Downloads | Speakers | Videos

Themed “Making It Work in Asia”, the forum, which took place on 31 March at Suntec International Convention and Exhibition Centre, boasts prominent speakers Mr Chris Cusano, Asian Representative of Ashoka, a global organization that identifies and invests in leading social entrepreneurs; Ms Marie Lisa Dacanay, Director of the Social and Development Entrepreneurship Programme, Asian Institute of Management, based in the Philippines; Ms Claire Chiang, President of Singapore Compact, a national society that aims to further corporate social responsibility in Singapore; and Mr Ken Ito, Founder of Tokyo Social Ventures, a venture philanthropy organization to support social entrepreneurship in Japan.

Social entrepreneurship is the application of innovative business solutions to societal problems. In line with the forum’s theme, the social enterprise gurus spoke on various issues concerning the relevance and sustainability of social enterprises in the region, drawing from previous research and personal experiences. One particular area of interest was on how methods successful in other countries – such as corporate social responsibility programs and the setting up of a social venture fund – could be adapted here to foster Singapore’s nascent social enterprise sector.

SE Forum 2007 also unveils a first-of-its-kind comparative study of social enterprises in Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Conducted by academics and social entrepreneurs working with the Conference of Asian Foundations and Organizations, the study identifies the challenges facing social entrepreneurs in these countries, analyzes the impact of social entrepreneurship on social development and proposes policies that local, regional and international stakeholders can adopt to increase the positive impact of social enterprise.