2026: what to expect in an increasingly unpredictable world
Taimur Baig, Chief Economist, DBS Bank
Mary Ann Say, SVP Corporate Development, Jollibee Group
Dr Syaza Shukri, Head of the Department of Political Science, International Islamic University Malaysia
Savita Iyer, Chief Financial Officer Southeast Asia, The Walt Disney Company
Economists like to make sure we understand the difference between a prediction and a forecast. And no wonder, given that the past 12 months have been completely unpredictable. Geopolitics and macroeconomics has taken centre stage, and many of us have spent so much time scrambling from one day to the next addressing tactical issues that we’ve risked losing sight of the strategic. To help us focus on the macro factors that are genuinely important to our businesses, we’re bringing together our Global CFO Network Honorary Advisors for the Asia Pacific region in what promises to be a not-to-be-missed panel that will set up your thinking for the new year. Our Advisors are not just specialists in their own areas of economics, finance and politics, but spend time thinking broadly about issues that impact global companies and foreign investors. They are: DBS Bank Chief Economist Taimur Baig; Jollibee Group SVP Corporate Development Mary Ann Say, International Islamic University Malaysia Head of Political Science Dr Syaza Shukri, and The Walt Disney Company Southeast Asia Chief Financial Officer Savita Iyer.
How to win capital and support from your corporate stakeholders
Smriti Gupta, Chief Financial Officer, audax
Even inside large global companies, new ventures must compete for attention and resources. In this session, Global CFO Network member Smriti Gupta will share some of her key learnings on winning and retaining the support of internal stakeholders. Smriti is CFO of audax, a leading digital banking solutions provider that’s part of Standard Chartered. She’ll focus on providing an inside view on Internal stakeholder management, and how she’s built a compelling business case for audax within Standard Chartered. She’ll discuss some of the techniques she’s used, including strategic storytelling, influence and persuasion.
Understanding the forces reshaping global business
Aparna Bharadwaj, Global Leader, Global Advantage Practice, Boston Consulting Group
Christian Shepherd, China Correspondent, The Washington Post
Globalisation may be down, but it’s not out. From COVID through to Donald Trump’s self-declared trade war on the world, multinationals and those who lead them have faced a challenging decade, but global companies remain significant wealth generators. While there’s been a lot of focus on US-China relations, multinationals operating in the Asia Pacific should be cognisant of the region’s strengths: its cost advantage; its natural resources, including rare earth oxides; its innovation; its capital, which is increasingly being deployed across borders; and its cultures, which are proving powerful influencers beyond the region. For an optimistic take on the forces reshaping global business, we’ll be joined by the leader of Boston Consulting Group’s Global Advantage Practice Aparna Bharadwaj, and The Washington Post’s China Correspondent Christian Shepherd. Aparna will explore a fascinating list of Asia Pacific challenger companies, from Cherry (China) through to Jollibee (Philippines), as part of a review of where the region is at after almost 18 months of Trump in the White House. Christian will outline China’s approach to trade negotiations and competition with the US, and detail what that means for the broader Asia Pacific. Aparna is global leader for BCG’s Global Advantage practice, and part of the leadership team of BCG’s Center for Geopolitics. Prior to joining BCG, she held senior roles at Coca-Cola. Christian is a long-term observer of China, having covered the country from Beijing for the Financial Times and Reuters.
Generating value from agentic AI
An interactive workshop with IBM Asia Pacific Chief Financial Officer Naomi Hill
Are you looking to understand how agentic AI can translate from concept to practical value? Join fellow Global CFO Network member and IBM Asia Pacific CFO Naomi Hill in this interactive workshop as we look at what agentic AI is, why it matters for the Finance function, and how it is beginning to reshape core areas of Finance. You’ll work through an interactive exploration of real-world use cases, consider where the technology can make the greatest difference, and look at how to prioritise opportunities that create value. The session will also create space for CFOs and senior Finance team members to compare experiences, discuss emerging challenges, and identify areas where agentic AI can deliver meaningful returns for their organisations.
Members may attend with a member of their Finance team. Luncheon and light refreshments will be served.