Making Sense of AI in Asia
A Public-Private Dialog on AI Policy and International Development
TO JUNE 13
09:00 - 16:30
Making Sense of AI in Asia
A Public-Private Dialog on AI Policy and International Development
- Knowledge Exchange: Share case studies, ideas and insights on AI solutions and AI policy
- Partnerships: Build cross-sectoral partnerships and initiatives on AI with like-minded organizations
- Roadmap: Co-create a high-level AI policy roadmap that defines a shared understanding of measures to be taken to manage AI’s risks, unlock AI’s potential for good, and promote common approaches to shared challenges
Our Speakers
June 12: Morning – An Introduction to the Opportunities that AI Can Offer
Dr. Steven Olive
Steve Olive is a Senior Foreign Service Officer and is the Mission Director for the Regional Development Mission for Asia.
From 2018 to 2020, he served as the Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator for USAID’s Latin America and Caribbean Bureau. In 2017-18, he was the Acting Director of the Foreign Service Center in the Office of Human Capital and Talent Management. At USAID/Kenya and East Africa based in Nairobi, he served as the Deputy Mission Director for Somalia from 2014 to 2017 and concurrently served as the Acting Deputy Chief of Mission for the U.S. Mission to Somalia from 2016 to 2017.
Prior to joining USAID/Kenya and East Africa, Dr. Olive served as a Deputy Mission Director for USAID/Haiti from 2011 to 2014 leading post-earthquake reconstruction and development efforts. He also was posted in Peru and Nicaragua from 2002-2011 managing environment, trade, agriculture, food security and emergency-response programs.
Before joining USAID in 2000, Dr. Olive worked in Hawaii, the Philippines, Guam, and American Samoa as an environment and natural resource management and policy specialist. He earned a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Hawaii where he was an East-West Center scholar, a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Tennessee, and a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration from Miami (Ohio) University.
Keynote Speakers
Mr. Robert F. Godec
Robert F. Godec was confirmed by the Senate as Ambassador to Thailand on August 4, 2022. This is his third ambassadorship; he previously served as Ambassador to Kenya from 2013 to 2019 and Ambassador to Tunisia from 2006 to 2009. Other recent positions include acting Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs and Senior Coordinator for Afghanistan in the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration.
Ambassador Godec was also Deputy Commandant and International Affairs Advisor at the National War College, the State Department’s Principal Deputy Coordinator for Counterterrorism, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, and Deputy Coordinator for the Transition in Iraq.
In addition to earlier assignments in South Africa and Kenya, Ambassador Godec has served as Assistant Office Director for Thailand and Burma in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs and Director for Southeast Asian Affairs at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
Ambassador Godec has a Master of Arts degree in international relations from Yale University, as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia. He attended the State Department’s Senior Seminar and has received Presidential Meritorious Service Awards, a Distinguished Honor Award, and many other awards and commendations.
Mr. Praab Pianskool
Praab joined the Council in November 2005 as the Thailand Representative when the Bangkok Office was established. He has held senior positions in consumer marketing, media and investment banking. In addition, Praab was a Program Officer with the United Nations Development Program in China in the early 90s. Praab holds a M.A. (Hons.) degree from Oxford University.
Mr. Jonathan Wong
Jonathan Wong is the Chief of Innovation, Enterprise and Investment at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). He joined ESCAP from the UK Department for International Development (DFID), where he was the inaugural Head of Innovation. He has led the establishment of several high-profile social innovation initiativesincluding the Global Innovation Fund, a partnership between the governments of the US, UK, Sweden, Australia and South Africa.
He has extensive experience in innovation and entrepreneurship, technology, innovative financing and impact investing. He also has substantial policy expertise on these agendas, having advised governments across Europe, Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and Latin America.
Before joining DFID, he was a founding partner of a technology and innovation venture-capital fund and supported the establishment of the UK NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement.
Mr Wong has also served on APEC’s E-commerce Business Council and the UNCDF Board for ASEAN, and was awarded a Rockefeller Foundation Policy Fellowship and the inaugural Schwab Foundation Award for Public Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the World Economic Forum.
Mr. Christopher McCarthy
Chris has been working in Southeast Asia since 2012, helping companies with digital transformation and creative technology solutions for media and marketing. He has held leadership roles for digital strategy at Ogilvy (WPP), Omnicom digital agency groups, and prominent ad tech firms. He has lectured on digital strategy at UC Berkeley, NYU, Princeton University, and the National University of Singapore.
As Chair of the AmCham and EuroCham ICT Committees in Cambodia, he consults with the Royal Government of Cambodia on eCommerce and technology legislation. Chris holds a BA from Columbia University in New York City, including post-graduate studies in anthropology and learning theory. He learned to code at the dawn of time, on DEC PDP-11 and Apple 2+ computers.
Mr. Andrew Merluzzi
Andrew Merluzzi is an Emerging Technology Advisor on the Emerging Technologies team at USAID. He has worked on a number of the team’s initiatives, including a challenge on gender-equitable AI, a partnership with Mozilla Foundation to re-shape computer science curricula, an Responsible AI training for USAID staff, the USAID AI Action Plan, among others. He has recently provided guidance to the White House on issues related to AI, including the AI Bill of Rights, the National AI R&D Strategy, and the Executive Order on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence. Prior to USAID, Andrew served as a Program Officer at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, an independent, nonprofit institution providing science and technology policy guidance to the U.S. Government and private foundations. Andrew graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 2018 with a Masters in Public Policy and a PhD in Neuroscience.
Moderator
Mr. Nehal Sanghavi, Esq.
Nehal Sanghavi is a Foreign Service Officer with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Prior to this appointment, he served as the Senior Advisor for Innovation and Partnership in the Director’s Office at USAID/India from 2012 to 2021. He has more than 25 years of professional experience in international law, business, and development. Before joining USAID, Mr. Sanghavi was the Chief Operating Officer of Gateway House: Indian Council on Global Relations, India’s first independent foreign policy think tank. Mr. Sanghavi also spent 10 years practicing international law at various large international law firms and as in-house counsel in New York and Texas.
Nehal earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics with a concentration in Law from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, and a Doctorate of Jurisprudence with a concentration in International Law from the University of Texas School of Law in Austin, Texas. He is certified by the Supreme Courts of Texas and New York to practice law and served on the boards of a variety of non-profit organizations, including as President of the India Cultural Center in Austin, Texas. Nehal speaks Gujarati, Hindi, and Spanish. In his leisure time, he enjoys traveling, scuba diving, and engaging in other adventure activities.
Speakers
Mr. Tareef Jafferi
Tareef is a product-focused technology leader passionate about data, design, and using tech for good. Technology should make us better: happier, and healthier.
His people analytics research at MIT taught him that meaningful relationships (social connections) in the workplace are most important. And his time at Google taught him that great culture enables relationships to thrive.
Tareef founded Happily.ai to measurably improve the lives of people in the workplace. Applying novel people and behavioral science research and AI, they’ve radically transformed organizations in a fraction of the time and effort. Today, Happily.ai drives a winning culture for thousands of teams across the globe.
Ms. Prim Wongkrasaemongkol
Prim Rajasurang Wongkrasaemongkol is a 17-year-old young woman, youth advocate, AI Engineer and delegate from the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) Youth Forum 2023. She was the opening speaker at APFSD 2023, UN ESCAP and APFSD Youth Forum 2023. She is the youth speaker at the UN ECOSOC Youth Forum and UN Youth Representative to the UN World Data Forum 2023. She was the winner of AI Innovator award pitch competition where she utilizes AI to help blind people read books promoting long life learning. Furthermore, Prim is the founder of Child Teach Child program promoting marginalized children learning English and preserving their socio-cultural.
Mr. Stephen Paterson
Stephen Paterson is currently serving as the Vice Rector & Chief Innovation & Entrepreneurship Officer at the National University of Management in Phnom Penh. Stephen is also the Co-Founder of the Mekong Business Challenge (2006 to Present), which is an entrepreneurship program and competition involving universities from the Mekong Region and Bhutan.
Stephen has been involved in entrepreneurship education in Cambodia and the Southeast Asia region for more than 25 years. In addition to teaching and conducting professional training seminars on entrepreneurship and innovation, Stephen also serves as the Program Director for the National Business Model Competition (BMC) which is a lean startup competition in Cambodia.
Stephen is a Canadian citizen and received his Master’s Degree from the University of Toronto, and his Bachelor’s Degree from Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
Mr. Christopher McCarthy
Chris has been working in Southeast Asia since 2012, helping companies with digital transformation and creative technology solutions for media and marketing. He has held leadership roles for digital strategy at Ogilvy (WPP), Omnicom digital agency groups, and prominent ad tech firms. He has lectured on digital strategy at UC Berkeley, NYU, Princeton University, and the National University of Singapore.
As Chair of the AmCham and EuroCham ICT Committees in Cambodia, he consults with the Royal Government of Cambodia on eCommerce and technology legislation. Chris holds a BA from Columbia University in New York City, including post-graduate studies in anthropology and learning theory. He learned to code at the dawn of time, on DEC PDP-11 and Apple 2+ computers.
Mr. Kyle Shannon
11:00 – 12:00 • The Future of AI Policy in Southeast Asia and Implications for Policy Advocates and MSMEs:
Presentations & Panel Discussion
Moderator
Dr. Bradley J. Murg
Bradley J. Murg, PhD is Provost and Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs at Paragon International University. He first visited Cambodia in 2000, when he was a Henry Luce Scholar working at the Asian Development Bank. Dr. Murg also has been recognized as Distinguished Fellow and Senior Advisor at the Cambodia Institute for Cooperation and Peace; lead editor of The Journal of Greater Mekong Studies; and Scientific Advisor at Future Forum. His research, supported by grants from the Social Science Research Council and the International Research and Exchanges Board, focuses on contemporary international relations in Southeast Asia; the political economy of foreign aid; and the Greater Mekong Subregion as a whole. Dr. Murg graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Emory University with a B.A./M.A. in philosophy, received an M.Sc. in economic history from the London School of Economics, and his M.A. and Ph.D. in political science from the University of Washington. Dr. Murg’s research languages include English, French, Mandarin Chinese, Russian, and German.
Speakers
Ms. Larissa Lim
Larissa is an Executive Manager in the AI Governance Team (Data Innovation & Protection Group) in IMDA. Her work covers the formulation and implementation of policies relating to AI Governance and Ethics as well as personal data governance. She has represented Singapore at various international platforms discussing AI ethics and governance issues, such as the intergovernmental consultations on UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of AI and the OECD Recommendation on AI. An expert at the OECD’s Working Party on AI Governance (WPAIGO) working group on AI and Data, she is also an Advocate and Solicitor of the Singapore Bar.
Mr. Jonathan Gonzalez
Ms. Kelly Forbes
Kelly Forbes is the Executive Director of the AI Asia Pacific Institute, where she focuses on facilitating the responsible development and adoption of artificial intelligence.
Kelly’s dual qualification as a lawyer in both Common and Civil Law enhances her ability to tackle international challenges, where knowledge of laws and regulations across multiple jurisdictions is crucial for effective governance. She has held leadership roles in the International Law Association (ILA) and is an active member of the IEEE Standards Development Group, focusing on the organizational governance of AI.
In addition to her role at AIAPI, Kelly serves on the Editorial Board of the AI and Ethics Journal at Springer Nature and advises Qlik to accelerate the responsible development of its AI-driven product portfolio.
Mr. Sven Callebaut
Dr. James Gomez
Mr. Wayan Vota
Speakers
Ms. Jamie Brennan
Mr. Avner Mizrahi
Avner Mizrahi is the CEO of engageSPARK, a social enterprise that he co-founded in 2012 to help international development organizations, university researchers, and other nonprofits engage with hard-to-reach populations in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Avner has served as engageSPARK’s CEO since 2019 and has grown the company’s reach to 185+ countries, helping clients such as Johns Hopkins, Harvard, various UN agencies, Save the Children, Catholic Relief Services, and many other humanitarian organizations collect data from and disseminate information to their beneficiaries, research participants, and employees remotely, at scale, and across the globe via SMS (text messages), IVR (robocalls), Airtime Top-ups (mobile phone credit), CATI (live call interviews), and WhatsApp.
Before engageSPARK, Avner practiced law, first as a corporate litigator, then as a human rights lawyer. He led one of the largest and first insurance cases to come out of the 2008 credit crisis and then spent several years in Uganda fighting for the rights of vulnerable and marginalized individuals. While in Uganda, Avner co-founded the anti-corruption organization Not In My Country and then co-founded engageSPARK. Avner has a JD from New York University School of Law and a BA in International Studies from Johns Hopkins University.
Ms. Daniela Weber
Daniela Weber is the Deputy Director, NetHope’s Center of the Digital Nonprofit where she researches emerging technologies and trends and their relevance for the nonprofit sector, and supports nonprofits in their digital transformation through assessments, tools, and consultations. She leads NetHope’s AI program which looks to enable nonprofits to utilize AI to amplify their efforts to support vulnerable communities in the face of multi-crisis, and to make sure they can do so in a safe, ethical, and equitable way.
Daniela has over 30 years of experience in leadership roles in IT and Consulting, delivering digital transformation for organizations across a variety of sectors including consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, and hospitality. She moved into the nonprofit sector in 2015 and now works for NetHope, an organization that convenes the world’s leading international NGOs and technology companies, and some of the world’s most sophisticated users of digital for human, social, and environmental good.
Moderator
Mr. Steven Rynecki
Steven Rynecki is USAID Regional Economic Growth & Governance Team Lead for Asia. He enjoys integrating data-driven information in shaping strategic and operational economic growth plans and activities. He has 30 years of international international development experience providing economic growth opportunities for those in need. He possesses an extensive track record in leading high-profile, dynamic economic and digital programs mostly in Eastern Europe and Central, South and Southeast Asia. He’s skillful in cultivating productive relationships with senior level government counterparts, trade associations, corporate executives, academic leaders and national security partners. He’s at his best when planning and delivering high-value development programs to build practical business and digital skills for vulnerable populations, create job-linkages for the poor and disadvantaged, steer private sector complementarity on projects of mutual interest, and provide digital solutions to complex development problems – when it makes sense. Mr. Rynecki has the ability to see the big picture and use affordable and sustainable solutions in realizing shared development objectives.
Speakers
Mr. Tamir Baasanjav
Mr. Souliyo Vongdala
A visionary entrepreneur, Souliyo has revolutionized the transportation industry in Laos with his start-up, LOCA. By providing safe, reliable and transparent services, Souliyo has created over 800 sustainable jobs, including opportunities for women. His dedication and innovative approach have been recognized with prestigious awards and accolades such as the ASEAN Business Award and being listed on Forbes Asia’s 100 Companies to Watch.
Souliyo’s commitment to sustainable practices extends to his goal of transitioning LOCA’s fleet to 100% electric vehicles by 2030. He has also led the way in electric vehicle infrastructure in Laos, installing and expanding LOCA’s EV Fast Chargers across the country. This has encouraged more people to make the switch to EVs, reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable practices.
In addition to his work with LOCA, Souliyo has also launched LOCA PAY, a payment facilitator that helps tourists make payments to local SMEs using existing QR codes. His innovative solutions have made a significant impact on transportation and the local economy, positioning Souliyo as a notable player in the start-up world.
Ms. Khine Wai Thwe
Khine is the Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Digital Money Myanmar Ltd. She undertakes functional and leadership responsibilities across the areas of corporate governance and strategic transformation that includes regulatory and advocacy engagement, business conduct and compliance, stakeholders’ management, sustainability and corporate social responsibility, and corporate communications.
Khine is the certified Director from the Myanmar Institute of Directors and alumna of Women Corporate Director Program by USAID. Throughout her career path in multiple establishments and an MNC, Khine was also instrumental in a wide spectrum of strategic transformation, regulatory and statutory compliance, medical & travel security assistance, public relations, marketing and media engagement, sales and business development.
Khine’s passion and enthusiasm in developing high-performing team has been the driving force in making her a forward-looking leader in the corporate sector.
Khine worked closely with the EuroCHAM Myanmar, AMCHAM Myanmar, and UMFCCI’s Advisory and Steering Committees and contributed towards the development of policy and regulatory engagements platforms with respect to responsible, sustainable, and transparent investment in Myanmar.
Khine is a Rotarian of the Rotary Club of Yangon and committed to the cause of community services. Khine loves travelling and is a fashion enthusiast.
Mr. Andrew Hamilton
Ms. Byambajargal Ayushjav
Ms. Putri Negara Siregar
Mr. Ashish Narayan
Mr. Ashish Narayan works as Programme Coordinator in the ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. Currently, he is responsible for digital services in the ITU Asia-Pacific regional office and provides assistances to ITU Members in the region on digital transformation strategies, digital services (including digital government, digital agriculture, GovStack) and smart islands. He is also responsible for ITU’s engagements with ITU Members, UN agencies and partners in the Pacific. He has worked in various roles in the ITU including policies, regulations, strategies and capacity building.
Prior to the ITU, Mr. Narayan worked as Deputy Advisor in the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. During his tenure in the TRAI, he worked on key telecom sector reform issues. He began his career with the Tata Telecom, an equipment manufacturer, before moving to the Indian Government Service. He has also worked with the Indian public service broadcaster in the area of broadcast engineering. Mr. Narayan holds an MBA Degree in International Business and a Bachelor’s Degree in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering.
Mr. Josh Woodard
Josh is the USAID Bureau for Resilience, Environment, and Food Security’s Senior Digital Advisor, a position he has served in since 2021. He has close to twenty years of experience working in the technology for development space. Josh is the primary designer of studies on inclusive AI and automation in agri-foods systems, and farmer-centric data governance, as well as the inclusive digital design toolkit and breaking silos through digital technologies guidance note. He has extensive experience in digital agriculture and resilience, particularly in Asia and Africa.
Prior to joining USAID, he ran a technology for development consulting firm, during which he led the development of the digital agriculture strategies for several international donors and organizations. Before that, he worked at FHI 360 for over a decade. During that time, he oversaw USAID-funded efforts in Bangladesh, India, and Myanmar to help expand uptake of digital financial services in agricultural value chains. He has also served as a primary author of the FAO and ITU’s National e-Agriculture Strategy guide, which he helped the governments of Sri Lanka and Bhutan to implement. From 2009-2013, he led USAID’s FACET project, which focused on promoting the uptake of ICT in agriculture projects across sub-Saharan Africa.
15:20 – 16:20 • Shaping the Future of AI through a Comparative Approach to Governance – Emerging Flashpoints around Policy and the Future of AI:
Presentations & Panel Discussion
Moderator
Ms. Gwen Robinson
Gwen Robinson is a Senior Fellow, Institute of Security and International Studies, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, and specializes in regional security and economic issues, with a focus on Myanmar.
She is also editor-at-large at Nikkei Asian Review, a journal of Asian affairs, and was previously a correspondent and editor with the Financial Times (1995-2013), most recently covering Southeast Asia (2011-14).
She was president of the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand 2019-21.
Speakers
Mr. Hasnul Nadzrin Shah
Hasnul is the Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs for Indonesia, Brunei, and Malaysia. He is based in Kuala Lumpur. His responsibilities include strategic stakeholder engagement, the provision of policy input to government stakeholders in areas related to technology and trade. He supports business objectives of IBM in Indonesia, Brunei and Malaysia and is part of the IBM Malaysia senior leadership team. He is also a part of the IBM Government Affairs Global COE on AI Policy.
He has over 18 years of experience working in startups and co-founding a startup, and prior to IBM, he was with the Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) where he was responsible for leading the team effort in designing the national strategy for the creative multimedia industry. His extensive experience in handling management, technical and strategy roles has served to strengthen his contribution to the various organizations he has served in. He attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison where he studied Information Systems Analysis and Design.
He is a member and former chair of the Government Relations Council of the American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) and the current co-chair of the Malaysia Committee of the US ASEAN Business Council (USABC). He is also IBM’s representative on Talent Corp’s Future Skills Talent Council (ICT).
Mr. Des Teso
Mr. Peter Brimble
Peter is a private sector development specialist working over the past 35 years on industrial efficiency, industrial and technological development, foreign investment promotion, public-private dialogue, and government policy issues in Central, South-East and North Asia. On a practical level, Peter managed a venture capital fund in Thailand, founded a securities firm in Thailand, established a private equity fund in Cambodia, and ran several policy consulting operations. Following leadership assignments with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Cambodia and Myanmar from 2010-2016, during which time he developed engagement strategies and undertook detailed economic and inclusive growth analyses for both countries, Peter joined the UKAid FCDO-funded 25 million pound DaNa Facility as Team Leader in December 2016. DaNa became a leader in Myanmar on promoting corporate governance, responsible business, impact investing, and inclusive business, on strengthening financial inclusion and the ecosystem for fintechs, on stimulating public-private dialogue mechanisms to catalyze economic policy reform, and on supporting policy reforms to enhance business environments around the country. Peter joined the AI Asia Pacific Institute in 2023, currently serves as an Institute Director, and has been focusing on enhancing the development and use of responsible AI in ASEAN and the Pacific Islands.
Peter is an Economics graduate of the London School of Economics, Georgetown University, the University of Sussex, and Johns Hopkins University. His Ph.D. thesis examined the productivity performance of Thai manufacturing firms.
Mr. James Cerven
James Cerven is a Regional Technology Officer (RTO) based at the U.S. Consulate General in Sydney, Australia. As an RTO, James is responsible for monitoring and supporting U.S. government engagement on critical and emerging technologies in Southeast Asia and Oceania.
Prior to his assignment in Sydney, James served as a financial economist with the Office of Investment Affairs in the Bureau of Economic Affairs (EB/OIA), where he focused on the Department’s participation on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and led investment screening policy outreach in Europe, the Middle East, and South Asia. James also served as an economic officer in Jakarta, Indonesia, where he covered the digital trade and intellectual property portfolios and led the Embassy’s cybersecurity working group. James is a career Foreign Service Officer who has also served in Islamabad, Guangzhou, and the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs.
Before joining the Foreign Service, James was a practicing attorney and policy advisor with the Department of Justice National Security Division, the National Counterterrorism Center, and the U.S. Court of International Trade. He holds a JD from the University of Michigan and a B.A. from the University of Idaho.
Ms. Lorri Anne Meils
Mr. Mathew Perkins:
Mr. Ashish Narayan works as Programme Coordinator in the ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. Currently, he is responsible for digital services in the ITU Asia-Pacific regional office and provides assistances to ITU Members in the region on digital transformation strategies, digital services (including digital government, digital agriculture, GovStack) and smart islands. He is also responsible for ITU’s engagements with ITU Members, UN agencies and partners in the Pacific. He has worked in various roles in the ITU including policies, regulations, strategies and capacity building.
Prior to the ITU, Mr. Narayan worked as Deputy Advisor in the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. During his tenure in the TRAI, he worked on key telecom sector reform issues. He began his career with the Tata Telecom, an equipment manufacturer, before moving to the Indian Government Service. He has also worked with the Indian public service broadcaster in the area of broadcast engineering. Mr. Narayan holds an MBA Degree in International Business and a Bachelor’s Degree in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering.
Mr. Gidraf Wachira
Gidraf Wachira is the Climate Intersections Lead at NetHope. In his capacity, Gidraf has the responsibility of delivering and scaling the Climate Intersections Initiative with the goal of using data and digital technology at the nexus of Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience among vulnerable communities.
Gidraf is a digital solutions implementation expert with over 9 years’ experience in the intersection of digital solutions implementation and program management. He has piloted and implemented 3 digital solutions in Health and Agriculture and 6 African countries which have reached over 2 million users.
Prior to joining NetHope, Gidraf provided leadership in the operations and implementation of eVuna (Connected Farmer, a product of Mezzanine – member of the Vodacom Group), a farmer centric digital marketplace aimed at linking farmers to needed services and products to increase their productivity.
Gidraf is an alumnus of Makerere University, Uganda and the Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI).
Ms. Lindsey Moore
Mr. Christopher McCarthy
Chris has been working in Southeast Asia since 2012, helping companies with digital transformation and creative technology solutions for media and marketing. He has held leadership roles for digital strategy at Ogilvy (WPP), Omnicom digital agency groups, and prominent ad tech firms. He has lectured on digital strategy at UC Berkeley, NYU, Princeton University, and the National University of Singapore.
As Chair of the AmCham and EuroCham ICT Committees in Cambodia, he consults with the Royal Government of Cambodia on eCommerce and technology legislation. Chris holds a BA from Columbia University in New York City, including post-graduate studies in anthropology and learning theory. He learned to code at the dawn of time, on DEC PDP-11 and Apple 2+ computers.
June 13: Morning – Impact of AI & AI Governance
Mr. Christopher McCarthy
Chris has been working in Southeast Asia since 2012, helping companies with digital transformation and creative technology solutions for media and marketing. He has held leadership roles for digital strategy at Ogilvy (WPP), Omnicom digital agency groups, and prominent ad tech firms. He has lectured on digital strategy at UC Berkeley, NYU, Princeton University, and the National University of Singapore.
As Chair of the AmCham and EuroCham ICT Committees in Cambodia, he consults with the Royal Government of Cambodia on eCommerce and technology legislation. Chris holds a BA from Columbia University in New York City, including post-graduate studies in anthropology and learning theory. He learned to code at the dawn of time, on DEC PDP-11 and Apple 2+ computers.
Mr. John Gim
Mr. Worapat Patram
Worapat is a Senior Director of International Government Affairs – APJ, at Intel. He plays a pivotal role in driving policy development and fostering strong relationships with government agencies in the region. He works closely with various government bodies to shape and implement ICT-related policies, particularly in areas such as digital infrastructure, spectrum maangement, cybersecurity, and privacy.
Before joining Intel, Worapat served as the Director of Regulatory and Technology Development at the Office of Commissioners’ Affairs, National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) in Thailand, where he spearheaded research and policy initiatives to support the telecommunications industry’s growth in the country.
Worapat earned both his master’s and bachelor’s degrees in electrical and computer engineering, with a focus on digital signal processing and communication, from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in the United States.
Ms. Elizabeth Reilly
Dr. Gil Speyer
Ms. Louisa Tomar
Louisa Tomar is the Director of the Center for Digital Economy and Governance at the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE). Louisa oversees cross-regional programs on digital commerce and digital governance, the rise of digital authoritarianism, and the future of democracy, technology and markets. Louisa manages an extensive digital democracy portfolio, supporting business advocacy on digital policy and developing new resources for strengthening digital literacy, skills, and inclusion. She has supported partner activities in Colombia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tunisia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, the Philippines and beyond. Louisa has published and spoken around the world on the impact of digital transformation on democracies and business communities in emerging markets.
Prior to joining CIPE, Louisa consulted for the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) where she co-authored a policy guide on the use of big data to improve public service delivery in Latin America and the Caribbean. She spent her early career working in microfinance at FINCA International, Inc. She holds a Master’s Degree in Development Management from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Women Studies from the University of Maryland, College Park.
Mr. Alex Högback
Mr. Alex Högback works as Project Manager in the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, in Bangkok, Thailand. He leads a regional artificial intelligence (AI) project in Southeast Asia, and supports the development of AI policies, standards, and frameworks that mainstream gender equality and social inclusion, harnessing the power of AI for good while mitigating its many risks.
Prior to joining ITU, Mr. Högback worked in Geneva, Switzerland to advance human rights in the information and communication technology sector globally.
Mr. Högback holds five degrees, including an MA in International Law, an MSc in Economics, and an MNA in Nonprofit Management.
Mr. Karan Lakhwani
Mr. Ozzeir Khan
Ms. Eunice Lim
Mr. William Tjhi
William Tjhi has been practicing machine learning to solve industry problems for 16 years. He received his PhD from Nanyang Technological University in 2008, with a thesis on unsupervised learning for text data. He spent a few years with A*STAR where he learned how to scale up Machine Learning with distributed systems. When in GovTech, he contributed to the initial data science efforts in the organization. For a while, William was also the lead NLP at Traveloka. There, he appreciated the challenges of doing NLP in the then low-resource Bahasa Indonesia. This became an inspiration for him when he later initiated a program that focuses on building NLP resources for Southeast Asia languages in AI Singapore. In the early days of AI Singapore, he was one of the first engineers who set the foundation for the execution of the 100 Experiments and AI Apprenticeship Program. Today, William leads the applied research work on Regional LLMs in the AI Products division of AI Singapore. He is also a regular contributor in various regional tech communities including Data Science Singapore and Data Science Indonesia.
Dr. Aida Karazhanova
With over 7 years of experience as an Economic Affairs Officer at UN ESCAP, I contribute to the development and implementation of policies and projects that leverage ICT and digital technologies for sustainable development, disaster risk reduction, and regional integration in Asia and the Pacific region. I facilitate the execution of Asia and the Pacific Information Superhighway (APIS) action plan 2022-2026, which aims to enhance connectivity and e-resilience for all, digital data management, and digital technology applications in development.
I also produce analytical and knowledge products, design technical cooperation projects, and support online platforms and tools that enable SDGs, digital economy, and digital transformation. I promote linkages between the digital, climate, and green components of development, and collaborate with various stakeholders, including governments, the private sector, civil society, and academia. My mission is to harness the potential of ICT and digital innovation for advancing social, economic, and environmental goals in Asia and the Pacific region.
11:00 – 12:00 • Technology Sector Perspectives on the AI Future
Presentations & Panel Discussion
Moderator
Mr. Nehal Sanghavi, Esq.
Nehal Sanghavi is a Foreign Service Officer with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Prior to this appointment, he served as the Senior Advisor for Innovation and Partnership in the Director’s Office at USAID/India from 2012 to 2021. He has more than 25 years of professional experience in international law, business, and development. Before joining USAID, Mr. Sanghavi was the Chief Operating Officer of Gateway House: Indian Council on Global Relations, India’s first independent foreign policy think tank. Mr. Sanghavi also spent 10 years practicing international law at various large international law firms and as in-house counsel in New York and Texas.
Nehal earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics with a concentration in Law from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, and a Doctorate of Jurisprudence with a concentration in International Law from the University of Texas School of Law in Austin, Texas. He is certified by the Supreme Courts of Texas and New York to practice law and served on the boards of a variety of non-profit organizations, including as President of the India Cultural Center in Austin, Texas. Nehal speaks Gujarati, Hindi, and Spanish. In his leisure time, he enjoys traveling, scuba diving, and engaging in other adventure activities.
Speakers
Ms. Athistha Chitranukroh
Mr. Hasnul Nadzrin Shah
Hasnul is the Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs for Indonesia, Brunei, and Malaysia. He is based in Kuala Lumpur. His responsibilities include strategic stakeholder engagement, the provision of policy input to government stakeholders in areas related to technology and trade. He supports business objectives of IBM in Indonesia, Brunei and Malaysia and is part of the IBM Malaysia senior leadership team. He is also a part of the IBM Government Affairs Global COE on AI Policy.
He has over 18 years of experience working in startups and co-founding a startup, and prior to IBM, he was with the Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) where he was responsible for leading the team effort in designing the national strategy for the creative multimedia industry. His extensive experience in handling management, technical and strategy roles has served to strengthen his contribution to the various organizations he has served in. He attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison where he studied Information Systems Analysis and Design.
He is a member and former chair of the Government Relations Council of the American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) and the current co-chair of the Malaysia Committee of the US ASEAN Business Council (USABC). He is also IBM’s representative on Talent Corp’s Future Skills Talent Council (ICT).
Ms. Aanchal Mehta
Mr. Marcone Cangussu
13:30 – 14:15 • Entrepreneurs Building their Business on AI
Presentations & Panel Discussion
Moderator
Ms. Karima Chaisaengchan
Speakers
Mr. Baasandorj Davaasuren
Baasandorj D., Deputy CEO at LendMN, brings a wealth of experience in driving AI-powered technology adoption across emerging markets. He played a pivotal role in launching Mongolia’s first digital banking project, utilizing innovative solutions to make financial services more accessible.
Building on this success, he currently serves as Deputy CEO at LendMN, Mongolia’s pioneering FinTech mobile lending app. In this role, he champions the use of AI for streamlining the lending process, such as utilizing AI-powered credit scoring models to make faster and more informed loan decisions.
Currently, Baasandorj leads the development of “mindox,” a groundbreaking intelligent document processing software revolutionizing document management within Asia’s financial sector.
Ms. Mook Chaichirawiwat
Mr. Jeff Carrol
An accomplished tech and retail leader, boasting a distinguished two-decade tenure at industry giants Microsoft and Starbucks and over seven years specializing in chat commerce. Jeff’s profound insights stem from the confluence of sector leadership, laying the foundation for his groundbreaking vision of the future interplay between AI and retail. As the former head of Microsoft Asia ecommerce, Jeff’s expertise uniquely positions him at the crossroads of technological innovation, retail dynamics and transformative industry shifts. He is now on a mission to redefine and elevate the consumer experience through AI-driven solutions.
Mr. Brett Joyal
Professor Keigo Kawaji
16:00 – 16:30 • Closing Plenary:
Pathways for AI Policy and Development
Dr. Bradley J. Murg
Bradley J. Murg, PhD is Provost and Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs at Paragon International University. He first visited Cambodia in 2000, when he was a Henry Luce Scholar working at the Asian Development Bank. Dr. Murg also has been recognized as Distinguished Fellow and Senior Advisor at the Cambodia Institute for Cooperation and Peace; lead editor of The Journal of Greater Mekong Studies; and Scientific Advisor at Future Forum. His research, supported by grants from the Social Science Research Council and the International Research and Exchanges Board, focuses on contemporary international relations in Southeast Asia; the political economy of foreign aid; and the Greater Mekong Subregion as a whole. Dr. Murg graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Emory University with a B.A./M.A. in philosophy, received an M.Sc. in economic history from the London School of Economics, and his M.A. and Ph.D. in political science from the University of Washington. Dr. Murg’s research languages include English, French, Mandarin Chinese, Russian, and German.
Mr. Wayan Vota
Mr. Jonathan Wong
Jonathan Wong is the Chief of Innovation, Enterprise and Investment at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). He joined ESCAP from the UK Department for International Development (DFID), where he was the inaugural Head of Innovation. He has led the establishment of several high-profile social innovation initiativesincluding the Global Innovation Fund, a partnership between the governments of the US, UK, Sweden, Australia and South Africa.
He has extensive experience in innovation and entrepreneurship, technology, innovative financing and impact investing. He also has substantial policy expertise on these agendas, having advised governments across Europe, Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and Latin America.
Before joining DFID, he was a founding partner of a technology and innovation venture-capital fund and supported the establishment of the UK NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement.
Mr Wong has also served on APEC’s E-commerce Business Council and the UNCDF Board for ASEAN, and was awarded a Rockefeller Foundation Policy Fellowship and the inaugural Schwab Foundation Award for Public Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the World Economic Forum.
Ms. Karima Chaisaengchan
Mr. Farhad Ghaussy
Mr. Christopher McCarthy
Chris has been working in Southeast Asia since 2012, helping companies with digital transformation and creative technology solutions for media and marketing. He has held leadership roles for digital strategy at Ogilvy (WPP), Omnicom digital agency groups, and prominent ad tech firms. He has lectured on digital strategy at UC Berkeley, NYU, Princeton University, and the National University of Singapore.
As Chair of the AmCham and EuroCham ICT Committees in Cambodia, he consults with the Royal Government of Cambodia on eCommerce and technology legislation. Chris holds a BA from Columbia University in New York City, including post-graduate studies in anthropology and learning theory. He learned to code at the dawn of time, on DEC PDP-11 and Apple 2+ computers.
