The first face-to-face Top Leaders Forum after the Covid-19 pandemic was held at SMX MOA on Friday, Oct. 13, bringing together top leaders from private and public sectors to establish and leverage resilience as a solid foundation for environmental, social, and good governance campaign. 

This year’s forum, organized by SM Prime Holdings, Inc., carries the theme, “Transforming Victims to Victors: A Multi-stakeholders Approach to Inclusive Resilience.”

In his welcome message, SM Prime Holdings Inc. Executive Committee Chairperson Hans T. Sy said the gathering is not just a forum but “a call to action that transcends titles and roles, and speaking to the very essence of our shared humanity.”

“Our dedication in fostering inclusive resilience must find expression in tangible  actions , addressing these issue head on with innovation and determination,” he said.

Sy, who is also the chairperson of the UN Disaster Risk Reduction Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies or ARISE Philippines and co-chair of the National Resilience Council for the Private Sector, said pressing concerns call for more than just dialogue, saying “they necessitate and create of clear and innovative solutions.”

“Remember, resilience is not just a word, it is a way of life. It is a commitment to ensure that we have the responsibilities to others and that no one is left behind,” he added.

The objectives of the forum are “ambitious yet essential” as they seek to establish and leverage resilience as a solid foundation for environmental social and governance which is the ESG practices, Sy said.

For her part, Mami Mizutori, the representative of the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General for Disaster Reduction, said the word “leader” is very important.

“We need leaders for prevention. The prevention agenda is not a natural agenda. Only leaders who have foresight can take this agenda of prevention and disaster risk reduction forward,” she said in her speech.

Mizutori, who is also the co-chair of ARISE, said Sy made resilience his business “even before many other people started to think about resilience.”

“I see a leader in Mr. Hans Sy. Why? Because he made resilience his business. Becoming a resilient is a challenge but it shouldn’t be seen as a challenge that can only take you out from difficult times. It should be seen as a challenge that will take you up to a much more elevated place,” the UN representative said.

During the forum, the complex interactions of the food, water, and energy nexus and their effects on catastrophe resilience were thoroughly discussed.

They have also discussed how to create a framework for inclusive resilience in the micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) by integrating diversity and inclusivity and strengthening the synergy between the government and the private sector.

The last face-to-face edition of Top Leaders Forum was in 2019 which was themed ,“From Risk to Resilience: Forging Pathways and Milestones.”