1 Billion Interactions. One Engineering Vision.

Where Strategy, AI, and Engineering Shape Everyday Life

June 23, 2026

9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Shangri-la The Fort, BGC

Overview

FROM INVISIBLE SYSTEMS TO VISIBLE IMPACT

Most technology conferences talk about innovation.

This one makes its impact visible.

Every decision in AI, engineering, and platforms shapes real moments across millions of lives.

Through “A Day in the Life of a Consumer,” we reveal how invisible systems power everyday experiences and how technology platforms engineered by Ascendion show up in the moments that matter.

This is not about technology in theory.

It is about moving AI from pilot to scale, turning systems into outcomes, and building trust, quality, and performance into every experience.

Because ultimately:

What you build is not just technology. It is impact at scale.

Abstract blue and green digital lines for AI engineering.

Technology Execution

THIS SUMMIT CONNECTS

Enterprise Strategy

Real Human Outcomes

Key Learning Takeaways

A clear path from AI pilots → enterprise-scale execution

Understanding of agentic AI and AI-native engineering

How to build trust, quality, and reliability into AI systems

How to transform GCCs into AI innovation hubs

A leadership framework for human + AI operating models

Speakers & Panelists

Manan Mehta

SVP, Head of APAC
Ascendion

Manan Mehta is the Senior Vice President and APAC Head at Ascendion, where he orchestrates digital transformation for Global 2000 enterprises. With over 15 years of leadership experience, Manan has been instrumental in scaling Ascendion’s presence in the Philippines, recently spearheading a landmark expansion aimed at creating 6,000 new jobs and delivering an estimated $500 million in economic impact.

A strategic partner to over 50 of the country’s leading corporations, he specializes in evolving traditional GCCs into Agentic Enterprises that deliver high-value business outcomes through intelligence-led engineering.

Manan’s leadership has not only expanded Ascendion’s local footprint but has also positioned the Philippines as a primary global delivery hub for complex software engineering, bridging the gap between talent readiness and high-impact global demand.

Dharam Gurbani

Chief Growth Officer
Ascendion

Dharam Gurbani drives growth in some of the world’s most competitive markets. As Chief Growth Officer for UK, Europe, APAC, and India at Ascendion, he leads revenue acceleration, market penetration, and operational scale, advancing our strategy as a breakout leader in AI-native software engineering.

With over 20 years of leadership across retail, consumer goods, manufacturing, and technology, Dharam has built and led billion-dollar P&Ls, transformed global operations, and delivered sustained growth at LTIMindtree, Mindtree, and Essentra. He has a proven track record of turning market complexity into competitive advantage and translating client needs into AI-powered business outcomes.

Known for building trust, moving fast, and delivering measurable results, Dharam plays a central role in Ascendion’s ambition to redefine value creation for clients— blending platforms, AI, and human ingenuity to improve speed, quality, cost, and risk.

Paul Roehrig, PhD

Chief Strategy & Marketing Officer
Ascendion

Paul Roehrig is the Chief Strategy & Marketing Officer at Ascendion, guiding its breakthrough as a powerhouse in AI-native software engineering.

Previously, Paul served as Global Head of Strategy and Growth for Cognizant Digital Business & Technology and was a member of Cognizant’s Executive Leadership Team. He also founded the Center for the Future of Work, was a Principal Analyst at Forrester Research, and held global service delivery roles at Hewlett-Packard. He co-authored the award-winning, best-selling books Monster, What To Do When Machines Do Everything, and Code Halos.

Paul is a sought-after speaker at public, academic, and industry events. His work regularly appears in Forbes, Fast Company, The Wall Street Journal, and other leading publications.

Vaibhav Vora

Chief Technology Officer & Global Head of Solutions
Ascendion

Vaibhav Vora is a technology and business leader with deep expertise in AI-powered software engineering, digital transformation, enterprise modernization, and strategic technology consulting. As Chief Technology Officer and Global Head of Solutions for Growth Markets at Ascendion, he partners with global enterprises to shape technology strategy, accelerate innovation, and drive measurable business outcomes through AI-native engineering and platform-led transformation. Based in London, Vaibhav brings a strong blend of executive leadership, client advisory, and hands-on technology vision across industries including financial services, consumer goods, healthcare, and retail.

With a focus on scaling enterprise transformation through agentic AI, cloud modernization, platform engineering, and agentic operating models, Vaibhav is passionate about helping organizations move from experimentation to real-world business impact. He has been instrumental in positioning AI as a strategic business capability, enabling enterprises to modernize legacy ecosystems, improve engineering velocity, and create differentiated digital experiences at scale. Recognized for his ability to bridge business strategy with emerging technologies, Vaibhav is a strong advocate for innovation-led growth, collaborative leadership, and building future-ready engineering organizations.

Jack Madrid

President and CEO
Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines

As President and CEO of the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines, Jack leads the industry’s efforts to strengthen the Philippines’ position as one of the world’s premier destinations for global business services and global capability centers. Under his leadership, the industry has accelerated its shift toward higher-value, AI-enabled, and knowledge-intensive services while reinforcing the country’s competitiveness on the global stage.

Jack is a seasoned business and technology executive with more than three decades of leadership experience spanning digital transformation, media, technology, financial services, and corporate strategy. Prior to joining IBPAP, he served as Country Manager of Yahoo! and Multiply Philippines, where he led both companies' commercial operations and brand expansion in the Philippines. Jack also held senior leadership roles at Dell, MTV as Managing Director and launched the iconic youth brand in the country; Ayala Corporation as Managing Director for Strategic Planning and Citibank, where he held regional leadership roles in corporate banking in Hong Kong and the Philippines.

Winnie T. Rebancos

Technology Director and Chief Information Officer
Coca-Cola Europacific Aboitiz Philippines

Winnie is the Chief Information Officer and is part of the senior leadership team of Coca-Cola Europacific Aboitiz Philippines. She leads the organization’s technology strategy, driving digital transformation and enterprise modernization to enable sustainable business growth and operational excellence.

Winnie is recognized as a technology leader shaping the future of digital enterprises and has been consistently honored by CIO100 (IDG/Foundry Group) and the Global CIO Forum (CIO200) since 2020, recognizing her impact in driving innovation, strengthening organizational resiliency, and influencing rapid change across Southeast Asia and Hongkong. She is also recognized as a thought leader in global and local Technology forums.

She currently sits as a Board Director of KauSAP, the SAP user group organization in the Philippines. Passionate about people and leadership, Winnie is deeply committed to mentoring emerging leaders and advancing women in technology.

Froilan Rabatan

AVP and Head of HK Market Delivery
Sun Life Global Solutions

Froilan Rabatan is a senior technology executive with over 20 years of experience leading large-scale digital transformation, enterprise platforms, and global technology delivery. As AVP and Head of Market Delivery for Hong Kong at Sun Life Global Solutions, he leads the delivery of business-critical technology solutions that enhance customer experience and drive growth across one of Sun Life’s key markets.

He partners closely with the HK market IT and Digital leadership, to align technology strategy with business priorities, while driving execution across global teams spanning Asia IT, delivery centers, and Centers of Excellence. His leadership focuses on innovation, operational excellence, and building high-performing teams capable of delivering at scale with accountability and discipline.

Froilan brings deep experience across cloud transformation, product innovation, and enterprise delivery, having held senior leadership roles at Accenture, Asticom, Concepcion Industry Corp. and Hewlett-Packard.

At the intersection of technology and business, he is particularly passionate about scaling intelligent systems responsibly — ensuring trust, governance, and performance are embedded into every solution to deliver real-world impact at scale.

Jennifer Lumbao

Asia Technology Head

Sun Life Global Solutions

Jennifer Lumbao is the Asia Technology Head at Sun Life Global Solutions, where she leads the strategy, development, and execution of enterprise technology solutions across the region. With more than 25 years of experience in software engineering, application development, and infrastructure services, Jennifer plays a pivotal role in enabling scalable, secure, and future‑ready platforms that support Sun Life’s global businesses.

A seasoned technology leader, she oversees diverse portfolios spanning digital delivery, core systems, data, analytics, and emerging technologies. Jennifer is known for building high‑performing, globally distributed teams and for driving complex, large‑scale initiatives that modernize legacy systems while accelerating innovation across markets in Asia, North America, and beyond.

Through her leadership, Sun Life Global Solutions continues to strengthen its position as a critical global delivery hub, advancing technology capabilities that bridge business needs with long‑term enterprise transformation and operational excellence.

Kadra Saeed

Director of Digital for Development Operations

Asian Development Bank

Kadra Saeed is the Director of Digital for Development Operations at the Asian Development Bank (ADB), where she leads the Bank’s digital transformation agenda across sector, thematic, and knowledge operations. She oversees the advancement of ADB’s digital, data, and AI capabilities to strengthen development effectiveness, institutional performance, and innovation.

With over 20 years of leadership experience across technology, consulting, financial services, and international development, Kadra has led the design and execution of enterprise digital, data, and AI strategies. She has played a pivotal role in establishing ADB’s enterprise AI and data capabilities, embedding responsible AI governance, and scaling digital solutions that support decision-making, operational delivery, and knowledge services across the Bank.

Ed Martin Sianghio

Head of Data Transformation and Innovation

BPI Philippines

Data analytics and AI leader with over 15 years of progressive experience spanning global banking institutions including Bank of the Philippine Islands, Standard Chartered Singapore, Development Bank of Singapore and Deutsche Bank. Proven track record of building and scaling enterprise-wide data analytics capabilities, leading Centers of Excellence, and embedding AI/Automation into banking operations.

Sherwin Pelayo

Executive Director

Analytics & AI Association of the Philippines

Sherwin Pelayo is the Executive Director of the Analytics & Artificial Intelligence Association of the Philippines (AAP) and the Skills Development Lead of the Private Sector Jobs and Skills Corporation (PCORP). He is also the Chair of CHED’s Technical Panel on AI and Data Analytics. In these roles, he drives national strategies on AI, analytics, education, and workforce development. He leads initiatives that shape industry standards, support policy development, and position the Philippines as a global leader in technology and innovation. He also champions programs such as the Philippine Skills Framework for Analytics & AI and the National AI Upskilling Roadmap to equip Filipinos with the skills needed to thrive in an AI-powered world.

Wilfredo Montino Jr.

Chief Data & Analytics Officer

EastWest Bank

Wilfredo "Dodong" Montino Jr. is the Chief Data & Analytics Officer at EastWest Bank, where he leads the Enterprise Data Office.

His mandate spans data and AI governance, strategy, and enterprise-wide transformation. With over 20 years building data-driven organizations across banking, telco, and retail, he brings deep practitioner expertise in navigating complex, regulated environments.

Certified in DCAM, CIMP-Ex, and CDMC, Dodong focuses on translating governance rigor and technical capability into tangible business outcomes—building teams that earn stakeholder trust while delivering measurable impact.

Joey Nubla

Chief Information Officer

UnionDigital Bank

Joey is a technology leader who helps top companies in the fintech, healthcare, and telecommunications sectors modernize the way they work. He excels at connecting big-picture business strategies with the right technological solutions to drive growth and efficiency.

He is a strong believer in the potential of artificial intelligence to transform everyday business. His focus is on rolling out AI initiatives that make operations smoother, help teams work smarter, and deliver better experiences, all while keeping a close eye on responsible and secure AI governance.

Pradeep Bhanotha

CEO
AXA Asia Markets Services

Senior International Business Leader with a demonstrated history of achievements in the Banking and Insurance sector with over three decades of experience across global markets. Skilled in Global IT Delivery, Strategic Transformation, Vendor Management and Financial Risk. Strong Information Technology professional specializing in application delivery, development and execution, strategic vision with sustained change. Agile leader with strong influencing skill - drives change from front-line team to senior management.

Cristy Chua

Head of IT Projects
Metrobank

Cristy, Head of IT Projects at Metrobank, brings over 32 years of global IT leadership across diverse industries and technologies. With her extensive experience, she drives local impact, focusing on developing future IT leaders, elevating technology awareness, and pushing the boundaries of innovation.

Agenda Flow

9:30

Registration and Experience Zone

10:00

Ascendion Welcome