Meet the speakers and special guests who will be sharing their knowledge with us over the course of the summit! Resource speakers from diverse fields will bolster the learning experience and provide mentorship as participants develop their capstone projects.
Special Message
ATTY. ANGELO A. JIMENEZ
President, University of the Philippines System
Angelo A. Jimenez is a labor lawyer and a respected authority on global worker migration whose work has contributed to the establishment of the Philippines’ new Department of Migrant Workers, as well as the labor migration regulatory framework in countries in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. A former Deputy Administrator of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Jimenez’s expertise and experience in the field of migrant worker welfare have brought him to different parts of the world. He served as Labor Attache in Japan, Kuwait, and Iraq. Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo awarded him citations for ensuring the safety of Filipino workers during the Israel-Lebanon conflict and for the rescue of a Filipino hostage held in Iraq.
Opening Remarks
LORRAINE PE-SYMACO, Ph.D.
Vice President for Academic Affairs, University of the Philippines
Lorraine Pe Symaco assumed the position of Vice President of Academic Affairs at the University of the Philippines in August 2025. Prior to this appointment, she served as a professor at Zhejiang University, China, and was the founding director of the Centre for Research in International and Comparative Education (CRICE) and UNESCO Chair in International and Comparative Educational Research at the University of Malaya, Malaysia. Dr. Symaco completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of the Philippines and earned her Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) from the University of Oxford. Her research interests are international education development and higher education. She is Editor of the Journal of International and Comparative Education (JICE) and Series Editor of Education in Southeast Asia (Routledge). As Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Symaco is responsible for leading the development and implementation of university-wide policies on teaching and learning, faculty and student development and services, research, internationalization, admissions, and the oversight of the University Press.
Keynote Speakers
ARNAUD PERAL
Resident Coordinator (Philippines), United Nations- Philippines
Mr. Peral holds a Master's Degree in Development Economics from the University of Paris X-Nanterre and a bachelor's degree in Economic Policy from the University Pierre Mendes France, Grenoble. Prior to joining the UN System in 2000, Mr. Peral served as Cooperation Counsellor for Scientific and Technical Cooperation in the French Embassy in Cuba, Research Assistant in the Ministry of Environment in France, and as a Research Assistant in public policy in the Ministry of Agriculture in Chile.
AIMAN JAMEEL ALBARAKATI
Director, CIFAL Saudi Arabia
Professor Aiman Jameel Albarakati is an experienced Executive Director with a demonstrated history of working in the computer software industry. He is skilled in Management, Quality Assurance, Engineering Management, Graph Theory, and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Strong education professional with a Doctorate of Philosophy focused on Computational Science and Engineering from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.
Fellowship Night Inspirational Speaker
NAZH-FAR MARIWA BERGANIO
President and Co-Founder, Ako Bakwit, Inc.
Nazh-Far Mariwa Berganio (The Philippines) is a visionary leader from the Philippines who cofounded in 2020 Ako Bakwit, Inc. with Samira Gutoc, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and protecting the rights and welfare of IDPs in the Philippines. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, his team focused on locating IDPs and delivering relief aid. This eƯort revealed systemic challenges: IDPs infected with the virus faced barriers to accessing assistance due to lack of identification, and families of deceased IDPs often struggled to secure ambulance services because victims were not registered voters in their host communities. Through his leadership and advocacy and drawing on his own personal experience having faced multiple episodes of displacement during his childhood, Mr. Berganio continues to champion the rights of displaced populations and address gaps in humanitarian response, ensuring that vulnerable communities are not left behind.
Lecture 1: Overview of the SDGs: History, Principles, Pillars, and the 17 SDGs
MICHELLE R. PALUMBARIT, Ph.D.
Director, UP CIFAL Philippines
Dr. Michelle R. Palumbarit is currently an associate professor at the Asian Center, University of the Philippines, Diliman, and the director of UP-CIFAL Philippines, University of the Philippines System. Her research interests include Korea Studies, ASEAN-Korea relations, Filipinos in Korea, sustainable development, and environmental politics.
PEYMAN NAEEMI
Multimedia Specialist, CIFAL York, York University, Canada
Peyman Naeemi is an experienced multimedia specialist in environmental communication and digital media, with over a decade of experience in multimedia production, public and higher-level education, and project management. He is is currently coordinating and leading CIFAL York's multimedia unit. Renowned for his strategic vision and creative problem-solving, Mr. Naeemi excels in synthesizing complex technical concepts into engaging narratives and educational programs. His expertise spans Citizen Science, Agent-based Simulation (ArcGis and Anylogic), Serious Game Design, Filmmaking (Animation, Documentary), and VR application development, underpinned by strong project management and program evaluation skills. He has a proven track record of leading interdisciplinary teams to deliver impactful solutions that promote public education, environmental sustainability, and digital innovation. He is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in York University.
Lecture 2: Dreamagineering Filipino Innovations for Sustainable Impact
MR. PRIM PAYPON
Executive Director, Asian Institute of Management - Dado Banatao Incubator
Prim Paypon is currently the Executive Director of the Asian Institute of Management-Dado Banatao Incubator (AIM-DBI), the first business school-founded, located, and funded technology business incubator for startups in the Philippines. He is the founder of THE ANNEXT (The Alternative Nest for the Next Artists), an art incubator-cum-gallery that discovers, mentors, and incubates raw potential artists from different regions across the Philippines.
Lecture 3: Good Governance and Democratic Citizenship among the Youth
ATTY. GERALD JOHN C. GUILLERMO
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Keep the Change: Youth Policy Lab
Gerald John C. Guillermo is a development lawyer and public policy professional. He is currently a Policy Associate at ImagineLaw, a public interest law group dedicated to crafting evidence-based policy solutions that promote health and welfare. He graduated with a Juris Doctor Degree from the University of the Philippines College of Law in 2024 (Dean's Service Awardee) and became a member of the Philippine Bar in 2025. He received his Bachelor's Degree in Political Science, with a Minor Degree in Development Management with Latin Honors Distinction (Cum Laude) at the Ateneo de Manila University in 2019. His previous roles include those of a Political Analyst and Executive Assistant at the Royal Thai Embassy, Manila, Research Assistant at the Ateneo School of Government - Ateneo Policy Center, Research Associate at The Asia Foundation, Policy Researcher at the Office of the Mayor, City Government of Taguig, and Legislative and Policy Researcher at the Philippine Congress, to name a few.
Lecture 4: Youth in Balance: Mental Health and Well-being Among the Youth
MS. MARGARET P. YARCIA
Executive Committee Member, Lemonade Manila (Youth Organization)
Meg Yarcia is a writer, counselor, development worker, and committed advocate of collective care. She is the Executive Director of Lemonade, a nonprofit providing mentorship to Filipino youth. Meg provides psychosocial support services and develops and conducts training programmes on the subjects of growth, care, rest, grief, and other life experiences, especially through the lens of liberation psychology.
Lecture 5: Leaders on the Rise: Building Skills for Climate Action
ALFREDO MAHAR LAGMAY, Ph.D.
Executive Director of the UP Resilience Institute (UPRI) and UP Project NOAH
Dr. Alfredo Mahar Francisco A. Lagmay is an Academician of the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) and Professor at the National Institute of Geological Sciences, University of the Philippines. He is the Executive Director of the UP Resilience Institute (UPRI) and Director of its core component, the UP Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards (NOAH) Center. He is a recipient of the 2008 Outstanding Research Award from DOST, the 2013 Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Outstanding Professional of the Year Award, the 2013 Outstanding Filipino Award (TOFIL), the 2015 Plinius Medal of the European Geosciences Union (EGU), and the 2020 StartNetwork Changemaker Award.
Panel Discussion 1: The Role of the Youth in Nation-Building and in Forging a Sustainable Future
MR. RANZE AARON CALDERON
Executive Director, 2030 Youth Force in the Philippines, Inc.
Ranze is a dynamic youth leader, sustainability advocate, and communications expert with a decade of experience in creative industries and civic engagement. As the Executive Director of 2030 Youth Force in the Philippines Inc., Ranze spearheads initiatives that empower young people to drive systemic change through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
HON. RENEE LOUISE M. CO
Representative (20th Congress), Kabataan Party-list
Atty. Renee Co is a lawyer and an activist, and a former student leader and campus journalist. She was the 38th University of the Philippines Student Regent, directly voting in the highest decision-making body of the country's national university system to represent more than 50,000 students.
RAFAELLA JUSTINE MARIE VILLENA
Network Coordinator, UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network-Youth Initiative
Rafaella Villena is the Network Coordinator of SDSN Youth Philippines, the youth initiative of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). Based at De La Salle University, she supports the growth of the national youth network by engaging universities, student leaders, and youth-led and youth-serving organizations across local and global spaces.
Panel Discussion 2: Safe Spaces, Strong Voices: Fostering Inclusion and Protection for Young Women
HON. SARAH JANE I. ELAGO
Representative (20th Congress), Gabriela Women's Party
Hon. Sarah Elago serves as the representative of Gabriela Women's Party in the 20th Congress, championing the rights of the marginalized women, children, and LGBTQ+. She is also one of the Assistant Minority Leaders and the Vice President for Party-list of the Association of Women Legislators Foundation Inc. She authored 23 national laws when she served as partylist representative of Kabataan (youth) for two terms, including the laws on Free Public Higher Education, Anti-Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children, and Free Public Internet Access.
MARIE AUBREY J. VILLACERAN
Director, UP Center for Women's and Gender Studies
Marie Aubrey Villaceran is the incumbent Director of the University of the Philippines Center for Women's and Gender Studies and an associate professor at the UP Department of English and Comparative Literature. She is a founding member of the Decolonial Studies Research Network and holds a master's degree in creative writing from the University of the Philippines and a PhD in Sociology from La Trobe University in Australia, where she is also an honorary research fellow.
SONIA DELEN
Director, UP Alumni Association in San Francisco
Sonia Delen (UP Foreign Service) is a Lifetime Member, a Board member since 2013, and past president of UPAASF (2019-2021), where she co-founded the UPAASF Filipino Immersion Summer Camp and spearheaded a $2.85 million COVID-19 testing kit donation to the UP-Philippine General Hospital in partnership with the Apl.de.ap Foundation. In 2023, Sonia received the prestigious Gawad Oblation Award from the University of the Philippines, the highest award given by UP to outstanding alumni and UP friends. Sonia was honored as one of 2023 Distinguished UP Alumni Awards by UP Alumni Association in America. Professionally, Sonia serves as Director at Bank of America Global Leasing. In 2018, she was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown as the first Filipina American non-lawyer, public member of the State Bar of California’s Board of Trustees. She also served as an appointee to the Health Professions Education Foundation's Trustees.