Asia’s economic outlook 2027: Navigating growth, risk and uncertainty
Taimur Baig, Global CFO Network Honorary Advisor, and Chief Economist, DBS Bank
As the Asia Pacific enters another period of economic uncertainty, Finance leaders need a clear view of the forces shaping the region. In this session, Taimur Baig, Global CFO Network Honorary Advisor and Chief Economist at DBS Bank, will share his perspective on growth, inflation, policy direction and the economic trajectory heading into 2027,.Taimur will focus on the implications for CFOs, looking specifically at the issues including investment and cost management, as well as currency exposure and supply chain resilience. The session will provide a structured way to interpret macroeconomic signals, and help Finance leaders position their organisations for growth. Taimur is Chief Economist at DBS Bank, where he leads macroeconomic research and provides strategic insights across Asia and global markets. He previously held senior roles at the International Monetary Fund and Deutsche Bank, and is widely recognised for his analysis of emerging markets and policy trends, not to mention his popular podcast, Kopi Time.
The new operating environment for global business
Ziad Haider, Partner & Global Director of Geopolitics, McKisney & Company
As geopolitical tensions, economic fragmentation, and technological competition reshape the global landscape, Finance leaders are being forced to rethink long-held assumptions about risk, growth, and capital allocation. In this session, we will examine how politics is influencing trade flows, supply chains, and investment decisions, with a particular focus on the implications for the Asia Pacific operations of multinationals. The discussion will explore what these structural shifts mean in practice, and how CFOs can position their organisations to remain resilient while still capturing opportunity. Joining us for this session is Ziad Haider, Partner at McKinsey & Company and Global Director of the firm’s Geopolitics team. Ziad advises leading corporations and public institutions on geopolitical risk, global strategy, and the evolving relationship between business and government. Prior to joining McKinsey, he held senior roles at the US State Department, where he worked on economic and security policy. Drawing on McKinsey’s latest research and his own advisory work, Ziad will provide a clear framework for understanding today’s geopolitical environment and its practical implications for Finance.
Getting the best out of your body - how to drive your own performance
Alex Mearns, Founder, Levitise, personal trainer and coach
Agnes Lim, Chief Financial Officer Asia Pacific, NTT Data
Additional panelist to be advised
CFOs operate under sustained pressure, yet few treat their own physical and mental capacity with the same rigour they apply to the businesses they run. This session will examine the practical disciplines that underpin sustained executive performance: what to eat, how to train, and how to manage stress without letting it manage you. Alex Mearns leads personal training, nutrition and minset coaching group Levitise, working exclusively with senior executives to get the best out of their bodies and minds. His own career in finance left him overweight, pre-diabetic and burnt out; following a visit to the doctor, he decided to turn his life around. He’ll share on what he actually sees in this executive cohort, before handing over to a facilitated conversation with two CFOs from the network. This will be a frank discussion of what you can do to generate positive outcomes from diet, exercise and mindset training, with our panel talking about how they build an exercise routine into their schedules, what they do to ensure they‘re eating right, and how they manage the demands of travel.
Members may attend with a member of their Finance team. Luncheon and light refreshments will be served.