Asia Philanthropy Circle’s annual event: venn2025 unfolded as something far more intimate than a conventional convening. What felt like a homecoming brought together more than 120 members, partners, and friends from across the ecosystem to explore a shared conviction: that systems change is deeply personal. The day opened with candid reflections from seasoned philanthropists Fernando Zobel de Ayala, Victor Hartono, and Liu Xin, who shared the personal “why” behind their giving journeys. Their honesty — about beginnings, lessons learnt, and the long view required for meaningful change — set a tone of openness and trust that carried through the rest of the gathering.
That spirit deepened through the Human Library sessions, which centred listening as a practice for understanding systems change. Now Gen and Next Gen members were paired to reflect on how giving evolves across generations, while practitioners and community leaders brought lived experience into the room. From ground-up systems change in Cambodia, to the collective effort behind an ethical migration pathway for Bangladeshi workers to Singapore, to candid conversations within the climate-focused book that surfaced often-unspoken dynamics of power and relationships, APC venn2025 highlighted a simple truth: lasting change happens when we move beyond working for communities, and commit instead to working alongside them.
Lionel, Founder and Chairman of Li Foundation has been an APC member since 2018. He has the honor to share with the group over dinner 2 key lessons that defined his journey with APC: APC is a platform where miracles can happen and how APC has shown him the power of collaboration.
“As we reflect on ten years of learning, partnership, and meaningful change, I am deeply inspired by the possibilities ahead. From its beginnings, APC has grown into a trusted, action-oriented platform for Asian philanthropists and I am excited for what more it can achieve. Here’s to APC’s growth — and to the next ten years of even greater impact!”
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.