About Dr Amirah Mazlan
I began my education and career journey in 2008 in the culinary arts and hospitality sector in Malaysia and the UK. Before entering academia, I worked as a professional chef and was actively involved in industrial projects, events, and international culinary competitions. My industry experience includes roles in hotels and organisations such as Sheraton Imperial, The Westin, Thompson Medical Centre, and Malaysia Airlines. I later joined Sunway University, Malaysia, where I began my academic career.
My PhD examined the career experiences of female chefs in Malaysia through the lens of gender and ethnicity intersectionality. Prior to this, I completed an MA in Culinary Arts Management (Distinction) at University College Birmingham, UK, and a BA (Hons) in Culinary Arts (First Class) at Management and Science University, Malaysia.
My international teaching and professional background enables me to work closely with students from diverse and multicultural contexts. I aim to integrate industry practice with academic knowledge to create inclusive learning environments that support meaningful knowledge exchange between theory and practice.
I am a Fellow of Advance HE (FHEA). I currently serve as Deputy Programme Leader for the MSc Tourism suite and lead several modules, including gastronomy-related subjects, across collaborative partnerships and campuses in Nepal, Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong.
Teaching and supervision
I teach the following undergraduate and postgraduate courses:
- BSc (Hons) Tourism and Aviation Management
- BSc (Hons) International Tourism and Hospitality Management
- MSc Tourism and Events
- MSc Tourism and Hospitality
- MSc Tourism and Aviation
- MSc Sustainable Tourism
I am module leader for:
- MGT1002 Hotel Operations & System Management
- MGT2002 Food Services & Gastronomy Management
- CHTM35 Tourism Concepts & Issues
- CHTM29 Tourism & Hospitality Major Project
- CHTM32 Tourism & Events Major Project
- CHTM40 Tourism & Aviation Major Project
- CHTM44 Sustainable Tourism Major Project
I am also a research supervisor for postgraduate major projects.
Interests
My research and collaborations include:
- Gender, career, ethnicity specifically in tourism and hospitality
- Multicultural setting in the workplace
- Gastronomy, international food and cuisines
- Food and beverages operations
Research
My PhD research explored the career experiences of female chefs in Malaysia, examining how gender and ethnicity shape workplace experiences, behaviours, and future career prospects. The study included female chefs from diverse professional culinary backgrounds representing the three main ethnic groups in Malaysia (Malay, Chinese, and Indian).
Given that the culinary industry and professional kitchens are widely recognised as male-dominated, particularly within Malaysia’s collectivist and multicultural context, the research sought to understand the factors contributing to the underrepresentation of women in professional kitchens. The findings highlight the structural and cultural barriers faced by female chefs and the strategies they employ to navigate their careers.
This research contributes to broader discussions on gender, ethnicity, and career development in hospitality and other male-dominated professions, while also opening avenues for further research on women’s career experiences across different occupational contexts.
Publications
See all of Dr Amirah Mazlan's publicationsAreas of expertise
- Gastronomy
- Gender and career
- International food and cuisines
- Intersectionality of gender and ethnicity
- Culinary arts
- Food and beverages operations
- Customer services (hospitality, food and beverages, airlines)
Further information
Qualifications:
- Diploma Culinary Arts & BA (Hons) Culinary Arts, Malaysia
- MA Culinary Arts Management, Birmingham, UK
- PhD, University of Sunderland, UK
Membership:
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (Advance HE)
Conferences:
- Keynote Speaker, 7th Global Conferences on Women's Studies, July 2025, Copenhagen, Denmark
- 6th Global Conferences on Women's Studies, July 2024, Zurich, Switzerland (Presenter)
Others:
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