As Asia faces a dramatic demographic shift driven by lower fertility rates and longer life expectancies, ageing is no longer just a health issue — it’s a societal transformation. How will societies change as they age, and how can we embrace the opportunities involved?
Jerome, Project Associate at Li Foundation attended the inaugural cross-border DBS Foundation Impact Beyond Dialogue held in Singapore on 8 July. Delegates from China and Singapore’s public, private, and social sectors gathered to explore how we might reimagine ageing through cross-border collaboration and innovation. Speakers included policymakers like Ministry of Health’s Director of Aged Care Services Martin Chew, business leaders like DBS China CEO Ginger Cheng, and non-profit leaders like Head of DBS Foundation Karen Ngui and Founder and Chief Expert at Ageing Social Research Centre (Pangoal Institution) Liang Chun Xiao. The event also featured social enterprises supported by the DBS Impact Grant, such as Huakang Health Industry Group (China) and Buddy of Parents (Singapore), which shared how their solutions could contribute to a safer and more empowering ageing experience for the elderly.
As one in four people in Asia will be over 60 by 2050, these conversations have never been more urgent. The session underscored a shared belief: that longevity can be an opportunity — not just a challenge — if we empower seniors to age with dignity, purpose, and joy.
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.