Li Foundation (“LIF”) was cordially invited to the Business and Philanthropy Forum 2021 on the 13th December, joining more than 200 physical audiences who turned up at the Shangri-La Hotel – Island Ballroom. This year’s hybrid main conference was livestreamed globally with English-Chinese simultaneous interpretation.
Driven by the vast needs for family successions and strong policy push, more and more mega family foundations, businesses and charitable trusts in Asia are being created as a means for the ultra-rich to give back to the society. At the same time, the ESG and impact investment movement has now become the mainstream in wealth and asset management, with a philosophy that seeks to generate more holistic positive returns in the environment, economy, and society.
100 global guest speakers were invited to share on the following main themes that were discussed in this year’s event:
Special guest, Minister Desmond Tan, Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs & Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment gave an opening address on Redefining Today: Philanthropy and Succession. Guest-of-honour, Minister Masagos Zulkifli, Minister for Social and Family Development and Second Minister for Health, joined us in the forum official dinner reception program. He spoke about sustaining a society of opportunities, and the important role they play as part of a caring community that actively gives back and uplifts those with less.
“Collectively, we can better support our communities through impactful philanthropy and partnerships, as we nurture and build lives together.”
– Minister Masagos Zulkifli
The Global Asia Philanthropy Leaders Program was also launched on this day. First fellow, Mr. Miao Shiming Founder of WABC, gave us a presentation on the “Different Socks Day”, an event launched in 2016, advocating the public to express their tolerance and acceptance of people with autism, cerebral palsy, down syndrome and other mental retardation and their families on December 23 every year through the act of “wearing two different socks”, and to arouse more public empathy and courage to speak out for being different.
It was indeed an insightful event for the LIF team, listening and learning from the guest speakers and renowned panels covering a wide range of topics in many aspects. Being there in-person has also allowed us to meet fellow philanthropists we know and not forgetting the opportunity to make new friends.
LIF hopes to actively explore the synergies across philanthropy and for greater purposes with the network of global visionaries and family foundations to better steward beyond many generations in promoting philanthropy collaborations.
Founded in 2015 in Singapore, AFG provides philanthropy and impact investment advisory in servicing families, foundations, firms, and financial institutions in Asia.
The book showcases how the participants challenged their limits and conquered the World Marathon Challenge and North Pole Marathon to inspire people to challenge their own limits and pursue their dreams boldly.
The book tells the stories behind the event which saw the largest number of people in history running 1045km round Taiwan in 19 days.
