Program highlights​

Agenda

Time	Activities
9:00 - 9:30am	Guest check-in
9:30 - 9:35am	Welcome remarks Professor Robert McClelland - Dean of The Business School, RMIT Vietnam
9:35 - 9:45am	Overview and introduction: ASEAN Business and Technology Snapshot: Great Potentials, Challenges, and Opportunities Professor Trung Nguyen - Interim Deputy Dean, Engagement & International, The Business School, RMIT Vietnam
9:45 - 10:00am	Plenary keynote: Road to APEC 2027 - ASEAN's Business Priorities Outline Vietnam's priorities as APEC 2027 host and how business forums can help shape the agenda Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh - Former Vietnamese Ambassador to the United States (2014–2018)
10:00 - 10:40am	Plenary panel discussion: Thriving as One ASEAN in an AI-Driven, Green and Fragmented World Chair: Professor Robert McClelland – Dean of The Business School, RMIT Vietnam Panelists: Ambassador Andrew Goledzinowski - Former Australian Ambassador to Vietnam (Online) Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh - Former Vietnamese Ambassador to the United States (2014–2018) M.L. Laksasubha Kridakon - Former President of the Australian-Thai Chamber of Commerce (AustCham Thailand) & President of the Australian Alumni Association (Thailand) Ms Bonnie Rivendell - Associate Director for International Development, RMIT and Program Director, Australian APEC Study Centre, Melbourne (Australia) - (Online)
10:40 - 11:40am	Parallel track sessions - 60 mins each track Track #1: Trade, Integration and Connectivity: Tackling tariff shocks, deepening intra-ASEAN trade, upgrading ATIGA, implementing RCEP and enhancing regional connectivity through ASEAN visa initiatives, green and digital shipping corridors and tourism recovery Track #2: Digital Economy and AI: Harnessing DEFA to advance digital trade and interoperability, accelerating AI adoption while carefully managing associated risks and opportunities Track #3: Sustainability, Green Transformation and Innovation: Advancing ASEAN's transition finance framework, scaling up renewable energy, EV corridors and carbon markets, while fostering innovation, start-ups and entrepreneurial ecosystems to drive sustainable growth
11:40 - 11:55am	Report back and Moving forward Track sessions present highlights (5 mins each track)
11:55am - 12:00pm	Introduction of "Phu Quoc 2027 ASEAN Business Priorities Brief" Ms Dominique Wiehahn - Associate Director, Asia Strategy & Impact, RMIT University Closing Remarks Professor Robert McClelland - Dean of The Business School, RMIT Vietnam

Parallel track sessions

Choose from the three following interactive tracks led by experts and practitioners.

Trade, Integration and Connectivity

Tackling tariff shocks, deepening intra-ASEAN trade, upgrading ATIGA, implementing RCEP and enhancing regional connectivity through ASEAN visa initiatives, green and digital shipping corridors and tourism recovery.

Audience: Policymakers, economists, business leaders, investors, researchers
Track Chair: Ms Bonnie Rivendell - Associate Director for International Development, RMIT and Program Director, Australian APEC Study Centre, Melbourne, Australia

Presentations

From Tariff Shocks to Trade Resilience: Strengthening ASEAN's Intra-Regional Supply Chains

Speaker: Mr Alex Bailey - Former Global Lead - Business Development and Strategic Innovation, AT&T

RCEP in Action: Turning Commitments into Tangible Business Opportunities

Speaker: Professor Shandre Mugan Thangavelu, Head, Jeffrey Cheah Institute on Southeast Asia, Sunway University (Malaysia)

Evolving Trade in Professional Services: Driving Regional Connectivity, Mobility and Integration

Speaker: Ms Kristen Bondietti - Program Director, Trade Policy and Research, Australian APEC Study Centre (Australia)

Australian Investment: Forging Closer Business Connectivity

Speaker: Mr Joel Smouha, Trade and Investment Commissioner (Austrade)

Digital Economy and AI

Harnessing DEFA to advance digital trade and interoperability, accelerating AI adoption while carefully managing associated risks and opportunities.

Audience: Tech leaders, sustainability executives, policymakers, researchers
Track Chair: Associate Professor Binh Nguyen - Co-Head, RMIT Centre for Business & Emerging Technologies

Presentations

The Impact of AI on the Digital Economy

Speaker: Professor Kok-Leong Ong - Director, CoBL Technology Initiative, RMIT University (Australia)

AI Adoption Strategies and Digital Finance to Unlock the ASEAN Digital Economy

Speaker:

Dr Kevin Nguyen - CoBL Tech - Program Manager, Senior Lecturer, TBS, RMIT University Vietnam

Dr Huy Bao Doan - CoBL Tech - Senior Lecturer, Finance, TBS, RMIT University Vietnam

AI in City-Making: Opportunities and Gaps

Speaker: Assoc Prof Zhou Yimin - Director (Advisory & Partnership) of NUS Cities, National University of Singapore

The State of Infrastructure for the Digital Economy in ASEAN

Speaker: Mr Tran Anh Tuan - Public Sector Lead for Vietnam, Amazon Web Services

Sustainability, Green Transformation and Innovation

Advancing ASEAN’s transition finance framework, scaling up renewable energy, EV corridors and carbon markets, while fostering innovation, start-ups and entrepreneurial ecosystems to drive sustainable growth.

Audience: Start-up founders, investors, innovation hubs, government agencies, researchers

Track Chair: Dr Phuong Hoang - Co-Head, RMIT Centre for Business & Emerging Technologies

Presentations

Startups in Southeast Asia: Catalysts for Sustainable Transformation

Speaker: Dr Justin Xavier - Senior Manager, International & Projects, The Business School and Project Lead, SPARK Hub, RMIT University Vietnam

Clean Energy Startups in Southeast Asia: Powering the Green Transition

Speaker: Ms Thao Tran - Country Director, New Energy Nexus Vietnam

Sustainability in Action: Singapore's Green Innovation Landscape

Speaker: Mr Md. Ibnur Rashad - Founder & Chief Executive Officer, GUILD Asia (Singapore)

Sustainability in Action: Indonesia's Path to a Greener Future

Speaker: Dr Diana Sari - Professor, Universitas Padjadjaran (Indonesia)

Program highlights​