waste and resource management, construction Technology, STEM Higher Education and Profession published in reputed journals, books and conference proceedings. He is the UK lead for the collaborative project “inclusive higher education project” funded by British Council.

See details on his current research interests and activities.

Dr. Wiwin Siti Aminah Rohmawati is a prominent expert in interfaith dialogue, peacebuilding, and inclusive education in Indonesia. She serves as the Director of the Center for Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) at Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Yogyakarta and teaches multiculturalism and gender in Islam at Darussalam Islamic University, Ciamis. With over 16 years of experience in interreligious collaboration, she has played key roles at organizations like Interfidei, served as Vice Director of the Institute of Southeast Asian Islam (ISAIs), and is a board member of the Forum for Interreligious Harmony in Yogyakarta. Dr. Rohmawati is also the co-founder of Srikandi Lintas Iman, an interfaith women's community, and has been a consultant for KAICIID’s Multi-religious Collaboration for the Common Good project in Indonesia.

Her contributions to interfaith dialogue and leadership have been internationally recognized through programs such as KAICIID’s Fellows Program, the U.S. Department of State’s Religious Freedom and Interfaith Dialogue Exchange Program, and Australia’s Leadership Development for Multifaith Women Leaders. Dr. Rohmawati is also an awardee of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council's Rambam Program and has served as a Visiting Scholar at the Norwegian Center for Human Rights (NCHR), University of Oslo, Norway. She is currently completing her PhD in Interfaith Studies at Sunan Kalijaga State Islamic University, focusing her dissertation on women’s agency in Indonesia’s Forum for Interreligious Harmony. Notably, she has managed projects promoting religious pluralism through early childhood education and social media engagement, emphasizing her dedication to fostering peace and understanding across communities.

Erin Gayatri joined the Center for GEDSI UNU Yogyakarta in 2022. She actively provides support to students with disabilities on the UNU Yogyakarta campus, particularly ensuring that the basic rights of students with disabilities are met within the campus environment. In addition, through the social media account of the Center for GEDSI, Erin and her team actively conduct campaigns, education, and advocacy on disability issues both within the university and in the public sphere. She is also involved in conducting sign language courses for volunteers assiting students with disabilities and students with disabilities at UNU Yogyakarta.

Erin has a Master of Arts in Religious Studies from Gadjah Mada University and a Bachelor Degree in Religious Studies from Sunan Kalijaga Islamic State University. In addition, since 2019, Erin has been volunteering with women of different faiths and backgrounds, including women with disabilities, to promote peace and inclusivity. Currently, Erin is conducting research and advocacy for disability rights in higher education with the Center for GEDSI UNU Yogyakarta and the University of The West of England, supported by the British Council. At the same time, Erin began preparing a diversity school program for disabilities, including disability rights in places of worship, in collaboration with Srikandi Lintas Iman.

Yusnita Ike Christanti, UNU Yogyakarta

Yusnita is a researcher and expert in gender, disabilities, social inclusion, public budget and public policy, good governance, community development and advocacy. She has completed her degree studies in Political Science and Government, at Gadjah Mada University.

For more than 15 years, she has worked in the world of NGOs at both local and international levels in various positions. Currently, she is also an NGO representative who has a special mandate to voice the interests of women and other vulnerable groups in the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) Multi Stakeholder Forum. In the last five years, she joined the project management team of GEDSI research and experts at Nahdlatul Ulama University Yogyakarta.

Currently, she is part of the team for the collaborative project ‘inclusive higher education project’ funded by the British Council together with the University of the West of England Bristol.

Faidatun Nadiroh has been working as an Indonesian Sign Language (BISINDO) interpreter since 2019 and has been an active member of PLJ DIY (Center for Sign Language Interpreter Services in Yogyakarta). Her experience spans diverse settings, including educational institutions, legal proceedings, government events, and activities within the disability community. Through these roles, she has demonstrated a strong commitment to facilitating effective communication and promoting accessibility for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing communities.

In addition to Faida’s interpreting work, she served as a Social Inclusion Associate at the Center for Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) at UNU Yogyakarta from 2022 to 2024. In this role, she contributed to initiatives aimed at fostering inclusive practices and policies, prepared the development of creative and innovative disability programs, implemented programs related to social inclusion, and organized volunteers to assist students with disabilities within the university. Currently, she is the project officer for the collaborative project “Inclusive Higher Education Project,” funded by the British Council.

Her passion for inclusivity and advocacy continues to drive her efforts to build a more accessible and equitable society.