Leaders of major Asia Pacific associations, professional societies, and trade bodies have welcomed the founding of the region’s first dedicated professional community of their own..
The Asia Pacific Society of Association Executives (APSAE) convened its Founding Summit on 24–25 July 2026 at Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre, Singapore, attended by over 100 senior association leaders from 64 organisations across 16 countries.
Asia Pacific now powers more than half of global economic growth and its associations – spanning major industries, professions, and communities – are among the most influential organisations shaping the region’s future. Yet until the launch of APSAE, their leaders had no regional platform to connect.
Prasant Saha, president of APSAE, said: “The energy, the conversations, and the connections made across these two days confirmed what we always believed: the region’s association leaders are ready to learn from each other, support each other, and collectively elevate the impact of associations across Asia Pacific. This is just the beginning.”
Participants in the APSAE Founding Summit travelled from countries including Australia, Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam, and representing associations spanning banking and finance, fintech, public transport, higher education, agricultural credit, development finance, healthcare, technology and AI, sustainability, coaching, retail, pharmaceuticals, caregiving, sanitation, law, accountancy, green building, clean fuels, aviation, and more.
Together, the organisations represented at the Summit collectively reach over 500,000 professionals and institutions across more than 100 countries.
Across the Summit’s 1.5 days, 30 speakers delivered keynotes, expert panels, a masterclass, and a special session addressing the most pressing challenges facing associations in the region today – not through the lens of Western models, but through the lived experience of Asia Pacific’s own leaders.
“APSAE is a laudable initiative,” said Reena Marwah, secretary general of the Association of Asia Scholars. “It was a very rewarding experience, enabling participants to learn the pathways for engaging members, expanding membership, and leveraging AI and new technologies to create value.”
Landmark regional report
On Summit Day 1, APSAE unveiled the inaugural State of Associations in Asia Pacific 2026 – the first research report dedicated exclusively to the association sector across the region.
The report reveals a sector at a critical turning point. Nearly four in five employers across Asia Pacific – 80% – report significant difficulty finding skilled talent, rising to 81% in the IT sector. Yet the associations best positioned to close that gap remain largely fragmented, operating without regional infrastructure, shared frameworks, or a collective voice.
The State of Associations in Asia Pacific 2026 examines the forces reshaping the ecosystem – from AI adoption and governance reform to non-dues revenue, volunteer pipelines, and the untapped potential of cross-border collaboration. The full report will be made publicly available in the coming weeks via apsae.org.
Community, not just a conference
The APSAE Summit 2026 was never intended to be a one-time event but the opening chapter of a year-round regional community.
APSAE formal membership opens on 15 August 2026 and members will have access to exclusive webinars, peer exchange sessions, research and resources, the CEO Circle, and Regional Symposia taking place across Asia Pacific throughout the year.
The APSAE Summit 2027 is already in planning – with ambitions to be significantly larger, building on the momentum and community established in Singapore.
