USJ FBL Co-organizes Inaugural Asia Economics and Policy Forum 2026 in Singapore
USJ FBL Co-organizes Inaugural Asia Economics and Policy Forum 2026 in Singapore
14
Aug
14/08/2026
Under the overarching theme “Green Growth, Financing and Building a Sustainable Future,” AEPF2026 brought together academics, researchers, policy practitioners, and students to explore how economic policy and financial innovation can drive inclusive decarbonization across Asia and the world.
The Faculty of Business and Law (FBL) at the University of Saint Joseph (USJ), Macao, played a central co-organizing role in the successful launch of the inaugural Asia Economics and Policy Forum (AEPF2026). Held as a hybrid conference on 28 to 29 July 2026, at the Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium, the event was organized by East Asia Research with the strategic support of the FBL.
Under the overarching theme “Green Growth, Financing and Building a Sustainable Future,” AEPF2026 brought together academics, researchers, policy practitioners, and students from across the globe to explore how economic policy and financial innovation can drive inclusive decarbonization across Asia and beyond.
USJ Leadership Highlights Sustainable Business and Policy Innovations
The conference was co-chaired by two prominent academic leaders from USJ’s Faculty of Business and Law:
- Prof. Florence Lei, Coordinator for the Sustainable Business Lab, served as Conference Co-Chair and delivered a keynote presentation titled “China’s ‘Dual Carbon’ Goals: A Survey of Industry Perspectives.” For Dr. Lei, the forum marked a meaningful personal milestone—returning to the platform as Co-Chair after first participating in the Asia-Pacific Conference on Economics & Finance (APEF) in 2019.
- Prof. Jenny Oliveros Phillips, Dean of FBL, also served as Conference Co-Chair, presenting her keynote on “Drivers of Social Enterprises in Macao and the Dominance of the Hybrid Model,” sparking critical dialogue on social entrepreneurship and sustainable business practices.
Global Academic Impact & High-Level Publications
AEPF2026 featured 17 research presentations delivered by 42 researchers representing 11 countries, demonstrating significant international participation in public policy, green finance, and interdisciplinary sustainability research.
To ensure lasting academic impact, selected high-quality papers presented at AEPF2026 will be published in a forthcoming volume by Springer Nature, titled Advances in Economics and Policy Research – Green Growth and Sustainable Future in Asia.
Nurturing the Next Generation: Undergraduate Research Conference (URC)
A major highlight of this year’s forum was the inaugural launch of the Undergraduate Research Conference (URC), held concurrently with the main sessions. Student researchers from Saint Louis University and the University of St. La Salle showcased their sustainability projects during an interactive poster presentation.
Special recognition was given to faculty mentors Dr. Norea Causing, Dr. Michael Baylosis (University of St. La Salle), and Dr. Karlo Dacanay (Saint Louis University) for leading and mentoring the student delegation, helping cultivate the next generation of scholars.
Looking Ahead to AEPF2027
The successful collaboration between USJ’s FBL and East Asia Research lays a strong foundation for future initiatives. The USJ Sustainable Business Lab of the Faculty of Business and Law plans to continue its role as a key co-organizer for future iterations of the forum.
Organizer appreciation was extended to Mr. Anthony Tan and the team at East Asia Research, as well as all reviewers, presenters, and participants who contributed to this inaugural success.
Preparations are already underway for AEPF2027, which will return to Singapore in July 2027.
