This episode features Mark Manantan, the Director of Cybersecurity and Critical Technologies at the Pacific Forum. At the Forum, Mr. Manantan currently leads the Cyber ASEAN capacity-building initiative, and the US Cyber, Technology, and Security partnerships with Japan, Australia, Taiwan, and South Korea. Mr. Manantan is also a non-resident fellow at the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, National Chengchi University, Taiwan, and formerly a research consultant at the Asia Society Policy Institute, Washington, DC. He has held visiting fellowships at the Japan Foundation, the Center for Rule-Making Strategies at Tama University in Tokyo, Japan, and the East-West Center, Washington, DC. Prior to that, he was a media, public relations, and advertising executive for Procter & Gamble, Wells Fargo, Aboitiz Equity Ventures, and UNICEF.
Mr. Manantan speaks to Amelie about the tech landscape in South East Asia, delving into the rise of AI businesses and policies within the region, as well as the role of cybersecurity in geopolitical conflicts, such as the South China Sea.
Graphic by Sam Tran