3 min read
Excitement and anticipation are building as the AVPN Global Conference 2023 draws closer. At the AVPN office, the Conference Director (Christina Ameln) and the Content Team (Roshini Prakash, Ashima Thomas, and Sangeetha Watson) are at the heart of the action, tasked with pulling the agenda together. Intriguing conversations and fascinating insights are driving the creation of an impactful agenda. Here is a glimpse behind-the-scenes as the team shares how they have come together to create something truly special.
Christina: As the Conference Director, I am thrilled to share my vision for the AVPN Global Conference 2023. This gathering is more than just an event for like-minded individuals to network and share ideas. It is a call to action for the global and Asian social investment community to showcase the power of Asian solutions in tackling global challenges.
Our team at AVPN truly wants this conference to be an unprecedented opportunity for attendees to come together for urgent courageous and bold actions towards tackling critical issues facing us. Whether it’s health, gender inequality, climate change, or other pressing topics, this is our chance to inspire transformational collaborations that empower communities to take the lead.
For the first time, we are convening in Malaysia with our esteemed Host Partner Yayasan Hasanah, the foundation arm of Khazanah Nasional, the Malaysian government’s sovereign wealth fund. Another first, we are introducing an Impact Investing Day, which will explore key trends and emerging challenges in impact investing. Stay tuned for more details on the Impact Investing Day in our next In Conversation write-up.
What are the Conference themes this year and why are they important?
Ashima: AVPN’s global conference is the only event of its kind. It puts a spotlight on the opportunities and challenges that are unique to Asia in all its diversity, by capturing perspectives from around the world. It has global reach – bringing Asia to the world, so to speak. Given that this region is in the midst of a dynamic recovery following events of the last three years, it was clear that this year’s conference needed to focus on amplifying Asian leadership, showcasing Asian solutions to global challenges, highlighting the areas of our ecosystem that require urgent action, and discussing the ways in which we can keep empowered communities at the forefront of solutions. Recognising that no one can accomplish progress on their own, the idea of transformational collaborations became a key lens through which to focus many of this year’s agenda topics.
How did you come up with the conference agenda?
Roshini: Crafting the conference agenda has been no easy task, especially given the diverse yet specific interests of our community.
Often the loudest voices in the room don’t represent the spectrum of interests and needs of the community. So we made it a priority to involve various stakeholders in our ecosystem to create an agenda that captures a range of critical topics, diverse perspectives and priorities of our community. Many past attendees shared their feedback and constructive inputs; our team contributed interests of various markets, sector and thematic communities; session moderators and speakers all shared ideas to ensure that each discussion is focused and energising.
We hope that you will like the fruits of this collaborative effort, and find the agenda to be dynamic, engaging and laser-focused on the issues that matter most to us all.
What should the attendees look forward to in the conference?
Sangeetha: It is the diversity of offerings under one roof that has me really excited!
There is no one way to learn or connect, and we are exploring different ways to ensure we have the right people in the room at any given time to spark inspiration.We want to create an environment where authentic discussions can take place, and where people can really dig deep and explore the challenges they are facing.
It is all about creating a safe space where people can collaborate and learn from one another. This is where we see important fundamentals like trust, honesty and transparency being core to our agenda and work at AVPN.
In addition to plenaries and breakout sessions, the conference will also have some engrossing experiences:
- Learning circles: Small-group closed-door conversations that will build a vibrant peer-to-peer learning community, create a safe and inspiring space for professionals to exchange ideas, solutions, and insights.
- Market energisers: Dialogues with members from Southeast Asia, South Asia, Northeast Asia and the Emerging Markets that will help you gain localised insights and trends from these regions.
- Inspir8: Be inspired in 8 minutes. A series of fast-paced and energising talks by Asian impact leaders that are innovating and shaping the future by addressing today’s most critical issues and fueling positive social impact.
- The Hasanah Forum: Yayasan Hasanah’s own flagship event, taking place alongside the AVPN Global Conference will help you gain a deeper understanding of the Malaysian social investment context and its position within the wider Asia Pacific region.
We also have a series of side events that offer a deep dive into different themes and investment approaches such as the Asia Gender Network Day, the Collaborative Philanthropy Convening , a Care Economy workshop and more. These events are carefully crafted to bring together practitioners who are all working towards the same goal or are focused on the same area of impact.
Lastly, the conference is not all business. We have curated breakfasts, lunches, dinners, receptions and unlimited coffee for attendees to enjoy while they network.
Christina: We invite you to elevate your experience and make meaningful connections with like-minded individuals at this year’s AVPN Global Conference 2023. Engage in high-quality conversations that have the potential to spark transformative collaborations and actionable outcomes. This conference promises to be defining and inspiring, bringing together a diverse array of Asian stakeholders under one roof, a rare and valuable opportunity.
Don’t miss your chance to connect and collaborate with fellow social investors and leaders in your field at this unparalleled conference. Book your tickets now: https://avpn.asia/conference/
