For the First Time in History, Asia Pacific’s Association Executives Have a Professional Home

Singapore, 29 July 2026 — For decades, the leaders of Asia Pacific’s associations, professional societies, and trade bodies have navigated one of the world’s most complex and diverse regions without a dedicated professional community of their own. Last week, that changed.

The Asia Pacific Society of Association Executives (APSAE) convened its Founding Summit on 24–25 July 2026 at Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre, Singapore — bringing together over 100 senior association leaders from 64 organisations across 16 countries in the first gathering of its kind in the region’s history.

Asia Pacific now powers more than half of global economic growth. Its associations — spanning every major industry, profession, and community — are among the most influential organisations shaping the region’s future. Yet until the launch of APSAE, their leaders had no regional platform to connect, learn, and grow together.

“Asia Pacific has never had a dedicated home for association executives — until now,” said Prasant Saha, President of APSAE. “The energy, the conversations, and the connections made across these two days confirmed what we always believed: the region’s association leaders are ready to learn from each other, support each other, and collectively elevate the impact of associations across Asia Pacific. This is just the beginning.”

Over 100 delegates gathered in Singapore representing 64 organisations across 16 countries. Over 83% held C-suite, President, Secretary General, Founder, or Director-level positions, making this one of the most senior gatherings of association executives the region has ever seen.

Participants travelled from across Asia Pacific — including Australia, Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam — representing associations spanning banking and finance, fintech, public transport, higher education, agricultural credit, development finance, healthcare, technology and AI, sustainability, coaching, retail, pharmaceuticals, caregiving, sanitation, law, accountancy, green building, clean fuels, aviation, and more.

Together, the organisations represented at the Summit collectively reach over 500,000 professionals and institutions across more than 100 countries worldwide.

“You missed a great opportunity to connect with peers in the region,” said Amador Honrado Jr, Deputy Secretary of the Asian Bankers Association — a message directed squarely at the association leaders who were not able to participate this year.

A Programme Built for the Realities of Asia Pacific

Across 1.5 days, 30 speakers delivered keynotes, expert panels, a masterclass, and a special session addressing the most pressing challenges facing associations in the region today — not through the lens of Western models, but through the lived experience of Asia Pacific’s own leaders.

Keynote speaker Kevin Cottam, author of The Nomadic Mindset and internationally recognised leadership coach, challenged delegates to examine whether their associations had kept pace with a world that has fundamentally moved on. Jenniefer Setiawan, Director of Advocacy at the EU-ASEAN Business Council, explored how associations can amplify their policy voice in an increasingly complex regional landscape.

Five expert panels tackled cross-border member loyalty, non-dues revenue models, volunteer pipeline development, ecosystem leveraging, and AI adoption in everyday association workflows — drawing on the real-world experience of senior leaders from across the region.

A masterclass on membership growth facilitated by Olena Lima, Founder of Member Boat and Certified Association Executive, was cited by delegates as the most valuable session of the Summit — delivering a practical framework for membership marketing and retention built on fifteen years of working exclusively with associations globally.

“APSAE is a laudable initiative that provided a forum for association leaders from 16 countries to share ideas and experiences,” said Reena Marwah, Secretary General of the Association of Asia Scholars. “It was a very rewarding experience, enabling participants to learn the pathways for engaging members, expanding membership, and leveraging AI and new technologies to create value.”

A Landmark Report for the Region

In a defining moment on the evening of Day 1, APSAE unveiled the inaugural State of Associations in Asia Pacific 2026 — the first research report dedicated exclusively to the association sector across the region.

The report reveals a sector at a critical turning point. Nearly four in five employers across Asia Pacific — 80% — report significant difficulty finding skilled talent, rising to 81% in the IT sector. Yet the associations best positioned to close that gap remain largely fragmented, operating without regional infrastructure, shared frameworks, or a collective voice.

The State of Associations in Asia Pacific 2026 examines the forces reshaping the ecosystem — from AI adoption and governance reform to non-dues revenue, volunteer pipelines, and the untapped potential of cross-border collaboration. The full report will be made publicly available in the coming weeks via apsae.org.

A Community — Not Just a Conference

The APSAE Summit 2026 was never intended to be a one-time event. It was the opening chapter of a year-round regional community.

APSAE formal membership opens on 15 August 2026, welcoming association executives, organisations, and industry partners across Asia Pacific into a community built around continuous connection, learning, and growth. Members will have access to exclusive webinars, peer exchange sessions, research and resources, the CEO Circle, and Regional Symposia taking place across Asia Pacific throughout the year.

Post-Summit delegate feedback reflected strong confidence in APSAE’s direction, with the vast majority of respondents indicating their intention to become members.

The APSAE Summit 2027 is already in planning — with ambitions to be significantly larger, broader, and deeper than the founding edition, building on the momentum and community established in Singapore.

“It is timely for Asia Pacific to have this summit as associations continue to grow and make impact for their members,” said Shaun Tan, Head of the Asia Pacific Division at UITP. “The learning experience across industry is relevant and we hope it continues to grow.”

Partnership and sponsorship expressions of interest for 2027 are now open for discussion.

About APSAE                   
The Asia Pacific Society of Association Executives (APSAE) is the region’s only professional association dedicated exclusively to association executives. A neutral, community-led platform, APSAE fosters collaboration, shares regional insights, and advances professional standards across Asia Pacific.
Website: apsae.org | Email: connect@apsae.org

Media Contact

Indre Rutkauskaite

Email: indre@apsae.org

APSAE Media Room: https://apsae.org/news-media/