ASEAN Dialogue @ Osaka Expo 2025

On May 25, 2025, SIJ’s Co-CEO Robin Takashi Lewis joined a special dialogue and discussion titled “The Future I Want to See: Smart, Sustainable, and Inclusive Communities in ASEAN, Japan and Beyond”, held at the Osaka Expo 2025.

Robin had the pleasure of joining leaders from across Southeast Asia and Japan - from biodiversity to infrastructure experts - all working to reimagine our communities in bold and practical ways.

A few key points from the discussion were:

• 💛 Smart cities need human hearts; a smart community isn’t the one with the most sensors or screens - it’s the one where people feel safe, connected & empowered.

• 🛠️ Technology isn’t the end goal; it’s a tool. Smart solutions only matter if they actually improve lives, especially for those often left out.

• 🌍 Inclusion isn’t a nice-to-have. Designing for and with marginalized voices isn’t just fair, it leads to better, more resilient outcomes.

• 🌱 Everyone is talking about AI, but Nature-Based solutions are underrated and critical. From native tree planting to indigenous practices, we cannot forget the power of ANCESTRAL Intelligence, as well as Artificial Intelligence.

Thank you to the organisers at the ASEAN-Japan Centre and fellow panelists for a very thought-provoking (and fun!) dialogue. And thank you to the graphic recorders who put together this beautiful image capturing the highlights of our conversation 🙏

▶︎Read the official event report here