Events^ from the Rest of Us (10.09.25)
Policy-shaping knowledge moments from outside the mainstream
Today’s Events^ dispatch contains curated posts to keep you updated on knowledge shaping moments outside the mainstream Northern discourse. Please note that (margin*notes)^squared will initially focus on knowledge events in the Asia Pacific Region and from historically underrepresented groups. Please feel free to submit any upcoming events — seminars, conferences, webinars, workshops, etc — that you feel are relevant by dropping me a note.
I also believe it is vitally important to understand who funds knowledge moments that shape our public policy discourse. Events indicated with an (*) indicate activities that seem to be funded in part or in whole by a private sector entity (or the convening organisation receives private sector funding) and you are encouraged to investigate further.
Calendar
September 2025
9-11 September 2025 | Hong Kong, SAR | “AVPN Global Conference 2025: Asian Leadership for an Inclusive World”, organised by Asian Venture Philanthropy Network (AVPN). (*)
10-11 September 2025 | Yogyakarta, Indonesia | International Conference on Artificial Intelligence Technology (ICoAIT), organised by the Artificial Intelligence Research Group of the Informatics Department, Faculty of Industrial Technology, Universitas Ahmad Dahlan
11 September 2025 | Global, Online | Launch of the Global State of Democracy Report 2025: Democracy on the Move, organised by International IDEA
11 September 2025 | East Asia, online | AISA Tokyo AI Roundtable: AI safety in East Asia - "Accelerate with Foresight: Safeguards and Preparedness for East Asia's AI Future", organised by AI Safety Asia
12 September 2025 | Petaling Jaya, Malaysia | ASEAN AI Business Summit, organised by Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCIM) and the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (NCCIM) (*)
12 September 2025 | Global, Online | People-Led Economic Policies for the Future of Burma/Myanmar with Prof Surya Deva, UN Special Rapporteur on Right to Development, organised by ALTSEAN Burma
15-19 September 2025 | Seoul, Republic of Korea | 47th Global Privacy Assembly, organised by Global Privacy Assembly (GPA) and the Personal Information Protection Commission of the Republic of Korea (*)
15-19 September 2025 | Bangkok, Thailand | United Nations Responsible Business and Human Rights Forum Asia-Pacific, organised by UNDP, UN Women, ILO, IOM, OHCHR, UNEP, UNICEF, UN Human Rights Special Procedures, Business and Human Rights.
15-20 September 2025 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Seapunk Proto-College: 1 Week Pop-Up College About Protocols and Re-Imaginable SEAs (Southeast Asias), organised by Seapunk Studios and Summer of Protocols
16 September 2025 | Seoul, Republic of Korea | Gen AI and Privacy Workshop by Google, a side event to the 47th Global Privacy Assembly, organised by the Personal Information and Protection Commission and Google (Register here) (*)
**UPDATED** 02-04 September 2025 | Jakarta, Indonesia | The 5th Artificial Intelligence Innovation Summit, organised by Kolaborasi Riset dan Inovasi Industri Kecerdasan Artifisial (KORIKA) and cTIs (*)
17 September 2025 | Sydney, Australia | ASEAN in Focus 2025, organised by the University of Sydney, Sydney Southeast Asia Centre
19 September 2025 | Australia, online | Aboriginal English Voices - Improving Speech Technologies for Indigenous Users, oragnised by the University of Western Australia and Google. (*)
19-21 September 2025 | Goa, India | inSIG 2025, organised by India School on Internet Governance (inSIG), BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus, and Internet Society
22-28 September 2025 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | 57th ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting, organised by ASEAN
23-24 September 2025 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Digital Nation Summit Kuala Lumpur (ASEAN Edition), organised by GSMA and hosted by Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) (*)
25 September 2025 | Sydney, Australia: Indonesia Research Showcase, organised by the University of Sydney, Sydney Southeast Asia Centre
25-26 September 2025 | Bangkok, Thailand | 2nd International Conference on Women, Gender, and Leadership: Redefining the Power Paradigm, oragnised by IFERP.
30 September 2025 | Global, Online | Panel Discussion: Big Tech and the Misinformation Crisis in South Asia, organised by Center for the Study of Organized Hate
30 September to 02 October 2025 | Bangkok, Thailand | APRU Tech Policy Hackathon 2025, organised by Association of Pacific Rim Universities, Google, NUS Fintech Lab, data.org, and Capacity Accelerator Network (*)
30 September 2025 | Barcelona, Spain | Cultural Rights in the Digital Age: Inclusive Access, Fair Participation, and Rights-Based Governance, MONDIACULT 2025 Joint Side Event, organised by UNESCO, ICESCO, ILO, OHCHR, and UN Women
October 2025
07-08 October 2025 | Delhi, India | Trust and Safety Festival India, organised by the Trust and Safety Festival (*)
08-10 October 2025 | venue TBC | Enabling Accessibility and Inclusion through Digital Trade and E-commerce, organised by Asian Development Bank (ADB), ADB Institute and UN ESCAP
13 October 2025 | Singapore | TSPA APAC Summit 2025, organised by Trust and Safety Professionals Association (*)
11-14 October 2025 | Kathmandu, Nepal | Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum (APrIGF) 2025, organised by the Internet Governance Institute and co-hosted by Internet Society Nepal Chapter, World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) Asia Pacific, UNESCO and Internet Exchange Nepal (NPIX).
**UPDATED** 14-15 October 2025 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | ASEAN Civil Society Conference / ASEAN People’s Forum 2025, organised by ACSC/APF (APPLY BY 31 AUGUST; See Facebook page.) ** UPDATED: Registration still seems to be open**
21 October 2025 | Global, Online | Global Encryption Day, organised by the Internet Society
23-25 October 2025 | Macau SAR | United Nations University Macau AI Conference 2025: AI for Humanity - Building an Equitable Digital Future, organised by UNU Macau. (*)