New Asia Pacific Association Body APSAE to Launch at Singapore Summit in 2026

As Asia Pacific continues to drive more than half of global economic growth, a new regional body is being launched to strengthen collaboration, leadership and innovation across the association sector. The Asia Pacific Society of Association Executives (APSAE) will officially launch during the APSAE Summit 2026, taking place on 24–25 July 2026 at Marina Bay Sands. The event will bring together senior association leaders, industry partners and ecosystem stakeholders from across the region.

Positioned as a landmark moment for the APAC association community, APSAE aims to become the region’s leading platform for advancing association leadership excellence, strategic growth and cross-border collaboration across one of the world’s fastest-evolving economic regions.

sAPSAE has been established to fill that gap.

With a vision “to establish Asia Pacific as a global model for association leadership excellence,” the organisation aims to elevate leadership capability, foster regional collaboration, generate APAC-focused insights and support innovation among associations shaping industries and communities across the region.

“Asia Pacific is no longer simply participating in the global association landscape — it is helping shape its future,” said Prasant Saha, President of APSAE. “The launch of APSAE represents an important step toward building a stronger regional ecosystem where association leaders can collaborate, learn from one another, and collectively elevate the impact of associations across APAC.”

Often compared to the role played by established association leadership bodies in the United States and Europe, APSAE has set an ambition to become the leading regional authority for association excellence in Asia Pacific by 2028.

The inaugural APSAE Summit is expected to convene between 100 and 150 senior association leaders from across the region, including representatives from Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Mongolia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, the Philippines and Macau.
 

Designed specifically around the realities and opportunities shaping the APAC association ecosystem, the summit programme will focus on themes including the future of associations in Asia, member engagement strategies, AI and digital transformation, sustainable association models, social impact, and the role of MICE and associations as drivers of industry growth.

The programme will also include executive masterclasses, APAC-focused case studies, strategic networking opportunities and research-led discussions intended to strengthen regional cooperation and knowledge exchange.

Confirmed speakers include:

• Amitendu Palit — Senior Research Fellow and Research Lead (Trade and Economics), Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS), National University of Singapore
• Jessy Lee — Regional Director for East and Southeast Asia, Society of Actuaries (SOA)
• Holly Fang — President, Singapore FinTech Association (SFA)
• Steven Yeo — Executive Director, Caregiving Welfare Association

The launch comes at a time when associations across industries including healthcare, research, technology, trade, education and community development are facing mounting pressure to navigate AI disruption, changing membership expectations, leadership transitions and growing demands for measurable impact.

APSAE says it intends to serve both as a leadership platform and a neutral regional body through which association executives can exchange insights, access education, develop partnerships and collectively shape the future of the sector across Asia Pacific.

Registration for APSAE Summit 2026, partnership opportunities and founding membership expressions of interest are now open.
 

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