11-12 November 2025
Makati Shangri-La
Manila, Philippines

ASIAN FORUM ON ENTERPRISE FOR SOCIETY

Now on its fourth run, Asia’s premier forum on enterprise for society returns to the spotlight, highlighting how businesses can lead and thrive amidst disruption, fulfilling their role not only as value creators, but as enablers of resilience, inclusion, and innovation.

Through diverse, timely, and relevant themes, AFES 2025 will explore how organizations, and enterprise leaders can adapt core strategies to be more sustainable, responsive, and socially responsible which will yield to stronger institutions, empowered communities, and a more resilient future for all.

In an era marked by rapid change and rising uncertainty, the Asian Forum brings together bold ideas and practical insights on how enterprises can lead with purpose amidst disruption. A two-day forum awaits with rich dialogue and thought-provoking exchange of ideas.

Participants from the event will explore meaningful and significant conversations across multiple themes while navigating complex global challenges. The sessions will tackle interconnected themes such as financial inclusion, sustainability through innovation, education, and strengthening supply chains. Through these conversations, the forum aims to inspire actionable strategies that empower not only organizations but also communities to adapt and drive purposeful impact in a disrupted world.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Ban Ki-moon is the 8th Secretary General of the United Nations. He served two consecutive terms from 2007 to 2016.

Throughout his tenure at the UN, Ban strove to be a bridge builder, to give voice to the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people, and to make the organization more transparent and effective. He successfully pressed for action to combat climate change–an effort that culminated in the adoption and rapid entry into force of the landmark Paris Agreement in 2016. He worked closely with member states of the UN to shape the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to establish UN Women, which has been advancing the organization’s work for gender equality and women’s empowerment. He also launched major efforts to strengthen UN peace operations, to protect human rights, to improve humanitarian response, to prevent violent extremism, and to revitalize the disarmament agenda.

At the time of his appointment to the UN, Ban was the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea. During his 37 years with the Ministry, his responsibilities included serving as Foreign Policy Adviser to the President, Chief National Security Adviser to the President, Vice Minister, Deputy Minister for Policy Planning, and Director-General for American Affairs. He was also actively involved in issues relating to inter-Korean relations as Chairman of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization.

He currently serves as the Chairman of the Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future, Chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia, Co-Chair of the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens, Honour Member of the International Olympic Committee (previously Chair of the IOC Ethics Commission), President of the Assembly & Chair of the Council of the Global Green Growth Institute, Emeritus member of The Elders (previously Deputy Chair), Honorary Chair of the Global Center on Adaptation, and Distinguished Chair Professor and Honorary Chairman of the Future Strategy Institute at Seoul National University.

Ban received a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Seoul National University in 1970 and a master’s degree in public administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in 1985.

He is married with three children and four grandchildren.

Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala is the Chairman of Ayala Corporation, one of the largest business groups in the Philippines, with interests in real estate, banking, telecommunications, power, healthcare, logistics, industrial technologies, water, infrastructure, education, and technology investments.

Outside the Ayala group, he is a member of various business and socio-civic organizations in the Philippines and abroad. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Temasek Holdings, JP Morgan International Council, JP Morgan Asia Pacific Council, Mitsubishi Corporation International Advisory Council, and LeapFrog Investment’s Global Leadership Council.

He sits on various advisory boards of Harvard University, including the Global Advisory Council, and HBS Asia-Pacific Advisory Board, which he chairs. He is Chairman Emeritus of the Asia Business Council, a Trustee of Endeavor Philippines, the Philippine Representative to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Advisory Council from 2010-2015, a Steering Committee Member and Steward of the Council for Inclusive Capitalism, and a Trustee Emeritus of Eisenhower Fellowships. He is a director of the US-Philippines Society since 2012 and assumed the Co-Chair position in 2024. He is a Steering Committee member of the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Prosperity.

He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Merit in 2009, the Philippine Legion of Honor with rank of Grand Commander in 2010, and the Order of Mabini with rank of Commander in 2015 by the President of the Philippines. In 2017, he was recognized as a United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Pioneer for his work in sustainable business strategy and operations. The first SDG Pioneer from the Philippines, he was one of 10 individuals recognized for championing sustainability and the pursuit of the 17 SDGs in business.

He received his BA in Economics (with honors) from Harvard University in 1981 and MBA from the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration in 1987.