Yahaya Bin Ahmad

Biography

Associate Professor Dr. Yahaya Ahmad started his academic career at the University Teknologi Mara (UiTM) in 1989 before joining the University of Malaya in 1995, as one of the pioneering staff to establish the Department of Architecture and the Faculty of Built Environment, University of Malaya. Recently appointed as Deputy Dean of UM Sustainability Science Research Cluster (2 Jan 2013- 31 Dec 2015). He was appointed as Coordinator of Architecture (1997-1999), Head of Architecture Department (1999-2001) and as Deputy Dean (Undergraduate & Development, 2005-2007), Deputy Dean (Higher Degrees & Research, 2009-2011). Seconded to the Department of National Heritage as Deputy Commissioner of Heritage (JUSA C), Malaysia (2007-2009). During the secondment to the Ministry, he led and/or member of Malaysia Delegates to many international meetings and assemblies on culture and heritage. He was the first and the only Malaysian, served as Council Member of The International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM/UNESCO) from 2007-2011 , elected by 180 countries at its 25th General Assembly in Rome. He involved in the drafting of the National Heritage Act (2005) Malaysia, headed team of local and international experts to prepare Nomination Dossier for Melaka and George Town as World Heritage Sites, UNESCO (2004-2008) and headed expert teams in the re-construction of Bastion Middlesburg, Melaka Fort (2007-2008). He has so far restored more than twenty heritage buildings of different complexity, including Restoration of Sg Buloh Leprosy Hospital (2010-2011), Restoration scope of Sultan Suleiman Mosque, Klang (2011) and Sultan Alaeddin Mosque, Jugra , Selangor (2011), and consultant for the Restoration of Masjid Jamek Bandaraya KL. Appointed as Conservation Technical Expert to ThinkCity of Khazanah Nasional (2009-2012) to evaluate, so far more than 100 conservation grant applications. Appointed by Ahmedabad Municipal Council, India as International Expert to advise on the preparation of Nomination Dossier for the Historic City of Ahmedabad (2011) and by the Government of the Republic of Maldives (2011) to head Technical Team to prepare Draft Nomination Dossier of Coral Stones of Maldives to the UNESCO World Heritage List. He is currently lecturing at the University of Malaya and has graduated five PhD students and supervising another ten PhD students from all over the world on different aspects of conservation and built environment.

Research Interest

Vernacular Architecture (Vernacular architecture), Conservation of Historic Buildings (Conservation, Heritage, Historic), Conservation Management (Conservation policy, management)