WAN-IFRA’s sixth Asian Media Leaders Summit brings together global media CEOs editors entrepreneurs and AI experts in Singapore on October 26 and 27 to shape the future of journalism.
By Imran Malik | Media Industry Desk | MediaBites.com.pk | SharjahNews.ae
The most important gathering of media leaders in Asia is returning to Singapore — and this year’s edition may be the most consequential yet.
WAN-IFRA’s 6th Asian Media Leaders Summit (AMLS) takes place on October 26 and 27 in Singapore, bringing together an extraordinary assembly of global and regional media CEOs, editors, entrepreneurs, technologists, and innovators to confront the most urgent challenges facing journalism and the business of news in 2026.
The Speaker Lineup — A Remarkable Assembly
The summit’s confirmed speakers represent some of the most influential voices in global media:
Stig Ørskov — CEO, WAN-IFRA | Xenia Daum — CEO, Kleine Zeitung | Louis Dreyfus — President and CEO, Group Le Monde | Cécile Sourd — CEO, Mediapart | Sandy Romualdez — Chairperson, Inquirer Group | Andy Budiman — CEO, KG Media | Lyn-Yi Chung — Chief Editor, Mediacorp | Jeremy Au Yong — Associate Editor, SPH Media | Yi-Shan Chen — Editor-in-Chief, CommonWealth Magazine | Adriaan Basson — Editor-in-Chief, News24 | Mehak Kasbekar — Editor-in-Chief, Brut | Mark Frankel — Head of Public Affairs, Full Fact | Nattha Komolvadhin — News Director, The Standard | Sam Koslowski — Co-founder, The Daily Aus | Daryl Choo — Young Audience Editor, SPH Media | Gary Liu — Co-Founder and CEO, Terminal 3 | Chris Janz — CEO, Capital Brief | Kavita Chandran — Journalism Trainer and Content Consultant | Ezra Eeman — AI Expert and Director of Strategy and Innovation, NPO | Khalil A. Cassimally — Consultant, Mauritius
What the Summit Will Cover
The two-day program addresses the questions that every media organization — from global publishers to independent digital startups — is wrestling with right now:
Strategies for building the future of news media. How strategic newsroom thinking is helping media companies win. Innovation that delivers impact. Lessons from startups. How AI is challenging journalism and how to respond. The latest AI tools, trends, and case studies. How investigative journalism can still thrive. Managing ethical dilemmas and conflicts of interest. Fact-checking tools and best practices. The latest advertising trends.
WAN-IFRA CEO’s Personal Anticipation
Stig Ørskov, CEO of WAN-IFRA, expressed genuine personal excitement about attending the summit for the first time, describing the speaker lineup as “a remarkable group gathered in one program.”
“The summit brings together an exceptional group of media leaders, editors, entrepreneurs and innovators from across Asia and beyond,” Ørskov wrote. “Over two days we will explore how to build the future of news, respond to AI, strengthen newsroom strategy, and create sustainable media businesses. Big questions — but more importantly an opportunity for conversations with people who are dealing with them every day.”
He paid specific tribute to the WAN-IFRA colleagues who built the program: Kah Whye Lee, Wilson Leong, and Jen Teo — “judging by the line-up, they have done a truly impressive job.”
Who Should Attend
The summit is designed for CEOs, COOs, CFOs, CMOs, editors, newsroom leaders, product leaders, technologists, journalists, and anyone in adjacent industries including technology, advertising, and communications who wants to understand where media is heading and how to lead through the disruption.
For MediaBites, as a member of WAN-IFRA and an active participant in the global journalism community, the Asian Media Leaders Summit represents exactly the kind of international knowledge exchange that keeps independent digital news platforms connected to the best thinking in the industry.
Singapore. October 26 and 27. The future of Asian journalism gets decided in that room.
— Imran Malik | Media Industry Desk | MediaBites.com.pk | SharjahNews.ae
Source: WAN-IFRA
