The panels
Monocle’s conference is dedicated to improving leadership, lives and livelihoods. Here’s just some of what the day will involve.
Top of the shops
Shopping malls play a major role in Asian cities, especially in Bangkok. We hear from an industry doyenne who has dedicated her career to building and operating some of the world’s most vibrant shopping destinations – and she’s not done yet. Her latest opening aims to cement the Thai capital’s position as the most-visited city on Earth.
With: Supaluck Umpujh, chairwoman, The Mall Group
The road ahead
How we move people and products around cities is one of the most important debates being had by mayors and urbanists – no less so in Asia, where many capitals endure daily gridlock. As cars and motorbikes jockey for space, we turn to the head of Indonesia’s largest taxi and logistics company for her thoughts on the future of urban mobility.
With: Noni Purnomo, chairperson, Blue Bird Group Holding
Machine learning
Tesla is not the only company to reinvent a machine for the modern world. Thai company Forth Vending has re-engineered the vending machine, transforming a humble metal box into an exciting brand with global potential. As the company’s flying turtle logo starts to appear across the world, we hear from one of the engineering minds behind the whizzy vending machines.
With: Thomas Morrison, chief technology officer, Forth Vending (Tao Bin)
Building a brand
How do you build a rock-solid brand that will stand the test of time? What’s the secret to consumer loyalty? Why does product still matter in a throwaway world of fast fashion? The founders of two very different brands share the origins of their businesses, Hong Kong’s role as a springboard for expansion and the enduring importance of physical retail.
With: Carlos Granon, founder of Topologie, and Mark Cho, founder of The Armoury
What’s your Vietnam strategy?
Asia’s next tiger economy is a hot topic in boardrooms around the world. As companies and investors explore ways to enter Vietnam’s fast-growing country, two business leaders from Ho Chi Minh City share their experience of working with international partners, reaching a well-educated consumer class and succeeding in this fiercely competitive market.
With: Tran Quyet Thang, chairman and founder of Refico, and Tran Thi Hoai Anh, founder and president of GlobalLink
A dispatch from Tokyo
As Asia’s economic and diplomatic heft continues to rise, we hear from a long-serving Portuguese ambassador about building successful relationships in the region, lessons from the Lusophone world and what the East actually wants from the West.
With: Vítor Sereno, Portuguese ambassador to Japan
Spotlight on Southeast Asia
The success of South Korean film and television has prompted the entertainment industry to wonder which Asian country could be the next breakout star. We hear from one of Indonesia’s leading ladies about her country’s rich history of filmmaking, an exciting new wave of creative talent and her ambition to tell fresh stories about her nation to an international audience.
With: Dian Sastrowardoyo, actress
Staying the course
Japan regularly sets the standard in Asia for liveable cities and best-in-class hospitality. To unpack why, we check in with a leading developer, hotelier and former pupil-turned-business partner of hospitality legend Adrian Zecha. We discuss the hard work and soft touches that go into building neighbourhoods, nurturing communities and designing a modern ryokan.
With: Yuta Oka, founder and CEO of Staple and co-founder of Naru Developments
Talking shop
Any major city worth its salt has its own flagship department store and in Hong Kong that title belongs to Lane Crawford, which was founded in 1850. As Lane Crawford’s footprint in mainland China continues to expand, the CEO of the group updates us on the retail trends shaping one of the luxury world’s most important shop windows.
With: Jennifer Woo, chairman and CEO, The Lane Crawford Joyce Group
Tall stories
Steel and glass towers might have become the dominant architectural vernacular but in cities across Asia there are pioneering studios and thoughtful practitioners designing human-scale buildings that are more in tune with the environment and are less energy-intensive. We hear from one of the industry’s leading voices and get a no-nonsense perspective on what needs to happen next.
With: Kevin Mark Low, founder of Small Projects
This is Hong Kong
March is a busy time in Hong Kong. Five-star hotels are fully booked, crowds are dressed to the nines and a highly polished service industry is spinning plates and pouring drinks with aplomb. But what does our host city look like on a regular weekday – and what does the future look like for Asia’s global gathering spot? To set the tone for a day of discussions set in the real world, we hear from two entrepreneurs who have shaped Hong Kong’s hospitality scene.
With: Joyce Wang, founder of Joyce Wang Studio, and Gerald Li, co-founder of Leading Nation
Art Basel preview
Every city worth its salt has an art fair on the calendar but only a handful can be considered international events. The first edition of Art Basel Hong Kong in 2013 placed the city on the map. Since then, its art industry has grown in stature alongside the marquee annual event. A few hours before this year’s bumper edition of Art Basel Hong Kong opens to the public, we get an exclusive preview from the head of the show on what’s selling – and what’s not to be missed.
With: Angelle Siyang-Le, director, Art Basel Hong Kong
