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.
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.
Agenda Flow
9:00 - 10:00 AM
Registration and Experience Zone
10:00 - 10:05 AM
Program Starts
10:05 - 10:10 AM
1 Billion Interactions: Powered by Ascendion
10:10 - 10:50 AM
Opening Keynote
From Innovation to Impact: Building the Autonomous Enterprise That Customers Actually Experience
10:10 - 10:20 AM
Opening Keynote: Act 1
Where Innovation Becomes Real Life
10:20 - 10:40 AM
Opening Keynote: Act 2
Every system you build becomes a moment someone lives.
10:40 - 10:50 AM
Opening Keynote: Act 3
Engineering Impact at Scale
10:50 - 11:10 AM
Expertise Panel
We Didn't Pilot AI. We Rewired the Enterprise
11:10 - 11:30 AM
Partner Segment
11:30 - 11:40 AM
AI for a cause
11:40 - 12:00 PM
Experience Zone
12:00 - 12:45 PM
Lunch
12:45 - 12:55 PM
Entertainment
1:00 - 1:20 PM
Leadership Keynote
1:20 - 1:30 PM
Q&A
1:30 - 1:55 PM
AI Panel
If You Can’t Trust Your AI, You Can’t Scale It
1:55 - 2:15 PM
GCC + Enterprise Transformation
From Capability Centers to Intelligence Hubs
2:15 - 2:25 PM
Future Outlook
The Next 24 Months Will Redefine How Enterprises Compete
2:30 - 4:00 PM
Executive Networking
Reception
In Partnership With
Ascendion is the AI-native disruptor reinventing how global enterprises build software for impact. Its engineering teams, powered by AAVA™️, the company's proprietary agentic AI platform, deliver measurable business outcomes: accelerating growth, unlocking capital, and de-risking transformation. With 11,000+ engineering professionals and 10,000+ AI agents working across 12 countries, Ascendion delivers the promise of AI to more than a third of the Fortune 500. Learn more at https://www.ascendion.com.
Engineering to the Power of AI™️, AAVA™️, EngineeringAI, Engineering to Elevate Life™️, Enterprise PlatformsAI, Data & InsightsAI, ExperienceAI, GCCAI, OperationsAI, Platform EngineeringAI, ProductAI, and Quality EngineeringAI are trademarks or service marks of Ascendion®️. AAVA™️ is pending registration. Unauthorized use is strictly prohibited.
Venue
Shangri-la The Fort, BGC
30th Street, corner 5th Ave, Taguig, 1634 Metro Manila
+63 2 8820 0888