Prof. Dr. Hafiza Aishah Hashim is widely recognised for her impactful scholarship, strong leadership, and unwavering commitment to nurturing future business leaders. She has built an outstanding academic career driven by a passion for advancing financial reporting quality and addressing critical issues in corporate governance. 

She obtained her Bachelor of Accountancy (Hons) (First Class) from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Shah Alam, in 2003, where she was honoured with the Vice Chancellor Award. She then pursued a Master of Accountancy in International Accounting and Financial Management at the University of Glasgow, Scotland, in 2004. She later completed her PhD in Accountancy at Universiti Malaya in 2009, where she was recognised as the Best PhD Student.

Prof. Hafiza began her academic career at UMT in 2009 as a Senior Lecturer, was promoted to Associate Professor in 2014 and given full Professorship in 2021. She currently serves as Director of the UMT Life Centre. She has also played a pivotal role in establishing the Teaching Accountancy Firm (TAF), a flagship university–industry collaboration initiative.

Her research expertise lies in financial reporting quality and corporate governance, with focus areas including earnings quality, board effectiveness, ownership structure, ethics, and sustainability. Her work has attracted research funding exceeding RM1.3 million, primarily from the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) and UMT. In recognition of her expertise, she has served as a national evaluator for the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) since 2016 and as Head Domain for Social Science at UMT since 2019. She is also a sought-after speaker, frequently invited to share her expertise at academic and professional forums.

Prof. Hafiza has published 84 Scopus-indexed and 62 Web of Science-indexed articles, alongside books, book chapters, a monograph, and technical reports. Her work has garnered strong global impact, with 1,367 citations and an h-index of 21 in Scopus, and 941 citations with an h-index of 18 in WoS. Her research appears in leading journals such as Business Strategy and the Environment, Sustainable Development, Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, and Review of Accounting and Finance, among others.

She has supervised and co-supervised six (6) postdoctoral researchers, twenty-three (23) PhD students, and eight (8) Master’s students, with a strong record of successful completions. She has also served as an external examiner for fifty-four (54) postgraduate candidates, local and international institutions, reflecting her strong academic standing and recognition in the field.

Internationally, her publications have earned notable distinctions, including the Top Cited Article Award (Wiley) in 2025, the Emerald Literati Outstanding Paper Award (2023), and a Highly Commended Paper in the 2017 Emerald Literati Network Awards for Excellence. 

Prof. Hafiza continues to elevate UMT’s academic reputation while contributing meaningfully to the advancement of ethical, transparent, and sustainable business practices. Her work stands as a testament to excellence, influence, and enduring commitment to the academic profession.