Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – 7 June 2023 – Yayasan Hasanah (Hasanah), the Foundation of Khazanah Nasional, announces The Hasanah Forum (THF) 2023, Malaysia’s leading social impact event, taking place from 20-22 June. Under the theme of Fostering Justice-Based Philanthropy: Shifting the Narrative to Action, THF 2023 brings together influential leaders and practitioners from the social impact ecosystem; including civil society organisations, social enterprises, corporations, policymakers, and academia. The goal of the forum is to facilitate action-oriented conversations and cultivate thought leadership within the evolving landscape of philanthropy leading to tangible socio-economic impact to society.
Dato’ Shahira Ahmed Bazari, Trustee & Managing Director of Yayasan Hasanah, shared, “In our debut in 2021, THF prompted us to reconsider the concept of ‘doing good’ by moving beyond a charity mindset, and instead advocating for rights and justice-lensed interventions. This year, in the forum’s second edition, the focus is on translating narratives into tangible action. So, whether new to making a difference or a seasoned changemaker, we invite all individuals to join the conversation in reshaping the steps we take, steering philanthropy and impact innovations towards our shared vision – a Malaysia that is more progressive and inclusive.”
Global Partnerships, Localised Actions for Malaysia
Happening in parallel with THF is the Asia Venture Philanthropy Network, or AVPN, Global Conference 2023, Asia’s largest social investment conference that gathers global and Asian investors, funders, philanthropists, policymakers, as well as Limited Partners, marking the first time that this annual conference is held in Malaysia. Co-hosted by Yayasan Hasanah this year, the AVPN Global Conference 2023 focuses on putting Asian voices at the forefront of global discourse. As part of this partnership, THF 2023 sessions are incorporated into the offerings of the AVPN Global Conference for its international delegates.
In support of the collaboration, Yayasan Hasanah presents three distinctive Malaysian initiatives and experiences to delegates:
- The Impact Marketplace: A physical exhibit showcasing Yayasan Hasanah partners, NGOs, and investment-ready local social enterprises. This platform connects targeted investors with businesses that generate positive social and environmental impact. This is in line with the Malaysia Social Entrepreneurship Blueprint 2030 (SEMy2030), to mainstream social enterprises as an effective contributor to the country’s socioeconomic development.
- Mental Health Pool Fund for Youths: AVPN will be announcing the Asian Youth Mental Wellbeing Fund focusing on mental health and wellbeing for vulnerable youths. The fund is expected to bring a capital injection into the country to drive pertinent work in the domain, to be launched by YB Hannah Yeoh, Minister of Youth & Sports on June 22.
- A Taste of Malaysia’s Arts, Heritage, & Culture: Among highlights is “Imagining Ali Wallace”, a curated, immersive visual experience into the untold journey of Ali Wallace, the trusted companion of naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace during his explorations in collecting bird specimens in Southeast Asia. Ideated by Hasanah’s Head of Arts & Public Spaces, Zainariah Johari and produced by Malaysian artists Nandita Solomon and Dain Said, by intertwining Ali’s ethnicity, language, community, and culture with Wallace’s renowned book “The Malay Archipelago,” this showcase celebrates Wallace’s research findings and honours Ali’s spirit, transcending boundaries and captivating the audience with an extraordinary tale. Also performing at the conference are Temple of Fine Arts, Genius Seni, and musicians supported under Hasanah’s Cultural Frontliners initiative, who performed at selected Covid-19 vaccination centres.
Diverse Voices at THF 2023
The three-day event will focus on three key levers of change: People and Institutions, People and Society, and People and Leadership; addressing critical questions such as collaboration for systemic change, overcoming challenges of disconnected decision-making, role of intervening actors in empowering communities, nurturing courageous leaders, and professionalising the social impact sector. The forum features a diverse pool of speakers from various backgrounds, with Prime Minister YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim scheduled to deliver the closing remarks on 22 June.
To date, featured speakers include YB Hannah Yeoh (Minister of Youth & Sports, Malaysia), Datuk Johan Mahmood Merican (Ministry of Finance, Malaysia), Tan Sri Abdul Wahid Omar (Bursa Malaysia Berhad), Tunku Alizakri Alias ( Malaysia Venture Capital Management Berhad, MAVCAP), Dato’ Amirul Feisal Wan Zahir (Khazanah Nasional Berhad) Ng Boon Heong (Temasek Foundation), Anshu Gupta (Goonj), Cliff Prior (Global Steering Group for Impact Investing), Louise Pulford (Social Innovation Exchange, SIX), Dato’ Seri Paduka Maimunah Mohd Sharif (UN-Habitat), Dato’ Shahira Ahmed Bazari (Yayasan Hasanah), Ganesh Muren (Saora Industries), Prof. Tan Sri Dr. Jemilah Mahmood (Sunway University Malaysia), Matthew Smith (Fortify Rights), Rashvin Pal Singh (Biji-biji Initiative), Dr. Ruth Shapiro (Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society, CAPS), Pritha Venkatachalam (The Bridgespan Group), and Dr. J. Satrijo Tanudjojo (Tanoto Foundation).
Hard Conversations, Collaborative Actions
Recognising the interconnectedness of socio-economic challenges such as poverty, climate change, and conflict, which perpetuate inequality, THF acknowledges that these issues cannot be resolved by governments alone. Active engagement from civil society, businesses shouldering their responsibilities, and empowered individuals are vital to addressing these challenges. THF serves as a clarion call to action for changemakers at all levels of society, offering attendees a unique opportunity to listen, engage in dialogue, and gain new perspectives.
Since the foundation’s inception in 2015, Yayasan Hasanah has impacted over 2.4 million people and catalysed over 470 partners across more than 600 on-ground programmes throughout Malaysia. Shahira attributes these milestones to the power of strategic collaborations and support from the public, private, and people (civil society) sector.
Likewise, Shahira eagerly anticipates exciting new partnerships forged at the forum, regardless of how unconventional they may be. “It’s time we break free from working in isolation and join forces in harnessing and leveraging collective wisdom within the social impact sector. Through shared efforts, we can transform good intentions into measurable, impactful outcomes. With THF, our goal is to establish a platform that brings together diverse stakeholders to exchange knowledge and translate intentions into tangible results, as humanity progresses forward.”
Join the conversation in person at the KL Convention Centre from June 20 to 22 for a dynamic double event: The Hasanah Forum and the AVPN Global Conference. This year, Yayasan Hasanah is proud to co-host the AVPN Global Conference, marking its first-ever appearance in Malaysia, where an exclusive ticket price for Malaysians awaits. Alternatively, reserve your virtual seat for The Hasanah Forum livestream, accessible online for free. To grab event tickets OR sign up for free access to THF livestreams, visit thf.yayasanhasanah.org.