With extensive experience in the Asia-Pacific region, Kelly has conducted research on AI governance, facilitated public-private dialogues, and advised on government policy issues. She has been instrumental in delivering and disseminating research findings, while also actively engaging the private sector in the implementation of AI guidelines and frameworks.
Kelly is the President and Executive Director of the AI Asia Pacific Institute (AIAPI), where she leads efforts to strengthen Asia-Pacific economies by advancing the responsible development and adoption of artificial intelligence.
In addition to her role at AIAPI, she serves on the Editorial Board of the AI and Ethics Journal at Springer Nature and advises Qlik on accelerating the responsible development of its AI-driven product portfolio.
Additionally, she sits on the advisory committee for the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), focusing on the processing of personal data in autonomous and semi-autonomous systems.
Kelly was formerly president of the International Law Association (ILA). Over the past 15 years, she has worked extensively across the Asia-Pacific region and is currently based in the United Arab Emirates. Born in Brazil, she has lived and worked in more than five countries, gaining a deep appreciation for diverse cultures, values, and languages.
Kelly holds dual qualifications as a lawyer in both Common and Civil Law and holds certificates from institutions such as the Australian National University and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
Peter is a private sector development specialist who has worked over the past 35 years on industrial and technological development, foreign investment, public-private dialogue, and government policy issues in Central, South-East and North Asia. He has led programs on private sector development, public-private partnerships, contributions of business to social development, and business environment reforms in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) and beyond.
AI will undoubtedly be the most significant transformative technology of the 21st century. Its impact will extend across all sectors, geographies, and aspects of life, reshaping economies, labor markets, and daily lives.
In the economic development sphere, AI enhances solutions in healthcare, education, and sustainable agriculture. It improves resource management for clean energy and water, facilitates climate action through predictive models, and promotes innovation. However, it also disrupts labor markets and creates significant risks, calling for investment in reskilling and education to address job displacement and enhanced regulatory frameworks that ensure equitable and safe growth across sectors and regions.
In the next decade, AI will likely evolve into more autonomous, intelligent, and integrated systems across industries, hopefully playing an ever-increasing role in addressing the challenges of developing economies. In particular, AI-driven innovations in education, healthcare, autonomous vehicles, and climate solutions will become widespread and increasingly meet the needs of the diverse communities and cultures that constitute Asia and the Pacific. However, challenges around ethics, bias, on-line harms, and data privacy will intensify across the world and the region, prompting economies to develop adequate governance.
The AI Asia Pacific Institute can play an important role in shaping AI’s future by fostering responsible development and deployment of AI across the region and beyond through research, policy advocacy, awareness building, and collaboration.
Bio
Peter is a private sector development specialist who has worked over the past 35 years on industrial and technological development, foreign investment, public-private dialogue, and government policy issues in Central, South-East and North Asia. He has led programs on private sector development, public-private partnerships, contributions of business to social development, and business environment reforms in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) and beyond. 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, ran several policy consulting operations (including the Brooker Group which he listed in 2001 on the Market for Alternative Investment in Thailand), and set up a Mekong-wide handicraft operation. Peter’s PhD thesis dealt with productivity growth in Thai companies and his work has since blended his technical knowledge with practical real-life applications. He successfully completed the Directorship Certification Program at the Myanmar Institute of Directors.
Following leadership assignments with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Cambodia and Myanmar from 2010-2016, during which time he developed comprehensive engagement strategies and undertook detailed economic and inclusive growth analyses for both countries, Peter joined the UKAid 25 million pound DaNa Facility as Team Leader in December 2016. Peter led DaNa to be the 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. Following the onset of COVID-19, Peter handled the DaNa Facility’s extensive and responsive COVID-19 response activities. In May 2021, following the Myanmar military coup in February 2021 and extensive COVID-19-related UKAid budget cuts, the DaNa Facility closed down and Peter returned to the UK, from where he undertakes selected consulting assignments in the private sector development arena.
Advisor to the Veritas Consortium led by Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). The consortium has an overarching mandate to implement the FEAT principles (Fairness, Ethics, Accountability, Transparency) as critical considerations for the deployment of Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics (AIDA) technologies within financial institutions.
Luis led Element AI’s Asia-Pacific operations as well as manufacturing and industrial vertical. Element AI is a Canadian start-up co-founded in 2016 by Joshua Bengio, winner of the Turing award and one of the god fathers of Deep Learning.
He has 20 years’ experience in Digital Transformation of industrial enterprises and has been involved with over 40 Customers in Heavy Industries (Power, Oil & Gas, Chemical, Mining and Manufacturing) advising on developing and executing their software solutions roadmap within Asia Pacific, North/ South America, Europe and the Middle East.
Luis was the Chief AI Officer of Aaqua, a Social Media Startup, where he leads the Aaqua Learning Technologies Excellence Centre, responsible for building the entire AI capability for the platform with operations in Asia, North America, and Europe.
Advisor to the Veritas Consortium led by Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). The consortium has an overarching mandate to implement the FEAT principles (Fairness, Ethics, Accountability, Transparency) as critical considerations for the deployment of Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics (AIDA) technologies within financial institutions.
Luis is the guest lecturer at INSEAD MBA, EMBA MBA, Nanyang Business School and Nanyang Technological University.
Luis has a graduate diploma from MIT with a double major undergrad from University of Victoria in Commerce and Computer Science as well as a specialization in Pacific Asian studies from Chinese University of Hong Kong.
A venture builder and pioneer, she has led companies from seed to USD 14B into new markets and supported raising over USD200M in Seed to Series C investments. Leesa has had one IPO and several exits and knows the hard knocks of lessons learned. She holds deep domain expertise in smart cities, financial services, insurance, healthcare, MedTech, agritech and fashion, beauty, and luxury. With a team of the world’s best humans on purpose to make a difference, her group R3i includes the ecosystem builder R3i Ventures and its House of DeepTech and House of MedTech. R3i Impact Foundation is its engine of philanthropic impact.
Leesa Soulodre is the Founding General Partner of R3i Group and Managing Partner at R3i Capital, where she plays a pivotal role in cross-border venture capital, particularly in deep-tech sectors such as artificial intelligence and sustainable development.
Leesa serves on the advisory board of The AI Asia Pacific Institute, a global think tank exploring AI’s societal impact. She is an Advisor to her investment portfolio and serves on the boards of the R3i Impact Foundation, Viewmind, and the Investment Committee of Mandalay Ventures.
With over 20 years of experience at the forefront of innovation, technology, and strategic consulting, Leesa has advised more than 400 multinational companies and startups across 19 industries in Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Americas. Her entrepreneurial leadership has guided companies from seed stages to up to USD 14 billion valuations, helping raise over $270 million in capital. Her expertise spans applied AI in the context of renewable energy, water and agriculture, quantum computing, cybersecurity, medtech, mobility, industrial manufacturing, and healthcare,
Leesa is an Adjunct Faculty Member at SMU Cox Business School and Singapore Management University, teaching Strategy and Entrepreneurship. As a Mentor for the NorthEastern Centre for Technology Design and Digital Leadership, Leesa also pays it forward to shape the next generation of tech innovators.
Leesa holds a Global Executive MBA from TRIUM (a partnership of NYU Stern, HEC Paris, and the London School of Economics) and a Master’s in Management (Marketing) from the University of Southern Queensland. She holds continuing education certificates from Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, and Darden. With her purpose to “make a difference”, she has had 15+ years of Digital Director and Board Advisory experience in the not-for-profit, academic and private sectors, empowering boards with best-practice reputation risk management and enabling companies to accelerate their digital transformation and impact. Her pride is empowering more than 200 endowment funds, Asset Managers, Exchanges, Corporate VCs, and Pension funds with data-driven strategies for responsible investment. Today responsible investment makes up 1/4 of the world’s assets under management, transforming capital flows for impact.
Wendy Bonython is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law at Bond University in Queensland, Australia. Her research interests include technology law and regulation, privacy, and human rights law, with a particular emphasis on health related technologies. In addition to her legal skills, qualifications and experience, she also has a PhD in Molecular medicine, and previously worked in health administration and policy within the public sector.
AI is the next major transformative technology. Just as our ancestors couldn’t have envisaged how reliant on electricity we would become for every aspect of our daily lives when electricity first became mainstream, I don’t think we have fully grasped just how AI is going to integrate itself into our world – our what applications will prove to be ill-suited to AI. We’re at such an early stage of getting grips with AI and its applications that no one has really got a sound grip on how we should regulate it- although it’s fair to say that regulation of some form, of at least some aspects, is inevitable. AI is likely to impact every industry you can think of in one way or another: this will inevitably lead to a process of trial and refinement, with some applications and uses proving more or less beneficial than others. It is only as we go through this process of trial and error and experimentation that we will really get a clear picture of what AI might look like once living in an AI-based world is established as our new normal.
I see there being two big risks in AI at the present time. Firstly, I think there is a real risk that it could become the subject of geopolitical currents – a new and emerging technology war, fought using tariffs, competition policies, and trade and intellectual property law. Secondly- and relatedly- uneven diffusion of AI technologies will inevitably lead to widening of the digital divide, further entrenching social and economic disadvantage in groups that are already vulnerable. These groups, who potentially stand to benefit most from AI driven developments in healthcare, education, climate change mitigation, and a host of other applications risk missing out on those benefits because global leaders in AI simply failed to bring them along in the process of skilling the world in the use and application of AI. Rtaher than just occurring at a macro level, ie between global north and global south nations, for example, the AI digital divide will also widen at the micro level- potentially leaving behind demographic groups within communities who already struggle with technology literacy, including migrant and refugee groups, older people, and people experiencing economic disadvantage.
Wendy Bonython is an Associate Professor and Associate Dean of Learning and Teaching in the Faculty of Law at Bond University. Her research expertise examines the intersection of law, ethics, and medicine, with a particular focus on regulation and governance of high throughput information technologies in healthcare. In addition to her legal qualifications, she has a PhD in Molecular medicine, and has previously worked in health science and technology in the public sector.
David pioneered the regulator and central bank adoption of data science as well as establishment of the Fairness, Ethics, Accountability and Transparency (FEAT) principles, first-of-a-kind guidelines for adopting Artificial Intelligence in the financial industry, as well as establishing the MAS-backed Veritas consortium.
Dr. David R. Hardoon is the Chief Executive Officer of Aboitiz Data Innovation. Concurrently, David serves as Senior Advisor for Data and AI at Union Bank of the Philippines and Advisory Board member at Connected Women.
Prior to his current roles, David was the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)’s first appointed Chief Data Officer and Head of Data Analytics Group reporting to the agency’s Deputy Managing Director for Financial Supervision and subsequently Special Advisor for Artificial Intelligence reporting to Deputy Managing Director for Markets and Development. In these roles, he led the development of the AI strategy both for MAS and Singapore’s financial sector as well as driving efforts in promoting open cross-border data flows.
David holds a PhD in Computer Science in the field of Machine Learning from the University of Southampton and graduated from Royal Holloway, University of London with First Class Honors B.Sc. in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence.
Vincent has deep expertise in large scale transformations across multiple industries and sectors globally, having been with McKinsey & Company for a number of years before moving into the Corporate sector, where he led the Strategic Capabilities and Future of Work function for Fonterra, a $20bn organisation with more than 22,000 employees globally.
Vincent is the Co-Founder of FutureWork Studio, a tech and consulting company helping organisations navigate the rapidly changing work-scape by equipping them with the tools and thinking they need to thrive now and in the future.
Vincent has deep expertise in large scale transformations across multiple industries and sectors globally, having been with McKinsey & Company for a number of years before moving into the Corporate sector, where he led the Strategic Capabilities and Future of Work function for Fonterra, a $20bn organisation with more than 22,000 employees globally. As an officer in the French Armed Forces, Vincent also spent more than a decade leading teams in challenging situations across many parts of the globe.
Vincent has a Masters Degree in Statistics and Data Analytics, an MBA from the University of Melbourne, and speaks fluent English and Portuguese in addition to his native French. Vincent was one of two inaugural TEDx Auckland Salon ‘in the Dark’ speakers in 2019, a world first event for TEDx, and is also a member of the SingularityU global expert faculty, speaking regularly on the future of work topic.
Throughout her career Pip managed many technology implementations and today supports HR functions and companies with their digital transformation. Pip frequently speaks on the Future of Work and the role HR needs to play in finding synergy between Humans and Artificial Intelligence within organisations.
Philippa Penfold is a widely recognised HR technology expert who has been included on influencers lists since 2020. Building on her 20-year HR career, she became involved in the AI Ethics debate in 2018, focusing on the use of AI in the workplace. Today Philippa specialises in the responsible design of humans and AI in the workplace and provides businesses with related research, advisory and education services as part of Responsible AI practices and governance.
At Integrating Intelligence, Philippa helps business design workplaces in which human and artificial intelligences coexist in ways beneficial to both people and business. As a researcher, she explores the influence of AI in the workplace upon employee engagement and productivity and advises businesses on the optimum design of human-machine blended teams and jobs.
Philippa lectures at Universities in the UK, Singapore and Australia on Business Analytics, Ethics, Innovation, and AI in HR, and continues to be deeply engaged in the AI and Ethics debate through Responsible AI communities. She holds numerous qualifications including an EMBA and professional HR credentials and fellowships.
Barbara Erskine is a community builder, brand strategist and media relations professional. In Paris, she worked on the NYT Foreign Affairs Column with Flora Lewis. She led branding and media relations at the World Economic Forum in Geneva, and created “Barbara’s Davos”, a parallel program for the media in Davos. She was Wired Magazine’s European Editor.
Barbara Erskine is a community builder, brand strategist and media relations professional. In Paris, she worked on the NYT Foreign Affairs Column with Flora Lewis. She led branding and media relations at the World Economic Forum in Geneva, and created “Barbara’s Davos”, a parallel program for the media in Davos. She was Wired Magazine’s European Editor. With her company, Barbara Erskine Networks, in Geneva, she helped governments, the United Nations, and private corporations launch initiatives; notably focusing on women’s issues at the Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society (Paris and Deauville); and geopolitics and finance at Ambrosetti/The European House (Milan and Cernobbio). Current projects on communications and communities now include TBLI (Triple Bottom Line Investing) and the TBLI Better World Prize; R3i Ventures and the 2022 She Loves Tech Competition.
William Cole currently serves as Senior Fellow and Advisor to the President at the Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California (CCWA), and as Advisor to the AI Asia Pacific Institute in Singapore. His career has included appointments in government, non-profit, and academic sectors where he has worked in a range of areas including politics, economic development, international relations, impact of emerging technologies, and anthropology. His approach to understanding history and current affairs, as well as policy research and policy dialogue, has been distinctly transdisciplinary. Dr Cole’s core focus in recent years has been on two main areas effecting economic growth and stability in Asia: the impact of disruptive technologies on Asian economies, political systems, and security; and the future of Advanced Middle-Income Countries in an era of rapid economic change and strategic competition. He spent the year of 2023 as Visiting Fellow at Australian National University (Coral Bell School) conducting research on these two topics.
William Cole currently serves as Senior Fellow and Advisor to the President at the Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California (CCWA), and as Advisor to the AI Asia Pacific Institute in Singapore. His career has included appointments in government, non-profit, and academic sectors where he has worked in a range of areas including politics, economic development, international relations, impact of emerging technologies, and anthropology. His approach to understanding history and current affairs, as well as policy research and policy dialogue, has been distinctly transdisciplinary. Dr Cole’s core focus in recent years has been on two main areas effecting economic growth and stability in Asia: the impact of disruptive technologies on Asian economies, political systems, and security; and the future of Advanced Middle-Income Countries in an era of rapid economic change and strategic competition. He spent the year of 2023 as Visiting Fellow at Australian National University (Coral Bell School) conducting research on these two topics.
Ben leads clients from strategy formulation to execution in creating B2C and B2B businesses with more than 20 years of experience in global consulting firms, major IT companies, and global artificial intelligence start-ups.
Ben is an expert in new business development and go-to-market strategy, especially focusing on digital & artificial intelligence.
Ben leads clients from strategy formulation to execution in creating B2C and B2B businesses with more than 20 years of experience in global consulting firms, major IT companies, and global artificial intelligence start-ups.
Ben is an advisor for Scale Asia Ventures, LLC in Seoul Korea and Armilla AI in Toronto Canada. A Strategy advisor for STAT (Social Alliance Token) Project and Advisor & Part-time CSO for Joydrone in Seoul & Daegu, Korea respectively. He is also an Advisory Council Member of Harvard Business Review. Ben is a Non-Executive Director with Gwangju Institute of Science & Technology and a startup Mentor to Bigbang Angels Inc in Seoul Korea.
May establishes relationships with key stakeholders and influencers in the region across local government, trade unions, employer federations, professional institutes, research bodies and universities to champion better work and better working lives. She works collaboratively with key partners and clients across APAC to help them define and diagnose their learning needs and work with them to create sustainable development programmes.
May Leng has worked in the professional development and education sector for over 15 years. She is an experienced consultant and a subject matter expert in HR and L&D practices in Europe and APAC.
She joined the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) in 2006, managing the Professional Membership Team to council and benchmark people management and development practitioners into Chartered Membership. She has also held management roles in the Quality Assurance and Endorsements and Frameworks teams, working with Universities and MNC’s to accredit their learning programmes.
May Leng was relocated to Singapore to help establish a presence for the CIPD as the Regional Head of APAC. She has responsibility for driving CIPD’s partnerships agenda in key international markets by building awareness of the importance of raising capability, skills and mindsets, and the need to strengthen people management and development content and community links. She establishes relationships with key stakeholders and influencers in region across local government, trade unions, employer federations, professional institutes, research bodies and universities to champion better work and better working lives. She works collaboratively with key partners and clients across APAC to help them define and diagnose their learning needs and work with them to create sustainable development programmes.
She is regularly invited to speak across the region on topics such as Trends in HR, The Future of Work and Organisation Development, at conferences, exhibitions and seminars. She also facilitates workshops and panels for a range of audiences including SMEs, MNCs and senior government officials.
May Leng has led the CIPD’s Continuing Professional Development Working Party and represented the institute at the Professional Associations Research Network in the UK. She is currently a Council Member and Office Bearer for the Singapore HR Institute (SHRI).
Janet currently serves as an Investment Stewardship Specialist at J.P. Morgan Asset Management. She oversees investee companies’ social issues including supply chain and human rights. In her recent roles, she engaged with listed companies on material ESG topics, including responsible use of technology, artificial intelligence and data governance. Her previous lead on the ESG theme AI Ethics and Data Governance at Federated Hermes Equity Ownership Services (EOS) was shortlisted as UNPRI Stewardship Project of the Year 2020.
Janet Wong, CFA is an Investment Stewardship Specialist for the Asia ex-Japan region. She works on engagement with corporate directors and management on investment issues involving stewardship, management incentives, and social and environmental sustainability in Asia ex Japan. She is also responsible for advising analysts and portfolio managers regarding the E, S and G profiles of the companies in which we invest and co-ordinating proxy voting activity.
She joined from IHS Markit as the APAC lead of ESG, M&A and corporate governance advisory. Prior to that, she was part of Federated Hermes Equity Ownership Services (EOS)’ London team responsible for proxy voting, public policy advocacy and ESG engagement with listed companies. Her lead on the ESG theme AI Ethics and Data Governance was shortlisted as UNPRI Stewardship Project of the Year 2020. She started her career in HSBC Global Banking Hong Kong overseeing global banking relationships of Hong Kong conglomerates. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Global Business and Management from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and a Master of Public Administration degree in Social Impact from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Alex is a technology lawyer based in Singapore. He advises clients on legal and regulatory issues, and assists with complex contract negotiations, in the Technology Media and Telecommunications (TMT) and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) space. This includes topics such as data, artificial intelligence, IT, Fintech, e-commerce, telecommunications within the broad gamut of TMT/ICT.
Alex is a technology lawyer based in Singapore. He advises clients on legal and regulatory issues, and assists with complex contract negotiations, in the Technology Media and Telecommunications (TMT) and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) space. This includes topics such as data, artificial intelligence, IT, Fintech, e-commerce, telecommunications within the broad gamut of TMT/ICT.
He is a certified AI Ethics and Governance Professional with the Singapore Computer Society (SCS), and participates in the work of the SCS in developing and promoting AI Governance. He is also a Data and Digital Economy Specialist certified by the Singapore Academy of Law, and holds a Masters in Law, Science and Technology from Stanford University. He is presently one of the Vice-Chairpersons of the Singapore Law Society’s Cybersecurity and Data Protection Committee.
Yaron has over 20 years of diverse and broad experience in financial crime investigations. He has vast experience in Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing, with extensive knowledge in world-class standards across the financial sector.
With over 25 years of experience in various types of investigations, Yaron Hazan fills the position of VP Regulatory Affairs at ThetaRay.
Among his diverse skills and knowledge, Yaron’s responsibilities include aligning product features and functionalities to customer needs, regulatory engagement directly as well as in collaboration with customers, participation at closed events conducted by FATF and BIS, and contribution to EU commission research on TF.
Yaron is setting the best practices for the use of AI within a regulatory environment, including a Unique Model documentation, Governance and risk management frameworks.
Yaron is responsible for adherence to customer’s needs of existing use cases such as TF, ML, Fraud and Cyber risks within banks, leading the professional expertise for specific solutions : Correspondent Banking, Trade Finance, Capital Markets or for specific Typologies: TF, Human Trafficking.
Yaron also delivers professional training to employees & customers and mentors’ sales & marketing improving the company message being delivered to bankers, compliance & risk experts and regulators.
Previous roles:
Dr Antonio Feraco is the Senior Advisor Industrial Strategy (MD) for the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development in the United Arab Emirates. With a PhD in Artificial Intelligence, a MSc in Industrial Engineer and a PMP®, Antonio ran successful projects in IOT and I4.0 for Oil and Gas, Mining and Pharma, and has joined several international and large initiatives in EU and ASEAN, as a Digitisation and Industry 4.0 expert. He worked with R&D, consultancy and technology advisory sector before and has comprehensive experience in AR and VR, AI, business process optimisation, project management, energy efficiency and robotics.
Dr Antonio Feraco is the Senior Advisor Industrial Strategy (MD) for the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development in the United Arab Emirates. With a PhD in Artificial Intelligence, a MSc in Industrial Engineer and a PMP®, Antonio ran successful projects in IOT and I4.0 for Oil and Gas, Mining and Pharma, and has joined several international and large initiatives in EU and ASEAN, as a Digitisation and Industry 4.0 expert. He worked with R&D, consultancy and technology advisory sector before and has comprehensive experience in AR and VR, AI, business process optimisation, project management, energy efficiency and robotics.
Dr Antonio Feraco, was the Managing Consultant for Industry 4.0 at TÜV SÜD. He was responsible for supporting the process manufacturing sector, in adopting technologies within the Industrial Internet of things and Industry 4.0 space to enable end to end integration, improve HSE and optimize efficiency.
Antonio is also an Adjunct Professor of Innovation Process Management at the University of Vitez since 2013. He also delivers talks for industry and academia in both Technical topics such as Predictive Maintenance, and non-Technical ones like Management of Innovation Processes and Technology Transfer Strategies.
Chiew Yu Sarn is a lawyer based in Singapore. He is a founding and Co-Managing Director and Head of the Corporate and Commercial Department at Yusarn Audrey LLC, one of Singapore’s leading law firms. With nearly 30 years’ experience in legal practice, Yu Sarn is recognized for his expertise in corporate and commercial law and intellectual property (IP), specifically focusing on the commercialization of IP. He has advised numerous clients, including technology companies, venture capital and private equity fund managers, multinational corporations, and foreign and local law firms, among others.
Chiew Yu Sarn is a lawyer based in Singapore. He is a founding and Co-Managing Director and Head of the Corporate and Commercial Department at Yusarn Audrey LLC, one of Singapore’s leading law firms. With nearly 30 years’ experience in legal practice, Yu Sarn is recognized for his expertise in corporate and commercial law and intellectual property (IP), specifically focusing on the commercialization of IP. He has advised numerous clients, including technology companies, venture capital and private equity fund managers, multinational corporations, and foreign and local law firms, among others.
Yu Sarn’s areas of practice encompass a wide range of legal issues, such as venture capital and private equity investments, mergers and acquisitions, IP acquisition and sale, joint ventures and strategic alliances, technology law, licensing, franchising, and financial regulatory advice. He also provides strategic IP consultancy services to companies, institutions, and government agencies, helping them develop IP strategic planning and governance policies, enhance their in-house IP management capabilities, and raise capital and financing using their IP. Moreover, Yu Sarn is an accredited Certified Licensing Professional (CLP) and has been recognized by IAM 300 as one of the world’s leading IP strategists for four consecutive years (2019-2022).
Apart from his legal work, Yu Sarn also serves on the Board of SEEDS Capital and is a member of the Singapore Institute of Directors. He holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the National University of Singapore. He is admitted to the Singapore Bar as an Advocate & Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore and entered in the rolls as a Solicitor in England and Wales.
Dan is admitted to practice law in England & Wales (2005), including as a Solicitor-Advocate (2010); in New York (2006); and in Western Australia (2016). He has previously been recognised as one of Singapore’s most influential lawyers aged 40 and under, and is referenced as a subject matter expert in legal directories. He is a member of each of the Silicon Valley Arbitration & Mediation Center; the International Tribunal of the Blockchain Arbitration And Commerce Society; and the International Bar Association.
Dan is a leading private practice dispute resolution and risk advisory lawyer, based in Singapore. Admitted to practice in multiple jurisdictions, including New York and England & Wales, Dan is most frequently involved in disputes and risk mitigation assessments relating to the bleeding edge of industry – including technology; future energy; and decarbonisation and, commonly, the intersection between them all. He is recognised in Best Lawyers for Singapore and Asia Pacific, and represents some of the world’s largest corporate entities, as well as fresh start-ups, on a regular basis.
Originally hailing from London but having been based in Singapore since 2010, Dan has a vast amount of Asia-focused experience, but with a strong grounding in UK- and US-related legal work. Dan is a lawyer, an advocate and an arbitrator, and a panel member of a number of leading arbitration institutions. He sits as arbitrator in international disputes. Dan’s experience is industry-focused, and he has been involved in a number of significant technology, carbon and energy and resources disputes, several of which have been valued in the billions of dollars. Having always maintained a keen personal interest in technological developments – not least the rapid emergence of artificial intelligence – Dan has sought to leverage this to his advantage by shaping his legal practice in a manner which permits him to be constantly fascinated by the subject matter of his assignments.
Dan is admitted to practice law in England & Wales (2005), including as a Solicitor-Advocate (2010); in New York (2006); and in Western Australia (2016). He has previously been recognised as one of Singapore’s most influential lawyers aged 40 and under, and is referenced as a subject matter expert in legal directories. He is a member of each of the Silicon Valley Arbitration & Mediation Center; the International Tribunal of the Blockchain Arbitration And Commerce Society; and the International Bar Association.
Jeremy is a skilled communications executive with a track record of developing high-impact programs at renowned tech
brands. Continuously entrusted with top strategic priorities, he brings a wealth of expertise in creating marketing and communication programs that advance company narratives, support sales, and strengthen relationships with customers and stakeholders. Jeremy thrives in mission-based organizations and is known for his passion and dedication to driving measurable results.
Just as the semiconductor, computer, and Internet irrevocably changed our world, AI will similarly mark a before-and-after era for humanity. AI serves as a powerful reflection of human ideas and innovation. It has the unique ability to take our greatest—and most flawed—ideas and scale them farther, faster, and across more dimensions than we ever imagined. This transformative power presents both immense opportunities and serious challenges, making it crucial to harness AI responsibly for the benefit of society and the world.
AI will become deeply embedded in our daily lives, much like the Internet has over the past 25 years. As it evolves, society and industry will place increasing value on creativity and original ideas, recognizing that AI is only as powerful as the concepts it builds upon. However, just as with the Internet, we will also experience its misuse, leading to ethical dilemmas, misinformation, and unforeseen consequences. Over time, society will adapt by refining expectations, implementing regulations, and reshaping how AI is used. This ongoing cycle of innovation, disruption, and adaptation will define the next era of technological progress, just as it has those in the past.
Ensuring AI serves as a positive force in our economies, cultures, and communities will require strong collaboration between public, private, and NGO sectors. The challenges and opportunities AI presents demand open dialogue and shared responsibility. This is where the AI Asia Pacific Institute excels—bringing together key stakeholders to engage in difficult but necessary conversations. By bringing fresh perspective and an independent voice to the important discussions on ethics, governance, and innovation, the Institute will help shape an AI future that reflects our best values and aspirations.
Jeremy is a skilled communications executive with a track record of developing high-impact programs at renowned tech brands. Continuously entrusted with top strategic priorities, he brings a wealth of expertise in creating marketing and communication programs that advance company narratives, support sales, and strengthen relationships with customers and stakeholders. Jeremy thrives in mission-based organizations and is known for his passion and dedication to driving measurable results.
Emma leads collaboration with interdisciplinary teams, driving global internal and external conversations about the future of AI and ethical data usage and the role it plays in society. She is keen to lobby for regulations that promote innovation to minimise harms.
Emma has collectively been in the banking industry for over 16 years, and has held various roles in customer service, Legal, Compliance and Technology, working on Regulatory and Investigative matters.
She is now part of the Group Chief Data Office, as Executive Director – Responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Ethics, combining a deep knowledge and experience in governance with a passion for ethical implementation.
Emma leads collaboration with interdisciplinary teams, driving global internal and external conversations about the future of AI and ethical data usage and the role it plays in society. She is keen to lobby for regulations that promote innovation to minimise harms.
Outside of her BAU role she is a passionate Diversity and Inclusion advocate with a focus on Disability and Children driving the accessibility and financial literacy agenda. She is a member of various local UAE and global Diversity and inclusion councils.
Emma is a Certified Data Ethics professional (Open Data institute), a Certified Data Management Capability Assessment Model (EDM Council), a Certified Data Steward (CDS) and is working towards completing the IAPP AI Governance certification.
Dr Leong is an AI Specialist and Senior Lecturer with the School of Computing, Singapore Polytechnic where he teaches Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Concurrently, he is a consultant in the Data Science and Analytics Centre (DSAC), where he works on industry projects in Data Science and AI. He worked on a consultancy project implementing Explainable AI for AI-driven HVAC optimization.
Dr Leong is an AI Specialist and Senior Lecturer with the School of Computing, Singapore Polytechnic where he teaches Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Concurrently, he is a consultant in the Data Science and Analytics Centre (DSAC), where he works on industry projects in Data Science and AI. He worked on a consultancy project implementing Explainable AI for AI-driven HVAC optimization.
Dr Leong has conducted an executive course on Machine Learning and AI at the PWC Academy in Sri Lanka where he trained senior managers and executives in the telco, manufacturing and banking industries. In his previous role, Dr Leong was the Centre Director for the Applied ICT Research Centre in Singapore Polytechnic where he formed a new team of researchers creating innovative ICT applications for industry partners. Prior to joining academia, Dr Leong was a technopreneur and he was Director of R&D in an internet software start-up and CTO in a communications hardware startup. Being passionate about AI and Big Data, he keeps up to date with the latest research breakthroughs and participates actively in technical communities including the SGTech AI HPC Chapter and Singapore ISO/IEC JTC1/SC42 Artificial Intelligence Standards Technical Committee.
He is a founding member of the AI Professionals (AIP) Association. He was a reviewer for the AI Ethics and Governance BOK by Singapore Computer Society.
Hardeep brings over 24 years of experience in analytics, data science, and technology within the financial services industry. He is currently the Head of AI Engineering at Temus, where he specializes in designing and implementing scalable data systems with embedded intelligence. Hardeep has been pivotal in numerous client engagements across Singapore’s public and private sectors, including his contributions to the MAS Veritas initiative, which aims to enhance internal governance in the application of AI and data management.
Hardeep brings over 24 years of experience in analytics, data science, and technology within the financial services industry. He is currently the Head of AI Engineering at Temus, where he specializes in designing and implementing scalable data systems with embedded intelligence. Hardeep has been pivotal in numerous client engagements across Singapore’s public and private sectors, including his contributions to the MAS Veritas initiative, which aims to enhance internal governance in the application of AI and data management.
Previously, Hardeep served as the Head of AI in Financial Services at Element AI in Singapore. He also completed a brief tenure at Accenture, where he established an AI Lab focused on financial services use cases. Earlier in his career, he spent over a decade leading AI and analytics teams at major banks, including Standard Chartered, JP Morgan, and Barclays.
Hardeep holds a graduate degree in Computer Science, an MBA in Finance, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Applied Statistics. He advises several startups in the region and is a frequent speaker at industry events in Singapore, particularly on the topic of AI in financial services.
Marianne Winslett has been a professor with the Department of Computer Science, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign since 1987 (assistant, associate, full, adjunct, research, and emerita). Since 2020, she has also been a venture partner at R3i Ventures, which is based in Singapore. She served as the director of the Advanced Digital Sciences Center, a research outpost of the University of Illinois, from 2009 to 2013. Her research interests include information management, high-performance computing, and security. She received a Ph.D. degree in computer science from Stanford University in 1987 and an A.B. in math from Harvard in 1980.
Marianne Winslett has been a professor with the Department of Computer Science, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign since 1987 (assistant, associate, full, adjunct, research, and emerita). Since 2020, she has also been a venture partner at R3i Ventures, which is based in Singapore. She served as the director of the Advanced Digital Sciences Center, a research outpost of the University of Illinois, from 2009 to 2013. Her research interests include information management, high-performance computing, and security.
Professor Winslett is a Fellow of the ACM, and she received the Presidential Young Investigator Award from the National Science Foundation in 1989. She and her coauthors have received best paper awards from Very Large Data Bases (VLDB), USENIX Security, the International Conference on Data Engineering (ICDE), and IEEE BigData. She has served as an officer of ACM SIGMOD and ACM SIGAI, and on the editorial boards of ACM Transactions on Database Systems, IEEE Transactions on Knowledge and Data Engineering, the Very Large Data Bases Journal, ACM Transactions on Information and System Security, and ACM Transactions on the Web, where she also served as co-Editor-in-Chief. She received a Ph.D. degree in computer science from Stanford University in 1987 and an A.B. in math from Harvard in 1980.
Jose Luna is a PhD candidate at Singapore Management University (SMU), where he focuses on bridging the dialogue between computer science and policymaking. His research centers on Trustworthy AI, with a mission to advance the safe and secure adoption of intelligent systems. Jose also serves as a member and working group co-lead within the Artificial Intelligence Technical Committee (AITC), contributing to the development of technical references for AI security. His current research is centered around GenAI and how to mitigate its risks.
Jose Luna is a PhD candidate at Singapore Management University (SMU), where he focuses on bridging the dialogue between computer science and policymaking. His research centers on Trustworthy AI, with a mission to advance the safe and secure adoption of intelligent systems. Jose also serves as a member and working group co-lead within the Artificial Intelligence Technical Committee (AITC), contributing to the development of technical references for AI security. His current research is centered around GenAI and how to mitigate its risks.
Henry Dobson is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Biomedical Ethics at the National University of Singapore. His current research focuses on AI ethics, bioethics, and the possibility of machine consciousness and the notion of Artificial General Intelligence. Henry holds a PhD in AI Ethics from the University of Melbourne and a Master’s degree in Philosophy of Mind from Monash University. With over eight years of working in the technology industry, Henry has advised startups and enterprise organizations on product and business development. He is also an award-winning entrepreneur, having won the ‘Ecosystem Best Practice Challenge’ in the 2019 Young ICT Leaders’ Forum run by the International Telecommunications Union.
Henry Dobson is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Biomedical Ethics at the National University of Singapore. His current research focuses on AI ethics, bioethics, and the possibility of machine consciousness and the notion of Artificial General Intelligence. Henry holds a PhD in AI Ethics from the University of Melbourne and a Master’s degree in Philosophy of Mind from Monash University. With over eight years of working in the technology industry, Henry has advised startups and enterprise organizations on product and business development. He is also an award-winning entrepreneur, having won the ‘Ecosystem Best Practice Challenge’ in the 2019 Young ICT Leaders’ Forum run by the International Telecommunications Union.
GET INVOLVED
PARTNER WITH US
