From left to right: Tan Sri Andrew Sheng, Datuk Josie Lai, Dato’ Mohammad Faiz Azmi, Dato’ Seri Harry Cockrell, Dr. R. Balasubramaniam
The inaugural Sabah Asia-Pacific Impact Investing for Sustainable Development Summit 2026 (Sabah AIMS 2026) will be held on 13–14 July 2026 in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, bringing together regional and international leaders to explore how impact investing can drive sustainable development across the Asia-Pacific region.
Jointly organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment Sabah (KePKAS) and the George Town Institute of Open and Advanced Studies (GIOAS) at Wawasan Open University, with Community Empowerment Initiative Sabah as the Local Organising Partner, WWF-Malaysia and The Habitat Foundation as Knowledge Partners, and Daily Express as Media Partner, the summit aims to position Sabah as a regional hub and living laboratory for innovation and collaboration in impact investing, serving as a gateway for global capital into the Asia-Pacific sustainable development ecosystem.
Using the theme “Turn, Learn, Earn”, the summit draws inspiration from Sabah’s ancient fern ecosystems, which have survived and evolved for more than 360 million years. The symbol reflects resilience, adaptability, regeneration, and the ability to transform challenges into opportunities through knowledge, collaboration, and sustainable enterprise.
Sabah AIMS 2026 will bring together leaders from investment, philanthropy, academia, policymaking, civil society, conservation, and industry to examine practical pathways for mobilising capital towards high-impact social and environmental initiatives.
Sabah is uniquely positioned as a living laboratory for sustainable development. Renowned globally for its biodiversity, ancient rainforests, marine ecosystems, and Mount Kinabalu, one of the highest peaks in Southeast Asia, Sabah also faces important socio-economic challenges, particularly in underserved rural communities.
The summit seeks to address these realities through the lens of impact investing, a blended approach that combines financial sustainability with measurable social and environmental outcomes. Discussions will explore innovative financing mechanisms including sustainable bonds and sukuk, venture equity, blended finance structures, and risk-sharing models supported by governments and multilateral institutions.
Sabah AIMS 2026 also builds upon regional thought leadership initiatives, including GIOAS’s international conference in Bhutan on operationalising Gross National Happiness, which explored alternative development models centred on human wellbeing, environmental sustainability, and high-end tourism.
Speaking on the significance of the summit, Datuk Josie Lai, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment Sabah (KePKAS), said:
“Sabah possesses extraordinary natural and cultural assets, and this summit reflects Sabah’s aspiration to become not only a destination for tourism and biodiversity conservation, but also a regional hub for innovative ideas, partnerships, and investments that support inclusive and sustainable development. Sabah AIMS 2026 provides an important regional platform to bring together investors, policymakers, academics, conservationists, and community leaders to explore how sustainable finance and impact investing can create meaningful and lasting benefits for both people and the environment.”
Tan Sri Andrew Sheng, Chairman of GIOAS, said the summit comes at a critical time when the region must rethink conventional development and investment models.
“The world today faces unprecedented challenges from geopolitics, climate change, social imbalances and environmental degradation. We need new thinking and new models to overcome these systemic issues. Because Sabah is at the heart of East Asia and Southeast Asia, we want to apply impact investing to mobilise capital to generate both new income, jobs and protect Sabah’s unique cultural and biodiversity. We believe that practical ideas with projects that protect our marine reefs, forests, enhance eco-tourism and generate new sources of income are vital for Sabah’s continued prosperity.”
Organising Chairperson Lim Hock Song said, “Sabah AIMS 2026 is envisioned not merely as a conference, but as a long term platform to foster meaningful collaboration and practical partnerships for sustainable development and impact investing across the Asia-Pacific region.”
The Conference will be opened by the Chief Minister of Sabah Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor, with Keynote Address by Executive Chairman of Securities Commission Malaysia, Dato’ Mohammad Faiz Azmi. Dr. R. Balasubramaniam, well renowned social reformer and newly elected member of NITI Ayog, India’s transformation commission, will also deliver keynote address on digital public infrastructure and sustainable development.
Distinguished speakers include Tan Sri Andrew Sheng, Chairman of GIOAS, internationally respected economist and former Chairman of the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission; Professor John W. Crawford, a leading academic in sustainability and complex systems; Ma Jun, Founder and President of the Institute of Finance and Sustainability (IFS) and Chairman of the Green Finance Committee of the China Society for Finance and Banking. Dato’ Seri Harry Cockrell, Co-founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Habitat Foundation and a strong advocate of conservation-based sustainable tourism; Dr. Henry Chan, Senior Director, Strategic Conservation Partnership for WWF-Malaysia, with extensive experience in biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management; and Azalina Adham, Managing Director, Securities Commission Malaysia and a key figure in advancing sustainable finance and responsible investment initiatives in Malaysia, will provide invaluable input
The summit is expected to attract delegates from across the Asia-Pacific region, including investors, development institutions, policymakers, business leaders, researchers, social entrepreneurs, NGOs, and sustainability practitioners.
The Sabah Asia-Pacific Impact Investing for Sustainable Development Summit 2026 is an inaugural sponsored event for invited participants and interested parties who fall within the targeted delegate profile.
Conference fees will be fully covered. Delegates are responsible only for their own travel and accommodation arrangements.
Interested parties who wish to receive an invitation are invited to complete the registration form through the official summit website: https://sabahimpactsummit.com/
Confirmed delegates will subsequently receive a confirmation link.
Due to limited capacity, early registration is strongly encouraged.
For media enquiries and partnership opportunities, please contact hello@sabahimpactsummit.com
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From left to right: Tan Sri Andrew Sheng, Datuk Josie Lai, Dato’ Mohammad Faiz Azmi, Dato’ Seri Harry Cockrell, Dr. R. Balasubramaniam
The inaugural Sabah Asia-Pacific Impact Investing for Sustainable Development Summit 2026 (Sabah AIMS 2026) will be held on 13–14 July 2026 in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, bringing together regional and international leaders to explore how impact investing can drive sustainable development across the Asia-Pacific region.
Jointly organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment Sabah (KePKAS) and the George Town Institute of Open and Advanced Studies (GIOAS) at Wawasan Open University, with Community Empowerment Initiative Sabah as the Local Organising Partner, WWF-Malaysia and The Habitat Foundation as Knowledge Partners, and Daily Express as Media Partner, the summit aims to position Sabah as a regional hub and living laboratory for innovation and collaboration in impact investing, serving as a gateway for global capital into the Asia-Pacific sustainable development ecosystem.
Using the theme “Turn, Learn, Earn”, the summit draws inspiration from Sabah’s ancient fern ecosystems, which have survived and evolved for more than 360 million years. The symbol reflects resilience, adaptability, regeneration, and the ability to transform challenges into opportunities through knowledge, collaboration, and sustainable enterprise.
Sabah AIMS 2026 will bring together leaders from investment, philanthropy, academia, policymaking, civil society, conservation, and industry to examine practical pathways for mobilising capital towards high-impact social and environmental initiatives.
Sabah is uniquely positioned as a living laboratory for sustainable development. Renowned globally for its biodiversity, ancient rainforests, marine ecosystems, and Mount Kinabalu, one of the highest peaks in Southeast Asia, Sabah also faces important socio-economic challenges, particularly in underserved rural communities.
The summit seeks to address these realities through the lens of impact investing, a blended approach that combines financial sustainability with measurable social and environmental outcomes. Discussions will explore innovative financing mechanisms including sustainable bonds and sukuk, venture equity, blended finance structures, and risk-sharing models supported by governments and multilateral institutions.
Sabah AIMS 2026 also builds upon regional thought leadership initiatives, including GIOAS’s international conference in Bhutan on operationalising Gross National Happiness, which explored alternative development models centred on human wellbeing, environmental sustainability, and high-end tourism.
Speaking on the significance of the summit, Datuk Josie Lai, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment Sabah (KePKAS), said:
“Sabah possesses extraordinary natural and cultural assets, and this summit reflects Sabah’s aspiration to become not only a destination for tourism and biodiversity conservation, but also a regional hub for innovative ideas, partnerships, and investments that support inclusive and sustainable development. Sabah AIMS 2026 provides an important regional platform to bring together investors, policymakers, academics, conservationists, and community leaders to explore how sustainable finance and impact investing can create meaningful and lasting benefits for both people and the environment.”
Tan Sri Andrew Sheng, Chairman of GIOAS, said the summit comes at a critical time when the region must rethink conventional development and investment models.
“The world today faces unprecedented challenges from geopolitics, climate change, social imbalances and environmental degradation. We need new thinking and new models to overcome these systemic issues. Because Sabah is at the heart of East Asia and Southeast Asia, we want to apply impact investing to mobilise capital to generate both new income, jobs and protect Sabah’s unique cultural and biodiversity. We believe that practical ideas with projects that protect our marine reefs, forests, enhance eco-tourism and generate new sources of income are vital for Sabah’s continued prosperity.”
Organising Chairperson Lim Hock Song said, “Sabah AIMS 2026 is envisioned not merely as a conference, but as a long term platform to foster meaningful collaboration and practical partnerships for sustainable development and impact investing across the Asia-Pacific region.”
The Conference will be opened by the Chief Minister of Sabah Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor, with Keynote Address by Executive Chairman of Securities Commission Malaysia, Dato’ Mohammad Faiz Azmi. Dr. R. Balasubramaniam, well renowned social reformer and newly elected member of NITI Ayog, India’s transformation commission, will also deliver keynote address on digital public infrastructure and sustainable development.
Distinguished speakers include Tan Sri Andrew Sheng, Chairman of GIOAS, internationally respected economist and former Chairman of the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission; Professor John W. Crawford, a leading academic in sustainability and complex systems; Ma Jun, Founder and President of the Institute of Finance and Sustainability (IFS) and Chairman of the Green Finance Committee of the China Society for Finance and Banking. Dato’ Seri Harry Cockrell, Co-founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Habitat Foundation and a strong advocate of conservation-based sustainable tourism; Dr. Henry Chan, Senior Director, Strategic Conservation Partnership for WWF-Malaysia, with extensive experience in biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management; and Azalina Adham, Managing Director, Securities Commission Malaysia and a key figure in advancing sustainable finance and responsible investment initiatives in Malaysia, will provide invaluable input
The summit is expected to attract delegates from across the Asia-Pacific region, including investors, development institutions, policymakers, business leaders, researchers, social entrepreneurs, NGOs, and sustainability practitioners.
The Sabah Asia-Pacific Impact Investing for Sustainable Development Summit 2026 is an inaugural sponsored event for invited participants and interested parties who fall within the targeted delegate profile.
Conference fees will be fully covered. Delegates are responsible only for their own travel and accommodation arrangements.
Interested parties who wish to receive an invitation are invited to complete the registration form through the official summit website: https://sabahimpactsummit.com/
Confirmed delegates will subsequently receive a confirmation link.
Due to limited capacity, early registration is strongly encouraged.
For media enquiries and partnership opportunities, please contact hello@sabahimpactsummit.com
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