Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development 2024

Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana was appointed Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) on 13 September 2018.

Prior to joining ESCAP, Ms. Alisjahbana was Professor of Economics at Universitas Padjadjaran in Bandung, Indonesia, a position she assumed in 2005. She joined Universitas Padjadjaran as a lecturer in 1988. Since 2016, she has served as Director for the Center for Sustainable Development Goals Studies at Universitas Padjadjaran and Vice Chair of the Indonesian Academy of Sciences.

She also serves on the Governing Board of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), and member of the Indonesian Academy of Sciences (Akademi Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia - AIPI), the Forum of Statistics Community (Forum Masyarakat Statistik or Advisory Council of the Indonesian Statistics), the International Advisory Board of the Bulletin of Indonesian Economic Studies and Council Member of the Regional Science Association International (RSAI).

From 2009 to 2014, she was Minister of National Development Planning and the Head of the National Development Planning Agency (BAPPENAS), Indonesia. She served as Co-chair of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation from 2012 to 2014. From 2009 to 2014, she was Alternate Governor of the World Bank and Alternate Governor of the Asian Development Bank representing the government of Indonesia. In 2016, she was a member of the High Level Independent Team of Advisors to support the ECOSOC Dialogue on the longer term positioning of the United Nations Development System in the context of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development.

Ms. Alisjahbana has been involved in various research projects and consultancies to the United Nations University/Institute for Advanced Study in Tokyo, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Australia, the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), the European Commission, and the International Labor Organization (ILO).

Ms. Alisjahbana earned her Bachelor degree in Economics and Development Studies from Universitas Indonesia, Indonesia, a Masters degree in Economics from Northwestern University, USA and a Ph.D in Economics from University of Washington, USA. She was awarded the Mahaputra Adipradana Order (Bintang Mahaputra Adipradana) from the Republic of Indonesia, honorary brevet from the Indonesian Navy and honorary flight wing from the Indonesian Air Force.

Ms. Amina J. Mohammed is the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations. Prior she was Minister of Environment of the Federal Republic in Nigeria and Special Adviser to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. She also served as Special Adviser on the Millennium Development Goals, as well as international advisory boards, one of them being the UN Secretary-General’s High-level Panel on Post-2015 Development Agenda. Also, she is an Adjunct Professor in Development Practice at Columbia University.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced on 7 October 2022 the appointment of Guy Ryder of the United Kingdom as Under-Secretary-General for Policy in his Executive Office.  He will succeed Volker Türk of Austria who has been appointed as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Mr. Ryder was most recently Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva after serving two successive terms since October 2012.  He first joined the ILO in 1998 as Director of the Bureau for Workers’ Activities and from 1999, served as Director of the Office of the Director-General. Mr. Ryder started his professional career in 1981 as an assistant at the International Department of the Trades Union Congress in London. From 1985, he held the position of Secretary of the Industry Trade Section of the International Federation of Commercial, Clerical, Professional and Technical Employees (FIET) in Geneva.  In 1988, he became Assistant Director and – from 1993 - Director of the Geneva office of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU).  In 2002, he was appointed General Secretary of the ICFTU and was elected as the first General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) when it was created in 2006.  He returned to the ILO in 2010 as Executive Director, responsible for international labour standards and fundamental principles and rights at work. Mr. Ryder studied Social and Political Sciences at the University of Cambridge and Latin American Studies at the University of Liverpool.  He speaks English, French and Spanish.  

Dr. Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara was Chairman of the Board of Directors PTT Public Company Limited from 2013 - 2014. He was also Deputy Leader of Pheu Thai Party 2008 - 2010, Advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister 2008, Thailand Trade Representative 2005 - 2006, Chairman, Committee on Investment and Trade Promotion under FTA 2005 - 2006,  Advisor to the Minister of Industry 2005 - 2006, Chairman of Public Warehouse Organization 2005, Vice Minister for Industry 2005, Chairman, Broad of Directors Bangkok Fashion City 2005, Committee on Trade Negotiations Assessment 2005, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Strategic and Policy Cooperation for International Trade Negotiations 2004, Thailand’s Chief Negotiator for Thailand-India FTA, Thailand-BIMSTEC FTA 2004 – 2005, Vice Minister for Commerce 2003 - 2005, Deputy Leader of Chart Pattana Party 2003, Member of Parliament 2002 - 2003, Committee on Foreign Affairs 2002 - 2003, Advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister 2002 - 2003, Advisor to the Minister of Labor 2002 - 2003, Advisor to the Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office 2002, Committee for drafted legislation on national budget 2003 2002, Committee for drafted legislation on Islamic Bank of Thailand 2002, Sub-Committee for drafted legislation on Small and Medium Enterprises Development Bank of Thailand 2001 - 2002, Member of Executive Committee and Deputy Secretary General of Chart Pattana Party Committee 2001 - 2003, Sub-Committee for drafted legislation on Business in Financial Institute 2000, Advisor to the Minister of Industry 1999 - 2000, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Economics and Foreign Affairs 1996 - 1997 and Member of Executive Committee of Chart Pattana Party.

H.E. Mr. Vahan Kostanyan currently serves as the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia. Prior to this role, he worked as the Adviser to the Foreign Minister of Armenia. Mr. Kostanyan has also previously held the positions of Assistant to the Deputy of the National Assembly of Armenia, Head of the First Deputy Prime Minister's Office of Armenia, Spokesperson of the "Civil Contract" Party, Assistant to the President of the National Assembly of Armenia, Adviser to the President of the National Assembly of Armenia, and Assistant to the Foreign Minister of Armenia. His educational background includes studies at the Faculty of Oriental Studies, Yerevan State University as well as a Public Administration course at the University of Massachusetts (USA), courses in Conflictology and Human Rights of the Council of Europe, and an Iranian Studies Course at Payame Noor University (Tehran).

H.E. Ms. Hajjah Hanifah Hajar Taib worked as Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department from 2020 to 2022 (Sabah & Sarawak Affairs). She also is a Board Member, Sarawak State Mosque Charitable Trust and Board Member, Setia Raja Mosque Mukah Sarawak Charitable Trust since 2021. Moreover, since 2018 she hs been Member of Parliament Malaysia for P213 Mukah, Sarawak.

H.E. Mr. Pagnathun Theng holds the position of the Delegate of the Royal Government of Cambodia in charge of Director General of Planning with ranking of Secretary of State. He also serves different roles in the Government, including as the Permanent Vice-Chair of National Working Group on Monitoring and Evaluation of National Strategic Development Plan implementation (NGWM&E), the Permanent Vice-Chair of the National Poverty Measuring in Cambodia, and a member and Permanent Secretary of Task Force for Managing the Process Harmonizing of Planning, Public Investment Expenditure, and Cooperation Financing.

Mr. Esrom Immanuel hails from Navolau Village in the tikina of Viria in Naitasiri. He completed his primary education at the Dravuni District School and secondary education at Ratu Sukuna Memorial School. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of the South Pacific, and Post Grad Diploma in Applied Finance & Investments at the Securities Institute of Australia. He joined the Fiji Development bank as a Loans Officer in 1988. He then moved to Colonial Fiji Life Ltd and worked from being a Senior Investment Clerk to Assistant General Manager Positions from 1989 – 2005. He then moved to be the Chief Executive Officer for Yasana Holdings Ltd from 2006- 2013. Then moved to become the CEO, Investment Advisor and Broker Representative at the Fiji Stockbrokers Limited from 2014 to 2022. Currently, he is the Assistant Minister to Finance, Strategic Planning, National Development and Statistics after the General Elections on 24 December 2022. Mr. Esrom was part of the Board Member of the South Pacific Stock Exchange, Data Bureau Limited, Yasana Holdings Limited and represent Colonial Fiji Life Limited in some of its Investee Companies i.e. Dominion Finance Limited, Credit Corporation, Rooster Poultry, Communication Fiji Limited, William & Gosling, Suva Central, Suva Private Hospital and Richmond Ltd. He was also a Board Member of Fiji Television Ltd to June 2013 and RB Patel (retail/wholesale chain) to June 2013, and Deputy Chair of Media New Guinea Limited (TV Company in PNG) to June 2013 and was Chair of Compac (Communication Pacific Limited). He is a member of Leadership Fiji and Associate member of Securities Institute of Australia (FINSIA).

Dr. Min Bahadur Shrestha is the Vice-Chairman of National Planning Commission, Government of Nepal. Priviously, he held the same position from September 4, 2016 to August 3, 2017. Prior to his appointment in September 2016, he served as the Executive Director of Nepal Rastra Bank, the central bank of Nepal, for six years heading research and public debt management departments. During his central bank career of 28 years, he mainly worked in the area of economic research, policy analysis, training and strategy formulation. Representing Nepal Rastra Bank, he worked as the board member of several institutions including Credit Information Centre, Nepal Stock Exchange Limited, Securities Board of Nepal and National Banking Institute. 

Dr. Shrestha has also served as the Senior Economist for 3 years and the Visiting Research Economist for one year at the South East Asian Central Banks Research and Training Centre based in Kuala Lumpur. He also worked as the member of Nepal country economist team for the US Millennium Challenge Corporation’s growth constraint analysis of Nepal. He has led and conducted a number of research projects on central bank policies, financial economics and economic development. He has presented papers and worked as the resource speaker at several international seminars, workshops and conferences. 

Dr. Shrestha holds a Ph.D. in Economics from University of Wollongong, Australia. He has obtained Master’s degree in Public Administration as well as in Political Science from Tribhuvan University, Nepal and an MBA from Hult International Business School, United Kingdom. He has published 7 books and a significant number of research papers in peer-reviewed international journals on financial liberalization, capital flows, monetary policy, welfare, international migration, time series econometrics and financial inclusion.  

Ms. Edillon holds a PhD in Economics from La Trobe University in Australia, an MA degree in Economics from the University of the Philippines (UP) School of Economics and an MS degree in Statistics from the UP School of Statistics. She is also a 2019 Presidential Gawad CES Awardee. Among her major responsibilities is shepherding the formulation of the Philippine Development Plan (PDP). The PDP is an elaboration of the country’s priorities over the medium-term and is the blueprint of government policies, programs and projects. She also oversees the monitoring of the PDP implementation. In addition, she is in charge of providing technical advice on policy issues to both the legislative and executive branches of government, especially the committees of the NEDA Board. Ms. Edillon chairs the Social Development Committee-Technical Board and the Technical Committee on Tariff Related Matters and is a member of the Development Budget Coordination Committee of the NEDA Board. She also chairs the National Innovation Council – Executive Technical Board. Undersecretary Edillon is currently a member of the Philippine Economic Society, where she used to be President. She is also a member of the Philippine Commission of the UNESCO.

Previously, he was Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and Permanent Representative to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) (February 2016-June 2020). He was ASEAN-SOM Leader Indonesia/Director-General for ASEAN Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and also served as High-Level Task Force Indonesia on ASEAN Community Post-2015 Vision (2012-2016). He also served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Indonesia to the Republic of Austria and Republic of Slovenia, concurrently the Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Vienna (March 2010-2012). In 2006-2009, he served as Ambassador/Deputy Permanent Representative of Indonesia to the United Nations, World Trade Organisation and other International Organisations in Geneva. In addition to the above assignments, Ambassador Puja also served as Vice Chairperson of the Conference of State Parties (CSP), Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in 2017-2018; Governor of Indonesia to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors in 20112012; Indonesian Sherpa for the Nuclear Security Summit 2012 (20102011); President of the Inter-Government Committee (IGC) on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore, World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO); and a Member of the Indonesian Negotiators for the Aceh Peace Agreement in 2000-2005. Ambassador Puja has been granted – among others – “Ridder Grootkruis in de Orde van Oranje-Nassau”/Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Orange – Nassau, The King of The Netherlands (June 2020); Ksatria Bakti Husada Arutala, Minister of Health (2011); Bintang Jasa Utama Award in 2010; and the “Dharma Nusa Award” in 2006. Ambassador Puja is a graduate from Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, and acquired his post-graduate at the University of Michgan, Ann Arbor (USA), The Horace H. Racham School of Graduate Studies. He is married, with 2 children.  

Dr. Mohamed Kinaanath has a “Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Information Technology” from Victoria University of Wellington (VUW) in New Zealand. Dr. Kinaanath is a National Award Winner in the Maldives in ICT sector. He received the Presidential Award in: “National Award of Recognition in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) - Computer Software & Software Application Development - 2021” for his exceptional service to ICT sector. Dr. Kinaanath completed his “Master’s Degree in e-Commerce” at Distinction Level from Griffith University in Australia. For his outstanding academic performance at Master’s Degree, he was awarded the "Griffith Award of Academic Excellence - 2004" from Griffith University, Australia. He was also awarded the “Qasim Ibrahim Award of Academic Excellence (QIAE) - 2007”, from Villa Foundation, Maldives. Villa College also awarded him “Long Service Award” in 2022 for his long service. 

Dr. Kinaanath gained International work experience while working at UNICEF Maldives Office for 2.5 years as the head of ICT. He also worked in New Zealand at Polytechnics International New Zealand (PINZ) for over a year, as a “Project and Systems Support”. He was a tutor at Victoria University of Wellington during his Doctoral Studies. Dr. Kinaanath has interest in undertaking research on ICT, Smart Tourism, Artificial Intelligence & Smart Technologies. He has supervised 111 Master’s Degree Dissertations & 65 Undergraduate final year projects. 

Dr. Kinaanath is a technologist & academic researcher. He is undertaking academic and business research, consultancy and training in the areas of ICT, Smart Tourism & Artificial Intelligence. He has lectured at higher education institutions in the Maldives & New Zealand. He has already taught 10,000 students in various disciplines: ICT, Business & Education. Dr. Kinaanath was the former Chairman and Board Member of the Maldives Integrated Tourism Development Corporation (MITDC) for over 24 months. He was the former Chairman & Board Member of the Maldives Hajj Corporation Limited (MHCL) for over 30 months. He is the former Chairman & Member of ICT Sector Council at the Ministry of Higher Education. He is a member of British Computer Society (BCS) and Fellow Member of the Institute of Travel & Tourism (ITT). 

Dr. Kinaanath is regarded as one of the most experienced & recognised ICT and Smart Technologies expert in the Maldives. Dr. Kinaanath is the current Minister of State for Homeland Security & Technology as the Head of National Centre for Information Technology (NCIT). 

Dr. Felipe Paullier of Uruguay assumed his mandate as the first-ever Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs in December 2023 at the age of 32. He is the youngest senior appointment in the history of the United Nations, and the youngest serving member of the Secretary-General’s senior management group. As head of the United Nations Youth Office, Mr. Paullier leads systemwide collaboration, coordination and accountability on youth affairs, overseeing the UN’s efforts to strengthen meaningful youth engagement in the areas of sustainable development, human rights, and peace and security. Prior to taking up his post, Mr. Paullier was the Director General of the National Youth Institute of Uruguay beginning in 2020, where he led efforts to engage young people in policy-making processes at national level. He previously served in various political management positions at the national level. Throughout his career, he has been a foremost advocate for young people’s rights and the inclusion of young people in decision-making spaces. Mr. Paullier is a Medical Doctor by training, specialized in pediatrics. He holds a Medical Doctor degree from the Universidad de la Republica Oriental de Uruguay and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from Universidad Católica de Uruguay. 

Ms. Hanna Singer-Hamdy is the UN Resident Coordinator in Nepal. She has worked for close to 30 years across development and humanitarian contexts at various senior management and strategic leadership roles. She served as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka from 2018 to 2022. Prior to this, she held several senior management positions in UNICEF offices across the world, including as the Associate Regional Director in Geneva and as Country Representative for Syria, Nepal, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan.    

Ms. Singer-Hamdy holds a Master's degree in Political Sociology and a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from the American University in Cairo, Egypt. She obtained a diploma in “Planning and Management of Decentralized Development Projects” from Bradford University in the United Kingdom. Ms. Singer-Hamdy has engaged in academia and research in political sociology and international relations at the American University of Cairo and at the Sadat’s Academy for Management Sciences, Faculty of Political Science of Cairo University. 

Ms. Karla Hershey of the United States of America has been a dedicated international civil servant for 30 years. Over Ms. Hershey’s career she has successfully delivered multi-million-dollar programmes for the United Nations that are SDG focused, transformative, life-saving and life-changing responses in sync with national, regional and global priorities.

Prior to her appointment as Resident Coordinator (RC) in Bhutan, she served as the UN RC in both Lesotho and Serbia leading UNCTs in both lower income and middle-income counties. She served as the WFP Representative and Country Director in Eswatini and Liberia. Other positions held with WFP include Senior Advisor in UN Reform, Deputy Country Director in Malawi; acting Country Director in Syria; Head of Food Procurement, Refugee Operations and Public Information in Tanzania; WFP Regional Inter-Agency Affairs Officer to the Special Envoy, Bureau for East and Southern Africa, Johannesburg and Programme and Quality Assurances Officer in Ethiopia.

Ms. Hershey began her UN career with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs as Humanitarian Affairs Officer (OCHA) in Angola. Prior to joining the UN, she served in various capacities with World Vision Relief and Development in Angola, Rotary International in Evanston, Illinois, American Employee’s Association in Rwanda and United States Peace Corps in Rwanda as a Business Advisor to the Ministry of Youth and Cooperatives and the YMCA.

Ms. Hershey holds an M.B.A in Management and B.A. in Economics and Political Science.

Ms. Karima El Korri is the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore.

Ms. El Korri has more than 20 years of international development experience, acquired at the United Nations and externally. She has led the 2030 Agenda Division at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), a role she assumed after managing the population and development portfolio — pioneering the work of the Commission on International Migration — population ageing and youth empowerment. She was previously a regional adviser on governance and project coordinator at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Before joining the United Nations, Ms. El Korri was a lecturer at Al-Akhawayn University in Morocco. She also worked with a think tank engaging with the Government, civil society, the private sector, academia, youth and international organizations on the country’s development issues.

Ms. El Korri holds a master’s degree in applied linguistics from Columbia University’s Teachers College in New York, United States, and a bachelor’s degree in English from Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco.

Mr. Tapan Mishra assumed his role as the United Nations Resident Coordinator (UN RC) for Mongolia in September 2019. As UN RC, the highest-ranking representative of the United Nations Development System in Mongolia, he has been designated by the UN Secretary General to lead the UN Country Team in coordinating operational activities for development in the country. Before this post in Mongolia, Mr. Mishra served as UN RC in DPR Korea from 2015 to 2019.

Mr. Wagener has more than 20 years of experience in the United Nations System serving in various capacities in the fields of sustainable development and poverty reduction, peacebuilding and conflict prevention, gender equality, humanitarian assistance, green economy, and environmental protection. Prior to his appointment as UN Resident Coordinator, he served as UNDP Resident Representative in Papua New Guinea where he also led the UN Country Team as acting UN Resident Coordinator for over one year. In this role he chaired the intergovernmental negotiations between the Government of Papua New Guinea and the Autonomous Bougainville Government on the implementation of the Bougainville Peace Agreement and negotiated an agreement on a joint roadmap towards the settlement of the final political status of the autonomous region. Prior to this, he served in various field and headquarters assignments with UNDP and UNEP in Africa, and Asia and the Pacific, including as Coordinator for the global Resource Efficiency Programme in the UNEP headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. He also served as Team Leader for Partnerships and Management Support with UNDP in Ethiopia, as acting Deputy Resident Representative and Assistant Resident Representative with UNDP in the Lao PDR, as Management Advisor with UNDP in Cambodia, as well as Assistant Resident Representative and Programme Specialist with UNDP in Papua New Guinea where he started his UN career in 2002. Prior to joining the UN, Dirk started his professional career volunteering and working with non-governmental organizations in India as Rural Development Officer and as Agronomist in Germany. He obtained his master’s degree in International Agricultural Sciences (Rural Development) and his bachelor’s degree in Agronomy from the Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany. 

Ms. Pauline Tamesis of the Philippines is currently serving as UN Resident Coordinator in the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam since June 2025. She has 25 years of experience in international development and over the last decade has assumed progressively senior leadership positions driving transformational change for sustainable development. Prior to Viet Nam, Pauline served as UN Resident Coordinator in Cambodia from 2018-2022. She also served as Chief of UNDP Country Office Support and Quality Assurance in the Asia Pacific Regional Hub (2016-2018) overseeing UNDP operations in 24 country offices. As UNDP Country Director, where she was assigned from 2013-2016, Pauline led efforts to deliver a future-facing $500m portfolio for urban poverty reduction, social protection, renewable energy, sustainable cities and climate adaptation. Pauline is a policy adviser at heart, with thematic expertise in democratic governance, anti-corruption, gender equality and women’s political empowerment. She obtained an MBA from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. and a bachelor’s degree in Management Economics from Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines, where she graduated with honors. 

Ms. Olufunmilayo (Funmi) Abosede Balogun-Alexander has more than 30 years of international development and humanitarian experience, including leading policy and programmes and experience with government, UN, international NGOs and on board of not-for-profit organizations to drive impact and results. She has a proven track record leading successful UN interagency coordination and resources to support governments in developing and implementing transformational initiatives, including conducting successful elections, facilitating constitutional reviews, supporting the inclusion of marginalized communities' voices in developing Peace Agreements, strengthening institutions, including for gender-responsive budgeting and promoting women's leadership in the public sector and in the elected positions. She has facilitated innovative financing from the private sector for Second Chance Education for 'out of school' women and girls to develop new skills. Ms. Balogun has led solutions on inclusion and equality in development and humanitarian, focusing on gender equality, sexual and reproductive health and rights and Gender-Based Violence. She has successfully established and maintained strategic partnerships with governments, intergovernmental commissions, bilateral donors, media and the private sector for innovative financing and programming. She was, until her appointment, UN Women's global Head for Humanitarian Action, where she led UN Women's global response to the humanitarian crisis. Prior to this, she was UN Women's Country Representative to South Sudan, Deputy Country Representative, Ethiopia and Director, External Relations and Advocacy at International Planned Parenthood Federation, Africa Region. Ms Balogun has a master's degree from the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), University of Sussex, UK and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Lagos, Nigeria.

Dr. Nuki Agya Utama is appointed as the Executive Director of the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) and reporting directly to an International organisation under ASEAN entities and reporting to Governing Council consist of ministries energy in ASEAN member states. He is currently an advisory board member of Asia Pacific Energy Research Centre (APERC) and World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Future Councils. Dr. Nuki Agya Utama has academics and research background as Post-Doctorate in Graduate School Energy Science Kyoto University for energy scenario planning in South East Asia.  Holding PhD, with research on Life Cycle Energy Analysis from Joint Graduate School of Energy and Environment, the University of Technology King Mongkut (KMUTT), Thailand. Prior to assuming his position in ACE, he worked as a director various local companies and as a consultant in a well-known international Institutions. In his early career, he worked as a consultant in UNDP and UNEP, working on energy and environment-related issues. He also been served as the Head of Environmental Engineering department at Surya University, Indonesia and currently as a lecturer in Swiss German University, Indonesia.  

Mr. Padilla is a Filipino activist, campaigner, and writer-researcher on development and people's rights. He covers issues related to neoliberal globalization and neocolonialism, industrialization and rural development, food and agriculture, and the environment. He has been involved in activist research and people's campaigns and movements in the Philippines and Asia for 25 years. He is currently Coordinator of PAN Asia Pacific’s (PANAP) Food Sovereignty program. 

Mr. Huseynov started his professional career in 2010 at the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Office in Baku, Azerbaijan. From 2011 until 2013 he worked as Senior Consultant in the Department of Social Security Policy in the Ministry of Labor and Social Security of Population of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

In the successive year, he joined as an economist to the Supreme Audit Office (Chamber of Accounts) of Azerbaijan until September 2014.

Over the period from 2014 until May 2017, he was Deputy Director of Economic policy, analysis and forecasting Department and in May 2017 he was appointed a Director of the Department for Sustainable Development and social policy in the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan. He is also acting Executive Secretary of the National Coordination Council on Sustainable Development of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

He is also Head of Secretariat of the macro project carried out between Government of Azerbaijan and Harvard University over the period of 2023-2026.

Since 2010 he is giving lectures in Regulation of Economics and Managerial Economics at the Azerbaijan State Economic University.

He holds a PhD in Economics from Baku State University, a master’s degree in financial and industrial economics from University of London, United Kingdom and a bachelor’s degree in mathematical economics from Baku State University.

Ms. Norliza Hashim is the Chief Executive of Urbanice Malaysia, a Centre of Excellence for Community Well-Being and Urban Sustainability, under the Ministry of Housing and Local Government Malaysia; where she leads a team focused on the implementation of sustainable urbanization policies in cities and regions through the Malaysia SDG Cities program and shared knowledge platforms, development of innovative urban community-based solutions and through collaborative partnerships. Hashim was recently appointed as Adjunct Professor to the International Islamic University Malaysia at the Kulliyah of Architecture Environmental Design, where she provides guidance on sustainable development agendas and the development of future planning directions for the university. 

Netithorn Praditsarn, (he/his/him) works with C.P. Group’s global stakeholders, including business partners, the UN agencies, international organizations and the civil society, especially to develop business cooperation and promote C.P. Group’s roles in sustainable development worldwide.  He leads C.P. Group’s Human Rights Working Group to systematically drive the Group human rights policy and practices. He also serves as the Secretary-General of United Nations Global Compact Network Thailand (UNGCNT), a multi-stakeholder Local Network of United Nations Global Compact for strengthening collaboration on responsible business conduct amongst business actors. Currently, UNGCT has over 13 members. Dr. Netithorn is instrumental in establishing GCNT’s Business and Human Rights Academy to train responsible business conduct for Thai companies and representing the UNCGNT in drafting and driving National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (NAP) into concrete business practices. Dr. Netithorn received the King’s Scholarship and the Scholarship of Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to complete his Bachelor, Master and Ph.D. education in international relations from Stanford University, USA. 

Ms. Perez works for a women’s rights organization based in the Philippines, spearheading CWR’s involvement in policy engagement surrounding the 2030 Agenda processes, advocating for the centrality of women and people’s rights in the development agenda. She serves as the focal point for AP-RCEM’s Women’s Constituency and as Asia Organizing Partner within the Women’s Major Group.

Mr. Shrestha is contributing as the South and South-West Asia Focal Point for the AP-RCEM. Mr. Shrestha is also coordinating SDGs National Network Nepal, a common platform of CSOs, Human Rights Defenders, Environment activists and development practitioners. Mr. Shrestha is continuously involved in the follow-up and review process of the SDGs at national and international level.

Juliette comes from the Republic of Vanuatu with maternal ties to Papua New Guinea. Her office is responsible for implementation progress towards Vanuatu’s National Sustainable Development Plan; Vanuatu 2030 and the SDGs. Juliette serves as the current National Focal Point for SDGs. She has over 15 years’ working experience in various sectors including: project management, public policy, community development, stakeholder engagement, natural disaster logistics and coordination, and as a research and MEL specialist within Non-Government Organisations and national government projects and programs largely in the South Pacific region and her home country of Vanuatu. Juliette is passionate about building national systems through resilient, sustainable, stakeholder led, and localised mechanisms. Juliette holds a BA (Hons) in Environment and Physical Geography and English and Literature from Massey University and the University of the South Pacific and a Master’s (1st) in Public Policy and Public Management from the University of Melbourne.

Ms. Djanaeva is one of the co-chairs of AP-RCEM and the focal point for the Central Asia subregion. Her organization - ALGA - implements programs for rural women and communities on poverty eradication, sustainable livelihoods obtaining, empowerment and leadership development, gender equality and women’s rights, access to resources and innovative technologies, support of the rural women’s initiative groups, social partnership development, participatory monitoring, research, and advocacy at different levels. She has been involved in various engagements at both the regional and subregional levels especially on issues of women, agriculture, climate, and sustainable development.  

She is of Samoan descent, originally from the Island of Samoa, currently residing in Auckland, New Zealand. Antonia brings a background knowledge in Union advocacy work, employment, community economic development and social innovation experience into the workforce development council. She is currently the Uptempo Family Facilitator for FIRST Union based at Auckland Council (CSI) Community Social Innovation. At Uptempo she helps to improve outcomes for pacific families and struggling communities in Auckland to tackle in-work poverty.  

Antonia is currently the National Executive board member for FIRST Union as the Co-convener for Pasefika Fono Network and is a member of the New Zealand Council of Trade Union Komiti Pasefika (NZCTU Pacific committee). She advocates for the promotion of economic development, social and employment interests of marginalised groups, particularly women, Pacific people, RSE workers, migrants, learners, and young people. She also serves on the Auckland Catholic of Diocese board as the Justice and Peace and Youth Development advisor. She is a support member of (IMA NZ) pacific voice for International Migrant Alliance in Aotearoa NZ.

Ms. Remengesau is a leader in the Palau (Western Pacific) CSO Resource Group and a member of the Palau National SDG Steering Committee. She is deeply involved in advancing sustainable development goals. Furthermore, she has actively contributed to esteemed organizations such as BANGO, a pivotal CSO umbrella organization, and the OMEKESANG Association, championing the rights of persons with disabilities in Palau. Her previous roles include serving as Co-chair of the Pacific Disability Forum and as the Focal Point for APRCEM Disability Constituency. She has a strong commitment to fostering inclusivity, equity, and cooperation within the communities.