BusinessWorld forum features JAZA

MANILA, Philippines — On May 30 at the Grand Ballroom of Grand Hyatt Manila in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, BusinessWorld Economic Forum 2019, with the theme “The Future of Business: Next-wave Disruptions & Opportunities,” will feature Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala (JAZA), chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of Ayala Corp., as keynote speaker.

JAZA will expound on the theme and will share with the audience how Ayala Corp. – one of the largest business groups in the Philippines with interests in real estate, banking, telecommunications, water, power, industrial technologies, infrastructure, health care and education – is taking the lead on embracing disruptions and seizing opportunities brought about by emerging technologies.

Outside the Ayala Group, JAZA is a member of various business and socio-civic organizations in the Philippines and abroad, including the JP Morgan International Council, JP Morgan Asia Pacific Council, Mitsubishi Corp., International Advisory Council and Council on Foreign Relations.

The whole-day BusinessWorld Economic Forum will bring together thought leaders, industry experts, business executives, government policymakers, innovators, academicians, technology providers and other leading figures in the public and private sectors to share their insights, concerns and excitements on the promises and dangers of technology and how they will impact businesses over the next 10 years.

The first session on “Automation & Artificial Intelligence and How They Will Impact People, Skills and Management” will discuss the benefits and adverse effects of job automation and artificial intelligence adoption. The session also aims to answer questions about the implications of Generation Z to the workforce.

To share their knowledge on the topic are McKinsey & Co. managing partner for the Philippines Kristine Romano, Management Association of the Philippines president Rizalina Mantaring, Degreed vice-president for global solutions Susie Lee and Acumen Strategic Consulting Inc. managing director Pauline Fermin. Panel discussion will be moderated by BusinessWorld editor-in-chief Roby Alampay.

To talk about the continuing expansion of digital commerce, also known as e-commerce, that is projected to become a multibillion-peso industry in a few years, the second session will focus on “Digital Commerce and How Big Data & Mobile Technology Will Shape the Future of Retail.”

Speakers for this session are Boston Consulting Group Singapore partner and managing director Shiv Choudhury, Globe Telecoms senior vice-president for Globe business Peter Maquera, Lazada Philippines CEO Ray Alimurung and Entrego president Constantin Robertz. Panel discussion will be moderated by One News anchor RJ Ledesma.

The third session, “Financial Technology & The Future of Money,” will discuss recent trends in the financial sector, such as financial technology (fintech), blockchain, cryptocurrency and cashless economy and how these will reshape various industries.

Frost & Sullivan Asia Pacific managing director and partner Shivaji Das, Bank of the Philippine Islands chief digital officer Noel Santiago, FinTechAlliance.ph founding chairman Lito Villanueva and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas senior director and officer-in-charge for fintech sub-sector Vicente de Villa III will share their thoughts about the topic. Panel discussion will be moderated by One News anchor Daniel Laurel.

The last session, which will focus on “Next-Generation Technology and The Future of Economy,” aims to tackle emerging technologies and their potential contributions to economic growth in the future. ?To lead the discussion are Alliance Global Inc. CEO Kevin Andrew Tan, Microsoft Philippines country general manager Andres Ortola, MFT Group of Companies CEO Maria Francesca Tan and IBM Philippines president and country general manager Aileen Judan-Jiao. Panel discussion will be moderated by BusinessWorld SparkUp editor Santiago Arnaiz.

BusinessWorld Economic Forum, an award-winning event organized by BusinessWorld Publishing Corp., is held annually since 2016. It serves as a live platform for industry leaders and key figures in society to discuss and solve issues and challenges that affect the country.

BusinessWorld Economic Forum 2019 is presented by LT Group, Inc., Entrego and GT Capital with the following sponsors: (Platinum) Megaworld, PLDT, Toyota, and Lexus; (Gold) Ayala, BDO, Federal Land, MFT Group, Metro Pacific, San Miguel Corp., SM Investments Corp. and Turkish Airlines; (Silver) Aseana City, FWD, Globe, Meralco and RCBC; and (Bronze) Aboitiz, BPI, Double Dragon Properties Corp., First Gen, National Home Mortgage Finance Corp., Pag-IBIG, SGV, Viventis and Degreed, Wilcon Depot and Cross; with partners Grab (mobility), The Philippine STAR (print), One News (broadcast) and Fiera De Manila, Inc. (event).