Innovator of The Year at the Influencer Magazine Awards 2026

Malaysian educator, inventor, and education innovator Inv. Galvin Lee Kuan Sian has been named Innovator of the Year at the Influencer Magazine Awards 2026, following his earlier nomination in the awards’ E2 edition.

The recognition marks another international milestone in Galvin’s growing portfolio of achievements across education, artificial intelligence, experiential learning, and digital innovation. His nomination had earlier been featured by Influencer Magazine UK, which highlighted his work in reimagining how knowledge is taught, experienced, and applied in the digital age.

For Galvin, the award represents more than a personal achievement. It is a validation of a larger mission: to make business and management education more engaging, applied, and future-ready.

“This recognition means a lot because it reflects the kind of education I believe in,” said Galvin. “Innovation in teaching should not be about using technology for the sake of technology. It should help students think more critically, experience concepts more deeply, and connect classroom learning with the real world.”

Galvin currently serves as Lecturer I and Programme Coordinator for the Diploma in Business at the School of Diploma and Professional Studies, Taylor’s College. He is also a PhD candidate in Marketing at Universiti Malaya, where his research focuses on consumer behaviour, e-commerce, dynamic pricing, trust, and purchase intention in Malaysia’s digital economy.

His innovation work is anchored through the Galvin Lee Innovation Lab, where he develops AI-powered and experiential learning projects including Global Voices: AI Persona Lab, Cafe Conquest: Beach Breeze, The ShopQuest Mall, Kuaxai, and IntelLect AI Suite for Lecturers. These initiatives are designed to move learning beyond passive content delivery by giving students opportunities to interact, decide, simulate, reflect, and apply theory in more meaningful ways.

The award also reinforces Galvin’s broader positioning as a Malaysian academic who bridges teaching, research, entrepreneurship, and education technology. His work has consistently focused on transforming business education through immersive learning environments, gamified activities, AI-supported teaching tools, and student-centred pedagogical design.

In recent years, Galvin’s teaching and innovation projects have received multiple recognitions at national and international platforms. His work reflects a belief that the future of education will be shaped not only by digital tools, but by educators who can design purposeful, inclusive, and intellectually rigorous learning experiences around them.

“This win encourages me to continue building tools and learning experiences that are practical, scalable, and meaningful for students,” Galvin added. “As educators, we have a responsibility to prepare students not just to pass assessments, but to think, adapt, and contribute in a world that is changing very quickly.”

The Influencer Magazine Awards celebrate individuals who have demonstrated outstanding influence, leadership, creativity, and impact across different sectors. Galvin’s recognition as Innovator of the Year places his work within a broader international conversation on how innovation can shape education, society, and the future of work.

As Galvin continues to expand his education innovation portfolio, this latest recognition strengthens his commitment to advancing AI-powered, experiential, and future-oriented teaching and learning from Malaysia to a wider global audience.

About Inv. Galvin Lee Kuan Sian
Inv. Galvin Lee Kuan Sian is a Malaysian educator, inventor, researcher, and education innovator. He serves as Lecturer I and Programme Coordinator for the Diploma in Business at Taylor’s College and is currently pursuing a PhD in Marketing at Universiti Malaya. Through the Galvin Lee Innovation Lab, he develops AI-powered, experiential, and gamified learning tools for business and management education. His work focuses on transforming student engagement, strengthening applied learning, and preparing learners for the future of business, technology, and society.