Meet the 2024 Class of Asia 21 Next Generation Fellows

NEW YORK; August 27, 2024 — The Asia Society has announced the new class of Asia 21 Next Generation Fellows: a group of 38 outstanding leaders from 26 countries and regions, united in their commitment to shaping a more peaceful, prosperous, and secure future for all.

The Asia 21 Next Generation Fellowship aims to develop, connect, and empower the next generation of leaders across the Asia Pacific region to solve the region’s shared challenges by enabling them to leverage Asia 21 Network’s collective expertise.

Selected through a highly competitive, six-month process, the incoming cohort brings together activists, artists, educators, journalists, business and policy leaders, scientists, and technology and social entrepreneurs. At this year’s annual Asia 21 summit, they will connect with their peers, hone their leadership skills, and explore opportunities to collaborate as they seek solutions to the most pressing challenges facing Asia.

Among this year’s class of Asia 21 Fellows are: Suyheang Kry, Executive Director, Women Peace Makers Organization (Cambodia); Devjyot Ghoshal, Chief Correspondent, Reuters (India); Muhamad Iman Usman, Co-founder & COO, Ruangguru (Indonesia); Nomintuya Baasankhuu, Founding Director, FilmNomad NGO (Mongolia); Khadija Siddiqi, Lawyer/Human Rights Activist, Chamber of Barrister Khadija Siddiqi (Pakistan); Zaim Mohzani, Senior Director of External Relations, KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific (Malaysia); Kok Thong (Josh) Lee, Managing Director (Asia-Pacific), Future of Privacy Forum (Singapore); Carolyn Yim, CEO and Founder, Ply Industries (United States); and Van Tran, Co-founder, Poko & Institute for Women Innovation and Digital Livelihood (Vietnam).

This year’s Asia 21 Next Generation Fellows Summit will convene at Hilton Singapore Orchard in Singapore from December 6-8, 2024. With the theme Leading with Impact, Driving Change Together, the summit sessions will be designed to enable the incoming class of Fellows and Asia 21 alumni to channel their innovation, energy, and desire to affect change. This will be the second time Singapore is hosting Asia 21 annual summit—the second convening of Asia 21 Next Generation Fellows was also held in Singapore in 2007.

“We are delighted to continue an important Asia Society imperative of identifying and connecting a new cohort of change-makers who are shaping the 21st century Asia,” said Asia Society President and CEO Dr. Kyung-wha Kang. “We look forward to complementing their individual efforts to drive social changes by enabling them to work cooperatively across geographies and sectors.”

The members of the 2024 Class are:

· Mobeen Ansari (Pakistan), Photographer and Photojournalist, Mobeen Ansari Productions
· Nomintuya Baasankhuu (Mongolia), Founder, FilmNomad
· Ahmad Siyam Barakati (Afghanistan), Director, Charmaghz
· Sirikan Charoensiri (Thailand), Founding Member and Executive Advisor, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR); Founder, Engage Thailand
· Shah Rafayat Chowdhury (Bangladesh), Co-Founder & President, Footsteps Bangladesh
· Nishant D’Souza (Australia), Co-Founder & Chairman, Edamama Pte. Ltd.
· Ann Adeline Dumaliang (Philippines), Co-Founder, Masungi Georeserve
· Jawad Fares (Lebanon), Resident Neurosurgeon/Scientist, Northwestern Memorial Hospital
· Devjyot Ghoshal (India), Chief Correspondent, Reuters
· Aziah Hussin (Singapore), Head of Government Risk, Asia, McKinsey & Company
· Elisabetta Jiang (Italy), Co-Founder, Unicorns for Good; Executive Director, Social Innovation Park
· Kana Kobayashi (Japan), Senior Business Development Consultant, DeNA Co., Ltd.
· Suyheang Kry (Cambodia), Executive Director, Women Peace Makers Organization
· Pratik Kunwar (Nepal), Founder, Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
· Kok Thong (Josh) Lee (Singapore), Managing Director (Asia-Pacific), Future of Privacy Forum; Adjunct Professor (AI Law, Policy and Ethics), SMU Yong Pung How School of Law
· Eddy Lin (Taiwan), Co-Founder, Taiwan Youth Association for Democracy
· Nyantha Lin (Myanmar), Principal, The Anagat Initiative
· Shun Matsuzaka (Japan), Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Toy Eight Holdings Inc.
· W. Hunter McDonald (United States), Interim CEO of TerraWind Renewables; Korea Country Manager & Investment Specialist, Shizen Energy Group
· Ufra Mir (India), Peace-Psychologist & Founding Executive Director, International Center for Peace Psychology & Paigaam
· Zaim Mohzani (Malaysia), Senior Director of External Relations, KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific
· Hafsah Muheed (Sri Lank), Manager Policy and Programs, The Sri Lanka Institute of Directors
· Yera Park (South Korea), Partnerships, Value Creation, and Knowledge Lead, Venture Capital and Funds, World Bank Group
· Ruslan Pentyskul (Ukraine), Co-Founder, Orient
· Khalid Ramizy (Afghanistan), Chief Executive Officer, World Anti Extremism Network; International Managing Director, Afghanistan Economic and Legal Studies Organization (AELSO)
· Aimi Ramlee (Brunei), Co-founder / Director of Innovation and Growth, Tyne Solutions
· Rhea See (Philippines), Co-Founder & CEO, She Loves Tech
· Shen Lu (China), Reporter, The Wall Street Journal
· Larissa Sidarto (Indonesia), Principal, Metyis
· Khadija Siddiqi (Pakistan), Lawyer/Human Rights Activist, Chamber of Barrister Khadija Siddiqi
· William Taing (Australia), Director, Beanstalk
· Van Tran (Viet Nam), Co-Founder, Poko & Institute for Women Innovation and Digital Livelihood
· Henry Tse (Hong Kong), Executive Director, Transgender Equality Hong Kong
· Muhamad Iman Usman (Indonesia), Co-founder & COO, Ruangguru
· Victoria Wisniewski Otero (United States), Founder & CEO, Resolve Foundation
· Carolyn Yim (United States), Founder, Ply-Knits
· Michael Zhu (China), Chairman, Asian Family Legacy Foundation
· Matthew Zubrow (United States), Vice President, Hepco Capital Management

Find out more about the 2024 Class of Asia 21 Next Generation Fellows and the Asia 21 program here.

Established in 2006, the Asia 21 Next Generation Fellows program is a year-long, multi-disciplinary, leadership development program that brings together the next generation of regional leaders to meet their peers, develop their leadership potential, and find innovative solutions to the region’s policy, economic, environmental, and societal challenges. Asia 21 is also a hub of innovation in policy, entrepreneurship, and social change, connecting the best minds with resources, opportunities and networks. Asia 21 community now has over 1000 alumni, many of whom occupy leadership positions in government, business, non-profit sector, media, and academia around the world. Asia 21 alumni include Menaka Guruswamy, Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court of India; Durreen Shahnaz, Founder & CEO, Impact Investment Exchange; Chea Serey, Governor of the National Bank of Cambodia; Eric Garcetti, U.S. Ambassador to India; Mitsuru Claire Chino, Managing Executive Officer of ITOCHU Corporation; Bi-khim Hsiao, Taiwan’s Vice President; and Wes Moore, the 63rd Governor of the state of Maryland.

Members of the media interested in more information about the Asia 21 Next Generation Fellows or the Asia 21 program should email [email protected].