COMMO. JAY TARRIELA
Chief, West Philippine Sea Transparency Office, Philippine Coast Guard
Commodore Jay Tristan Tarriela is currently serving as the Chief of Coast Guard Staff for Human Resource Management (CG-1) and is also the Adviser to the Commandant on Maritime Security Affairs, as well as the Philippine Coast Guard Spokesperson on the West Philippine Sea. He successfully completed his Ph.D. at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) under the GRIPS Global Governance (G-cube) Program in Tokyo as a Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) ASEAN Public Policy Leadership scholar. He has participated in various military and coast guard training programs both in his home country and internationally. Dr. Tarriela holds a graduate degree from the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy Graduate School and a Master of Policy Studies from GRIPS and the Japan Coast Guard Academy. He was among the first batch of participants in the Maritime Safety and Security Program jointly launched by both institutions in 2016.Furthermore, Dr. Tarriela was selected as part of the inaugural cohort of the 2021 Pacific Forum US-Philippines’ Next Generation Leaders’ Initiative. Additionally, he has been chosen as a fellow for the 2021 East-West Center US-Philippines Alliance Fellowship in Washington, DC, USA. Dr. Tarriela has authored opinion-editorial articles for renowned publications such as The Diplomat, The National Interest, and Analyzing War. He also serves as a visiting lecturer at the National Defense College of the Philippines, the Philippine Public Safety College, Ateneo De Manila University School of Government, and the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy Graduate School.
DR. JEFFREY ORDANIEL
President & CEO, WPS
Dr. Jeffrey Ordaniel is non-resident Adjunct Fellow and Director for Maritime Security at the Pacific Forum. Concurrently, he is also Associate Professor of International Security Studies at Tokyo International University (TIU) in Japan. He holds a Ph.D. in International Relations and specializes in the study of offshore territorial and maritime entitlement disputes in Asia. His teaching and research revolve around maritime security and ocean governance, ASEAN regionalism, and broadly, U.S. alliances and engagements in the Indo-Pacific. From 2016 to 2019, he was based in Honolulu and was the holder of the endowed Admiral Joe Vasey Fellowship at the Pacific Forum. His current research on maritime security in Asia is funded by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), 2020-2024.Dr. Jeffrey Ordaniel is President and CEO of WPS Foundation, a Manila-based maritime security research and policy think tank. Concurrently, he is also Associate Professor of International Security Studies at Tokyo International University (TIU) in Japan. He holds a Ph.D. in International Relations and specializes in the study of offshore territorial and maritime entitlement disputes in Asia. His teaching and research revolve around maritime security and ocean governance, ASEAN regionalism, and broadly, U.S. alliances and engagements in the Indo-Pacific. From 2016 to 2019, he was based in Honolulu and was the holder of the endowed Admiral Joe Vasey Fellowship at the Pacific Forum. His current research on maritime security in Asia is funded by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), 2020-2025.
GEN. EDUARDO AÑO (RET., AFP)
National Security Adviser, Philippines
Gen. Eduardo Año is a Filipino public official and retired general of the Philippine Army who currently serves as the National Security Adviser under the administration of President Bongbong Marcos since 2023. He previously served as Secretary of the Interior and Local Government in the Cabinet of President Rodrigo Duterte from 2018 to 2022, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines from 2016 to 2017, and the Commanding General of the Philippine Army from 2015 to 2016.
H.E. BINH LAI
Ambassador of Viet Nam to the Philippines
Dr. Lai Thai Binh is the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the Philippines. He served as deputy director-general of the East Sea (South China Sea) Institute (Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam), the deputy consul-general of Vietnam in Houston, deputy director-general and assistant director-general at Americas Department in the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, director of the American research division, director and deputy director of the North America division, and as a Vietnam-U.S. relations desk officer.He earned a BA in international economics from Hanoi Foreign Trade University and a Ph.D in International relations from the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam.
COMMO. NELSON TIMBANG
Chief of Coast Guard Staff for Intelligence, Philippine Coast Guard
Commo. Nelson Timbang is Chief of Coast Guard Staff for Intelligence, Philippine Coast Guard.
HAMZAH BIN ISHAK
Deputy Director-General of National Security (Security Management), National Security Council, Prime Minister’s Department, Malaysia
Mr. Hamzah Ishak currently serves as the Deputy Director-General of National Security (Security Management) at the National Security Council (NSC), Prime Minister’s Department, a role he has held since 2021. With nearly 30 years in public service, he has extensive experience in national and maritime security, crisis management, and international security policy.He holds a Master’s degree in Strategic Analysis and Security from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), a Diploma from the National Institute of Public Administration (INTAN), and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science (Geography) from the University of Malaya (UM). His professional training on security includes international fellowships and courses in India, Singapore, Russia, and the United States.Mr. Hamzah’s expertise spans national and maritime security, crisis management, public order, international relations, human rights, and transnational issues He has represented Malaysia at the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) State Parties Meeting and the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review, in Geneva.He played key roles in the ICJ cases on Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh and Pulau Sipadan and Pulau Ligitan. He also contributed to the formation of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM), National Security Policy and key national legal frameworks, including the National Security Council Act 2016 and the Emergency Ordinance 2021
DR. PRASHANTH PARAMESWARAN
Fellow, Wilson Center
Dr. Prashanth Parameswaran is a fellow at the Wilson Center and the founder of the ASEAN Wonk newsletter which produces twice-weekly analysis on Southeast Asia and Indo-Pacific geopolitics and geoeconomics. He is also senior columnist at The Diplomat, an instructor at the Foreign Service Institute and an advisor for the strategic consultancy BowerGroupAsia. Born and raised in Southeast Asia, Dr. Parameswaran has worked in stints across think tanks, government, media and business in the United States and the region. He has published over 2,000 articles, and his insights, research and commentary have been published widely in the United States and across the region in leading publications and journals including CNN, The Washington Post, The South China Morning Post, The Straits Times, Asia Policy and Contemporary Southeast Asia. His book Elusive Balances: Shaping U.S.-Southeast Asia Strategy, published in 2022, developed and applied an original “balance of commitment” approach to examining U.S. commitment in Southeast Asia over the past half century, along with policy recommendations for future administrations. Dr. Parameswaran holds a Ph.D. and a Master of Arts from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University focused on international security, international business and U.S. foreign policy in East Asia, and received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia where he studied foreign affairs and peace and conflict studies and graduated Phi Beta Kappa.
JV CHAN GONZAGA
Assistant Secretary (Americas), Department of Foreign Affairs, Philippines
Mr CHAN GONZAGA is Assistant Secretary for American Affairs at the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs. He previously served as Minister (Economics) and Consul General at the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC. Before that, he was Charge d'Affaires ad interim at the Philippine Mission to the World Trade Organization in Geneva.
RADM. ROY VINCENT TRINIDAD (PHILIPPINE NAVY)
AFP Spokesperson for West Philippine Sea, Philippine Navy
Rear Admiral Trinidad graduated from the Philippine Military Academy in 1991 and began his career as a Navy SEAL with the Naval Special Warfare Group, where he served for six years. He later qualified for and served in Naval Intelligence before transitioning to the Fleet. In 2008, he completed his shipboard tour as the commanding officer of an Offshore Patrol Vessel.He spent nearly four years at the JointHeadquarters Staff for Operations (O/J3) and served as the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff for Operations (N3) at Navy Headquarters. Throughout his career, Rear Admiral Trinidad has held various key positions at both tactical and operational levels, including assignments in the Southern Philippines and the West Philippine Sea.He currently serves as the Naval Inspector General of the Philippine Navy and AFP Spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea.As the Naval Inspector General, Rear Admiral Trinidad is responsible for the operational readiness of all Philippine Navy units. As the Navy and AFP Spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Rear Admiral Trinidad is responsible for all messages of the AFP about the West Philippine Sea, foreign malign influence and foreign intrusions into our maritime domain.
ATTY. FRETTI GANCHOON
Maritime Expert and Senior State Counsel, Philippines
Atty. Fretti Ganchoon is a Senior State Counsel at the Department of Justice (DOJ). She heads the Legal Staff - Maritime Group. She is also the DOJ's alternate permanent representative to the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) and the National Maritime Council (NMC).
DR. MUHAMMAD TAUFAN
Minister Counsellor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Indonesia
Dr. Muhammad Taufan is Official of the Directorate of Legal Affairs and Territorial Treaties, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia (MoFA). His responsibility in the current working unit centre around maritime boundary delimitation issue, ocean affairs, and air and space law issues. He has worked as a counsellor/United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) 6th committee expert at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Indonesia to the UN in New York between 2019 and 2022. In 2021, Taufan was elected by the Meeting of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (SPLOS) as the 31st Vice President of SPLOS. He also served as Vice-Chair of the ad hoc committee on the Indian Ocean, UNGA (2021- 2022), and coordinator of the draft resolution on the Protection of Persons in the Event of Disaster (PPED), 6th committee UNGA (2020-2022). He holds a Doctor of Philosophy from Flinders University, Master of Law from IMO-International Maritime Law Institute, and Bachelor of Laws from Diponegoro University.
DR. HUONG NGUYEN
Director, Center for International Law, East Sea Institute, Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam
Nguyen Thi Lan Huong is Director of the Center for International Law, East Sea Institute, of the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam (DAV) since 2022. She was Deputy Director of the Center for International Cooperation, East Sea Institute, DAV from 2020 to 2022.Her research field is Public International Law and the Law of the sea. She got her bachelor in International Relations, specialised in International Law in the Institute of International Relations in Viet Nam (2007); LLM in International and European Law in the University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis (France) (2011) and PhD in International Law in the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam (2023).
PROF. THITINAN PONGSUDHIRAK
Senior Fellow, Institute of Security and International Studies, Chulalongkorn University
Dr. Thitinan Pongsudhirak is Professor of International Relations at Chulalongkorn University and Senior Fellow at its Institute of Security and International Studies (ISIS) in Bangkok. He has held visiting positions at Johns Hopkins University, Stanford University, University of Victoria in New Zealand, among others, and serves on editorial boards of academic journals, including Journal of Democracy. He has authored a host of articles, books, book chapters and over 1,000 opinion ar-ticles in mass media, Nikkei Asian Review and The Bangkok Post. His comments have appeared regularly in international media, including Aljazeera, BBC, CNN, Bloomberg, CNBC, DW, among others. Prior to his academic and think-tank career, Thitinan worked for the BBC World Service and the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) in London. His current work focuses on the geopolitics and geoeconomics of Asean and the Indo-Pacific in view of the US-China conflict.In 2015, he was recognised for excellence in opinion writing by Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA). More recently, he was appointed ASEAN@50 Fellow by New Zealand’s Minister of For-eign Affairs & Trade and Australia-Asean Fellow at Sydney’s Lowy Institute. Currently, he is sen-ior advisor for geopolitics with Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES) and independent expert of ADMM+ Cybersecurity and Information Centre of Excellence (ACICE). In January 2024, Thitinan was awarded a commendation by the Japanese government for his work on Japan-Thailand and Japan-ASEAN relations. Thitinan completed his MA at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced Inter-national Studies and PhD at London School of Economics and awarded the UK's best dissertation prize in 2002.
DR. CHIEW PING HOO
Senior Fellow, East Asian International Relations (EAIR) Caucus
Dr. Chiew-Ping Hoo is Senior Fellow of the East Asian International Relations (EAIR) Caucus, Malaysia. She is concurrently a member of the Asia Pacific Nuclear Advisory Panel (APNAP) of the British American Security Information Council (BASIC), Research Fellow at the Yokosuka Council on Asia Pacific Studies (YCAPS), and Editorial Board Member for the AUP Politics and IR in Asia Series at Amsterdam University Press. Previously, Dr. Hoo had served 16 years at the National University of Malaysia (2007-2023) as Senior Lecturer in Strategic Studies and International Relations; was Defence White Paper consultant and writer for the Ministry of Defence (2019-2020); and a member of Consultative Council on Foreign Policy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2021-2022) of Malaysia. Her research interests include the Korean Peninsula security issues, nuclear-maritime security nexus in East Asia, and economic-security linkages between Northeast and Southeast Asia. She received her PhD in Politics and International Relations from La Trobe University, Australia.
DR. COLLIN KOH
Senior fellow, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies
Collin Koh is senior fellow at the Institute of Defence & Strategic Studies, a constituent unit of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, based at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. He primarily researches on maritime security and naval affairs in the Indo-Pacific region, focusing especially on Southeast Asia.
MA. CARMEN ABLAN LAGMAN
Professor, Department of Biology, De La Salle University
Dr. Ma. Carmen Ablan Lagman is a full professor at the Department of Biology of De La Salle University. She was the project leader of the the Population Interdependencies in the South China Sea Ecosystem (PISCES) project, a joint research effort of scientists from coastal states of the ASEAN, east Asia and Pacific to investigate natural genetic tags in marine organisms to determine their natural boundaries. She currently heads the PGL team at DLSU where she conducts research, develops innovations, and works with partners in the Philippines to address fisheries, aquaculture and marine biodiversity conservation issues. She actively participates in related policy discussions. She is an advocate of progress through technology and biotechnology literacy, sustainable use of marine resources and the development of a blue economy. Dr. Lagman is one of the 2020 Filipino Faces of Biotechnology of the Department of Agriculture and a 2015 Outstanding Research Awardee of the Department of Science and Technology. She is a2023 Distinguished Hubert Humphrey Fellow to Harvard University a 2018 Newton Agham Fellow to the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Asian Institute of Management and a Fulbright Visiting Scholar to the Oregon State University in 2013-2014. She received her BS, MS and PhD degrees from the University of the Philippines in Diliman.
ISARA CHANRACHKIJ
Project Planning and Management Division, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center /Training Department
Mr. Isara Chanrachkij is the Head of Project Planning and Management of the SEAFDEC Training Department based in Samut Prakan, Thailand. He graduated the M.Sc. Marine Science from Kasetsart University, Thailand. His background is Fishing Instructor and Fishing Gear researcher and Chief Scientist/ Fishing Master onboard SEAFDEC research vessels.
PROF. SAZLINA SALLEH
Deputy Director, Center for Policy Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia
Dr. Sazlina Salleh is an accomplished ocean scientist with extensive expertise at the intersection of ocean science and management. Currently an Associate Professor and Deputy Director at the Center for Policy Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia, she holds a Ph.D. in Marine Science from the University of Tasmania. Her research focuses on marine biodiversity, conservation policy, marine spatial planning, and climate change impacts on marine ecosystems. Dr. Sazlina has contributed significantly to marine spatial planning, serving as an expert in initiatives such as the Expert Group on Marine Spatial Planning in the Western Pacific (2023-2026). She has consulted on national and international projects related to sustainable ocean management, including Malaysia’s National Blue Economy Development and biodiversity conservation. Her roles as a national consultant for major organizations like Greenpeace Southeast Asia and the Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA) highlight her ability to bridge science and policy, advocating ecosystem-based management approaches. Her leadership extends to research on marine conservation, particularly in areas like eutrophication monitoring, coral and seagrass ecosystem health, and climate resilience of marine species. As a member of the SCOR Capacity Development Committee and a resource person in various national workshops, Dr Sazlina actively promotes sustainable ocean governance and the integration of scientific findings into policy frameworks, mainly through her advocacy for data sharing and management to improve marine management strategies.
NEIL SILVA
Legal Officer, Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea, University of the Philippines Law Center
Neil Silva serves as Legal Officer at the University of the Philippines (UP) Law Center's Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea; Lecturer at the UP College of Law and at the Development Academy of the Philippines; and Fellow at the Philippine Public Safety College. He was previously a project member on Countering Foreign Interference and Malign Influence at the Ateneo Policy Center; and legal adviser to the National Coast Watch Council Secretariat and to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking Secretariat.He was legal adviser to the Philippine delegation to negotiate the Philippine-US Agreement on Enhanced Defense Cooperation in 2013-2014; a member of the delegations to defend the Partial Submission on the ECS in the Benham Rise Region and to negotiate the ASEAN Convention on Trafficking in Persons; a member of the editorial board on the Partial Submission on the ECS in the West Palawan Region; and a member of Track 2 delegations for dialogues with Australia, China, and Taiwan ROC. He also worked on the review or implementation of agreements with the Communist Party of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.He has delivered briefings for Philippine and foreign bodies, including during the Philippine Senate's deliberations on the Maritime Zones Law and Archipelagic Sea Lanes Law in 2023-2024; at the USINDOPACOM's MILOPS 2022; and for the NATO ACO OLA's international law conferences on 2023 and 2025 and its legal warfare seminars.
DR. ABE WOO
Deputy Director, Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies (CEMACS), Universiti Sains Malaysia
Dr Abe Woo received his PhD in Natural History Sciences from Hokkaido University. His interest of study includes systematics, taxonomy, and diversity study of marine invertebrates, focusing on the group Echinoderms. Since 2009, he has been actively uncovering the marine biodiversity and systematics of sea cucumbers across the region. He is currently serving as a senior lecturer in the Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies (CEMACS), Universiti Sains Malaysia where he is also actively leading several marine biodiversity research in the Southeast Asian region that includes several taxa of marine invertebrate. At the global front, he is a serving in several UN Decade of Ocean Science Program ECOP co-chairs and also an active contributor to the IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) programmes. Dr Woo recently graduated from the Advanced Masters in Sustainable Blue Economy from Unviersity of Trieste, Italy that focuses on science diplomacy through management and development of regional blue economy plans. He is now involved in formulating Malaysia's Blue Economy Blueprint commissioned by the government
PROF. DINDO MANHIT
Founder & CEO, Stratbase Group
Prof. Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit founded The Stratbase Group and the Stratbase ADR Institute for Strategic and International Studies (ADRi) in 2004. Concurrently, he is the Philippine Country Head of BowerGroupAsia. He provides strategic analysis on global issues, identifying business opportunities and developing crucial relationships between government and private sectors.He has held significant government positions, including Undersecretary in the Department of Education and Deputy Secretary in the Philippine Senate. He was a former Chair and retired Associate Professor of the Political Science Department of De La Salle University, Manila. He also regularly contributes articles and columns to leading newspapers in the Philippines, such as Philippine Daily Inquirer and BusinessWorld.His professional involvement spans multiple domains: he chairs the Cybersecurity Committee for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, leads the Investment Policy Committee in the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and is active as Convenor in civil society initiatives like Democracy Watch Philippines and Philippine Business for Environmental Stewardship.Internationally, he plays a key role in the U.S. – Philippines Strategic Initiative (USPI) and serves as an advisor to Asia Society Philippines. He was appointed as one of the ASEAN Regional Forum Experts and Eminent Persons (ARF-EEP) by the Department of Foreign Affairs.He holds a master's degree in Public Administration from the University of the Philippines.
JONATHAN MALAYA
Assistant Director-General, National Security Council
With a career spanning over 25 years, he has served in ten (10) government agencies across all three (3) branches of government—an unparalleled achievement in Philippine governance.In the Executive Branch, he has held various key positions, including Undersecretary, Assistant Secretary, or Chief of Staff in the DepEd, the OSG, the Office of the President, and the DILG. In the Legislative Branch, he served as Director II and Supervising Legislative Staff Officer in the House of Representatives and the Senate. In the Judiciary, he served as Judicial Staff Head to Associate Justice Antonio Eduardo Nachura of the Supreme Court.He has written and edited five books, including Stewards of the Nation: Inaugural Visions from Aguinaldo to Duterte, which climbed to No. 8 on the PowerBooks Best Seller List.He teaches courses on ethics in public service, public policy, and public accountability at the UP NCPAG, University of Makati, DAP, and San Sebastian College Recoletos. He was a founding member and president of the UP Debate Society and captain of the UP Debating Team.During the Duterte Administration, he served as Undersecretary for Plans, Public Affairs, and Communications and was the Official Spokesperson of the DILG. He was a member and spokesperson of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EMID) and the National Task Force COVID-19.In March 2023, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. appointed him as an Assistant Director General of the National Security Council, where he continues to serve the nation with distinction.
DR. TRICIA YEOH
Associate Professor of Practice, School of Politics and International Relations, University of Nottingham Malaysia
Dr Tricia Yeoh is Associate Professor of Practice at the University of Nottingham Malaysia’s School of Politics and International Relations. She is also currently a 2024/25 Atlantic Council Millennium Leadership Fellow and Senior Fellow at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada. She also holds the positions of Senior Adjunct Research Fellow at Monash University Malaysia, and Campus Visitor at the Australian National University, as well as recently Senior Visiting Fellow at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. She is former CEO of the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) Malaysia, where she served up to September 2024. She writes and speaks widely on federalism, comparative politics and institutional reforms. She has previously worked in the Chief Minister's Office of the Selangor State Government. Dr Yeoh holds a PhD in Political Science from the School of Politics, History and International Relations at the University of Nottingham Malaysia. Her writings can be found at www.triciayeoh.com.
USEC. ALEXANDER LOPEZ
Spokesperson, National Maritime Council
Vice Admiral Alexander S. Lopez PN (Ret) rendered over 42 years of loyal service to the Philippines, including more than 38 years in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). With deep expertise in military operations, intelligence, training, disaster relief, logistics, and diplomacy, he held numerous command and administrative positions throughout his distinguished career. Notably, he commanded five commissioned naval vessels and served as the Philippine Defense and Armed Forces Attaché to Singapore. He concluded his military service as the Commander of the Western Command of the AFP, attaining the rank of Vice Admiral.
DR. BIC TRAN
Postdoctoral Fellow, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy
Dr. Bich Tran (pronounced as Bic Trahn) is a senior fellow at Verve Research and an adjunct fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. She has been selected to join the Young Strategists Forum 2025 and International Strategy Forum 2024. Her research interests include grand strategy, maritime security, cybersecurity, and other issues at the intersection between geopolitics and technology.
PROF. YOHANES SULAIMAN
Associate Professor, Department of International Relations, Universitas Jenderal Achmad Yani (UNJANI)
Yohanes Sulaiman is an Associate Professor in International Relations at General Achmad Yani University, Cimahi, Indonesia. He is also a non-resident fellow at the National Bureau of Asian Research, Washington, DC, USA. His interests include Indonesian strategic culture and diplomatic history; Indonesia’s relations with major powers (United States, China, and Russia); East Asian security and politics; and civil-military relations. He has a PhD and MA in political science from the Ohio State University and BA from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.Yohanes has published his articles in leading international refereed journals, including Asia Policy, Journal of Asian Security and International Affairs, Asian Politics and Policy, and International Journal of Asian Studies. He currently serves as the Executive Editor of Journal of Global Strategic Studies, a peer-reviewed journal of international relations and strategic studies based at UNJANI.
SR. COL. KHANH VAN VU (RET., VPA)
Former Director, Department of International Studies, Institute for Defence Strategy, Ministry of National Defence of Vietnam
Senior Colonel, Vu Van Khanh, born in 1960, former Director of the Department of International Studies, Institute for Defence Strategy, Ministry of National Defence of Vietnam; member of the Vietnam Journalists Association. He holds the MA Degree in Strategic Studies at Deakin University, Australia, and BA Degree in Press and Publication at Ha Noi University of Press and BA Degree in Foreign Languages at Ha Noi University, and Certificate of Command and Staff at the Army Academy. Research expertise: Defence strategy, Military strategy; international analysis and defence diplomacy. The author has written 13 books published by the People's Public Security Publishing House and the People’s Army Publishing House, hundreds of articles published in magazines, printed and electronic newspapers; many scientific papers published in the proceedings of domestic and international scientific conferences.
RAKSMEY HIM
Executive Director, Cambodian Center for Regional Studies
Him Raksmey is currently the Executive Director of the Cambodian Center for Regional Studies (CCRS), an independent foreign policy think tank based in Cambodia. He was a research fellow at the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace (CICP) from 2018-2023. From March 2022 to December 2023, he also was a researcher at the Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS), and a lecturer at the Department of International Relations (DIR), Institute for International Studies and Public Policy (IISPP), Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP). His research interests include: Cambodia’s Domestic and Foreign Affairs, ASEAN and Political Security in Southeast Asia as well as various strategic trends concerning the region.
DR. SU WAI MON
Research Fellow (Oceans Law and Policy), Centre for International Law, National University of Singapore
Dr. Su Wai Mon is currently a research fellow (Oceans Law and Policy) at the Centre for International Law (CIL), National University of Singapore (NUS). Su is also a 2024 Blue Security Fellow of the Blue Security Program at the La Trobe University.Prior to joining CIL, Su was a senior lecturer at the University of Malaya's Faculty of Law and a research fellow at the Malaysian Centre of Regulatory Studies. She has also worked with various institutions in Malaysia, including the Maritime Institute of Malaysia, the Malaysian Maritime Law Enforcement Agency, and the Academy of Sciences Malaysia.Su's research focuses on emerging technologies and maritime security, cybersecurity in the maritime domain and submarine cable governance.
USEC. NESTOR HERICO
Deputy Director-General, National Security Council
Major General Nestor C. Herico, PN(M)(Ret), hailed from Zamboanga City, isa distinguished former Commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps, renowned forhis exemplary leadership, strategic insight, and unwavering dedication to duty. Inless than a month after his retirement, he was officially appointed as the DeputyDirector General for Partnership and Engagement of the National Security Councillast August 10, 2022.The highlights of his military career include his designation as theCommander 3rd Marine Brigade located in Puerto Princesa City Palawan, hisassumption as the 65th The Naval Inspector General of the Philippine Navy, ViceCommander of the Philippine Navy, and the 34th Commandant of the PhilippineMarines.Deputy Director General Herico graduated from the Philippine MilitaryAcademy in 1988. As he ascended through the ranks, he completed his Master’s inManagement Major in Publication Administration from the Philippine ChristianUniversity in 1998, and Master’s in Public Management Major in InternationalDevelopment Security from the Development Academy of the Philippines in 2011with the same fervor and determination that defined his military service.As a decorated Marine General, he has been recognized with numerousawards for his outstanding performance such as a Presidential Merit Medal, twoPresidential Legion of Honor Awards, two Awards of the Chief of Staff from theArmed Forces of the Philippines, and two Parangal sa Kapanalig ng SandatahangLakas ng Pilipinas medal and ribbon among others.
DR. ASYURA SALLEH
Associate Programme Officer, UNODC Global Maritime Crime Programme
Dr. Asyura Salleh is an Associate Programme Officer at the UNODC Global Maritime Crime Programme, where she overlooks regional forums to enhance cooperation between maritime law enforcement agencies. Dr. Salleh holds a PhD from S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Masters in War Studies from King's College London, and Bachelors in Politics and International Relations from the University of Reading. She has prior experience in policymaking, research, and maritime governance at the Brunei Prime Minister's Officer, Stable Seas, and the Global Awareness and Impact Alliance.
TENGKU AIEZUDDIN
Senior Assistant Director, National Security Council, Prime Minister’s Department, Malaysia
The officer is currently serving as Senior Assistant Director at Maritime Security and Sovereignty Department, National Security Council, Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia)
KATRINA GUERRERO
Program and Research Manager, Stratbase Institute
At the Stratbase Institute, Kat currently heads the defense and security program. She monitors global security and political developments, particularly in the Indo-Pacific which might affect the Philippines’ domestic and international affairs. At the Stratbase Group, she concurrently tracks developments in the domains of information and communications technology (ICT), energy, and infrastructure.
PROF. RISTIAN SUPRIYANTO
Lecturer, Department of International Relations, Universitas Indonesia
Ristian Atriandi SUPRIYANTO is a lecturer with the Department of International Relations at Universitas Indonesia (UI), researcher with the ASEAN Study Center (ASC) at UI, and research fellow with Indonesia Sinology Forum (FSI), Jakarta. He obtained his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in International, Political and Strategic Studies from the Australian National University (ANU), Master of Science in Strategic Studies from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University (RSIS-NTU) in Singapore, and Bachelor of Social Science in International Relations from UI. Previously, he worked for the Maritime Security Programme at RSIS-NTU. Ristian comments and writes numerous works on sea power and maritime strategy as well as international relations of the Indo-Pacific region. Among his publications is "Naval Modernisation in Southeast Asia: Problems and Prospects for Small and Medium Navies" (Palgrave, 2018) with Geoffrey Till.
MARITES VITUG
Editor at Large, Rappler
Marites Dañguilan Vitug, a leading Filipino investigative journalist and author, is editor-at-large for Rappler. She was editor of Newsbreak magazine, a trailblazer in Philippine investigative journalism.She has written nine books. Her latest is Unrequited Love: Duterte’s China Embrace, co-written with Camille Elemia, preceded by Rock Solid: How the Philippines Won its Maritime Case Against China.Marites is also among the contributors of a 2021 book, “Maritime Issues and Regional Order in the Indo-Pacific,” published by Palgrave/Macmillan.Marites has a degree in A.B. Broadcast Communication from the University of the Philippines and a diploma in world politics from the London School of Economics. She was a Nieman fellow at Harvard University and a recipient of fellowships from the University of San Diego in California—the Pacific Leadership Fellow; the Rockefeller Foundation Writing Fellowship in Bellagio Center, Lago di Como, Italy; the International House in Tokyo—the Asia Leadership Fellow Program; the Australian National University, University of Kyoto and the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies in Tokyo.She has won the National Book Award and various awards for reporting on Philippine justice, security, and political affairs, including the Courage in Journalism Award from the US-based International Women’s Media Foundation.
ERIC ANG
Research Fellow, Yokosuka Council on Asia-Pacific Studies (YCAPS)
Eric Ang is a a research fellow with the Yokosuka Council on Asia Pacific Studies (YCAPS) and a PhD student from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS). His research interest focuses on maritime security in Southeast Asia, and includes preventing Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and combating fisheries-related crimes, civil-military responses to Maritime Security challenges such as Theft Robbery And Piracy at Sea (TRAPS), maritime-terrorism, and protection of critical maritime infrastructure, as well as maritime information sharing and domain awareness. He spent the past decade as a maritime security practitioner with work that has included reviewing and developing maritime security doctrines, guides, and procedures at the operational level, as well as the organisation and running of various seminars, and information-sharing exercises. Eric is also a Chartered Marine Technologist and member of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (CMarTech, MIMarEST) since 2014, and completed his MSc (International Relations) at RSIS in 2023.
KAT TOLOSA
Director for Governance and Resilience, The Asia Foundation
Kat Tolosa has more than 20 years of experience in security sector governance and reform, public safety policy reform, and peacebuilding. She has spearheaded various programs and research that directly contributed to defense and security policies and agendas. Kat is the Director for Governance and Resilience with The Asia Foundation. Among the projects she manages is Waypoints: Navigating Civil Maritime Security Reform in the Philippines, supported under the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Philippine Civil Maritime Security Program. Waypoints is a strategic initiative designed to assist the Philippine government and its citizens in strengthening its civil maritime security and governance. Waypoints supports local changemakers and reform leaders across government, civil society, and the private sector through the development of both institutional governance and operational capabilities within key maritime agencies. Waypoints likewise supports international collaboration and the exchange of best practices through high-level study visits and partnerships.Before joining the Foundation, she was the Founding Executive Director of Security Reform Initiative (SRI), an independent think tank focused on peace and security policy research and coalition building. he previously worked in various capacities with the Department of National Defense, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Office of the Executive Director for the Cabinet Cluster for Security, Justice, and Peace under the Office of the President.
ANDREAS ADITYA SALIM
Co-founder and Program Director, Indonesia Ocean Justice Initiative
Andreas earned a law degree from the Faculty of Law, University of Indonesia (2014) and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree from the University of California, Berkeley with a specialization in Environmental Law (2022).He is currently the Program Director for Maritime Security and Access to Justice at the Indonesia Ocean Justice Initiative. Previously, he was the legal counsel for the Task Force on the Eradication of Illegal Fishing formed by the President in 2015.Andreas is also an alumnus of the Rhodes Academy of Oceans Law and Policy (2016) and the United Nations-Nippon Foundation Fellowship Program (2019).
DR. JEMY GATDULA
Dean, Institute of Law, University of Asia and the Pacific
Jemy is a lawyer specializing in international law, constitutional law, and the philosophy of law. He is the Dean of the Institute of Law, as well as the Vice Chairman of the Operations Committee, of the School of Social Sciences, Law, and Governance of the University of Asia and the Pacific. He is an opinions columnist for BusinessWorld and Of Counsel for the Policarpio and Acorda Law Office.On scholarship from the Cambridge Overseas Trust, Jemy read international law at the University of Cambridge. Upon the invitation of the US State Department, he attended the Study of US Institutes (SUSI) program, focusing on constitutional law and political thought. He received his Doctor of Juridical Science degree from San Beda College, where his dissertation work focused on the natural law, the Philippine Constitution, and the limits of judicial power.He lectures on international law, international trade law, philosophy of law, and constitutional law for various governmental and academic institutions, including the Philippine Judicial Academy, the National Defense College, Congress, and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines. He has authored, co-authored, or edited books and articles on public international law, international economic law, and natural law.He continues to work on various issues relating to international law, international trade, national security and the law on armed conflict, and the Constitution.
DR. RAHMAN YAACOB
Research Fellow, Lowy Institute
Dr Abdul Rahman Yaacob is a Research Fellow in the Southeast Asia Program at the Lowy Institute. His research interests include Southeast Asia’s defence and security issues and the region’s relations with major powers.Before joining the Lowy Institute, Dr Rahman completed his PhD at the National Security College, Australian National University. His dissertation examined Singapore’s defence policy and analysed the broader strategic and security issues relating to ASEAN during the Cold War.His latest publication explores the strategic implications of the Cambodian Ream Naval Base, following his in-depth fieldwork to the kingdom. Dr Rahman examines how the base reflects growing Chinese influence and its impact on regional security dynamics.During his PhD program, Dr Rahman was a lead investigator on a project funded by a grant from the Australian Army Research Centre. The project focused on understanding Southeast Asian security concerns and explored the potential areas for closer defence cooperation between Australia and its northern neighbours.He is also an Academic Staff member and lectured in the ASEAN-Australia Defence Postgraduate Scholarship Program at the Strategic & Defence Studies Centre, ANU. From 2020 to 2023, he was a Teaching Fellow at the Australian Command and Staff Course, Australian War College.Before commencing his PhD program, Rahman served nearly 18 years with the Government of Singapore. He held various command and staff postings in security-related areas and received several awards, including Ministerial Awards for Operational Excellence and a Commendation for the Rejection of Bribe.
DR. AARON JED RABENA
Assistant Professor, University of the Philippines Asian Center
Dr. Aaron Jed Rabena is Assistant Professor at the Asian Center in the University of the Philippines. His areas of interest include Strategic Studies, Greater East Asian Geopolitics and Multilateral Politics, Political Risk, and Chinese Politics and Foreign Policy.
GEN. EMMANUEL BAUTISTA (RET., AFP)
Trustee, Foundation for National Interest
GENERAL EMMANUEL TRINIDAD BAUTISTA (Ret.) was the 44th Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines from January 2013 to July 2014. Shortly after retirement from the military service, he was appointed Undersecretary at the Office of the President, Malacañang from 01 September 2014 to 22 June 2020. As Undersecretary, he served as Executive Director of the Cabinet Cluster for Security, Justice, and Peace and was concurrently the Executive Director of the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea and Head of the National Task Force on the Whole of Nation Initiative. He was also part of the team that represented the Philippines in the South China Sea arbitration case filed before the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague.Currently, he is a Managing Director at the Ayala Corporation, President of the Hero Foundation and a member of the board of trustees of the Institute for Solidarity in Asia and the Foundation for National Interest. He is also a lecturer at the Development Academy of the Philippines, the National Defense College of the Philippines and the Ateneo School of Government.General Bautista is a graduate of Philippine Military Academy, Class of 1981, and is one of its outstanding alumni awardees; and of the University of the Philippines (U.P.), Diliman where he earned a Masters in Business Administration degree and was a recipient of the U.P. Alumni Association distinguished alumni award for peace and social cohesion.
JUSTIN BAQUISAL
National Security Analyst, F.A.C.T.S Asia
Mr. Justin Baquisal is a national security analyst at F.A.C.T.S. Asia and a regional lead analyst at Pinkerton Singapore. He was the 2024 Southeast Asia Young Leader Program (SEAYLP) Visiting Fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies and formerly a policy officer in the Philippine Department of National Defense and Presidential Management Staff. His policy research has focused on Philippine defense policy-planning, strategy management, and international defense partnerships.
DON MCLAIN GILL
Lecturer, Department of International Studies, De La Salle University
Don McLain Gill is a Filipino geopolitical analyst, author, and lecturer at the Department of International Studies, De La Salle University (DLSU). He is also a non-resident fellow at the Stratbase ADR Institute, a visiting senior fellow at the Impact and Policy Research Institute (IMPRI), and a research fellow at the USANAS Foundation. He specializes in Philippine foreign policy, maritime security cooperation, India-Southeast, and Indo-Pacific geopolitics. He has written in the form of books, book chapters, peer-reviewed international journal articles, newspaper columns, and commentary/ analysis articles for major international affairs.
JEROME JOGNO
Program Manager for Leadership and Strategic Communication, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Philippines
Jerome Jogno is a program manager at Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Philippines. He manages the foundation's youth empowerment portfolio, social media accounts, and website. He has ten years of experience building partnerships and orchestrating impactful conferences and events. He holds a master's degree in Philippine Studies, specializing in Philippine Development Studies from the University of the Philippines Diliman and a bachelor's degree in Consular and Diplomatic Affairs from De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, where he excelled as a scholar, graduating with honors.
PROF. RENE DE CASTRO
Distinguished Professor, De La Salle University
Renato Cruz De Castro is a distinguished professor at the Department of International Studies, De La Salle University, Manila, and holds the Dr. Aurelio Calderon Chair in Philippines-American Relations. He has written over 100 articles on international relations and security that have been published in several scholarly journals and edited works in the Philippines, Japan, South Korea, Canada, Malaysia, France, Singapore, Taiwan, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Australia, and the United States. In 2019, the Board of Trustees of the Philippine Political Science Association (PPSA) announced that Professor De Castro is the most prolific Filipino Political Scientist in terms of scholarly publication and one of the top 10 Filipino Political Scientists in terms of several citations. The 2022 AD Scientific Index ranked him 92nd among the top 100 scientists in the Philippines and one of the top 50 Social Scientists in the country. AD Scientific Index also ranked him as the number one Filipino Political Scientist in publications and citations. On December 20, 2024, the AFP Chief-of-Staff, Lt. General Romeo Brawner Jr. awarded Professor De Castro with the Sandigan AFP Stakeholder Award for his “extensive research, public education initiatives, and active involvement in institutions has significantly played a fundamental role in advancing the knowledge of regional security dynamics and its implications for Philippine sovereignty and regional security.”He earned his Ph.D. from the Government and International Studies Department of the University of South Carolina as a Fulbright Scholar in 2001.
DR. ROBIN MICHAEL GARCIA
President, WR Advisory Group
Dr. Robin Michael Garcia is a political scientist. academic, and public affairs adviser. He is President and CEO of WR Advisory Group a public affairs firm, and the Founder and Chairman of its opinion research arm, WR Numero Research. He is also an Associate Professor at the Ateneo School of Government of the Ateneo de Manila University.He obtained a PhD in International Politics from Fudan University in Shanghai, a Master of Public Administration from the University of the Philippines, and a bachelor's degree in Development Studies from De La Salle University. He is an Eisenhower Global Fellow in 2023 and a Visiting Scholar at the Perry World House at the University of Pennsylvania.
SOPHIYA NAVARRO
Program Manager for Security and Innovation, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Philippines
Ms. Sophiya Navarro is the Program Manager for Security and Innovation at the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Philippines.She is the editor of several KAS publications and has authored articles for KAS, Rappler, the Ateneo de Manila University - School of Government (ASOG), and 9DashLine, covering various topics on security and governance.Sophiya holds a Bachelor’s degree in Diplomacy and International Relations with a specialization in East and Southeast Asian Studies, as well as a Minor in Literature (English) from the Ateneo de Manila University, where she graduated with honors in 2018 under a full scholarship.
TONETTE DE JESUS
Senior Program Manager for Governance and Foreign Relations, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung
Ms. Tonette de Jesus is the Senior Program Manager for Governance and Foreign Relations at the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Philippines. Prior to her work at KAS, she was a Political Economy Consultant for the Philippine Governance Advisory Team at the World Bank Office in the Philippines, Program Manager for the Asian Development Bank-Asian Institute of Management Knowledge Hub, and Research Officer at the International Rice Research Institute. She has authored chapters for and edited international and regional security publications. Her opinion pieces as an international development practitioner have been featured in Rappler and the 9DashLine. After earning her bachelor’s degree in Management Economics (Merit Scholar) from the Ateneo de Manila University and a brief stint in the corporate world, Tonette pursued her master’s degree in International Political Economy and Development, specializing in International and Development Economics, from Fordham University, where she received the Matteo Ricci Award for Outstanding Scholastic Achievement.