About Speakers

Speaker 1

Professor Gerard Goggin

Professor Gerard Goggin is an internationally acclaimed scholar affiliated with leading academic institutions, including past appointments at the University of Sydney, Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), the University of New South Wales, and the University of Queensland. He is currently active in academic research and advisory roles, including as a member of the Australian Research Council’s College of Experts (2024–2026).

Prof. Goggin’s expertise lies in communication, media, and cultural studies, with particular focus on digital technology, mobile media, disability studies, and the historical and global dimensions of the Internet.

Over the past two decades, Prof. Goggin has significantly influenced the development of digital media studies. He is widely recognized for his pioneering research on mobile media cultures and disability rights in digital environments. His professional engagement includes serving as a founding board member of the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) and contributing to public policy debates involving media accessibility and communication justice.

Prof. Goggin has authored and edited numerous landmark publications, including:

Mobile Media Methods (2024, with Larissa Hjorth))
Global Mobile Media (2011)
Disability and the Media (2015, with Katie Ellis)
Digital Disability (2003, with Christopher Newell)
Co-editor of Routledge Companion to Disability and Media (2020), Internet Histories, and Virtual Nation: The Internet in Australia (2004)

Prof. Goggin’s scholarship offers critical insight into how communication technologies shape social, cultural, and economic transformations—particularly in relation to inclusion, accessibility, and digital justice. His focus on global digital dynamics, civil society engagement, and disability rights contributes directly to the AICCON 2025 theme: "Aligning the Voice of the Archipelago: Communication Transformation for Maritime Socio-Cultural and Economic Progress."

Prof. Goggin deliver his presentation virtually on July 30, 2025.

Speaker 2

Dr. Benjamina Paula G.Flor

Professor at the College of Development Communication, University of the Philippines Los Baños, and Program Chairperson of the Master of Development Communication at the Faculty of Information and Communication Studies, University of the Philippines Open University.
Her academic and research expertise spans education, gender studies, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), distance learning, and work-life balance—particularly in the context of development communication.
Dr. Flor has long served as a faculty member at the University of the Philippines system and currently holds dual roles in two constituent universities. She has led academic programs in open and distance learning and is actively involved in community-based research initiatives throughout the Philippines.
She has published extensively on participatory media, disaster risk reduction, rural development, youth communication, and public engagement. Her recent works include:

Participatory video as a capacity-building tool on disaster risk reduction management (Journal of Public Affairs and Development, 2024)
Family Communication Patterns as Predictor of Help Seeking (Puissant, 2024)
Vaccine Hesitancy as Lived Experience among Members of a Christian Community (Religion and Social Communication, 2023)

Dr. Flor’s scholarly contributions reflect a strong commitment to inclusive and culturally rooted communication practices. Her expertise in gender, participatory methods, and cultural contexts of development aligns meaningfully with the AICCON 2025 theme.
Dr. Flor delivers her presentation virtually on July 30, 2025.

Speaker 3

Dr. Ammar Redza Ahmad Rizal

Dr. Ammar Redza Ahmad Rizal is a Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Research in Media and Communication (MENTION), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). He is an active scholar engaged in interdisciplinary research and academic development in the field of communication and media studies.
Dr. Ammar specializes in communication for behavioural change, innovation diffusion, and strategic communication. His research particularly focuses on the mechanisms by which communication fosters societal transformation, sustainability practices, and political engagement among youth through social media.

His experience includes collaborative work on ethical artificial intelligence (AI) frameworks in education, game-based learning for sustainability, and digital political discourse. As a political analyst, he frequently provides commentary in prominent Malaysian media outlets, especially on the political landscape of Sarawak. His ability to translate complex political dynamics into accessible analysis for the public reinforces his commitment to public scholarship.

Dr. Ammar has contributed extensively to high-impact journals, including:

Decoding the Complexity of Sustainable Rice Farming (Cogent Food & Agriculture, 2024)
How Does Social Media Influence People to Get Vaccinated? (International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2022)
Smallholders Participation in Sustainable Certification (Frontiers in Psychology, 2022)
Communicating Sustainable Brand Equity (Sustainability, 2023)
Political Communication in Sarawak: A Critical Discourse Analysis (Kajian Malaysia, 2024)

Dr. Ammar’s research aligns closely with the theme of AICCON 2025, "Aligning the Voice of the Archipelago: Communication Transformation for Maritime Socio-Cultural and Economic Progress." His work on strategic communication, sustainability, and participatory digital engagement provides vital perspectives on how communication practices can facilitate inclusive and equitable development in archipelagic and rural regions.

Dr. Ammar Redza Ahmad Rizal deliver his presentation on-site on July 30, 2025.

Speaker 4

Dr. Muliadi Mau

Dr. Muliadi Mau is a permanent lecturer at the Department of Communication Science, Universitas Hasanuddin, Indonesia. He is also an active media practitioner and researcher, specializing in journalism and mass communication.

His areas of expertise encompass journalism studies, media reporting (both mass and online), and multicultural communication. He teaches core subjects such as Journalism Foundations, Communication Research Methods, Radio Journalism, and Broadcast Reporting Techniques. His professional engagement extends to supervising undergraduate research and offering consultancy and training in journalistic practices.

With a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and a Master's degree in Mass Media Studies, Dr. Mau has a robust background in both theoretical and applied communication. He has served as a resource person in national and regional media forums, and has taught at several private universities, offering insights on media ecosystems and journalistic ethics in the digital age.

Dr. Mau’s academic contributions include several peer-reviewed journal articles and books, such as:

Social Network Analysis in Interpersonal Communication among First Grade Students (Teaching and Learning Journal of Mandalika)
LGBT Networks in Makassar through Blued and Twitter: A Social Network Analysis (Kaganga Komunika)
Political Communication Strategy for South Sulawesi Provincial DPRD Members through Social Media in the 2019 Election (WCGSS Proceedings, 2023)
Student Criticism to Jokowi's Policy (Jurnal Jurnalisa)
Trends of Political Reporters Writing Hoax on Online Media in South Sulawesi (International Journal of Global Community)

Books authored include:

Potret Ekosistem Penyiaran Indonesia
Corak dan Bentuk: Pakaian Adat Buton Kota Baubau
Bingkai Narasi di Balik Tragedi Sambo

In line with the overarching theme of AICCON 2025, “Aligning the Voice of the Archipelago: Communication Transformation for Maritime Socio-Cultural and Economic Progress,” Dr. Mau will deliver a presentation entitled “Communication in Harmony.” His talk explores the role of multicultural communication within the evolving media landscape, highlighting how inclusive narratives and diverse representations contribute to social cohesion and cultural resonance in Indonesia’s pluralistic society.

Dr. Muliadi Mau deliver his presentation on-site on July 30, 2025.

Speaker 5

Dr. Prakrit Rakwong

Dr. Prakrit Rakwong is a researcher in the field of political science and international relations, and a former research assistant at the Institute for Global Governance Research (GGR), Hitotsubashi University, Japan.

Dr. Rakwong specializes in East Asian politics, Thai domestic politics, and international relations theory. His scholarly focus encompasses alliance politics, security cooperation, and policy analysis in both regional and global contexts. He has particular interest in how domestic political dynamics intersect with international strategies, especially in Asia-Pacific.

He earned his doctoral degree from the Graduate School of Law, Hitotsubashi University, under the prestigious MEXT scholarship awarded by the Government of Japan. He also holds a master’s degree in International and Administrative Policy from Hitotsubashi University, and a bachelor’s degree in Politics and International Relations from Thammasat University, Thailand. During his time in Japan, he contributed to multiple interdisciplinary policy research projects related to international diplomacy and comparative governance.

Dr. Rakwong has authored and co-authored several publications, including:

Revitalizing Domestic Tourism Amid the Pandemic: Resilience and Policy Lessons from Japan and Thailand’s Stimulus Campaigns (ITHM 2025 Conference Proceedings)
Digital Politics (Journal of Social Science and Cultural, 2025)
Reassessing US Alliance in the Asia-Pacific Region from the Perspectives of Junior Allies: The Theory of Threat, Signal, and Domestic Factors (Doctoral Dissertation, Hitotsubashi University, 2024)
2023 Thai General Election: The Rise of the Opposition (GGR Issue Briefing, 2023)
UK–Japan Security Cooperation (Hitotsubashi Policy Brief, 2020)

Aligned with AICCON 2025’s theme, “Aligning the Voice of the Archipelago: Communication Transformation for Maritime Socio-Cultural and Economic Progress,” Dr. Rakwong’s work provides an essential geopolitical lens to understanding how domestic political narratives, regional diplomacy, and cultural identities intersect in shaping communication and governance in the Asia-Pacific. His perspective offers critical insight into cross-cultural dialogue, regional collaboration, and the communicative dimensions of international policy.

Dr. Prakrit Rakwong deliver his presentation virtually.