JAKARTA, 1 February 2016 – Demonstrating how the potential benefits of the ASEAN Community are more than just economic, a new initiative has been launched to bring together senior leaders from all ten ASEAN countries. The ASEAN Leaders Programme is being launched to bring together 70 senior leaders from across the ASEAN, from all sectors and walks of life, to work on a challenge relevant to the region. The inaugural programme will be held in Singapore in May 2016 and will pose the challenge: “What makes a city smart?”
The programme will act as a catalyst, bringing together leaders from the world of finance, manufacturing, civil service, statutory bodies, academia, the not-for-profit sector and more, to spark a robust exchange of ideas. It aims to help leaders build strong connections, share knowledge and develop the Cultural Intelligence needed to grow ASEAN both in the context of its cities and as a region.Elaine Tan, Executive Director, ASEAN Foundation said that “we are excited to partner with Common Purpose on this excellent initiative that brings senior leaders from ASEAN together to build connections across the region and work collaboratively to solve its common challenges. An opportunity for students to connect and exchange ideas with senior leaders is a wonderful approach that deepens inter-generational engagement and strengthens people-participation in ASEAN matters.”
Over the five-day programme, leaders will have the opportunity to meet and engage with a wide range of people from global and local organizations who are driving innovation in their city. It is this experiential learning that will develop the leadership skills required to help realise the immense potential of the ASEAN Community.
“The ASEAN Leaders Programme will play a part in strengthening the notion of the ASEAN Community by bringing together leaders from across the ASEAN who ordinarily would not meet. The programme will give the region, with its reputation for being a high-growth economic sector, a greater people-focus to help find solutions to complex regional problems as it looks within itself and beyond,” said Adirupa Sengupta, CEO of Common Purpose Asia Pacific.
The ASEAN Leaders Programme is being launched by Common Purpose, an international leadership development organization, with the support of GE and in partnership with the ASEAN Foundation.
For more information, visit www.commonpurpose.org/asean
(Courtesy asean.org)