Programme – ACGA 24th Annual Conference

Keynote RemarksGi-Hyoung Oh, Member of the National Assembly of Republic of Korea, Chairman of Special Committee on KOSPI 5000, Democratic Party of Korea, Seoul

10:00 – 11:05

Plenary 1: Value-Up programmes: An update from regulators (Japan, Korea, China)

Of late, regulators across Asian markets have put forward initiatives for companies to take greater cognizance of their market valuations and shareholder returns. This started in 2023 with the Action Program of Japan, followed in 2024 by Korea’s Value Up initiative and China’s Market Value Management guidelines as well as similar initiatives by regulators across the region. For the first session of our annual conference, we will invite the regulators of three of the most significant markets – the Financial Services Agency of Japan or Tokyo Stock Exchange, Financial Services Commission or Korea Exchange as well as the Chinese regulators – to discuss how these initiatives have developed and their areas of focus going forward.

ModeratorAmar Gill, Secretary General, ACGA, Hong Kong

SpeakersHiroshi Ozawa, Chief Deputy Director, Corporate Accounting and Disclosure Division Policy and Markets Bureau, Financial Services Agency, Tokyo
Jae Suk Yun, Director General, Corporate Value-up Support, Management Strategy Division, Korea Exchange, Seoul
Dr. Zhongbo Yu, Deputy Director, Research Institute, Shenzhen Stock Exchange, Shenzhen

11:05 – 11:20

Coffee Break

11:20 – 12:25

Plenary 2: AI and Cyber-risk: Navigating the New Frontier in Corporate Governance

This panel will explore the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and escalating cyber-risks from a corporate governance perspective. Discover how boards can harness AI to enhance decision-making and risk management while navigating its disruptive impact on business operations and corporate business models. From addressing ethical dilemmas, data privacy, and algorithmic bias to mitigating cybersecurity threats and AI-driven opportunities and risks to traditional revenue streams, this panel will consider how businesses and investors can balance innovation with accountability and operational resilience.

ModeratorMary Leung, Senior Advisor, Capital Markets Policy, Asia Pacific, CFA Institute, Hong Kong

SpeakersHyunchul Park, Risk Services Leader (Partner), Risk & Cyber, PwC Consulting, Seoul
Michael Tang, Executive Director, Head, Listing Compliance, Singapore Exchange Regulation, Singapore
Ross Teverson, Regional Team Lead, Asia and Global Emerging Markets, EOS at Federated Hermes, London
Dr. Soonmin Bae, Chief Responsible AI Officer (CRAIO), Senior Vice President, KT AI Future Lab, Seoul

12:25 – 13:30

Lunch

13:30

Afternoon plenaries

Afternoon MCMr Amar Gill, Secretary General Designate, ACGA, Hong Kong

13:30 – 14:45

Concurrent workshops: (1) AGMs and proxy advisors

Annual General Meetings are a cornerstone of shareholder engagement – but in many Asian markets, the AGM and proxy voting systems remain outdated, opaque, and inefficient. This workshop will dive into the practical and structural challenges investors face during voting season, from compressed meeting calendars and limited disclosure timelines to the fragmented role of proxy advisors. The discussion will focus on how the system can be modernised to support more effective stewardship, improve vote execution, and enhance corporate accountability.

ModeratorStephanie Lin, Research Head, Korea and Singapore, ACGA, Hong Kong

SpeakersDr. Hyunyoung Hwang, Ph.D., Research Fellow, Capital Markets Department, Korea Capital Market Institute, Seoul
Jaewook Baek, CEO, Daishin Economic Research Institute, Seoul
Sara Lee, Director, Responsible Investment & Stewardship, APAC, APG Asset Management Asia, Hong Kong

13:30– 14:45

Concurrent workshops: (2) Value Up – What does it take to work

Value Up initiatives in the region are largely led by regulators but their success depends on corporates following through with a greater focus on shareholder value by the board and management. Do boards have the skill set to deliver on their expectations? How should these policies be implemented in the companies? What are the roles for other stakeholders, including director institutes and institutional investors? This session will bring to bear the perspectives of various stakeholders on what is necessary for Value Up programme to be successful at the corporate level as well as more broadly in a given market.

Moderator Dr. Helena Fung, Head of Research and Advocacy, ACGA, Hong Kong

SpeakersAya Fujiki, ESG Stewardship Manager, Global Stewardship & Engagement, Capital Group, Tokyo
Fujia Liu, Director, Senior Equity Product Strategist, E Fund Management Co., Ltd., Guangzhou
Su Keun Kwak, Independent Director (Chair of Audit Committee and CEO Recommendation Committee), Shinhan Financial Group, Seoul
Su Sang Yoon, Vice President , Investment Stewardship, Asia ex-Japan, J.P. Morgan Asset Management, Hong Kong

13:30 – 14:45

Concurrent workshops: (3) Activism – Challenges in Asian markets

Shareholder activism is rising sharply across Asia, driven by governance reforms and increasing investor engagement. This session explores how activism is evolving beyond financial demands to focus on governance, transparency, and sustainability. Panellists will discuss the challenges companies face in responding to activist campaigns and how investors and boards can foster constructive dialogue to improve corporate behaviour and market standards.

ModeratorDr. Woochan Kim, Professor of Finance, Korea University Business School, Seoul

SpeakersChanghwan Lee, Founder, CEO and CIO, Align Partners Capital Management, Seoul
Naoko Ueno, VP, Asian Research & Engagement, Glass Lewis Japan GK, Tokyo
Seth H. Fischer, Founder & Chief Investment Officer, Oasis Management, Hong Kong

14:45 – 15:00

Coffee Break

15:00 – 16:10

Plenary 3: Corruption and fraud: Role of audit committees

Audit committees of listed companies serve as a vital line of defence against corruption and fraud within their organizations. On this panel, we will discuss:

• Best practices for strengthening audit oversight, enhancing transparency, and mitigating financial risks associated with misconduct

• Evolving challenges and risks within Asia Pacific faced by audit committees

• How robust audit governance can help protect long term investors, ensure compliance with local and international standards, and foster long-term value creation.

Moderator Ronnie Lim, ACGA Council Member; Senior Engagement Specialist, Robeco, Hong Kong

SpeakersHetal Dalal, President and Chief Operating Officer, Institutional Investor Advisory Services India Limited (IiAS), Mumbai
Hyung-kyoon HK Kim, Executive Director, Head of Special Situations, Tcha Partners Asset Management, Seoul
Jae Aum, Partner, Capital Markets & Professional Practice Director – Sustainability, EY Han Young, Seoul
Dr. Woojin Kim, SAMICK Distinguished Professor of Finance / Director General, Office of Financial Planning, Seoul National University, Seoul

16:10 – 16:35

Coffee Break

16:35 – 17:45

Plenary 4: The Trillion-dollar Asset Shift: Governance Strategies for Asia’s Public and Private Markets

The trillion-dollar shift from public to private markets, driven by private equity growth and take-private deals, is transforming Asia’s investment landscape. Private markets’ limited disclosures and reduced shareholder oversight contrast with public markets’ robust reporting, creating a new set of governance challenges for investors. This panel explores the drivers behind this capital shift, public market trends, and investor strategies to address valuation concerns, limited transparency, and reduced board oversight. Discover how investors can promote transparent structures and sustainable practices to enhance governance in Asia’s evolving public and private markets.

ModeratorNamuh Rhee, Chairman, Korean Corporate Governance Forum (KCGF), Seoul

SpeakersAndrew Hendry, CEO Asia and Head of Asia Client Group, Janus Henderson Investors, Singapore
Hitoshi Hirokawa, Managing Director, ESG & Stewardship Department, Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF), Tokyo
Seung Keun Lee, Team Leader, Corporate Governance Team 1, National Pension Service Investment Management, Seoul
Siok Lan Pek, Head, Investment Stewardship, Temasek, Singapore

17:45 – 19:00

Cocktail Reception, Fairmont Ambassador Hotel Foyer, Ground Floor

19:00 – 21:00

Gala Dinner, Fairmont Ambassador Hotel Ballroom, Ground Floor

Keynote SpeakerDaniel Jang, Chief Executive Officer, SM Entertainment, Seoul

Keynote speech: The Rise of K-Pop and K-Culture
In this keynote, Daniel Jang, CEO, Chief Executive Officer, SM Entertainment, will introduce the brief history of SM Entertainment as the origin of K-Pop and the K-Pop production system. It will also provide an overview of the current scale of the K-Pop industry, examine the characteristics of K-Pop culture, and offer insights into K-Pop future development in the global music market.