Policy Forum speakers

Nattakorn Asunee Na Ayudhaya

Ton is the General Manager of the Social Enterprise Thailand Association, where he leads cross-sector collaboration to strengthen and scale social enterprises addressing Thailand’s pressing social and environmental challenges. With a strong background in sustainable development and social innovation, he brings experience across grassroots initiatives, intergovernmental organisations, and impact-driven enterprises. Ton’s academic foundation integrates innovation, sustainability, and inclusive economic development, focusing on designing sustainable business models and enabling systems change through social entrepreneurship.

Cindy Carpenter

Cindy is Ambassador of The Bread & Butter Project, Australia’s first social enterprise artisan bakery, investing 100% of profits to provide training and employment pathways for refugees and asylum seekers. She also leads the advisory groups supporting three other refugee-focused social enterprises; CommUnity Construction, FoodLab and Aunty’s Ginger Tonic and co-founded the Work-Integrated-Social-Enterprise Hub within Social Enterprise Australia. She is also co-founder and Chair of the Global Refugee Academy (an NGO that trains and supports refugees to access complementary pathways such as skilled visas), is a Board Director for Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia and a member of the Governance Group for the Settlement Council of Australia’s ‘Road to Belonging’ national strategy. Cindy is a member of the SEWF Social Investment Group.

Marie Lisa Dacanay

Marie Lisa Dacanay is Founding President of the Institute for Social Entrepreneurship in Asia (ISEA) and Convenor of the PRESENT Coalition in the Philippines. She champions policy reform and sustainable development through social enterprise. As ISEA President, she engages the UN on SDGs via the Asia-Pacific Civil Society Mechanism. In 2019, Marie Lisa was named Outstanding Social Innovation Thought Leader by the Schwab Foundation and the World Economic Forum. She holds a Master’s in Development Management (with Distinction) and a PhD in Organizational Management.

Gaurav Gupta

Gaurav Gupta is the Global Managing Partner of Dalberg Advisors, guiding strategy and operations across its worldwide offices. He founded Dalberg’s first Asia Pacific office in Mumbai and led regional expansion to seven offices. Gaurav advises on impact measurement and scaling across sectors like energy, finance and education. A serial social entrepreneur, he has launched ventures in eco-tourism, sustainable fashion and climate tech. He also supports startups in carbon tracking, pollution monitoring and solar energy. Gaurav sits on the board of Educate Girls and holds degrees from Oxford and Yale, with prior experience at Boston Consulting Group.

Sarah Haigh

Sarah is a dynamic and dedicated professional with expertise in economics, law and social policy. Over the past 11 years, she has been a key player in the Office of Social Impact at Queensland Treasury. Sarah leads on complex, whole-of-system reforms aimed at improving outcomes for marginalised Queenslanders through better human service provision.  With a background as a yoga teacher, she brings a holistic approach to her work and a passion for community and resilience. Sarah excels at bringing diverse groups together, fostering collaboration and driving meaningful outcomes.

Gerry Higgins

Gerry is the founder and Managing Director of SEWF where he works to develop a global impact economy. Gerry has a BA in Education and a MSc in Business Studies and was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of Social Enterprise UK in 2017. Gerry is Irish but has lived in Scotland for over three decades and leads the SEWF team to strengthen and grow the social enterprise movement through convening, influencing and capacity building.

Leading SEWF has come about after decades, working in, establishing and supporting social enterprises in the UK and Ireland and this brings an understanding of the challenges of sustainability and leadership in values-led businesses.

Niven Huang

Dr. Niven Huang has been the Managing Director of KPMG Sustainability Consulting in Taiwan since 2013 and the former Head of ESG, KPMG Asia Pacific. Before joining KPMG, he was the Secretary General of the BCSD-Taiwan for 16 years and a pioneer in the Asia Pacific for promoting CSR/ESG, sustainability reporting, sustainable finance and carbon management. Dr. Niven is the former Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Association of Sustainable and Responsible Investment in Asia (ASrIA). He is also an associate professor of leading MBA and Executive MBA programs in Taiwan since 2008 and a guest professor of The School of Banking and Finance (SBF) at National Sun Yat-sen University since 2025.

Ting-Yueh (Eva) Kang

Dr. Ting-Yueh (Eva) Kang is the Deputy Director of Research Division VIII at the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research, the country’s first private think tank dedicated to assisting the government in policy research and promotion. She focuses on social innovation, social enterprises, regional revitalisation and SME development. Her work also spans the SDGs, ESG and youth engagement. Eva has contributed to Taiwan’s cross-departmental “Social Innovation Action Plan” and is committed to creating social impact to make Taiwan a better place.

Sreevas Sahasranamam

Sreevas Sahasranamam is a professor at the Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow. His research supports entrepreneurship focused on the Sustainable Development Goals through ecosystem development, emerging technologies, futures thinking and policy. He co-chaired the G20 Startup20 taskforce on sustainability in 2023 and helped develop a policy communique on global startup ecosystems for G20 leaders. He has advised the G20 Startup20 ESG taskforce (Brazil 2024) and currently advises the G20 Digital Economy Working Group (South Africa 2025). A member of the World Economic Forum’s advisory group on social entrepreneurship, he also co-authors the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor annual reports.

Viviantie Sarjuni

Viviantie Sarjuni is CEO of the Sabah Creative Economy and Innovation Centre (SCENIC), which supports nearly 200 startups and social enterprises, particularly in rural Sabah. Viviantie is a Chevening Scholar and Chief Minister’s Special Award winner; she’s also featured in 50 Leading Lights (Asia Pacific), Wiki Impact’s 100 Changemakers and 100 Most Inspiring Sabahan Women (2024). Viviantie is passionate about inclusive innovation and advancing alternative economic models that uplift underserved communities.

Yoshitaka Tabuchi

Yoshi is the Co-founder and Co-CEO of Zebras and Company, investing in purpose-driven businesses. With an MBA from IESE Business School, he brings global experience from Japan, the United States, Europe, Africa and Southeast Asia. His background in investment execution enables him to shape impactful strategies, support leadership development and guide organisations using impact indicators. Yoshi excels in conceptualising businesses and forming international partnerships rooted in global trends and values.

Yan Teh

Yan Teh is committed to creating impact through strategic development, partnerships and storytelling. Her work spans civic empowerment, innovation, sustainable development and public infrastructure, gained from her time at an urban regeneration nonprofit. She also served as Marketing Director at one of America’s fastest-growing Inc. 5000 companies. Now at Biji-biji Initiative in Malaysia, Yan brings her expertise in network building and turning ideas into actionable, real-world initiatives to national and regional projects focused on social and environmental change.

Kinley Tenzin

Kinley Tenzin is a leading voice for youth-led social innovation in Bhutan. As Director of Social Enterprises at the Bhutan Youth Development Fund (YDF), he has launched four ventures promoting circular economy practices, including Bhutan’s first coworking incubator. A Macquarie University Vice-Chancellor’s Scholar with a Master’s in Social Entrepreneurship, Kinley blends academic insight with grassroots impact. He aims to support 100 youth-led ventures by 2030 and has co-founded initiatives in sports and retail, including Bhutan’s first 24/7 convenience store. Kinley is deeply committed to building ecosystems that equip young changemakers to drive sustainable development.