ONE of Singapore's most notable diplomats, academics, and thought leaders headlines the 50th Philippine Business Conference and Expo (PBC&E) on Oct. 22 and 23 at the Marriott Grand Ballroom, Pasay City.

Prof. Kishore Mahbubani is known for his contributions in the fields of international relations and diplomacy, particularly in areas of Asian politics and global governance.

Jude Aguilar, chairman of the 50th PBC&E announced the confirmation of Prof. Mahbubani, who will discuss and share his insights on the factors that have enabled Asia to influence and shape the new era for its economies and the world.

"We are glad he accepted our invitation. It will certainly be an interesting and thought-provoking session hosted by former BBC news anchor Rico Hizon," Aguilar said.

The session will also explore the key priorities in the domestic agenda for Asia's emerging countries as they forge ahead in the "Asian Century."

Mahbubani has dedicated five decades of his life to public service at the Singapore Administrative Service, as founding dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (NUS), and a distinguished fellow at the Asia Research Institute at NUS.

He was the second Singaporean to be elected as an honorary international member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, which has honored distinguished thinkers, including several of America's Founding Fathers, since 1780.

He is a prolific author, having published 10 books: "Can Asians Think?," "Beyond The Age Of Innocence," "The New Asian Hemisphere," "The Great Convergence," "Can Singapore Survive?" (updated version in December 2021), "The Asean Miracle" (co-authored with Jeffery Sng), "Has the West Lost It? Has China Won?," T"he Asian 21st Century" and his latest book, a memoir titled "Living the Asian Century," released in August 2024.

Mahbubani will be launching his memoir at the sidelines of PBC&E.