Voices moving the region forward.

ARNIE ALVAREZ

CTO

Huawei Technologies

Mr. Arnie Alvarez is a seasoned technology leader with over three decades of experience in the Information Technology sector. Currently serving as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Huawei Technologies, Arnie bridges the gap between complex technological solutions and business outcomes, regularly engaging with customer executives across diverse industries including finance, healthcare, retail, hospitality, education, manufacturing, government, and aviation.

Atsushi Koshio

Professor, Faculty of Engineering

Reitaku University, Japan

Atsushi Koshio is an AI researcher and serial entrepreneur. He is currently a Professor at Reitaku University, Japan, while also leading several AI startups. His research focuses on human-centered AI, agents and the application of emerging technologies, including smart glasses and mixed reality, to healthcare, disaster response, education, and social innovation. Through collaborative research with global technology companies such as SoftBank and Google, he is dedicated to bringing innovative AI solutions into real-world applications and creating meaningful impact for people around the world.

Atty. Marion Ivy D. Decena

Director

Technology Application and Promotion Institute, Department of Science and Technology (DOST-TAPI)

Atty. Marion Ivy D. Decena, CESO III, is the Director of the Technology Application and Promotion Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-TAPI). Appointed on October 21, she has championed Philippine innovations globally through high-impact commercialization campaigns such as PHILIPPiNEXT, Project PADAGHAN, and the SPICE program’s “Shape the Future through Innovations” and “PhilippiNOW”, leading national delegations to major platforms around the world. She serves as the Philippines’ National Focal Point and the Governing Council for the Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology. As one of the country’s first Certified Patent Valuation Analysts (CPVA), a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), and a lawyer, Atty. Decena drives national policies on IP valuation and technology transfer. She is also a Fellow of the UK Leaders in Innovation Fellowship Programme

Bim Gutierrez

Teacher, Consultant, Entrepreneur

Ateneo de Manila University | Ace Hardware PH | SS Vending

Bim Gutierrez is a business and digital transformation leader, educator, and entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience at the intersection of technology, commerce, and innovation. As former Global Head of eCommerce at Bayer Consumer Health, she led digital, media, and eCommerce across eight ASEAN markets, pioneering social commerce in Southeast Asia’s health category. Her career spans leadership roles at global organizations including Yahoo!, Colgate-Palmolive, Manulife, and Mead Johnson, helping businesses unlock growth through emerging technologies, strategic partnerships, and new commercial models. She currently teaches Digital Marketing at Ateneo de Manila University, consults for ACE Hardware Philippines, and pursues her passion for art as a mixed-media painter.

Chieko Tanabe

Program Manager

ERIA

Chieko Tanabe is a Program Manager for the Startup Ecosystem at ERIA, where she works within the E-DISC (ERIA Digital Innovation and Sustainable Economy Centre) to promote cross-border collaboration, knowledge sharing, research, and regional initiatives that leverage digital innovation to strengthen the startup ecosystem and support sustainable economic growth across Southeast Asia and East Asia.

Cong – Thang HUYNH

Chairman and CEO

InnoLab Asia

Thang is the Chairman and CEO of InnoLab Asia, a premier platform connecting startups, corporations, investors, and institutions across Southeast Asia. A passionate advocate for regional innovation, he possesses a proven track record of propelling Vietnamese startups onto the global stage and driving foreign investment into Vietnam’s dynamic market. His expertise spans startup mentorship, strategic business expansion, and investment. Thang actively collaborates with diverse stakeholders to foster growth, lending his expertise as a mentor at the National University of Singapore and the German Accelerator Southeast Asia. Dedicated to empowering the next generation, Thang founded Lead The Change, an educational institution that has provided scholarships and international opportunities to over 300 talented Vietnamese youth. He also serves on the boards of the Swiss-Viet Economic Forum and the Global Advisory Committee for the Daejeon Center for Creative Economy & Innovation.

Dato' Steve Cheah

Executive Chairman

AISED | UNESCO EE-NET Southeast Asia Chapter

Dato’ Steve Cheah is an international entrepreneurship ecosystem enabler, corporate board member and strategic advisor with over 30 years of global corporate experience across Malaysia, the UK, Hong Kong, Myanmar, and Thailand. He is the Founder and Chairman of the Asia Institute of Sustainability, Entrepreneurship, and Diplomacy (AiSED)—where he leads the sub-Regional Secretariat for UNESCO EE-Net for Southeast Asia. As Head of Mission for the Diplomatic Council (UN Consultative Status) think tank on innovation sustainability entrepreneurship and education ( DCISE) and Professor of Practice at Asia e University, he translates global policy into human capital development while advising major corporate boards

Fatima Yambao

Co-Founder and Director

TechShake

Fatima is the co-founder of TechShake and an organizer of IGNITE, the Philippines’ premier innovation conference, now in its 10th year. She is also CEO and co-founder of DIGITEER Inc. and has 14+ years of entrepreneurial experience. A woman in tech who lives by one mantra: Faith it till you make it.

Franco Varona

Co-Founder and Managing Partner

Foxmont Capital Partners

Franco Varona is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Foxmont Capital Partners, one of the first institutional venture funds established in the Philippines. Under his leadership, Foxmont has grown to ~$50M in assets under management across three funds, backing more than 40 active portfolio companies and helping create income opportunities for nearly 500,000 Filipinos.

Hayato Kiriyama

CEO and Asia-Pacific Managing Director

Cyber Security Cloud (Singapore)

Hayato Kiriyama is CEO and Asia-Pacific Managing Director of Cyber Security Cloud Pte. Ltd., where he leads the company’s AI-powered web application and cloud security business across the region. A CISSP- and CISA-certified security leader, he holds multiple patents in the security domain. Alongside his business role, he is a Visiting Associate Professor at GLOBIS University, Japan’s largest MBA program, where he teaches cybersecurity to business leaders. He also trains government officials from across ASEAN in cloud security through programs of the ASEAN-Japan Cybersecurity Capacity Building Centre (AJCCBC), and mentors ASEAN startups through the ASEAN-Japan Centre.

Itamar Gero

CEO

Truelogic, Inc

Itamar Gero is the CEO of Truelogic, Inc, one of the Philippines’ leading digital performance consultancies. Over 17 years, Truelogic has helped dozens of Filipino brands and businesses navigate digital transformation and marketing with clarity, data, and innovation. Itamar invests in and advises startups in the Philippines and abroad, and holds an Executive Masters in Business Administration degree from the French business school INSEAD. He brings an operator’s perspective on building capabilities and helping teams translate strategy into action across people, process, and technology. Itamar is a builder at heart—still writing code and constantly experimenting with the newest AI coding tools, with a focus on what actually works—and how AI will reshape execution in both software delivery and business in the next few years.

JUAN MANUEL "JAY" GATMAITAN

Head, Local Economic Development and Investment Promotions Office (LEDIPO)

Quezon City

Jay is the current Head of the Local Economic Development and Investment Promotions Office or LEDIPO. The office’s mandate is to promote Quezon City as the preferred investment destination by creating policies and programs to drive investments in the City, create jobs and foster economic development. Mr. Gatmaitan has more than 20 years of experience in the private sector, covering infrastructure, energy, and banking and is a champion of public private partnerships.

Karl Mak

Co-Founder & CEO

HEPMIL Media Group

Karl Mak is the Co-Founder and CEO of Hepmil Media Group, a Singapore-headquartered creator and digital media company (Acquired by Publicis Group in 2025). He leads the regional team across Southeast Asia, overseeing HMG’s owned media brands and the Hepmil Creators Network, with a focus on strategy, growth, and key partnerships. With over a decade in the creator and digital media space, Karl has built and scaled teams across content, creators, and commercial functions, connecting culture-first storytelling with measurable brand outcomes. He’s driven by building high-performing teams and ideas that travel across markets, and enjoys turning complex challenges into clear, actionable plans through strong collaboration and craft.

Kazuhiko Yoshimatsu

Managing Director of Singapore, Head of APAC

Tokyo Stock Exchange, Inc.

Joined the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 1997, working on listing, trading, and compliance rules, before moving to the Financial Services Agency of Japan in 2003 for international regulatory dialogue. Since April 2021 he has led the Tokyo Stock Exchange Singapore, expanding global investment in Japanese equities across the Middle East, India, and APAC, and building ecosystems that attract overseas startups seeking to list on the TSE in APAC.

Kotaro Adachi

Co-Founder and CEO

TechShake

Kotaro Adachi is a Japanese entrepreneur and ASEAN innovation ecosystem builder connecting Japan, ASEAN, and global markets. He began his career at Officebusters Co., Ltd. (TSE: 5890) as its first intern, later leading overseas business development across Russia, China, and Southeast Asia. In the Philippines, he established local operations and grew the business to 15 branches and over 120 employees within seven years. As the founder of TechShake, Kotaro supports cross-border business development, startup sourcing, investment initiatives, and open innovation across ASEAN. He also co-organizes IGNITE with Dentsu and has helped build initiatives including ATLAS, SEA Business Connect, Startup World Cup Manila, AI Salon Manila, and LumineLabs.

Loo Chuan Boon

COO

SIDEC

Chuan Boon is the COO of Sidec, where he leads Selangor’s digital transformation and positions the state as a premier digital hub in ASEAN. Since Sidec’s transition into a government-linked company in 2021, he has been instrumental in driving strategic growth and interdepartmental coordination.

Mega Prawita

Managing Director

KUMPUL

Mega Prawita is the Managing Director of KUMPUL, Indonesia’s leading entrepreneurship ecosystem enabler. With extensive experience in business development, partnerships, ecosystem building and go-to-market strategy, she leads initiatives that strengthen Indonesia’s innovation landscape through impactful collaborations.

Paolo Dominic Rentero

Co-Founder and Director

TechShake

Paolo Rentero is an accomplished entrepreneur known for his expertise in nurturing startups to success. He co-founded TechShake, a startup ecosystem builder that empowers aspiring entrepreneurs and fosters effective corporate innovation in the Philippines. Paolo and his co-founders initiated TechShake’s flagship event, the Ignite Innovation Conference, bringing together founders, investors, and other stakeholders worldwide since its inception in 2017. Additionally, Paolo is the co-founder of Digiteer, a dynamic software development company that delivers technological solutions to startups and conglomerates alike. Currently, he serves as the Head of Strategic Partnerships at Nexplay, a prominent esports and influencer marketing company at the forefront of redefining digital content.

Richard Armstrong

Partner

TA Ventures

Richard Armstrong is a Partner at TA Ventures, where he leads the firm’s investments across Asia and the US. TA Ventures has backed 17 unicorns, including SumUp and DeepL. Richard’s personal investment portfolio includes Anthropic, xAI, Rainmaker, Superpower, and Corgi, among others. He is an active angel investor with investments worldwide, with a particular focus on technology, AI, and emerging markets.

Roman V. Azanza III

Roman V. Azanza III is a seasoned business executive and strategic advisor with over 30 years of experience in business development, infrastructure, finance and treasury across Asia. He previously held senior leadership positions within the Aboitiz group of companies and CEMEX Asia, spearheading investments, partnerships, and market expansion initiatives. Today, he advises international startups and businesses entering the Philippine market and serves on several corporate boards and the Manila Angel Investor Network. A former strategic consultant to Singapore-based accelerator Start2, Roman brings practical insights into ASEAN market entry, cross-border partnerships, and business innovation. He holds an MBA from the University of Virginia’s Darden School and is a Fellow at the Institute of Corporate Directors.

Satoshi “Toby” Tobinaga

Global Business Development Director

Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc.

Toby is Global Business Development Director at Mitsubishi Research Institute, one of Japan's leading think tanks and consulting firms. Drawing on many years of new business development at a large enterprise, including startup collaboration and investment on the U.S. West Coast, he now maintains extensive connections with government agencies across Asia. He focuses on solving Asia's social challenges through innovative business.

Shun Omori

Global Infrastructure Business Development Manager

Sakana AI

Shun Omori is a Global Infrastructure Business Development Manager at Sakana AI, a frontier AI R&D company based in Japan. Having helped establish the Global Infrastructure Business Development team, he drives strategic initiatives and business development, with a primary focus on deploying AI solutions across global infrastructure, particularly in the Global South.

Shunsuke Ichikawa

Executive Advisor & Head of International Business

GarageBank

Following diverse early experiences in entertainment and scaling Southeast Asian internet infrastructure at GMO Internet, he founded "yathar," a leading regional super app. He later served as COO of Japan Open Chain, leading its global IEO and exchange listings. Currently, he is Executive Advisor & Head of International Business at GarageBank Corporation, while advising global startups on international growth.

Takashi Goto

Executive Director

JETRO - Japan External Trade Organization Manila

Takashi Goto has been with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) since 1993. Over the course of his career, he has played a key role in supporting the international expansion of Japanese SMEs, improving organizational financial management systems, promoting regional exports, and facilitating the recruitment of highly skilled foreign talent. His overseas experience includes assignments in Indonesia with the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) and in San Francisco, United States. Since November 2025, he has served as Executive Director of JETRO Manila in the Philippines.

Tomoyuki Nishida

Deputy Chief Regional Officer, Asia & Oceania

Mitsubishi Corporation

Tomoyuki Nishida is Deputy Chief Regional Officer for Asia & Oceania at Mitsubishi Corporation, based in Singapore. Since joining Mitsubishi Corporation in 1994, he has accumulated extensive experience in consumer and retail businesses across Asia. His career includes senior leadership roles at Robinsons Convenience Stores in the Philippines, Daiso Industries in Japan, PT. Nissin Foods Indonesia, and PT. MC Living Essentials Indonesia, as well as Division COO of Mitsubishi Corporation’s Retail Division in Tokyo. In his current role, he oversees Mitsubishi Corporation’s business activities across Asia and Oceania.

Valerie Lim

Founder and CEO

ChargedUp

Valerie Lim is the Founder & CEO of ChargedUp, an electrification ecosystem platform pioneering an integrated approach to accelerating electrification across Southeast Asia. She brings over 15 years of experience building ecosystems across energy, mobility and technology in the region. ChargedUp combines digital tools, market intelligence, conferences and project development to translate industry demand into commercially viable electrification opportunities. Valerie works with organisations across fleets, automotive, energy, charging, infrastructure, technology and research to advance adoption, develop partnerships and enable real-world deployment.

Celine A. Dee

Assistant Secretary

Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT)

Celine Melanie A. Dee currently serves as the Assistant Secretary for Strategic Initiatives and Industry and Competency Development at the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). She is a licensed lawyer with extensive experience in both the private and public sectors. With several local and international publications on technology, privacy, and intellectual property laws, her involvement in the academe provides a grounded approach to the challenges of emerging technologies within various legal frameworks. She co-authored the book "Privacy and Data Protection Law in the Philippines" which examines the concepts embodied in the Philippine privacy regulatory framework.

Jose Arnulfo “Arnie” Batac

CEO

Megaworld Real Estate Investment Trust (MREIT)

KEN PERALTA

Vice President

Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA)

Ken Peralta is Vice President of the Investment Promotions and Marketing Department at the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), where he leads efforts to attract investments and build partnerships across the Philippines’ key growth corridors and special economic zones.

H.E. Ms. Makawadee Sumitmor

Ambassador of Thailand to the Philippines

Her Excellency Mrs. Makawadee Sumitmor is a distinguished career diplomat who serves as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Thailand to the Republic of the Philippines. She officially assumed her post in Manila after presenting her credentials to Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in June 2025. With decades of high-level diplomatic service, Ambassador Makawadee has dedicated her career to strengthening regional cooperation, advancing bilateral trade, and building enduring international partnerships. Prior to her appointment in the Philippines, she served from 2021 to 2025 as the Ambassador of Thailand to Bangladesh, concurrently serving as the Ambassador to Bhutan. Her extensive diplomatic footprint across Asia also includes critical leadership roles, such as serving as the Chargé d'Affaires a.i. at the Royal Thai Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, alongside numerous senior positions within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand. In her current role, Ambassador Makawadee is focused on elevating the long-standing, seven-decade relationship between Thailand and the Philippines. Her key strategic priorities include accelerating mutual economic growth through the digital economy, expanding public-private partnerships, driving tourism collaboration, and fostering deeper people-to-people connections across the ASEAN region.

Kasper-Tanakrit Sermsuksan

Founder

SEA Bridge

Kasper-Tanakrit Sermsuksan is Founder of SEA Bridge, the Bangkok-based cross-border venture builder that takes companies into new ASEAN markets. He co-founded Kulina in Jakarta and previously worked at Amazon, Sony Pictures, Deloitte and Product Madness. He is the author of The Startup Mindset.

Mr. Emmanuel Samson

Special Envoy of the President of the Philippines for Thai Affairs

Mr. Emmanuel Samson, or Manny, is the Special Envoy of the President of the Republic of the Philippines to the Kingdom of Thailand, appointed in January 2026 to deepen trade and investment cooperation between the two nations. He brings more than two decades of experience in finance, investment and risk management, including fourteen years as Chief Finance Officer of publicly listed Nickel Asia Corporation and a term on the Board of Trustees of the Government Service Insurance System. Manny actively supports Thai investors and companies in identifying and pursuing opportunities in the Philippine market. Working closely with the Philippine Embassy in Bangkok, the Board of Investments and the Department of Trade and Industry, he helps connect Thai businesses with the right partners and decision-makers in the Philippines.