Dr. Aaron Jed Rabena is an Assistant Professor at the Asian Center in the University of the Philippines. His areas of interest include Strategic Studies, Greater East Asian Geopolitics and Multilateral Politics, Political Risk, Economic Security, and Chinese Politics and Foreign Policy.
CSCAP 15TH BIENNIAL GENERAL CONFERENCE
PARTICIPANTS
Panelists and participants of the 15th Biennial General Conference of the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific.
Atty. Alexandrino H. Mallillin is a legal practitioner, educator, and governance professional whose career spans corporate law, public service, and international justice work. He currently serves as Professor of International Relations at the College of Governance and Public Policy of the University of Makati, where he teaches courses on political science, international relations, constitutional law, and remedial law. His interdisciplinary background allows him to integrate legal analysis, governance perspectives, and regional studies in both teaching and research.Atty. Mallillin is also the Senior Legal Counsel of a reputable local and international real estate conglomerate in the Philippines, providing strategic advisory on corporate governance, regulatory compliance, property development, and complex legal matters affecting large‑scale business operations.He previously served as Senior Manager of the International Justice Mission (IJM) Manila Field Office, where he led justice system strengthening initiatives and anti‑trafficking programs in coordination with law enforcement, prosecutors, and social service agencies. Prior to his development sector work, he was a State Attorney at the Department of Justice, handling criminal litigation, prosecution support, and multi‑agency coordination.Atty. Mallillin earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Juris Doctor degrees from the University of Santo Tomas. He is completing his Master in ASEAN Studies at the University of the Philippines, where he is a thesis candidate focusing on regionalism and security cooperation in Southeast Asia.
Anis Rifhan Rosli is a researcher with the Special Projects team at the Institute of Strategic & International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia. She is also a member of the Malaysian chapter of the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific (CSCAP). Her research interests include counterterrorism , preventing and countering violent extremism, refugee management in Malaysia and the United States' foreign policy.
Mr Arvind Raj is an Associate Research Fellow at the Centre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS) at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU). He is also a member of the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific (CSCAP) Singapore. His research interests include Great-Power Competition in the Indo-Pacific, Indian Ocean Geopolitics, ASEAN’s role in the Regional Security Architecture, India-ASEAN relations, and Singapore’s Foreign Policy. Prior to joining RSIS, Arvind was a Foreign Service Officer at the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a Political Risk Analyst in the private sector. Arvind holds a Master of Science in International Relations from RSIS and a Bachelor of Social Science with Honours (Political Science) from the National University of Singapore (NUS).
Bec Strating is the Director of the La Trobe Centre for Global Security and a Professor of International Relations at La Trobe University, Melbourne. She has extensive experience working in the academia-policy-public engagement nexus in the fields of international diplomacy and security. She is currently the Australian Member Committee Co-Chair of the Council on Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific and serves as an Australian representative in the Expert and Eminent Persons Grouping in the ASEAN Regional Forum. She was Director of La Trobe Asia from 2020 to 2025.Her research focuses primarily on Asian regional security, maritime disputes, and Australian foreign and defence policy. She is the author of ‘Girt by Sea: reimagining Australia’s Security’ with Professor Joanne Wallis (La Trobe University Press/Black Inc, 2024), which was launched by Foreign Minister Penny Wong in April 2024. She is the co-editor of ‘Blue Security in the Indo-Pacific’ (Routledge, 2024) and ‘The Politics of Global Ocean Regions’ (Palgrave, 2025).Bec has also written three sole-authored books, most recently ‘Defending the Maritime Rules-Based Order’ (2020), co-edited three special journal issues and one book (‘Australia on the World Stage’, 2022), and written multiple journal articles and book chapters, most recently in Q1-ranked journals Contemporary Security Policy, Marine Policy, Pacific Review and Australian Journal of International Affairs.Bec currently leads the DFAT-funded “Blue Security” network focused on maritime security issues in the Indo-Pacific. She is a non-resident fellow at National Bureau of Asian Research, and affiliated researcher at Georgetown University.
Bradley Jensen Murg is Senior Advisor and Distinguishes Senior Research Fellow at the . Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace in addition to his role as Professor of International Relations at Paragon International University in Phnom Penh. He also serves as editor of the Journal of Greater Mekong Studies, and Adjunct Fellow at Pacific Forum (Honolulu) and the Central European Institute of Asian Studies (CEIAS).Dr. Murg’s research focuses on the political economy of development, governance, China and Southeast Asia, and the international relations of the Greater Mekong Subregion. His work combines academic research with policy engagement, diplomatic training, and Track II dialogue, with particular attention to Cambodia’s foreign relations, regional economic integration, and the strategic consequences of China’s growing role in mainland Southeast Asia. He holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of Washington, where he was a Henry M. Jackson Fellow, an MSc in Economic History from the London School of Economics, and undergraduate and graduate degrees in philosophy from Emory University and was also a Luce Scholar at the Asian Development Bank.
Dr. Liu Chang is the Deputy Director and Associate Research Fellow of the Department for Asia-Pacific Studies at the China Institute of International Studies (CIIS). His main research fields include comparative politics in Southeast Asia, China-ASEAN relations, and U.S. policy on the Asia-Pacific region.
Mr. Zhou Chang assumed the post of Secretary General of CSCAP China in September 2026. Previously, he served as Director of the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association (CACDA) and held diplomatic assignments at Chinese missions in the United Kingdom and South Africa. His research covers strategic security and nuclear issues.
Charles Labrecque has worked in various roles at the Foundation since 2013, initially as a Project Manager (2013-2015) and since 2018 as Director of Research. Between 2015 and 2017, Charles was a Lecturer in International Relations and Canadian Politics at Simon Fraser University. He graduated with a master’s degree in international studies from Université de Montréal and a PhD in Political Science from Université Laval in Quebec City. His research interests cover Canadian foreign policy in Asia, subnational relations, and Canada-China relations with a specific focus on human rights.
David Capie is Director of the Centre for Strategic Studies and Professor of International Relations at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. David has published widely on regional institutions in Asia, peacekeeping, and defence diplomacy, as well as New Zealand’s foreign and defence policy. He was regional co-chair of the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP) from 2020 until 2022 and a member of the ASEAN Regional Forum Experts and Eminent Persons Group from 2012 to 2019. David served as a member of the Ministerial Advisory Panel for the New Zealand government’s defence review (2022-2025). He is a Trustee of the Asia New Zealand Foundation.
Prof. Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit founded The Stratbase Group and Stratbase Institute for Strategic and International Studies in 2004. He is Philippine Country Head of BowerGroupAsia and Chairman and Chief Strategy Officer of Stratbase Research and Intelligence, providing strategic analysis on global issues and advising on government-business relations.He has held senior government positions, including Undersecretary of the Department of Education and Deputy Secretary of the Philippine Senate. He served as Chief of Staff to former Senate President Edgardo J. Angara across the 8th, 9th, 10th, and 12th Congresses. He is a former Chair and retired Associate Professor of Political Science at De La Salle University, Manila.Prof. Manhit contributes regularly to Philippine media and leads initiatives on cybersecurity, democratic governance, environmental stewardship, and maritime security. He is an ASEAN Regional Forum Expert and Eminent Person and holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of the Philippines.
Dr. Don McLain Gill is a Manila-based geopolitical analyst, author, and lecturer at the Department of International Studies, De La Salle University. is an Indo-Pacific Research Fellow at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, a Non-Resident Fellow at the Stratbase Institute, and an Advisory Board Member of the WPS Foundation. His work centers on maritime security, Indo-Pacific geopolitics, Philippine foreign policy, and India-Southeast Asia relations. He has written in the form of books, book chapters, peer-reviewed international journal articles, newspaper columns, and commentary articles for renowned international affairs publishers. He is regularly invited as speaker by universities, government agencies, research institutions, and think tanks across Asia, Australia, North America, and Europe on topics and themes within his area of work. These include maritime security cooperation, regional geopolitics, Philippine foreign policy, and defense issues in the Indo-Pacific. Additionally, he is also interviewed regularly by international television channels including ABC, BBC, DW, and Al Jazeera, as well as newspapers such as The Washington Post, Reuters, NIKKEI Asia, and the Straits Times, among others. He completed his Ph.D. in International Relations at the University of Portsmouth
Assistant Professor Duke Thomas Dolorical is a faculty member at the Department of Political Science, College of Governance and Public Policy, University of Makati. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Ateneo de Naga University and holds a Master’s degree in the same field from Ateneo de Manila University. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Public Administration at the University of the Philippines National College of Public Administration and Governance.His research interests include electoral politics, church–state relations, environment and sustainable development, comparative politics, international relations, and geopolitics. His recent scholarly works include co-authored publications on the Expanded Maternity Leave Law, released by the University of the Philippines Center for Integrative and Development Studies, and a book chapter on electoral clientelism published by the National University of Singapore Press in Electoral Dynamics in the Philippines: Money Politics, Patronage and Clientelism at the Grassroots.Asst. Prof. Dolorical previously served as a Project Officer at Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan and as a member of the Task Force 2010 secretariat – an electoral watchdog consortium. He has worked as a research analyst for an international firm and as a consultant for various non-governmental and civil society organizations. Prior to his current academic post, he taught at Ateneo de Naga University’s Social Sciences Department, where he was also engaged in advisory and committee roles.He currently serves as the Chairperson of the Department of Political Science and adviser of the University of Makati Debate Society.
Mr. Eadric Aldrich Jose S. Espiritu is a second year graduate student currently taking up Master in Public Administration at the University of Makati. He likewise graduated Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Santo Tomas. His interests of study revoles around local governance, sustainable development goals, international political dynamics, and artificial intelligence. He also focuses on institutionalism wherein he delves upon the vitality of institutions and organizations in driving and crafting policy frameworks alongside its dynamics to exact solutions and measures for a proactive approach in governance at large. Moreover, he presented his undergraduate thesis on the role of the Catholic Church in addressing the impunities of the War on Drugs of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.
Dean Ederson de los Trino Tapia is a Professor of Public Administration at the University ofMakati, where he serves as Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College ofContinuing, Advanced and Professional Studies. He holds the 2024 Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr.Professorial Chair in Governance and previously served as Dean of the College of Governanceand Public Policy.He is President of the Philippine Society for Public Administration, a member of the CHEDTechnical Panel for Public Administration, and a Professorial Lecturer at UP’s National Collegeof Public Administration and Governance. He is also a Fellow and faculty member of DAP’sGraduate School of Public Management and a Senior Fellow of the Philippine Public SafetyCollege.He holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Philippine Army and serves on the Philippine ArmyStrategic Advisory Council.Dean Tapia earned his Doctor of Public Administration from UP and his International Master inRegional Integration from the University of Malaya, graduating with distinction. His furtherformation includes King’s College London, GRIPS in Tokyo, NIDA in Bangkok, institutions inMunich, and the Command and General Staff College.In April 2026, he spoke at the United Nations Committee of Experts on Public Administration inNew York. His latest edited book is Navigating Governance: Understanding the PhilippineAdministrative System, second edition (2026).A frequent commentator for Philippine and international media, he brings scholarship andinstitutional experience to public discussions of accountability, political institutions, publicservice, and the challenges of effective government.
Elena Pyltsina is Senior Research Fellow of the Institute of China and Contemporary Asia within Russian Academy of Sciences. She is an expert on the political economy of Asia, specialising in world economy and international economic relations. Her research interests include global value chains, energy markets, and the reconfiguration of Eurasian trade and energy flows. In her research, she frequently draws on fieldwork. She regularly takes part in government-linked strategic sessions and expert consultations on Russia’s economic engagement with Asia, and contributes to analytical projects addressing regional trade, energy security, and connectivity across Eurasia and the Asia-Pacific. She is the author of more than 50 articles and book chapters.
Mr. Elgin Chan is an Associate Research Fellow at the Centre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS), S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. He is a PhD candidate in International Political Economy at RSIS. His research focuses on international political economy, development finance, international financial architecture, and renminbi internationalisation.Elgin holds an MSc in International Political Economy from RSIS (2022), an MA in Financial Statistics from Columbia University (2004), and a BSc (High Honours) in Finance/Economics from Rutgers University (2003).Prior to pursuing his postgraduate studies at RSIS, Elgin spent approximately 17 years in the financial industry across the United States and Hong Kong. He previously served as Managing Director and Head of Trading at China Everbright Bank International and as Executive Director and Senior Trader at Mizuho Securities Asia Limited. In these roles, he managed fixed income portfolios exceeding US$500 million.During his time at RSIS, Elgin has contributed to several RSIS publications and co-authored external publications on international political economy and related policy issues.
Farlina Said is Director for the Cyber and Technology Policy programme of ISIS Malaysia. She graduated from S Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University with a MSc (Strategic Studies) in 2014. She has led dialogues and forums inclusive of regional and international conversations such as the Track 1.5 Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP) Study Group On International Law and Cyberspace. Her research and ideas have reached forums such as East Asia Summit (EAS) Workshops, Internet Governance Forum (IGF) Open Forum, Singapore International Cyber Week and national conferences. Her written work and comments have appeared in the local, regional and international media such as New Straits Times, the Nation (Thailand), China Daily, CGTN and South China Morning Post. Her research focus is on cyber stability, Malaysia’s national interests in emerging technologies as well as peaceful and meaningful use of cyber and digital tools.
Georgy TOLORAYA is a former diplomat (rank of Minister) and a scholar, currently National Coordinator of the Russian National Committee of the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific (CSCAP); currently conducts research as Director of Center for Asian Strategy and Chief Researcher at the Institute of Economics and Institute of China and Contemporary Asia, Russian Academy of Sciences.Having graduated from Moscow University of International Relations (MGIMO) in 1978, he received his Ph.D. in 1984, doctorate degree in economy in 1994, and full professor degree in 2002. He served in Russian Foreign Ministry and other international institutions, in DPRK (North Korea) for two postings, ROK (as Deputy chief of the Russian Embassy), Australia (Consul- General of Russia in Sydney), in New York at the Panel of Experts of UN Security Council ( 2019 -2024 ). He collaborated with a number of academic institutes (among them IMEMO, Institute of Economics, Institute of China and Contemporary Asia of RAS) and was a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution, Washington, D.C. (2007-2008). He was appointed honorary professor of a number of Asian universities, member of a number of professional associations and Academic Councils, published many articles and 10 books on East Asia and global governance issues, including BRICS.
Gordon Kang is an Associate Research Fellow in the Centre for Multilateralism Studies at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. He is also a member of the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP) Singapore. His research interests revolve around Foreign Policy and Politics in the Korean Peninsula (particularly on North Korea); Critical Security Studies and International Relations Theory; Geopolitics in East Asia; and ASEAN Geoeconomics and Multilateralism
DAI Huaicheng, male, born in 1975, serves as the Secretary-General of the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association (CACDA).He joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in 2000. In his diplomatic career, he served as Deputy Division Director and Division Director in the Department of Arms Control from 2006 to 2016. He was the Deputy Permanent Representative of China to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons from 2016 to 2018. Most recently, he was Deputy Head of the Chinese Permanent Mission to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Vienna from 2018 to 2022. He was graduated from Peking University with a Master’s degree in Science.
Irene Chan is a Singapore-based researcher and policy practitioner with over a decade of experience examining Chinese foreign policy, Southeast Asian geopolitics, and regional security. As Senior Research Program Manager at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, she leads research, high-level dialogues, and strategic initiatives that deepen policy engagement between Canada and Southeast Asia.
Izzah Abdullah serves as the Private Secretary to the Executive Chairman at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia. In this role, she provides high-level executive and administrative support, ensuring the smooth coordination of the Executive Chairman's office, strategic engagements, and key institutional priorities. She plays a crucial role in managing schedules, stakeholder liaison and communications, and the day-to-day functions of the institute’s senior leadership. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Administrative Science and Policy Studies.
The Honorable Jennifer S. Olegeriil, Minister of JusticeJennifer S. Olegeriil was sworn in as Palau’s Minister of Justice in May 2025, joining the Presidential Cabinet to lead national justice, law enforcement, and security. She oversees more than 160 personnel across the Bureau of Public Safety, Office of the Attorney General, and Office of Professional Standards, with responsibilities ranging from emergency response and criminal prosecution to corrections, maritime security, and combating transnational crimes.Her leadership emphasizes modernizing policies, strengthening accountability, workforce development, gender equity, and penal reforms. She has advanced rehabilitation initiatives, including plans for a new correctional facility with separate units for men, women, and juveniles, alongside education and counseling programs. Olegeriil prioritizes partnerships—domestic, regional, and international—to address organized crime and Pacific vulnerabilities such as economic instability and climate impacts.Before her appointment, she served over 13 years as Director of Koror State’s Department of Conservation and Law Enforcement, managing the Rock Islands Southern Lagoon UNESCO World Heritage Site. With more than 33 years of public service, her career spans law enforcement, conservation, climate resilience, sustainable tourism, and cultural preservation. She is also a strong advocate for inclusion and women’s leadership in security.Minister Olegeriil holds a B.A. in Sociology from California State University, Chico, and postgraduate qualifications in Executive Leadership and Police Management from the Australian Institute of Police Management, where she was among the first Pacific Islander fellows.
Prof.Jittipat Poonkham is Associate Dean for Academic and International Affairs and Associate Professor of International Relations in the Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University. He is also Adjunct Fellow at the International Studies Center, the Thai Foreign Ministry think-tank, and an Associate Editor of the International Relations Journal, published by SAGE Publications. At the regional level, Jittipat is also the Thai representative to the ASEAN Regional Forum Expert and Eminent Persons (ARF EEPs). His research interests include international relations theories, geopolitics and great power politics, Indo-Pacific power dynamics and Thai foreign policy. He is an author of A Genealogy of Bamboo Diplomacy: The Politics of Thai Détente with Russia and China (ANU Press, 2022) and a co-editor of International Relations as a Discipline in Thailand: Theory and Sub-fields (Routledge, 2019).
Joel Ng is a Senior Fellow and Head of the Centre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS), S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. His research examines geopolitics in relation to regional integration, statecraft, security, and diplomatic practices, looking at ASEAN in the wider Asia-Pacific, as well as other multilateral organisations such as the United Nations and African Union. In a multi-faceted career, he has worked on peace, conflict, and refugee issues in Uganda as well as in public and investor relations in Singapore. He is a co-chair of the Singapore committee for the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP).Dr Ng is the author of Contesting Sovereignty: Power and Practice in Africa and Southeast Asia (Cambridge University Press, 2021) and edited The Dragon’s Emerging Order: Sino-centric Multilateralism and Global Responses (World Scientific, 2026). He has published widely in venues such as International Affairs, Global Governance, Project Syndicate, the Council on Foreign Relations, and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. He read a DPhil in International Relations at St Antony’s College, University of Oxford, where he was an Oxford-Swire and Tan Kah Kee scholar, and holds a MA (Distinction) from the University of Sussex, and a BA (Hons) from the University of East Anglia.
Prof. Dr. Kirill Babaev has been Director of the Institute of China and Contemporary Asia of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ICCA RAS) since 2021. He is a leading expert on the Asia-Pacific region, chairs the Russian National Committee of the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP), and serves as Deputy Chairman of the Presidium of the Scientific Council of the BRICS National Research Committee. In 2023, he was elected President of the National Coordination Center for International Business Cooperation (NCC IBC).His career bridges academia and business. He is also First Vice-President of the Alfa Group Consortium.A graduate of MGIMO (2000), he holds degrees in Financial Management, Public Administration, History of Arts, and Oriental Studies. He earned a PhD (2008) and a Doctor of Sciences (2013) in Philology, and is a Professor at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation.He has authored numerous books and articles on international relations, linguistics, ethnography, and oriental studies, and speaks 13 foreign languages. In summer 2024, he presented his book "Pivot to the East: Russia's East Asian Vector (2014–2024)".
Former career diplomat Former Ambassador to India and to Vietnam Former President of Miriam College Quezon CityFounding member and Trustee of Foundatuin for National Interest Member West Philippine Sea Council
Lizza Bomassi is Senior Policy Analyst for the Indo-Pacific at the European Union Institute for Security Studies. Her work focuses on Europe’s strategic engagement with the region, including maritime security, economic security and supply-chain resilience, and the EU’s relations with India and Southeast Asia. Her recent research has examined EU–India relations, the Western Indian Ocean, Indo-Pacific maritime security and regional responses to geopolitical competition.
Ambassador Marilyn J. Alarilla was the Philippine Ambassador to Turkey with concurrent jurisdiction over Georgia and Azerbaijan (2011 to 2013) and to Laos (2009 to 2011). She was posted at the Philippine Embassies in Jakarta, Paris, Tokyo and Bern.She was also the Assistant Secretary of the Office of ASEAN Affairs, DFA in 2008. Ambassador Alarilla completed her Master’s in Diplomatic Studies at the Center for Diplomatic and Strategic Studies (Paris), Master’s in Public Administration at the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Public Administration and Master’s in Business Management at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM). She is currently a Senior Fellow at the Philippine Public Safety College; a Guest Lecturer-Consultant for the Diplomacy and International Affairs Program at the De La Salle - College of St. Benilde and an Adjunct Professor at the Silliman University.
Dr. Mashbat O. Sarlagtan is the Director of the Institute for Strategic Studies (ISS) in Mongolia, marking his second term leading the institution following an initial tenure from 1998 to 2013. A premier national security and foreign policy expert, Dr. Sarlagtan has held pivotal high-level policy roles, including Strategic Policy Adviser to the Foreign Minister of Mongolia, Expert Adviser to the National Security Council, and Director of the National Institute for Security Studies.Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Sarlagtan has played a crucial role in shaping Mongolia’s legal and strategic frameworks. He served on the official Working Group that drafted the nation's Concept of National Security in 2010 and contributed to the Parliamentary Working Group responsible for the Constitutional Amendment of 2019. In academia, he serves as an Associate Professor at the National University of Mongolia as well. He specialized in regional security research on Beijing–Dalai Lama relations and dynamics on the Korean Peninsula.Dr. Sarlagtan holds a Ph.D. in Law from Shihihutug University, a Master of Arts in National Security Affairs from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, and a Master of Law in Comparative Constitution from the National University of Mongolia.
Datuk Professor Dr Faiz Abdullah is the Executive Chairman of the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia, and one of the nation's foremost thinkers in foreign affairs and international trade. He provides high-level counsel to the Government of Malaysia on geopolitics, defence and security, as well as the evolving landscape of global geoeconomics. At the helm of ISIS Malaysia, Faiz spearheads bold policy innovation and leads strategic Track 2 diplomacy. A polymath whose distinguished career spans journalism, law enforcement and practice, academia, and international relations, Faiz has carved a formidable reputation in corporate law, public interest litigation, and high-stakes advisory work for both federal and state governments. His intellectual footprint includes several acclaimed publications on the Philosophy of Law, Shariah reforms, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and Strategic Shifts in Geopolitics, reflecting his influential role at the intersection of law, policy and global affairs.Faiz is the Malaysian representative to the ASEAN Regional Forum Experts and Eminent Persons, and Co-Chair of the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific. He is also a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Good Governance and Distinguished Adjunct Professor of the International Islamic University of Malaysia.
Naoki Takiguchi is a Research Fellow at the Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA). Prior to joining JIIA, Takiguchi served as Senior Program Manager and Political Analyst at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation Japan Office. He previously held positions at the House of Representatives Office of Akihisa Nagashima, the Embassy of Sweden Tokyo, and the Democratic Party of Japan, and also served as a Special Researcher at the Cabinet Secretariat.Takiguchi received the Secretary-General's Award in the Liberal Democratic Party International Bureau's 2022 International Politics and Diplomacy Dissertation Contest. He holds a license as an Aide for Policy and Legislative Affairs to Members of the Diet and earned an M.A. in International Politics and Economics from the Graduate School of Nishogakusha University.
Nay Yan Oo is a PhD student in the Department of Political Science at the University of British Columbia. He previously studied at Oxford University and Northern Illinois University.
Nick Bisley is the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Professor of International Relations at La Trobe Univesity. He is currently the Australian Member Committee Co-Chair of the Council on Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific and has just completed eight years as the Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences at La Trobe.
Dr. Liu Qing serves as Vice President and Senior Research Fellow at the China Institute of International Studies (CIIS), Chairman of CSCAP China, and Co-Chair of CSCAP. His main research fields include China-U.S. relations, American foreign policy, international arms control and non-proliferation, and security issues in the Asia-Pacific region.
Dr. REN Yuanzhe is a Professor in the Department of Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs Management and Director of the Center for Strategic and Peace Studies at China Foreign Affairs University. His primary research interests include diplomatic studies, China’s neighborhood diplomacy, maritime strategy and security in the Asia-Pacific region. With decades of experience in teaching and research in these fields, Prof. Ren has authored several books and many articles. He once served in the Chinese MFA and was posted to the Chinese Mission to ASEAN. He regularly participates in academic forums, Track II dialogues, and policy conferences across East Asia and beyond. He was also a visiting scholar at renowned universities and research institutions in the United States, Australia, Singapore, and other countries.
Renato Cruz De Castro is a distinguished professor in the Department of International Studies at De La Salle University, Manila. He has written over 100 articles on international relations and security, published in several scholarly journals and edited volumes in the Philippines, Japan, South Korea, Canada, Malaysia, France, Singapore, Taiwan, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Australia, and the United States. In 2019, the Board of Trustees of the Philippine Political Science Association (PPSA) announced that Professor De Castro is the most prolific Filipino Political Scientist in terms of scholarly publication and one of the top 10 Filipino Political Scientists in terms of citations. The 2022 AD Scientific Index ranked him 92nd among the top 100 scientists in the Philippines and 50th among the top Social Scientists in the country. AD Scientific Index also ranked him as the number-one Filipino Political Scientist for publications and citations. On December 20, 2024, the AFP Chief-of-Staff, Lt. General Romeo Brawner Jr., awarded Professor De Castro with the Sandigan AFP Stakeholder Award for his “extensive research, public education initiatives, and active involvement in institutions, which have significantly played a fundamental role in advancing the knowledge of regional security dynamics and its implications for Philippine sovereignty and regional security.”He earned his Ph.D. in Government and International Studies from the University of South Carolina as a Fulbright Scholar in 2001. He obtained his B.A. and two master’s degrees from the University of the Philippines.
Rex L. Llonora, PhD, is the Chair of the Department of International Studies at Far Eastern University. He specializes in public policy, particularly in the areas of security, counterinsurgency, and Indigenous studies. He currently serves as a Board Member of the International Political Science Association (IPSA) Research Committees 13 and 53. Dr. Llonora earned his PhD in Public Policy and Management from the Lyceum of the Philippines University.
Shahriman’s research interests include Malaysian foreign and defence policies, Southeast Asian maritime security affairs, and Malaysia-China relations, including in the context of the South China Sea. He also manages the institute’s China Engagement Initiative, which promotes Track-Two dialogue between Malaysia and China. Shahriman was a consultant to the Defence Ministry on Malaysia’s inaugural Defence White Paper (2019), specifically on budgeting and implementation issues. He was also Malaysia’s representative in an academic assessment of common security challenges impacting the Five-Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) nations for 2020-2031 for the FPDA Policy Group (FPG). Shahriman was a Visiting Senior Fellow with the Malaysia Programme at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) in early 2026. He holds a Master of Strategic Affairs from the Australian National University.
Sohana Enver Azyze is the Chief Operating Officer at the Institute of Strategic & International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia. A highly experienced Senior Director of Administration of the institution, Sohana has over thirty years of experience in operations and project managements, strategic planning and execution, financial management and budgeting, stakeholder engagements and compliance. She develops and maintain relationships with kety stakeholders, including project founder, Board Members and the Government. She ensures complience to all audit requirements, making sure systems and procedures complies to the institution and Government standards of practices.
Associate Professor Sonia Fontanilla-Pimentel is the Dean of the College of Governance and Public Policy at the University of Makati. She concurrently serves as its Director of the Executive Programs in Development Management and Governance at the College of Continuing, Advanced and Professional Studies.Dean Pimentel earned her Bachelor's degree in Political Science, followed by a Master's in Development Management and Governance, and a Doctorate in Public Administration. She currently sits as a Member of the Board of Directors of the Philippine Society for Public Administration, and was a participant at the 25th session of the UN Committee of Experts on Public Administration (CEPA) held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City in April 2026. Dr. Pimentel’s areas of teaching and research are in Philippine local politics, public policy, and local government administration with a special interest in policies of diversity and social inclusion. Through this dedicated research, she has had the privilege of contributing to a variety of local and international publications and has continuously presented papers in academic conferences.Prior to joining the academe, Professor Pimentel first served as Corporate Secretary of the family-owned Farmboys Corporation, a company involved in agriculture and livestock production and retail. In 2010, she joined the government service and acquired considerable experience in local government operations when she handled administrative and other special concerns in the Provincial Government of Camarines Norte, first for the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and the Office of the Vice Governor, and later, for the Office of the Governor.
Steven Everts is the Director of the European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS), a position he has held since September 2023. In this role he leads the EU’s agency dedicated to analysis of foreign, security and defence policyPrior to joining the EUISS, Dr Everts was at the European External Action Service (EEAS) where he served as Senior Advisor to the HR/VP on Strategy and Communications. Previously, he was a Senior Advisor in the Asia-Pacific Department of the EEAS, acting as the Alternate EU SOM for the ASEM process. He was also a Member of the Cabinet of HR/VP Catherine Ashton with responsibility for Asia and the Pacific, Turkey, and the general issue of how to frame and strengthen the EU's relations with its strategic partners. Between 2005 and 2009, Steven Everts worked for SG/HR Javier Solana, both as his Personal Representative for Energy and Foreign Policy and as a Member of his Cabinet.Before his time at the EU, he was a Senior Research Fellow at the London-based Centre for European Reform and Director of the CER's transatlantic programme, which covered the full range of US-European relations.He holds a DPhil in International Relations from the University of Oxford and an MA in Political Science from Leiden University in the Netherlands.
Sulathin Thiladej is Director of the Strategic and International Studies Division at the Institute of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.He joined the Ministry in 2004 and has held a range of key positions, including serving as Secretary to the Foreign Minister and as a diplomat at the Lao Embassy and Permanent Mission to ASEAN in Jakarta. He is also a Visiting Lecturer at the National University of Laos, where he teaches international relations. His research focuses on ASEAN and major power relations, Laos’ strategic relations with China and Vietnam, regional integration, and foreign policy analysis. His recent work examines the strategic implications of regional connectivity, geopolitical competition, ASEAN centrality, and the evolving regional order in the Indo-Pacific. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (2003). In 2009, he was awarded the APIC Ushiba Memorial Fellowship to conduct research at Reitaku University, Tokyo. He later earned a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the Australian National University (2018) and completed his PhD at East China Normal University, Shanghai (2025).
Upon graduating from The University of Tokyo’s Faculty of Law in March 1986, he joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. After pursuing further studies in Portugal (PGD in European Studies, Faculty of Law, University of Lisbon) and the United States (MA in National Security Studies, Georgetown University), he served as Counsellor to the Embassy of Japan in Thailand and the Embassy of Japan in the United States; Director, First North American Division, North American Affairs Bureau; Executive Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister's Secretariat; Counsellor, Cabinet Secretariat; Counsellor, International Legal Affairs Bureau; Deputy Assistant Minister, Minister’s Secretariat; Director-General (Ambassador), Disarmament, Non-proliferation and Science Department, Foreign Policy Bureau; Director-General (Ambassador), Latin American and Caribbean Affairs Bureau; and Director General of Public Diplomacy, Press Secretary, Minister’s Secretariat. Following a stint as Director, Refugees Assistance Headquarters, Foundation for the Welfare and Education of the Asian People, he was appointed Chief Executive Director of The Japan Institute of International Affairs in October 2023.
Dr. Tsutomu Kikuchi is professor emeritus and former vice-president of Aoyama Gakuin University and senior adjunct fellow at the Japan Institute of International Affairs(JIIA), both in Tokyo. He was a visiting fellow at the Australian National University (ANU) and the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS), a visiting professor at the University of British Columbia (UBC), and a consultant of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). He has been deeply involved in the establishment and operations of the second track institutions in the Asia-Pacific such as CSCAP (Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific). He specializes in international relations of the Indo-Pacific. He obtained a doctoral degree from Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo.
Yoko Iida is a Research Assistant at The Japan Institute of International Affairs and an Adjunct Lecturer at Teikyo University of Science. She holds an M.A. in Religious Studies from the University of Tokyo and a B.A. in International Liberal Studies from Waseda University.
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