🚀 Introducing the First-Ever Regional Alumni Board of JA Asia Pacific, part of the Alumni Leaders Academy Global 🌍
We are proud to welcome to the Alumni Leaders Academy Global (ALAG) the first-ever cohort of the Regional Alumni Board members of JA Asia Pacific, marking a significant step forward in strengthening alumni leadership across one of the most diverse regions in the world.
Following a focused, targeted and intentional selection process, over 35 applications were received from across the region. Around a dozen leaders were shortlisted, with 6 exceptional alumni selected to form the founding board, each representing a unique country, perspective, and leadership journey.
🌱 A First Step Toward Regional Leadership in Asia Pacific
The establishment of the Regional Alumni Board of JA Asia Pacific represents a new foundation for regional alignment and collaboration.
Spanning Hong Kong, the Philippines, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore, this board reflects the richness and diversity of the Asia Pacific region, while coming together under a shared vision:
✨ To build, connect, and activate alumni communities across borders.
As part of the JA Global Alumni Community’s evolving focus areas, this initiative is designed to:
- Strengthen regional leadership structures
- Enable cross-country collaboration
- Support the growth of alumni networks from the ground up
🎓 A Two-Day Onboarding Designed for Alignment and Action
The onboarding journey, conducted collaboratively by JA Worldwide and JA Asia Pacific, was intentionally designed as a focused, high-impact two-day experience.
Day 1: Vision, Context, and Global Alignment
The journey began with a regional briefing led by Kirk Kenny (COO, JA Asia Pacific), who welcomed the leaders and shared the broader vision and priorities of JA Asia Pacific, grounding the board in the region’s direction and opportunities ahead.
This was followed by a global session led by Dana Khairallah (Global Alumni Community Manager, JA Worldwide), introducing:
- The global JA Alumni movement
- Updated focus areas and strategic direction
- Key initiatives and tools, including the Gather platform
- The three pillars guiding the Alumni Leaders Academy Global:
- Governance
- Connection
- Innovation
This session set the tone for alignment, emphasizing that while regions lead locally, they are part of a globally connected ecosystem.
Day 2: Leadership in Practice
The second day, led by Sheila Ganesan (Regional Director of Communications & Marketing, JA Asia Pacific), focused on deepening connection and ownership within the group.
Through open dialogue and reflection, leaders explored:
- What it means to build a regional alumni network from scratch
- How to create structures that are both practical and scalable
- The importance of visibility, engagement, and shared identity
From the conversations, one idea stood out clearly:
💬 Strong systems run in the background but connection is what people experience.
🤝 Meet the Leaders
This inaugural board brings together six leaders, each representing a different country across Asia Pacific:
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Matthew Hui (President) 🇭🇰:
A student of Marketing Analytics and Finance at The University of Hong Kong, Matthew is a driven alumni leader with a strong track record in building and activating communities. As former Alumni President of JA Hong Kong, he led the establishment of alumni chapters and regional engagement initiatives, bringing a strategic and forward-thinking approach to alumni leadership.
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Trizia “Trish” Magalino (Vice President) 🇵🇭:
A Registered Marketing Professional and Consulting Project Manager, Trish brings over a decade of experience across marketing, education, and strategy. With a strong background in both corporate and development sectors, she is deeply committed to youth leadership, regional collaboration, and nation-building.
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Aditi Goyal (Secretary General) 🇮🇳:
An economics scholar and dedicated community builder, Aditi combines strong strategic and organizational leadership with a passion for global youth engagement. A former JA India Alumni Network President and Regional Champion, she has actively represented the region in global forums and is committed to fostering cross-cultural collaboration across Asia Pacific.
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Devishi Uthaya Sankar (Treasurer) 🇲🇾:
A part-qualified ICAEW Chartered Accountant and auditor at MustaphaRaj PLT, Vishi brings strong financial expertise and a deep passion for numbers. Having held multiple leadership roles within JA Malaysia Alumni, she now contributes her experience to strengthening financial stewardship and sustainable operations at a regional level.
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Jocelyn Lau (Communications & Marketing Officer) 🇮🇩:
An emerging business leader and International Business Management student at BINUS University, Jocelyn brings a strong interest in global trade and entrepreneurship. Through her active participation in business competitions and JA programs, she leverages communication and marketing to support and amplify alumni engagement across Asia Pacific.
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Shyakirah Ummi Nadhilah (Community Manager & Engagement Lead) 🇸🇬:
A youth leader and programme professional, Shyakirah is passionate about education, sustainability, and community impact. With experience in program management and youth-led innovation, she brings a strong focus on engagement, partnership-building, and creating meaningful alumni experiences across the region.
🔍 From Foundation to Activation
Unlike more mature regions, the Asia Pacific board begins its journey from the ground up, creating an opportunity to design systems, structures, and experiences intentionally from day one.
The focus now shifts toward:
- Defining regional priorities and initiatives
- Building connections across countries
- Establishing sustainable engagement models
- Preparing to present their first collective project in the coming weeks
This phase is not just about planning, it is about activation.
🌐 Part of a Growing Global Movement
The Regional Alumni Board of JA Asia Pacific is part of a broader global shift toward stronger alumni leadership structures.
Alongside Asia Pacific, regional boards are also active or emerging across:
- JA Americas Alumni
- JA Africa Alumni
- JA Alumni Europe
Together, these leaders form a globally connected ecosystem: one that enables collaboration across regions, shared learning, and collective momentum toward a more unified alumni experience worldwide.
✨ Looking Ahead
With the onboarding journey still unfolding and key sessions ahead, this marks the activation of a new layer of leadership within the JA Alumni movement.
One that is not only built to lead only, but to connect, represent, and empower alumni across borders, contexts, and communities.
As these leaders step into their roles, they carry forward a shared responsibility: to shape what alumni leadership looks like today and what it can become tomorrow.