Lisa is the Chief of Education with UNICEF Myanmar, bringing extensive global experience in education. She previously served with UNICEF’s New York Headquarters Education Section and Emergency Response Team, deploying to over 17 major humanitarian responses, and has advised on education in crisis and conflict for USAID and international NGOs. She holds a PhD in early childhood development in emergencies and an MA in international educational development.

Professor Donald Bundy is Director of the Research Consortium for School Health and Nutrition, leading a global research effort to provide evidence-based guidance to the 100+ member states of the School Meals Coalition to strengthen national school meals programs. Previously, he served as Senior Health Advisor to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; Lead Education & Health Specialist at the World Bank; and Deputy Director of the Epidemiology Centre, University of Oxford.

Ymari Kristia is a youth leader, mental health coach, and global advocate for SDG 3. Diagnosed with Bipolar I with Psychosis in 2015, she transformed her journey into a mission of hope. As Chief Empowerment Officer of the Mental Health Youth Hub PH, she helps Filipino youth break stigma and seek support. A sought-after speaker, she has reached thousands and represented the Philippines at the ASEAN Summit, with her story featured by major media outlets. 

Akiko was a national swimmer of the Philippines for 10 years, competing in 5 Southeast Asian Games (winning 7 gold medals) and 3 Olympics. She has always been involved in sport in one capacity or another (as a proud volunteer and official) and is currently the President of the Philippine Olympians Association.

Dr. Mercedita Sombilla is the Center Director of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA). She is a recognized expert in agricultural economics, food security, and rural development, with decades of experience in policy research and program implementation across Southeast Asia. Before joining SEARCA, Dr. Sombilla served as Undersecretary for Policy, Planning, and Regulations at the Philippine Department of Agriculture, where she led initiatives on climate resilience, agri-food systems, and inclusive growth. She holds a Ph.D.

Rio Pals leads WUR Student Challenges at Wageningen University & Research, where she and her team organize international competitions addressing urgent societal challenges—from unsustainable food systems to biodiversity loss. Through these competitions, students gain hands-on experience, collaborate with stakeholders, and co-create innovative ideas for a more sustainable, healthy future.

Prof. Dr. Byoung-Cheorl Kang is Professor and Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Seoul National University (SNU-CALS), Korea. A leading expert in plant genetics and molecular breeding, his research focuses on pepper (Capsicum) genomics, disease resistance, and genome editing technologies such as CRISPR/Cas9. He has published extensively on QTL mapping, GWAS, and functional genomics, contributing to advances in crop improvement and sustainable agriculture. Prof. Kang earned his Ph.D.

Prof. Dr. Jose V. Camacho, Jr. is the Chancellor of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), reappointed for the 2023–2026 term. He previously served as Dean of the UPLB Graduate School and Professor of Economics at the College of Economics and Management. His leadership vision, “Future-Proofing UPLB,” focuses on resilience, innovation, and global engagement. Dr. Camacho earned his Ph.D. in Economics from Kyoto University, specializing in education, labor, and human resource economics.

Dr. Suvaluk Asavasanti chairs the strategic agenda team for future food development at TSRI and serves on executive committees of FoSTAT and TYSA. With 18+ years in academia, industry, and funding agencies, she has led 70+ industrial projects and published extensively. Her work spans ADB consultancy, agri-food tech startup support, and STI policy. Her research focuses on food processing, product development, and educational innovation.

Daniel is a strategy and business leader with close to two decades of experience delivering transformative outcomes for governments & multinational corporations across APAC and North America.