Programme

Of late, regulators across Asian markets have put forward initiatives for companies to take greater cognizance of their market valuations and shareholder returns. This started in 2023 with the Action Program of Japan, followed in 2024 by Korea’s Value Up initiative and China’s Market Value Management guidelines as well as similar initiatives by regulators across the region. For the first session of our annual conference, we will invite the regulators of three of the most significant markets - the Financial Services Agency of Japan or Tokyo Stock Exchange, Financial Services Commission or Korea Exchange as well as the Chinese regulators - to discuss how these initiatives have developed and their areas of focus going forward.

Confirmed speakers:
Hiroshi Ozawa, Chief Deputy Director, Corporate Accounting and Disclosure Division Policy and Markets Bureau, Financial Services Agency, Tokyo
Dr. Zhongbo Yu, Deputy Director, Research Institute, Shenzhen Stock Exchange, Shenzhen

Moderator:
Amar Gill, Secretary General, ACGA, Hong Kong
 

This panel will explore the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and escalating cyber-risks from a corporate governance perspective. Discover how boards can harness AI to enhance decision-making and risk management while navigating its disruptive impact on business operations and corporate business models. From addressing ethical dilemmas, data privacy, and algorithmic bias to mitigating cybersecurity threats and AI-driven opportunities and risks to traditional revenue streams, this panel will consider how businesses and investors can balance innovation with accountability and operational resilience.

Confirmed speakers:
Ross Teverson, Regional Team Lead, Asia and Global Emerging Markets, EOS at Federated Hermes, London

Moderator:
Mary Leung, Senior Advisor, Capital Markets Policy, Asia Pacific, CFA Institute, Hong Kong

Value Up initiatives in the region are largely led by regulators but their success depends on corporates following through with a greater focus on shareholder value by the board and management. Do boards have the skill set to deliver on their expectations? How should these policies be implemented in the companies? What are the roles for other stakeholders, including director institutes and institutional investors? This session will bring to bear the perspectives of various stakeholders on what is necessary for Value Up programme to be successful at the corporate level as well as more broadly in a given market.

Confirmed speakers:
Aya Fujiki, ESG Stewardship Manager, Global Stewardship & Engagement, Capital Group, Tokyo
Su Keun Kwak, Independent Director (Chair of Audit Committee and CEO Recommendation Committee), Shinhan Financial Group, Seoul
Su Sang Yoon, Vice President , Investment Stewardship, Asia ex-Japan, J.P. Morgan Asset Management, Hong Kong
Wilson Wei, Director and Chief Analyst of ESG, E Fund Management Co., Ltd., Guangzhou

Shareholder activism is rising sharply across Asia, driven by governance reforms and increasing investor engagement. This session explores how activism is evolving beyond financial demands to focus on governance, transparency, and sustainability. Panellists will discuss the challenges companies face in responding to activist campaigns and how investors and boards can foster constructive dialogue to improve corporate behaviour and market standards.

Confirmed speakers:
Changhwan Lee, Founder, CEO and CIO, Align Partners Capital Management Inc., Seoul
Naoko Ueno, VP, Asian Research & Engagement, Glass Lewis Japan GK, Tokyo
Seth H. Fischer, Chief Investment Officer, Oasis Management, Hong Kong

Moderator:
Dr. Woochan Kim, Professor of Finance, Korea University Business School, Seoul

The global supply chain is undergoing seismic shifts, driven by geopolitical uncertainty, climate impacts and technological advancements. In this volatile landscape, how can companies effectively redesign their supply chains for resilience? How should the board oversee supply chain risk management and strategy? How does the evolving due diligence inform this restrategising process and help uncover critical pressure points?

Confirmed speakers:
Erika Rodriguez, Director, Head of Sustainability APAC, KKR, Hong Kong
Flora Wang, Head of Stewardship, Asia & Portfolio Advisor, Fidelity International, Hong Kong

Moderator:
Christopher Leahy, Specialist Advisor Southeast Asia, ACGA ; Executive Director,  Barbican Advisory; Founder, Velos Research; INED Destileria Barako Corp., Asia Pacific
 

Audit committees of listed companies serve as a vital line of defence against corruption and fraud within their organizations. On this panel, we will discuss: 

• Best practices for strengthening audit oversight, enhancing transparency, and mitigating financial risks associated with misconduct

• Evolving challenges and risks within Asia Pacific faced by audit committees

• How robust audit governance can help protect long term investors, ensure compliance with local and international standards, and foster long-term value creation.

Moderator:
Ronnie Lim, ACGA Council Member; Senior Engagement Specialist, Robeco, Hong Kong

This critical dialogue on shaping resilient, climate-ready governance will address the dynamic interplay of climate governance and transition strategies across Eastern and Western landscapes. Explore how boards in Asia and the West navigate regulatory frameworks, stakeholder pressures, and innovative decarbonization pathways to drive sustainable transformation. From Asia’s rapid renewable energy adoption to Europe’s stringent ESG mandates, panellists will unpack regional differences, share cross-border lessons, and address challenges in aligning corporate strategies with climate objectives and pathways.

Confirmed speakers:
Jeanne Stampe, Lead Policy Advisor, Norges Bank Investment Management, Singapore
Dr. Joon Hyug Chung, Associate Professor, Ph.D, LL.M, Seoul National University School of Law, Seoul
Seongbong Cho, VP & Head of ESG, SK hynix, Gyeonggi-do
Sunita Rajakumar, Founder, Climate Governance Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur

 

Fairmont Ambassador Hotel Foyer, Ground Floor

Fairmont Ambassador Hotel Ballroom, Ground Floor

Keynote speech: The Rise of K-Pop and K-Culture
In this keynote, Daniel Jang, CEO, Chief Executive Officer, SM Entertainment, will introduce the brief history of SM Entertainment as the origin of K-Pop and the K-Pop production system. It will also provide an overview of the current scale of the K-Pop industry, examine the characteristics of K-Pop culture, and offer insights into K-Pop future development in the global music market.

Confirmed Speaker:
Daniel Jang, CEO, Chief Executive Officer, SM Entertainment, Seoul

As geopolitical tensions reshape global trade and regulatory environments, boards and investors in Asia face complex risks and opportunities. This session will examine how evolving power dynamics impact corporate governance and investment strategies. We will discuss practical approaches for boards to enhance resilience, manage political risks, and align governance with rapidly changing geopolitical realities.

Confirmed speakers:
Karine Hirn, Partner, Chief Sustainable Officer, East Capital Asia Limited, Hong Kong
Vladislava Ryabota, Regional Corporate Governance Lead, East Asia and Pacific, International Finance Corporation (IFC), Bangkok
Yuelin Yang, ACGA Council Member, Programme Committee Member, Pacific Pension & Investment Institute; Independent Director, Verlinvest Asia, Singapore

The trillion-dollar shift from public to private markets, driven by private equity growth and take-private deals, is transforming Asia’s investment landscape. Private markets’ limited disclosures and reduced shareholder oversight contrast with public markets’ robust reporting, creating a new set of governance challenges for investors. This panel explores the drivers behind this capital shift, public market trends, and investor strategies to address valuation concerns, limited transparency, and reduced board oversight. Discover how investors can promote transparent structures and sustainable practices to enhance governance in Asia’s evolving public and private markets.

Confirmed speakers:
Andrew Hendry, CEO Asia and Head of Asia Client Group, Janus Henderson Investors, Singapore
Hitoshi Hirokawa, Managing Director, ESG & Stewardship Department, Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF), Tokyo
Seungkeun SK Lee, Team Leader, Corporate Governance Team, National Pension Service Investment Management, Seoul
Siok Lan Pek, Head of Investment Stewardship, Temasek, Singapore

Moderator:
Namuh Rhee, Chairman, Korean Corporate Governance Forum (KCGF), Seoul

Annual General Meetings are a cornerstone of shareholder engagement - but in many Asian markets, the AGM and proxy voting systems remain outdated, opaque, and inefficient. This workshop will dive into the practical and structural challenges investors face during voting season, from compressed meeting calendars and limited disclosure timelines to the fragmented role of proxy advisors. The discussion will focus on how the system can be modernised to support more effective stewardship, improve vote execution, and enhance corporate accountability.

Confirmed speakers:
Dr. Hyunyoung Hwang, Ph.D., Research Fellow, Capital Markets Department, Korea Capital Market Institute, Seoul
Sanghee Ahn, Head of the Governance Consulting Center, Daishin Economic Research Institute, Seoul
Sara Lee, Director, Responsible Investment & Governance, APAC, APG Asset Management Asia, Hong Kong

How effective are current whistleblowing mechanisms in promoting transparency and accountability within listed companies?  How can they be improved? The panel will discuss whether existing systems adequately encourage the reporting of misconduct, protect whistleblowers, and lead to meaningful action. We will also discuss best practices in designing accessible, secure, and confidential communication channels that maximize the chances of effective oversight and accountability, while ensuring legal and ethical compliance, and strengthening organizational integrity.

Confirmed speakers:
Hyun Ju Ku, Partner Attorney, Hannuri Law LLC, Seoul
Jae-Wook Lim, Partner, Forensics, Samil PwC , Seoul
Trista Chen, Co-lead, Global Investment Stewardship, L&G, Singapore

While many US companies are scaling back or reframing their diversity initiatives, Asian markets are largely holding firm on diversity requirements, particularly for boards. Against this contrasting backdrop, how are leading investors and companies navigating these different regional pressures and expectations? What changes are emerging in the language and focus of diversity programmes? What other pressing human capital issues are boards in Asia facing beyond diversity? 

This workshop will bring together investors and corporates to explore these questions, share their practical experiences and discuss their outlook on what comes next.

Confirmed speakers:
Bess Joffe, Managing Director and Global Head of Client Sustainability Strategy, MFS Investment Management, London
Nana Li, Head of Sustainability & Stewardship, Asia-Pacific, Director, Impax Asset Management, Hong Kong
William Ng, Stewardship Director, HSBC Asset Management, Hong Kong

Moderator:
Pru Bennett, ACGA Council Member; Partner, Brunswick Group, Sydney

Family-controlled businesses and chaebols remain dominant players in Korea and across Asia, shaping the region’s economic landscape. Yet, they also face unique governance challenges—from opaque succession planning to entrenched board structures and conflicts between family and minority shareholders. This session will explore how these companies can balance tradition with transparency, and what it takes to professionalise governance, refresh boards, and ensure long-term sustainability across generations.

Confirmed speakers:
Jong-Ha James Yoon, Founding Partner and Head of Korea Buyout, MBK Partners, Seoul
Jongmin Shim, Deputy Head of Korea Research, CLSA Securities Korea Ltd., Seoul
Michael Ling, Company Secretary, CLP Holdings, Hong Kong
Yoo-Kyung Park, Managing Director; Head of Global Emerging Markets Equities, Fundamental Strategies; Head of APAC Responsible Investment & Governance, APG Asset Management Asia, Hong Kong

Fairmont Ambassador Hotel Ballroom, Ground Floor