About the event

The Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whītau Tūhono warmly invites you to join us for an evening dedicated to hearing stories from a range of Southeast Asian agribusiness entrepreneurs who are visiting Aotearoa as part of the Foundation's ASEAN Young Business Leaders Initiative (YBLI) programme.

The delegation of 10 entrepreneurs arrive in Auckland, and will travel down the North Island visiting New Zealand agribusiness enterprises along the way. In Hamilton, they will attend Fieldays, the Southern Hemisphere’s largest agricultural event and the ultimate launch platform for cutting edge technology and innovation.

At the Auckland Asia After Five event, the entrepreneurs will share stories about their companies, provide insight into the agribusiness sectors in their home countries and share their impressions of New Zealand to date. The entrepreneurs are from countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand.

The event will follow our popular Asia After Five format — where we blend Asia-focused panel discussion with an evening of drinks, nibbles and making connections.

Date/ time: Friday, 7 June, 5:30-7:30pm
Venue: MC Centre 8 Hardinge Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010

Tickets are limited so get in quick! We ask you RSVP by Monday, 3 June 2024, for catering purposes.

Meet our Panelists

Throughout the evening, we'll hear from a selection of four panelists from the delegation, while we invite you to network and meet the rest of the travelling delegation afterwards. Read on to get a glimpse of their experiences:

1. Jun Kit Mah

Co-Founder & CEO of BioLoop

BioLoop aims to feed the world sustainably by pioneering biotechnology systems that maximise the potential of insects for animal and plant nutrition. Jun Kit specialises in the rearing of Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) utilising palm oil byproducts and food factory waste as feedstock for the insects. He also advises on the applications of BSFL protein in animal feed and frass for fertiliser applications. BioLoop strives to provide nutritious and sustainable food solutions as well as revolutionise organic waste management practices to reach global climate goals. Before founding BioLoop, Jun Kit worked with Leif Capital and Barclays Ventures in London. He holds an MSc in Climate Change, Management & Finance from Imperial College London and a BEng in Chemical Engineering from University College London.

2. Van Pham

Chairwoman, Founder & CEO of Emmay & Colleagues Joint Stock Company

Emmay is a pioneering food-tech startup that revolutionizes the alternative protein industry with its sustainable and healthier plant-based protein derived from fungi microbes called mycelium. Van's entrepreneurial journey has earned her numerous accolades, including recognition as an outstanding businesswoman in Vietnam and participation in the 13th World Trade Organization (WTO) ministerial conferences to reshape the future trading practices globally. As a, female entrepreneur she was selected to write about her startup journey and green innovation technology in a book published by World Scientific. The book was written by Singapore Management University, Green Innovation Technology and Entrepreneurship Institute of Singapore. Van is not only an innovative female business owner with a mission to create a positive impact on the community, society and the environment, but is also a sought-after speaker, consultant, trainer and mentor for other entrepreneurs & students. Through her ventures like her company brand We Balance, and Smiley Mushroom, she shares her expertise in green technology and entrepreneurship, driving innovation and sustainability in the food-tech industry as well as business generally.

3. Ariestelo Asilo

Founder and CEO of Varacco & ThinnkFarm

Varacco specializes in selling coffee and pioneers Internet of Things technology for sustainable coffee production. Currently, Varacco is expanding its coffee kiosks and shops in Manila. Ariestelo is a fervent advocate for nutrition entrepreneurship, with a focus on supporting farmers, youths, and indigenous people in the Philippines. His vision revolves around creating a digitalized agricultural community where farmer scientists and farmer entrepreneurs thrive. Ariestelo holds degrees in Nutrition and Management and is currently pursuing his Doctorate in Sustainability. His achievements include winning the UN Best Small Business, receiving the Conservation Optimism Award, and being recognized as one of The Outstanding Young Men for Social Entrepreneurship. He has secured grants from BKCF-Korea Cooperation Fund, USAID, and USDA, along with a fellowship from the Swedish Institute. Apart from his professional pursuits, Ariestelo loves traveling around the world, indulging in coffee, and collecting books.

4. Kiki Puspita Sari

Founder & CEO of PT.Kaarle Indonesia

Kiki Puspita Sari is a 'womanpreneur' across three separate companies. She is Head of Department at International Relations, a part of the Young Entrepreneur Association in Indonesia, General Treasurer of the Indonesian Culinary Services Association, has won Young Exporter Award in the Agribusiness sector from Ministry of Trade in Indonesia, and the Director Culture & Education in Kiny Cultura Indonesia by CID Unesco. Kiki has a strong appetite for international relations, both in terms of exports and promoting Indonesian culture abroad. Kiki has received several awards for promoting Indonesian products and culture internationally.