Rabia Najaf | Environmental Science | Research Excellence Award

Posted on by Phenomenological Research

Research Excellence Award

Dr. Rabia Najaf, PhD — Sunway Business School, Sunway University, Malaysia

Rabia Najaf
Affiliation Sunway Business School, Sunway University
Country Malaysia
Google Scholar n0A4ZhQAAAAJ
Documents 14
Citations 301
h-index 6
Subject Area Sustainability
Event International Phenomenological Research Awards
Scopus ID 57222246860
ORCID 0009-0005-3074-227X

Dr. Rabia Najaf is an accounting and sustainability researcher affiliated with Sunway Business School, Sunway University, Malaysia. Her academic work spans accounting, corporate governance, sustainability, environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues, and financial technology. Her profile reports 14 documents, 301 citations and an h-index of 6, alongside a stated record of Q1 Scopus-indexed publications as first author. [1] [2]

Her academic trajectory combines doctoral training in accounting, research-fellowship activity, teaching experience and participation in international scholarly conferences. She completed a PhD in Business (Accounting) at Sunway University and has undertaken research appointments at Sunway University, Monash University and Taylor’s University. Her research interests connect corporate accountability with sustainability, governance mechanisms and emerging financial technologies. [3] [4]

Abstract

Dr. Rabia Najaf’s research profile is centered on accounting, corporate governance, sustainability, ESG and financial technology. Her work examines how governance structures, sustainability practices, digital finance and institutional mechanisms influence corporate outcomes. She has developed research across empirical corporate studies, FinTech governance and sustainability-related financial questions, while also contributing to academic teaching, peer review and scholarly service. [3] [4] [5]

Keywords

Environmental Science; ESG; Sustainability; Artificial Intelligence; Corporate Governance; FinTech; Accounting; Financial Technology; Corporate Performance; Board Diversity; Cybersecurity Risk; Sustainable Finance.

Introduction

Dr. Rabia Najaf’s academic profile reflects an interdisciplinary approach to contemporary accounting and business research. Her stated research interests integrate traditional accounting questions with corporate governance, sustainability and financial technology, areas that increasingly intersect as firms respond to environmental risks, digital transformation and demands for stronger corporate accountability.

Her doctoral education at Sunway University provided a foundation for advanced research in accounting, while her professional experience includes teaching and research positions in Malaysia and Pakistan. Her research-service activities also include peer review for journals covering finance, economics, sustainability and social science research, demonstrating engagement with scholarly evaluation and academic community service.

Research Profile

Dr. Rabia Najaf’s research profile is characterized by the study of corporate governance, sustainability and financial technology. Her work considers how corporate structures and external institutional conditions affect organizational performance and sustainability-related outcomes. The profile also encompasses board characteristics, ESG practices, financial markets and digital technologies.

Her professional experience includes an Adjunct Research Fellow role at Sunway University. Earlier research appointments at Monash University and Taylor’s University involved research coordination, data collection, database development, financial-information analysis and project support. Her teaching experience includes lecturing in Pakistan, with responsibilities for assessment, feedback and connecting accounting and business concepts with practical examples.

Her training has included research on the Sustainable Development Goals, Stata-based data analysis and statistical modelling. She has also participated in international conferences and research colloquia, including presentations concerning finance, accounting, digital transformation and sustainability.

Research Contributions

A significant component of Dr. Rabia Najaf’s research concerns the relationship between FinTech and corporate governance. Her co-authored work conceptualizes governance challenges faced by FinTech firms, while related research examines sustainability and cybersecurity risk within FinTech firms and banking institutions. These studies place technological innovation within a broader framework of corporate risk and sustainable financial activity. [3] [5]

Another strand addresses political connections and corporate performance, emphasizing the role of organizational efficiency in understanding the consequences of political ties. This research contributes to the literature on corporate governance and institutional influences on firm-level outcomes. [4]

Her broader research agenda also includes sustainability committees, gender diversity on corporate boards, intellectual capital, ESG, climate risk, leverage, supply-chain firms and sustainability-related awards. Manuscripts identified in her profile indicate an expanding empirical agenda involving international and Malaysian evidence, with several studies positioned within sustainability, accounting, finance and management journals.

Publications

Dr. Rabia Najaf’s publication record includes journal articles and scholarly book chapters addressing FinTech, cybersecurity, corporate performance, governance and sustainability. Her 2021 article with Mostafiz and Najaf examined sustainability in FinTech firms and banks in relation to cybersecurity risk and was published in the International Journal of Financial Engineering. [3]

Her co-authored study on political ties and corporate performance was published in the Journal of Business and Socio-Economic Development, examining why efficiency matters when evaluating the relationship between political connections and firm outcomes. [4]

Najaf has also contributed to edited and scholarly volumes. Her work with Najaf and Chin on corporate governance issues in FinTech firms forms part of a Springer volume addressing artificial intelligence and the fourth industrial revolution. The chapter is associated with. [5]

The supplied academic profile additionally identifies recent and forthcoming work concerning CSR awards, sustainability committees, board gender diversity, capital structure, intellectual capital, FinTech-enabled tourism firms, supply-chain regulation, climate risk, ESG and leverage. These projects indicate a research program extending from corporate governance toward sustainability-oriented financial and organizational questions.

Research Impact

The available scholarly indicators identify 14 documents, 301 citations and an h-index of 6 for the stated Google Scholar and Scopus-linked profile information. [1] [2] These indicators provide quantitative evidence of scholarly visibility, while the subject breadth of the publications demonstrates engagement with accounting, finance, governance, sustainability and technology.

Beyond publication activity, Dr. Rabia Najaf’s academic impact is also reflected in peer-review and editorial activities, conference participation and research presentations. Her profile records peer-review service for journals in finance, economics, infrastructure policy, humanities and environmental-social research, together with editorial-board memberships. Such activities contribute to the wider academic research ecosystem through scholarly assessment and dissemination.

Her participation as a keynote speaker at an international conference in 2026 and presentations at research colloquia and international finance, accounting and law conferences further demonstrate engagement with scholarly communication and international research networks.

Award Suitability

Based on the supplied academic record, Dr. Rabia Najaf presents a credible profile for consideration for a Research Excellence Award. Relevant evidence includes a sustained research focus in accounting, corporate governance, sustainability and FinTech; 14 reported documents and 301 citations; an h-index of 6; peer-review and editorial activities; international conference participation; and publications addressing contemporary corporate and sustainability challenges. [1] [2]

Particularly relevant to an excellence-oriented recognition is the integration of sustainability with corporate governance and financial technology. Her research addresses issues such as cybersecurity risk, corporate performance, board characteristics, ESG, climate risk and sustainable finance. These themes correspond to major contemporary questions in responsible corporate management and financial-sector transformation. [3] [4] [5]

The award assessment should nevertheless consider the complete verified publication record, citation sources, authorship contributions, journal indexing status and documented research outputs alongside the profile information supplied for this article.

Conclusion

Dr. Rabia Najaf is an accounting and sustainability researcher whose work connects corporate governance, ESG, sustainability and FinTech. Her reported scholarly metrics, publication activity, research-service contributions and international academic engagement establish a developing research profile with relevance to contemporary business and sustainability scholarship. Her research trajectory demonstrates continued engagement with governance, financial technology and sustainability-oriented corporate research.

References

  1. Google Scholar. (n.d.). Google Scholar profile: Rabia Najaf, Scholar ID n0A4ZhQAAAAJ. https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=n0A4ZhQAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=sra
  2. Elsevier. (n.d.). Scopus author details: Rabia Najaf, Author ID 57222246860. Scopus. https://www.scopus.com/pages/authors/57222246860
  3. Najaf, K., Mostafiz, M. I., & Najaf, R. (2021). Fintech firms and banks sustainability: Why cybersecurity risk matters? International Journal of Financial Engineering, 8(2), 2150019. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1142/S2424786321500195
  4. Najaf, R., & Najaf, K. (2021). Political ties and corporate performance: Why efficiency matters? Journal of Business and Socio-Economic Development, 1(2), 182–196. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/JBSED-03-2021-0023
  5. Najaf, K., Chin, A., & Najaf, R. (2021). Conceptualising the corporate governance issues of fintech firms. In The Fourth Industrial Revolution: Implementation of Artificial Intelligence for Growing Business Success. Springer. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-62796-6_10

Ranran Li | Environmental Science | Young Scientist Award

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Mr. Ranran Li | Environmental Science | Young Scientist Award 

Associate Professor at Yanshan University | China

Mr. Ranran Li is a distinguished scholar and master supervisor who received his Ph.D. in Economics from Dongbei University of Finance and Economics and is recognized as an excellent talent under the Yanshan Scholars program at Yanshan University. As a CCF member, he has built an influential research profile with 1,254 citations across 1,074 documents, 28 publications, and an h-index of 16, reflecting the high impact of his work, and his scholarly contributions continue to influence the field despite the View h-index button being disabled in preview mode. Professionally, Mr. Ranran Li serves as an anonymous reviewer for leading journals including Technovation, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, IEEE Transactions on Fuzzy Systems, IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks and Learning Systems, Applied Energy, Energy, Journal of Cleaner Production, and many others, demonstrating his authority and expertise in his domain. His research interests encompass energy demand forecasting, environmental comprehensive evaluation, financial risk early-warning, and air pollution monitoring and management, with extensive experience leading projects funded by national and provincial foundations, including studies on air environment governance, urban environmental system evaluation, carbon emission rights allocation, and wind energy resource assessment using machine learning and intelligent optimization algorithms. He has also guided students to success in national and international modeling competitions, exemplifying his mentorship in applied research and mathematical modeling. Mr. Ranran Li’s research skills include multi-objective optimization, fuzzy synthetic evaluation, hybrid forecasting models, support vector machines, neural networks, and data-driven predictive modeling, enabling him to address complex problems in energy, environment, and financial systems. His numerous publications in top-tier journals, along with his awards and recognition for scientific excellence, highlight his scholarly impact. In conclusion, Mr. Ranran Li exemplifies a combination of rigorous scholarship, innovative research, and effective mentorship, establishing him as a leading researcher whose contributions advance knowledge and practice across energy, environmental, and financial risk domains.

Profile: Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications:

  • Li, R., & Jin, Y. (2018). A wind speed interval prediction system based on multi-objective optimization for machine learning method. Applied Energy, 228, 2207–2220.

  • Jiang, P., Li, R., et al. (2020). A novel composite electricity demand forecasting framework by data processing and optimized support vector machine. Applied Energy, 260, 114243.

  • Li, R., & Jin, Y. (2018). The early-warning system based on hybrid optimization algorithm and fuzzy synthetic evaluation model. Information Sciences, 435, 296–319.

  • Li, R., Dong, Y., Zhu, Z., et al. (2019). A dynamic evaluation framework for ambient air pollution monitoring. Applied Mathematical Modelling, 65, 52–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apm.2018.07.052

  • Li, R., Hu, Y., Heng, J., & Chen, X. (2021). A novel multiscale forecasting model for crude oil price time series. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 173, 121181.

  • Li, R., Chen, X., Balezentis, T., Streimikiene, D., & Niu, Z. (2021). Multi-step least squares support vector machine modeling approach for forecasting short-term electricity demand with application. Neural Computing & Applications, 33, 301–320.

  • Li, R., Jiang, P., et al. (2020). A novel hybrid forecasting scheme for electricity demand time series. Sustainable Cities and Society, 55, 102036

Steve Lyon | Environmental Science | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Steve Lyon | Environmental Science | Best Researcher Award 

Professor at The Ohio State University | United States

Dr. Steve Lyon is a distinguished scholar in hydrology and environmental sciences, currently serving as Professor at the School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University. His career reflects a deep commitment to advancing sustainable water resource management through innovative research and global collaboration. With academic foundations in agricultural and biological engineering Dr. Steve Lyon has expanded his expertise to  encompass hydrology, water quality, and environmental resilience. He has contributed extensively to both research and applied science, bridging the gap between academic knowledge and practical solutions. His global engagement underscores his leadership in addressing pressing water challenges.

Profile:

Google Scholar

Education:

Dr. Steve Lyon holds a Ph.D. in Biological and Environmental Engineering from Cornell University, where his dissertation focused on spatial structures of shallow water tables in hydrology. Prior to his doctorate, he earned an M.S. from Cornell University, developing methods to apply topographic indices in runoff prediction. His academic journey began at Purdue University with a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural and Biological Engineering, complemented by a minor in Mathematics. He later achieved the prestigious title of Docent at Stockholm University, emphasizing Physical Geography with Hydrology. These milestones shaped his expertise in interdisciplinary and applied environmental sciences.

Experience:

Dr. Steve Lyon has held leadership and research roles across renowned institutions and organizations. At Ohio State University, he progressed from Associate Professor to Professor, contributing to the school’s mission of advancing environmental knowledge and outreach. His earlier tenure at Stockholm University as Professor of Physical Geography included supervising doctoral and postdoctoral research while expanding hydrology teaching. His applied impact was evident during his role as Freshwater and Conservation Scientist with The Nature Conservancy, where he advanced conservation initiatives. He has also contributed through postdoctoral research in Arizona and Sweden, furthering hydrological modeling and climate adaptation studies.

Research Interests:

Dr. Steve Lyon’s research focuses on hydrology, water resources, and environmental sustainability. His work emphasizes understanding nutrient transport, water quality dynamics, and agricultural drainage systems, with direct applications in mitigating harmful algal blooms and improving watershed health. He is particularly engaged in advancing controlled drainage technologies and nature-based solutions to strengthen climate resilience. His interdisciplinary approach connects physical hydrology with environmental policy, agricultural engineering, and community collaboration. By integrating high-frequency monitoring, isotopic analysis, and modeling techniques, Dr. Steve Lyon contributes innovative frameworks for sustainable management of water resources at local, regional, and international scales.

Awards and Honors:

Dr. Steve Lyon has received recognition for both academic excellence and impactful applied science. His research was honored with an Outstanding Paper of the Year Award from the Hydrological Processes journal, highlighting his contributions to advancing hydrological knowledge. He has been recognized by agricultural and environmental organizations, including awards for county-level excellence in sustainability practices. Prestigious fellowships and scholarships from international foundations have further acknowledged his academic achievements. These distinctions underscore his dedication to innovative research, impactful teaching, and effective collaboration across disciplines, ensuring his contributions are both scientifically significant and societally relevant.

Publications:

Title: Wetlands as large-scale nature-based solutions: Status and challenges for research, engineering and management
Citation: 416
Year of Publication: 2017

Title: How old is streamwater? Open questions in catchment transit time conceptualization, modelling and analysis
Citation: 376
Year of Publication: 2010

Title: Using a topographic index to distribute variable source area runoff predicted with the SCS curve‐number equation
Citation: 232
Year of Publication: 2004

Title: Identifying hydrologically sensitive areas: bridging the gap between science and application
Citation: 216
Year of Publication: 2006

Title: The master transit time distribution of variable flow systems
Citation: 190
Year of Publication: 2012

Title: Thermokarst lake, hydrological flow and water balance indicators of permafrost change in Western Siberia
Citation: 189
Year of Publication: 2012

Title: Improving agricultural water use efficiency with biochar–A synthesis of biochar effects on water storage and fluxes across scales
Citation: 178
Year of Publication: 2019

Conclusion:

Dr. Steve Lyon’s career demonstrates exceptional leadership in hydrology, sustainability, and environmental resource management. His global perspective, grounded in rigorous scientific research and community-focused engagement, highlights his ability to bridge theory with practice. Through extensive teaching, mentorship, and scholarly contributions, he has shaped the next generation of environmental scientists. His recognition by leading scientific and agricultural organizations underscores the value of his work in addressing real-world challenges. By advancing innovative methods for sustainable water and land management, Dr. Steve Lyon has established himself as an influential figure, making him an outstanding candidate for prestigious awards.