Foresight 2025: Navigating U.S.-ASEAN Relations in a Multipolar World
January 11, 2025
On January 11, 2025, the Asian Civilisations Museum in Singapore hosted the highly anticipated Foresight 2025 event, part of the Johns Hopkins SAIS Foresight and Regional Strategies Series. This annual forum, established in 2017 with the generous support of a SAIS alum donor, brings together leaders from academia, industry, and non-profit organizations to discuss critical international affairs and global policy issues. Alumni and friends from across Johns Hopkins University community participated in the dynamic discussions throughout the day.
This year’s theme, “U.S.-ASEAN Positions in a Multipolar World,” highlighted the evolving dynamics and strategic importance of U.S.-ASEAN relations. The event, presented by SAIS in collaboration with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Whiting School of Engineering, featured a robust agenda designed to foster insightful interdisciplinary discussions and networking opportunities.
The day began with a warm welcome from SAIS alumni leader Andrew Pince and SAIS Dean James Steinberg, setting the stage for a series of engaging sessions. The keynote presentation and fireside chat with Edgard Kagan, the United States ambassador to Malaysia, provided valuable perspectives on diplomatic relations and regional strategies.
Attendees then delved into a panel discussion on “AI, Technology, Cybersecurity, and Governance,” moderated by Ed Schlesinger, Dean of the Whiting School of Engineering. Panelists included Farhanah Hussin Bagharib, assistant director of international cyber policy at Singapore’s Cyber Security Agency; Kevin Kwan, ASEAN specialist leader at Amazon Web Services; and Jon Sugihara, managing director and partner at GenAI Lead APAC. This session underscored the critical role of technology and cybersecurity in shaping future governance.
The afternoon continued with a panel on “Global Mental Health in the Workplace,” moderated by Pamela Collins, who chairs the Department of Mental Health at the Bloomberg School of Public Health. Experts like Riyaad Karriem, Asia-Pacific regional medical manager at Chevron, and Vandna Ramchandani, Asia-Pacific regional head of corporate philanthropy and employee engagement at Bloomberg, discussed the importance of mental health initiatives in corporate settings, emphasizing the need for supportive work environments.
The final panel, “U.S.-ASEAN Economic Cooperation in a Shifting Global Landscape,” moderated by Dean Steinberg, featured insights from Sue Anne Tay, SAIS ’09, chief of staff to the co-CEO for HSBC Asia and Middle East, and Hans Vriens, SAIS ’85, managing partner of Vriens & Partners. This spirited discussion highlighted the economic interdependencies and collaborative opportunities between the United States and ASEAN nations.
The event concluded with a networking reception at the Asian Civilisations Museum’s Prive Restaurant, allowing participants to further connect and exchange ideas. Foresight 2025 successfully provided a platform for meaningful dialogue on pressing global issues and reinforced the importance of U.S.-ASEAN cooperation in a rapidly changing world.
The SAIS alumni volunteer planning committee contributed immensely to the success of Foresight 2025. The committee members were Jason Ho MIEF ’15; Andrew Pince ’21; Ai Ghee Ong, HNC ’07, ’08; Yang Long Tan, HNC ’23; and Amanda Zakowich, ’23.