Professional Biography 

Ir. Ts. Dr Ahmad Azlan Bin Ab Aziz is a registered professional engineer, professional technologist and ASEAN Chartered Professional Engineer with more than 23 years of combined experience spanning academia, industry, research, engineering practice, innovation, entrepreneurship and technology commercialisation. He currently serves as an assistant professor in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB) and deputy director of the Centre of Research in Agriculture and Food Technology (CRAFT), reporting to the research centre, UTB. In this role, he provides strategic leadership to advance multidisciplinary research, research collaboration, grant development, innovation, and technology translation to address emerging challenges in agriculture, food technology, and sustainable development.

At the beginning of his academic career at UTB, he was appointed as coordinator at the Planning and Development Office (PDO), where he served as a strategic analyst supporting the university's institutional planning and international ranking initiatives. He was responsible for analysing institutional performance indicators, managing strategic survey data, coordinating data collection and reporting exercises, and providing evidence-based analyses to support strategic planning and enhance the university's performance in global rankings.

From 2024 to June 2026, he served as deputy director of the enterprise office at UTB, where he led strategic initiatives in intellectual property management, innovation development, startup incubation, entrepreneurship, technology commercialisation and industry engagement. During his tenure, he played a significant role in strengthening the university's innovation ecosystem by establishing the Makers Lab as a living laboratory for research, rapid prototyping, product development, and commercialisation. He also spearheaded initiatives that transformed student research projects into startup ventures by mentoring and supporting the establishment of Tech4 Horizon Enterprise and Seven (Simpang Tujuh) Enterprise, demonstrating how university research can generate tangible economic and societal impact.

Professionally, Dr Ahmad Azlan is registered with the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM), the Board of Architects, Professional Engineers and Quantity Surveyors (BAPEQS) of Brunei Darussalam, and the Malaysia Board of Technologists (MBOT). He is also recognised as an ASEAN Chartered Professional Engineer (ACPE). At the national and regional levels, he actively contributes to engineering and technology quality assurance through his appointments as a Member of the MBOT Examination and Qualification Committee, an MBOT Professional Assessor and a Technology and Technical Accreditation Council (TTAC) Accreditation Evaluator.

His teaching, research and consultancy expertise spans embedded systems, Internet of Things (IoT), edge computing, artificial intelligence for embedded systems, industrial automation, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), robotics, RF and antenna engineering, wireless communications, drone technologies, additive manufacturing, rapid prototyping and Industry 4.0 technologies. His current research has expanded into smart agriculture, precision farming, AI-enabled agricultural systems, food technology, and sustainable digital solutions through interdisciplinary collaboration among engineering, agriculture, and emerging technologies.

Throughout his career, Dr Ahmad Azlan has maintained a strong commitment to bridging academic research with industrial practice. His philosophy is centred on translating research outcomes into practical solutions that create value for society, strengthen national innovation capabilities and cultivate entrepreneurial mindsets among students and researchers. Through his leadership in research, innovation and commercialisation, he continues to champion a collaborative ecosystem where education, research and industry work together to accelerate technology transfer and sustainable economic development.

Current Appointments

Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB)

• Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering

• Deputy Director of Centre for Research on Agrifood Science and Technology (CrAFT) (July 2026 - present)

• Deputy Director, Enterprise Office, Universiti Teknologi Brunei (2024-Jun 2026)

Professional Appointments

• MBOT Examination and Qualification Committee Member

• MBOT Professional Assessor

• TTAC Accreditation Evaluator

• Research Fellow, INTI International University

• Visiting Research Fellow, UiTM Antenna Research Centre (ARC)

• Visiting Consultant, Tactical Communication Sdn Bhd (Malaysia)

Professional Experience

Assistant Professor (PT2)

Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB), Brunei Darussalam
November 2022 – Present

Serving as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, contributing to teaching, research, innovation, enterprise development, and academic leadership. My work focuses on Internet of Things (IoT), Embedded Systems, Artificial Intelligence, RF and Antenna Engineering, Smart Healthcare Technologies, Rehabilitation Engineering, Robotics, UAV Systems, and Engineering Education.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver undergraduate and postgraduate engineering courses.

• Supervise Final Year Projects (FYP), Group Design Projects (GDP), MSc and PhD research.

• Lead multidisciplinary research and innovation projects.

• Secure competitive research grants and supervise research assistants.

• Develop industry collaborations and technology commercialisation initiatives.

• Organise engineering competitions, workshops, and STEM outreach programmes.

• Contribute to programme development, quality assurance, and curriculum enhancement.

Administrative and Leadership Roles

• Deputy Director of Centre for Research on Agrifood Science and Technology (CrAFT) (July 2026 - present)

• Deputy Director, Enterprise Office (2024-Jun 2026)

• Technical Chair, BICET 2025

• Programme Development & Quality Assurance Coordinator

• Acting Programme Leader (EEEPA)

• Examination Officer

Key Achievements

• Winner, Brunei ICT Awards (BICTA) – Startup Category (Psychoboard)

• APICTA Merit Award

• Startup673 Winner – InfuSense Smart IV Monitoring System

• Industrial Design Registration for Psychoboard

• Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator for multiple funded research projects

• Established AI, IoT, Embedded Systems and Living Lab initiatives

Senior Lecturer

Politeknik Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah (PSA), Selangor, Malaysia
2003 – October 2022

Served for nearly two decades as a Senior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, contributing significantly to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), engineering curriculum development, applied research, innovation, student development, and industry collaboration.

Key Responsibilities

• Taught Diploma and Bachelor's engineering programmes.

• Delivered courses in Electronics, Embedded Systems, Microcontrollers, Wireless Communication, Industrial Automation, Instrumentation, PLC, Pneumatics and Engineering Project.

• Supervised capstone projects and innovation competitions.

• Developed laboratory modules and practical teaching materials.

• Led innovation, commercialization, and entrepreneurship activities.

• Conducted technical training for industry and government agencies.

Major Contributions

• More than 19 years of engineering teaching experience.

• Produced multiple award-winning innovation projects.

• Successfully secured research grants and innovation funding.

• Developed embedded systems learning modules.

• Active researcher in RF engineering, antenna design, IoT, and engineering education.

• Mentor for numerous engineering innovation competitions and student startups.

• WorldSkills Electronics coach and technical trainer.

• Delivered professional courses in PLC, Embedded Systems, RF Engineering, and Industrial Automation.

Lecturer

Politeknik Ungku Omar (PUO), Perak, Malaysia
2002 – 2003

Began my academic career as a Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, where I developed a strong foundation in engineering education, laboratory instruction, and student-centred learning.

Key Responsibilities

• Conducted lectures and laboratory sessions for Diploma engineering students.

• Assisted in curriculum delivery and laboratory management.

• Prepared practical exercises and technical demonstrations.

• Supervised student laboratory activities and engineering projects.

• Participated in departmental academic and quality assurance activities.

Professional Development

This early appointment provided valuable experience in teaching methodology, practical engineering education, laboratory management, and student mentoring, which became the foundation of my subsequent career in higher education and applied engineering research.

RF Engineer (Professional Industrial Experience)

Tactical Communication Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia
2014 – 2017 (Part-Time / Industry Collaboration)

Applied RF engineering knowledge in practical wireless communication projects involving antenna systems, communication infrastructure, and radio frequency measurements.

Responsibilities

• RF system testing and validation.

• Antenna installation and optimization.

• Communication system integration.

• Network troubleshooting.

• Technical consultation and engineering support.

Amateur Radio & Wireless Communication Specialist

2000 – Present

Over two decades of practical experience in amateur radio communications, emergency communication systems, HF, VHF, UHF, APRS, satellite communications, antenna design, and RF experimentation.

Professional Activities

• Advanced Amateur Radio Operator (Brunei) – V85AFV

• Class A Amateur Radio Operator (Malaysia) – 9M2AGC

• FCC Amateur Extra Class (USA) – AI6LB

• Emergency Communications (EMCOMM)

• Amateur Satellite Communications (AMSAT)

• HF DX Communications

• APRS Development

• Antenna Design and RF Experimentation

• STEM and Amateur Radio Outreach

Research Fellow and Visiting Academic Appointments

Research Fellow

INTI International University, Malaysia
2025 – Present

Conduct collaborative research in Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, Smart Healthcare Technologies, Engineering Education, and Innovation.

Visiting Research Fellow

Antenna Research Centre (ARC), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia
2018 – Present

Collaborative research in RF Engineering, Antenna Design, Microwave Engineering, Wireless Communications, and IoT Applications.

Career Highlights

• More than 23 years of academic, engineering, and professional experience.

• Nearly 20 years contributing to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

• More than 38 Scopus-indexed publications, 84+ journal publications, and 80+ conference publications.

• Secured over RM404,944 and BND56,000 in competitive research funding.

• Recipient of multiple national and international innovation awards.

• Mentor to award-winning student startups including Tech4Horizon and Seven Co. (Simpang Tujuh).

• Active Professional Engineer, Professional Technologist, researcher, startup mentor, and engineering educator committed to bridging engineering innovation, technology commercialization, and education for real-world impact.

University Leadership Experience

Deputy Director, Centre of Research in Agriculture and Food Technology (CRAFT)
Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB)
July 2026 – Present

Appointed as Deputy Director of the Centre of Research in Agriculture and Food Technology (CRAFT), reporting to the Research Centre, Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB), to provide strategic leadership in advancing multidisciplinary research, innovation and collaboration in agriculture, food technology and sustainable development.

The role focuses on strengthening CRAFT as a centre of research excellence by fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, enhancing research capacity, securing competitive research funding, promoting high-impact publications, and translating research outcomes into technologies and solutions that contribute to national priorities, food security and sustainable economic development.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the formulation and implementation of CRAFT's strategic research roadmap and long-term development plan.

• Identify and coordinate multidisciplinary research initiatives involving agriculture, food technology, engineering, digital technologies and environmental sustainability.

• Strengthen research collaborations with local and international universities, research institutes, government agencies and industry partners.

• Lead and support the development of competitive research grant proposals from national and international funding agencies.

• Promote high-quality research outputs, including indexed publications, intellectual property, prototypes and technology transfer.

• Foster postgraduate research, researcher development and interdisciplinary supervision.

• Facilitate research commercialisation and innovation pathways that create societal and economic impact.

• Enhance CRAFT's national and international visibility through strategic partnerships, conferences and collaborative research programmes.

• Support the integration of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, automation and precision agriculture into agriculture and food technology research.

Key Contributions

• Providing strategic leadership in strengthening CRAFT's research ecosystem and multidisciplinary collaboration.

• Driving initiatives to increase research funding, publication quality and research impact.

• Promoting the integration of engineering and digital technologies into smart agriculture and food technology research.

• Supporting the development of industry and government partnerships to address national challenges related to food security and sustainable agriculture.

• Encouraging innovation, technology translation and commercialisation of research outcomes that contribute to national development.

• Building a collaborative research environment that supports academic excellence, innovation and capacity development.

Experience Gained

This leadership role continues to strengthen my expertise in:

Research Leadership

Research Strategy and Governance

Research Grant Development

Multidisciplinary Research Collaboration

Smart Agriculture and Food Technology

Artificial Intelligence and Digital Agriculture

Research Commercialisation

Innovation Management

Research Capacity Building

Strategic Partnership Development

Technology Translation and Research Impact

Deputy Director, Enterprise Office

Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB)
2024 – June 2026

Appointed as Deputy Director of the Enterprise Office to support the university's strategic agenda in innovation, entrepreneurship, industry engagement, technology commercialisation, and knowledge transfer.

The role focuses on strengthening the innovation ecosystem by connecting academic research with industry and community needs, while fostering entrepreneurial thinking among students and academic staff.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the development and implementation of the university's enterprise and innovation strategies.

• Promote commercialisation of research outcomes and intellectual property.

• Facilitate collaboration between academia, industry, government agencies, and community partners.

• Mentor student startups and innovation teams from ideation to commercialisation.

• Coordinate entrepreneurship programmes, innovation competitions, and technology showcases.

• Strengthen university-industry partnerships for research and consultancy.

• Support innovation funding, incubation programmes, and startup ecosystem development.

• Promote experiential learning through innovation and enterprise activities.

Key Contributions

• Mentored award-winning student startups, including Tech4Horizon and Seven Co. (Simpang Tujuh).

• Supported the commercialisation of innovative technologies such as Psychoboard and the InfuSense Smart IV Monitoring System.

• Strengthened collaboration between academia and industry through innovation-driven projects.

• Promoted entrepreneurship and innovation culture among students and researchers.

• Contributed to enhancing UTB's innovation visibility through national and international competitions.

Experience Gained

This leadership role has strengthened my expertise in:

• Innovation Management

• Technology Commercialisation

• University–Industry Collaboration

• Entrepreneurship Development

• Startup Incubation

• Intellectual Property Management

• Strategic Planning

• Research Translation and Impact

Planning and Development Office (PDO)

Data Analytics and University Ranking Coordinator

Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB)
2023 – 2025

Served as the Planning and Development Office (PDO) Coordinator responsible for institutional data analysis, strategic reporting, and international university ranking initiatives.

The appointment involved collecting, analysing, and validating institutional performance indicators to support evidence-based decision-making, quality assurance, and continuous improvement aligned with international benchmarking frameworks.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate institutional data collection for global university ranking exercises.

• Analyse academic and research performance indicators.

• Support strategic planning through data-driven reporting and analytics.

• Monitor Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) across faculties and academic programmes.

• Assist in preparing submissions for international university ranking systems.

• Collaborate with faculty and administrative departments to ensure data accuracy and consistency.

• Contribute to quality assurance and institutional benchmarking initiatives.

Key Contributions

• Improved institutional data management and reporting processes.

• Supported strategic planning using evidence-based performance analysis.

• Enhanced collaboration between faculties and central administration for data governance.

• Contributed to institutional benchmarking and continuous quality improvement.

• Supported initiatives related to international university rankings and global visibility.

Experience Gained

This role enhanced my competencies in:

• Strategic Planning

• Institutional Data Analytics

• University Ranking Methodologies

• Quality Assurance

• Performance Measurement

• Data Governance

• Evidence-Based Decision Making

• Higher Education Management

Leadership Impact

These leadership appointments have provided valuable experience beyond traditional academic responsibilities by combining research, innovation, enterprise development, strategic management, institutional planning, and performance analytics.

The combination of teaching, research, innovation, enterprise leadership, and university strategic management enables me to contribute effectively to institutional transformation, research commercialisation, and the development of sustainable innovation ecosystems within higher education.

Academic Qualifications

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Electrical Engineering

Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia (2018)

PhD Thesis:
Leucaena Leucocephala: A New Green Biocomposite Substrate for Wireless Applications

Master of Science (MSc) in Telecommunication and Information Engineering

Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia (2012)
CGPA: 3.67

Bachelor of Electrical Engineering (Hons)

Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), Malaysia (2008)
Second Class Upper Division
CGPA: 3.26

Diploma in Electrical Engineering with Education

Kolej Universiti Teknologi Tun Hussein Onn (KUiTTHO), Malaysia (2002)
CGPA: 3.05

Professional Registrations

Professional Engineer (Malaysia)

Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM)
Registration No.: P120762

Professional Engineer (Brunei Darussalam)

Board of Architects, Professional Engineers and Quantity Surveyors (BAPEQS)
Registration No.: 037424PE

Professional Technologist

Malaysia Board of Technologists (MBOT)
Registration No.: PT18050150

ASEAN Chartered Professional Engineer

Registration No.: ACPE-04815/MY

Senior Member IEEE

Certified Fiber Optic Technician (CFOT)

Amateur Radio Operator

Brunei Callsign: V85AFV
Malaysia Callsign: 9M2AGC
FCC Callsign: AI6LB

Professional Interests

• Internet of Things (IoT)

• Embedded Systems

• Artificial Intelligence Applications

• RF and Antenna Engineering

• Smart Healthcare Technologies

• Rehabilitation Engineering

• Robotics and Autonomous Systems

• UAV and Drone Technologies

• Additive Manufacturing and Rapid Prototyping

• STEM and Engineering Education

• Satellite and Amateur Radio Communications

Personal Mission

"Bridging Engineering, Innovation and Education for Real-World Impact."

I am committed to advancing engineering knowledge, nurturing future engineers, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, and developing technology-driven solutions that contribute to industry, healthcare, education, and society.