ADB Sessions

Dive deeper into our theme with these special sessions and find out digital’s roles in spurring inclusive economic recovery, improving government services, and widening access to education and healthcare.

Emerging from an Economic Crisis—What Role for Technology Adoption?

This session featured insights from speakers from the private and public sectors who talked about the role of emerging technologies in economic growth–during the current crisis as well as the journey towards recovery and sustainable growth that lies ahead. Watch video

Moderator:

• Arndt Husar, Senior Public Management Specialist (Digital Transformation), ADB 

Speakers:

• Dr. Carlos López-Gómez, Head, Policy Links Unit, University of Cambridge
   
• Dr. Yurendra Basnett, Country Economist, Indonesia Resident Mission, ADB
   
• Vimala Murugan, Director, Industrial Policy, Malaysian Ministry of International Trade and Industry 
   
• Dr. Michael Gryseels, Executive Vice-Chairman, True Digital Group
   
• Willson Deng, CEO & Founder, Arcstone Pvt. Ltd; Chairman, Singapore Manufacturing Consortium

The Digital Economy Revolution

This session looked at how governments and the private sector have responded to the challenge to increase access to fintech and e-commerce and how the pandemic has accelerated adoption of new approaches which can help drive and sustain the recovery process and establish platforms to grow strong digital economies. Watch video

Moderator:

• Kelly Hattel, Senior Financial Sector Specialist, ADB  

Speakers:

• Magnus Ekbom, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Lazada Group
   
• Ellen Joyce Suficiencia, Officer in Charge, Center for Learning and Inclusion Advocacy, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
   
• Deanna Morris, Programme Management Officer, UNESCAP
   
• Isvary Sivalingam, Southeast Asia Lead, Better Than Cash Alliance, UN Capital Development Fund
   
• Jojo Malolos, President and CEO, JG Digital Equity Ventures

Access for All: Remote Learning and “EdTech”

The session highlighted stories of impact, innovation and success stories about online learning or Edtech and examined the advantages and disadvantages of the technology. Watch video

Moderator:

• Sameer Khatiwada, Social Sector Specialist (ICT), ADB  

Speakers:

• Colin Marson, Head of Google for Education, APAC, Google
   
• Sarah Pouezevara, Senior Education Research Analyst and EdTech Specialist, RTI International
   
• Vincent Quah, Regional Head for Education, Research, Healthcare and Not-For-Profit, Head-ASEAN Public Sector, Asia Pacific and Japan Global Public Sector, Amazon Web Services
   
• Janine Teo, Chief Executive Officer, Solve Education!
   
• Robert Smith, Higher Education & eResearch Lead-APAC, Microsoft

Leveraging Digital Technology for Health

The session examined how digital technologies could be used for COVID-19 prevention, detection, and response to maximize health outcomes and enable efficient processes. Watch video 

Moderator:

• Azusa Sato, Social Sector Specialist, ADB

Speakers:

• Anit Mukherjee, Policy Fellow, Center for Global Development
   
• Ankita Negi, Healthcare Industry Lead for APAC, Microsoft
   
• Yit Ming Liaw, Co-Founder and CEO, Smarter Health

From Technology to Leadership: Putting the Transformation back into Digital

This session explored how to create partnerships and teams that would execute the strategic plan, drive action, and scale initiatives relating to technology. Watch video

​​​​​​​Moderator

• Teymoor Nabili, Publisher and CEO, Tech for Impact   

Speakers:

• Zahin Hussain, Consultant, UNDP CoLabs
   
• Prasoon Kumar, CEO, BillionBricks
   
• Virginia Tan, Founding Partner, Teja Ventures; Founder, She Loves Tech; Founder, Lean In China 

Partner Sessions

Startups and the Post-COVID Recovery  

500 Startups and ADB Ventures helmed this session, which explored how to build inclusive and thriving startup ecosystems and how startups are contributing to a more resilient economy post-pandemic. Watch video

Part I: Building Thriving Inclusive Startup Ecosystems

Moderator: 

• Ee Ling Lim, Singapore Country Head, Innovation & Partnerships, 500 Startups; Co-Founder, Smarter Me

Speakers:

• So-Young Kang, Founder and CEO, Gnowbe
   
• Francesca Chia, Co-Founder and CEO, GoGet 

Part II: Startup Spotlight—Building Resilience through Innovation

Moderator: 

• Daniel Hersson, Senior Fund Manager, ADB Ventures 

Speakers:

• Vishal Harnal, General Partner, 500 Startups (keynote)
   
• Glenn Estrella, KonsultaMD 
   
• Rashi Agarwal, Co-Founder, Zypp Electric 
   
• Jens Helmersson, Founder, Quizrr
   
• Sara Dhewanto, Managing Director, DuitHape 

Building a More Agile Government through Cloud Computing

This session by Amazon Web Services Institute explored how cloud computing could help accelerate an organization’s mission. It also looked at governments' cloud journeys and how public cloud could open up economic opportunities and promote a more secure, effective, and innovative government. Watch video

Moderator:

• Monique Viengkhou, APJ Lead, Amazon Web Services Institute

 Speakers: 

• Gregor Hohpe, Enterprise Strategist, Amazon Web Services
   
• May-Ann Lim, Executive Director, Asia Cloud Computing Association
   
• Quint Simon, Head of Public Policy, APAC, Amazon Web Services

Southeast Asia Development Solutions Hackathon Launch: Re-Establishing Tourism Confidence through Innovative Digital Solutions 

This session looked at the challenges facing the tourism industry and explored how technology could entice people to travel again. Watch video

Moderator:

• Steven Schipani, Unit Head, Project Administration, ADB Vietnam Resident Mission

Speakers:

• Cleo Kawawaki, Deputy Director General, Southeast Asia Regional Department, ADB
   
• Carolyn Dedolph-Cabrera, Principal IT Specialist, ADB ITD Digital Sandbox Program
   
• Allison Woodruff, Senior Urban Development Specialist, ADB
   
• Jens Thraenhart, Executive Director, Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office
   
• Hai Ho, Co-Founder & CEO, Triip 

Modern Government: Empowering People. Enhancing Governments: Enabling Societies.  

In this session, Microsoft led the discussion on how best to meet countries’ unique organizational mission, while enabling remote government, empowering cross-agency collaboration, and delivering trusted and secure services. 

Speakers:

• Ian Webster, Global Industry Digital Strategist, Microsoft 
   
• Atty. Jose Midas P. Marquez, Head, Office of the Court Administrator, Supreme Court of the Philippines 
   
• Dr. Daiana Beitler, Philanthropies Director in Asia, Microsoft

Invitation Only: A Cross-Generational Consultation on Youth Jobs in the Digital Economy 

This highly interactive online session will convene key government stakeholders and young people  from Southeast Asia to demonstrate and promote the benefits of cross-generational meaningful youth engagement. The session will identify how the pathways of achieving an inclusive digital economy can influence future country-specific projects and policies influencing youth jobs and livelihood and further knowledge and capacity-building activities around the topic within the region. Participants will engage through consultative  breakout rooms, facilitated discussions, a  live-visual recording using Miro, and online polling.