|
When & Where |
 |
Thursday, March 19, 2026
2:00 pm to 3:00 pm
|
| |
 |
Online via Zoom (Link to be shared later) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The discourse on China’s role in the emerging world order is still dominated by a narrow, binary framing centred on US–China rivalry. This obscures the reality that ASEAN, and Singapore in particular, occupies a strategically distinct position. ASEAN maintains deep economic and cultural ties with China whilst enjoying credibility and access with and to Western governments and institutions. This dual connectivity gives ASEAN an unmatched ability to interpret China in a grounded, non-ideological way, and to actively shape — not merely observe — a more accurate global understanding of China’s intentions, constraints, and evolution. Rather than approaching China through anxiety or ideological contestation, this webinar reframes the conversation toward strategic comprehension and practical clarity for decision-makers in business and policy.
It argues that ASEAN’s role is not passive: the region can help reduce misperceptions, stabilise dialogue between major powers, exercise its convening legitimacy through the ASEAN Way, and practise a deliberate geopolitical balancing act that few regions can credibly sustain. Understanding China is therefore not about choosing sides but equipping leaders and organisations with the clarity needed to navigate a post-Western, multipolar world and to shape it. This means moving beyond a Western bipolar “Thucydidean” logic toward a more multipolar order grounded in regional solidarity and development as the primary outcome. In this emerging landscape, ASEAN has both the responsibility and the opportunity to actively shape the narrative and the future it wants to see.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chandran NAIR
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Global Institute for Tomorrow
Chandran Nair is the Founder and CEO of the Global Institute For Tomorrow (GIFT), a pan-Asian think tank focused on sustainable development, leadership, and the future of global capitalism. With over 30 years of experience working across Europe, Africa, and Asia, he has advised governments, multinational corporations, and international institutions on development, sustainability, and policy. Chandran sits on the Executive Committee of the Club of Rome, is a regular speaker at global forums such as the World Economic Forum and UN conferences, and is the author of several widely recognised books on capitalism, sustainability, and global equity.
|
|
|
|
|
Prof Lawrence LOH
Director
Centre for Governance and Sustainability
NUS Business School
Executive Director
Well-being and EESG Alliance (WEGA)
Prof Lawrence Loh is Director, Centre for Governance and Sustainability (CGS) at NUS Business School, National University of Singapore where he is Professor in Practice of Strategy and Policy. He is also Visiting Professor at Wealth Management Institute in Singapore as well as Adjunct Professor at Airlangga University in Indonesia. In addition, he is Executive Director of Well-being and EESG Alliance (WEGA), a partnership between CGS and the Tsao Pao Chee Group.
Prof Loh received a PhD in Management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His thesis on technology governance was awarded first prize in the worldwide doctoral dissertation competition in the field of management information systems.
At CGS, Prof Loh leads the Sustainability Reporting initiative covering ASEAN and Singapore corporations. He also steers the Singapore Governance and Transparency Index and the ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard projects. Prof Loh heads the studies on board and workplace diversity and business integrity.
Prof Loh is a regular commentator on governance and sustainability for many leading global and local media. Over the years, he has served as a judge for various prestigious sustainability awards in Asia and Singapore.
|
|
|
|
|
Rohan HAZELL
Managing Director, GIFT.ed
Rohan is the Managing Director at GIFT.ed. He is responsible for strategising the direction of GIFT.ed’s courses and co-producing content with global experts. His focus is on human and natural systems, including Earth dynamics (climate change, biodiversity, and land use) as well as globalisation, socioeconomic development, geopolitics, and social issues. As part of GIFT’s work on leadership and organisational development for global firms, he has contributed to and managed sustainability-focused business modelling projects across Asia in decentralised renewable energy provision, plastic circularity, labour force development, food security systems, and more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
2:00 pm - 2:05 pm
|
Opening and Introduction
|
|
2:05 pm - 2:25 pm
|
Presentations by Mr Chandran Nair and Prof Lawrence Loh
|
|
2:25 pm - 2:45 pm
|
Dialogue Session Moderated by Mr Rohan Hazell
|
|
2:45 pm - 3:00 pm
|
Question & Answer Session
|
|
3:00 pm
|
End of Webinar
|
|
| |
|
