A remarkable group of leaders from across Southeast Asia has embarked on a transformative journey—one that has challenged them to reimagine leadership, navigate complexity, and deepen their commitment to building a more just and inclusive Southeast Asia. Today, we celebrate the first  Southeast Asia Acumen Fellows cohort: a community of bold, values-driven builders who are already reshaping their communities and countries.

From reimagining education to strengthening healthcare, from expanding access to fair economic opportunities to championing sustainability, these Fellows are tackling some of the region’s most urgent challenges. They represent diverse experiences, expertise, and sectors—spanning education reform, youth development, environmental sustainability, and social entrepreneurship.

Throughout the Fellowship, they have wrestled with questions of moral leadership, adaptive change, and collective action. They have built deep bonds of trust, learned to hold tensions with courage, and honed their ability to lead. More than just a program, this Fellowship has been a shared commitment to accompany each other on the long road of impact—one that does not end here but continues as they step into their next chapter.

As they join Acumen’s global community of over 1,800 alumni, this cohort takes with them not only new insights and skills but also the conviction that change happens through relationships, resilience, and radical hope. We can’t wait to see what they continue to build.

Meet the Southeast Asia Acumen Fellows and learn more about their work.

Dr. Andrew is the director and co-founder of Autrui Global. Autrui (pronounced “Al-Troo-I”) is inspired by the Old French word that means ‘others; other people; someone else.’ Autrui Global was founded in 2019 with the vision to close the healthcare gap for refugees and asylum seekers through a sustainable and inclusive approach. Dr. Andrew has been involved in numerous humanitarian trips since his days as a medical student and has continued to pursue his passion of giving back to the community through healthcare.

Angela is a Chinese-Canadian based in Southeast Asia and the co-founder of Eskwelabs, an online school launched in 2019 to expand access to data skills education. Recognized as a HolonIQ Top 50 EdTech startup, Eskwelabs builds strategic partnerships to empower diverse learners for digital work. Angela is now leading large-scale, philanthropy-funded initiatives aimed at equipping 1 million learners in the Philippines with future-ready skills by 2030. Previously, she worked in impact investing, focusing on project financing in climate resilience and biodiversity. Angela has spoken at Economist and World Economic Forum summits and studied Finance and Economics at the University of Toronto. 

Fatiha, a dedicated mental health social entrepreneur, has been committed to making a meaningful impact in the field of mental health and well-being. Driven by a desire to enhance access to mental health resources and support, Fatiha co-founded SAPOT which is a mental health social startup and leads a series of community-based programs that directly address the needs of vulnerable populations. As an advocate for mental health equity, she champions a proactive approach to mental health awareness, striving to break down barriers to treatment and reduce stigma. Recognizing the importance of early intervention and comprehensive mental health education, Fatiha's work actively contributes to the betterment of mental health services, touching the lives of many in the process.

As Chief Strategy Officer at Bright Spots Energy, Hakim drives solar financing and energy access in Singapore and Malaysia. Bright Spots Energy is a renewable energy company that develops and adapts innovative solutions to drive systemic change, connecting real-world needs with project ideas and financing to launch impactful businesses. Hakim leads fundraising efforts for home solar subscriptions and champions inclusive, impact-driven business models that prioritize equitable access to clean energy. A passionate advocate for Just Energy Transition, he works closely with Indigenous communities to ensure these solutions empower those who need it most.

Ilham has been part of the Indonesian Pole & Line and Handline Fisheries Association (AP2HI) since its establishment. A graduate of international relations from Padjadjaran University, he has grown alongside the association, gaining deep insights into the fisheries industry. Starting as an administration officer, he played a key role in conducting training programs for fishers. Over the years, his experience and dedication have led him to his current role as technical and management support manager, where he continues to strengthen the industry through capacity-building initiatives.

James is the Special Functions Officer (Policy) at the Ministry of Economy, where he has been involved in end-to-end implementation of key structural reforms for Malaysia, including the 5-year Malaysia Plan, energy transition, innovation (startups and semiconductors), wages, and inequality. James has written extensively on politics and policy, both domestically and internationally, in short-form columns and long-form academic papers for ISEAS Yusof-Ishak Institute. He is also the author of a book about underdogs, called Sang Kancil (mousedeer), published by Penguin Random House SEA. He graduated from Oxford University and Queen Mary University as a winner of multiple book prizes.

Jeff is the founder and executive chairman of Mayani, an agtech startup in the Philippines. By building a sustainable pathway to market, Mayani is uplifting the lives of Filipino smallholder farmers and fisherfolk, the very people who feed the nation yet are at most risk of going hungry. Jeff is an entrepreneur who loves his country and is committed to directing business know-how to drive positive social impact.

Kee is a mental health and neurodivergent advocate who strongly believes in the importance of early intervention. She holds a BSc in psychology (Hons) from the University of Sheffield and an MSc in clinical psychology from the National University of Malaysia. With experience in both private and public healthcare and education settings, she has worked across diverse age groups covering a wide range of issues. As the founder of Ripple Community, a social enterprise, Joey is dedicated to providing accessible and affordable behavioral healthcare through in-person and virtual services via a web application called Early Minds.

Ken is a social impact leader with over 15 years of experience in public and private sector programs and projects. He left his corporate job to pursue a career in social impact with Teach For Malaysia, as a public school English teacher in an underperforming rural school. He then led the talent acquisition team to recruit hundreds of inspiring leaders to teach and today, through partnership and innovation, has fundraised over RM10 million for new programs impacting over 11,000 students, teachers, volunteers, and social impact leaders across Malaysia. He is passionate about bringing new ideas to life and hopes to continue growing a movement for social change to enable quality education for all children in Malaysia.

L.J. currently serves as the division chief of the performance monitoring and strategy management at the Department of Health Philippines. Driven by a passion for universal healthcare, L.J. advocates for national policies that ensure all Filipinos have access to quality healthcare while being protected from financial hardship. L.J. is a Global Atlantic Fellow of the Atlantic Institute, a Senior Fellow of the George Washington University, and a Fellow of the International Society for Quality in Health Care. He. holds a master’s degree in public health from the University of the Philippines.

Mavie is the CEO of Teach for the Philippines, a nonprofit organization that works to transform the country's education system by developing future leaders who improve learning outcomes for Filipino children. She has over 15 years of experience in various fields, including media, government, business, and development, and is passionate about solving problems, learning new things, and driving innovation. Her goal is to make a positive and lasting difference in the communities that Teach for the Philippines serves.

Patrya is the founding CEO of INSPIRASI Foundation, an Indonesian nonprofit with a mission to improve school leadership in the country. The organization researches and provides capacity building to more than 1,000 school leaders throughout Indonesia. Patrya’s previous experience covers the intersection of policy, politics, and development, including being a teacher for the Teach for Indonesia program, researcher for J-PAL and the World Bank, and staff for the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Jakarta provincial government. Patrya holds a Master's in Public Policy from LKY School, NUS and London School of Economics. 

Pin is currently the Business Development and Partnership Lead at Generation Thailand, where she connects partners from the public and private sectors to secure resources that support learners in their employability programs. Her focus is on creating partnerships that bridge the gap between employment and education, including expanding employability improvement initiatives under Thailand’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation. Pin also co-founded CareerVisa, a social startup that supports youth in career development. Before starting her social entrepreneurship journey, Pin worked as a sustainability consultant, advising companies on strategic communication. Pin is recognized as an AVPN Youth Leader 2022 and an Obama Foundation Asia-Pacific Leader 2023.

Reuben is associate director of programs at Philanthropy Asia Alliance, a Temasek Trust initiative focused on mobilizing collaborative philanthropy to support climate, health, and education projects across the Asia Pacific. In this role, he manages a portfolio of grants and oversees their impact. An avid reader,  Reuben holds a Bachelor of Science in Philosophy and Economics.

Ruffa is a co-founder and CEO of Uplift Code Camp, an organization that empowers individuals with the skills to build meaningful technology careers. She is a software engineer with 10 years of experience building solutions for underserved communities. Ruffa graduated from the University of the Philippines with a Bachelor’s in Electronics and Communications Engineering.

Terence believes that every person has a unique call towards a fulfilled life. Currently, he is the co-founder of Wiki Impact - an online media platform dedicated to impact work in Malaysia. After 10 years of working in the digital tech space, Terence returned home to Malaysia to help develop communities in rural areas, namely in Battambang, Cambodia, and Sabah, Malaysia. Since 2014, the journey has taken Terence to grow and build communities towards sustainability and regeneration. With a Masters in Sustainable Development, he also runs Built To Last, a training and development organization in Sabah that prepares graduates for work readiness.

Theresa has worked with Reef Check Malaysia since 2018. Currently, she is the chief operating officer at the organization, providing strategic leadership, establishing the organization as a thought leader in sustainable marine resource management, and building sustainable relationships and collaborations with other organizations. She has a Bachelor’s of International Studies and BA (Anthropology) and has participated in several international exchange and educational programs.

Willie is the founder and managing director of Global Cerah, an agri-tech startup founded in 2018 that integrates organic waste management and the production of alternative feeds and fertilizers into a sustainable solution supported by IoT. Using his leadership skills and expertise in the corporate world, Willie founded this solution to build a circular economy and enhance food security in the Southeast Asia region. Leading a team, he educates local farmers about the interconnection of the circular economy and proper waste management to sustain long-lasting impacts on the environment. He graduated from the Australian National University with a master’s degree in accounting. Willie is also recognized as a 2024 Meaningful Business 100 (MB100) Honoree, 2024 Fellow of Westerwelle Foundation Young Founders and 2022 Eco-Business A-List Awardee.