UiTM’s Engineering Faculty Dean, an Expert in Timber, Bags the National Standard Award
Professor Dr Zakiah Ahmad, dean of Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, (UiTM) was recognized during the recent awards presentation ceremony for standard and accreditation. The award ceremony was held on 19th October 2019, at Sabah Trade Center, Kota Kinabalu Sabah.
Professor Zakiah received a very prestigious award – the National Standard Awards 2018 from Honorable Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Mohd. Shafie bin Haji Apdal, Sabah Chief Minister along with Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI), Datuk Darell Leiking. She received RM5000 in cash, plaque and a certificate.
Prof Dr Zakiah, an expert in timber engineering won her award for demonstrating her passion, commitment and expertise in writing of national standards for timber and timber products which she has been doing ssince 1997. To date she has sat in more than 17 working group committees and published 8 standards for timber. To name a few, Product Performance of Laminated Veneer Lumber, MS 544 Code of Practice for Timber Design: Part 1,2,3 and 12 (for solid timber, glued laminated timber and Laminated Veneer Lumber), MS 758 on Manufacturing of Glued Laminated Timber as well as MS 544 Part 8 and Part 11 for prefabricated of roof trusses. She is also a committee member for ISO standards under TC 165 (timber structures) where she has represented Malaysia in many occasions among others, ISO TC 165 meeting in Sydney (2008), Bali (2011), Stuttgart(2013), Johor Bahru (2014), Melbourne (2016), Vienna (2017), Istanbul (2018) and Bogota (2019).
Prof Dr Zakiah has organized more than 20 workshops and seminars related to the standards to train the users and promote the use of timber in construction industry.
She hopes that “the award will motivate other academics and be a source of inspiration for others to remain actively involved in standardization and accreditation activities”
“Reconnect your World with Standards and Quality”
Prepared by : Dr. Yazmin Sahol Hamid, UiTM
Edited by : Assoc.Prof Dr.Geetha Subramaniam, Fellow InQKA,UiTM