Prof. Nawawi was born in Perak, Malaysia, on January 11, 1937; he is married with 2 children.

He graduated from Queen’s University of Belfast, Northern Ireland, where he obtained his BSc (1962), BAgr (Hons) (1963), and PhD (1965). He was awarded an Honorary DSc from the University of Portsmouth and a DSc from the University of Belfast (1995). He was awarded the Johan Mangku Negara (JMN) by HM the King of Malaysia in 1982 and Datuk Paduka Cura Si Manja Kini (DPCM) by HRH the Sultan of Perak in 1986.

He began his career as a demonstrator in Botany, Mycology and Plant Pathology at Queen’s University in Belfast (1963-1965), a botanist and plant pathologist for the Ministry of Agriculture, Malaysia (1966-1967).

Prof. Nawawi held the following positions at the University of Malaya; lecturer of Botany (1967-1974); associate professor (1974-1978); professor of Botany (1978); Head, Department of Botany (1974-1975); Dean, Faculty of Sciences (1976-1978); Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (1977); Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Finance and Development (1983-1986); Acting Vice-Chancellor (1986), and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (1991).

He carried out research activities as a post doctoral fellow at the University of Agriculture of Wageningen, Holland in (1970), at Queen’s University of Belfast, Department of Plant Pathology (1971-1972), and at the University of Exeter, UK, Department of Biological Sciences (1975).

A past President of the Malaysian Society of Applied Biology, Prof. Nawawi is member/former member of; the Council of the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute; the Malaysian National Science Council since 1981; the Council of the National Institute of Public Administration; the Board of the Royal Military College; the Management Committee of the National Scientific Research and Development Trust Fund since 1981 as well as IFSTAD’s Malaysian National Committee. He was also elected President of the Malaysian Society for Microbiology (1986-1987).

He is the author of more than 60 specialized publications and leader of national expert delegations to several international conferences.