How do NGOs help communities and organizations prepare and respond to crises? Join Seeta Giri, Regional Advisor for Asia of the Humanitarian Advisory Group as she shares her insights about disaster risk management.
Head of Communications and Corporate Affairs for the Philippines and South East Asia
Unilever
Atty. Joseph Roco Fabul is the Unilever Head of Communications and Corporate Affairs for the Philippines and South East Asia. He has over 20 years of experience in various sectors, including media, government, legal practice and FMCGs. He is an active member of industry associations and sits as Board Director of the Philippine Chamber of Food Manufacturers, External Vice-President and Chairman of its Legislative Committee, he is a Trustee of the Home Care Association of the Philippines, Country Board Member for Philippines and Thailand for the Circulate Capital Ocean Fund. He also serves as the Co-Chairman of the Sustainability Committee for the American Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AMCHAM) and Head of MSME Resilience for ARISE Philippines.
Before joining Unilever, he started his legal career with the ACCRALAW Litigation Department before he moved to public policy and advocacy work. He was the Country Manager for Corporate Affairs, Sustainability, and Communications at Mondelez and before that was also connected with the Corporate Affairs Team of Philip Morris International.
Joseph has a diverse background in managing risks for business operations, public policy, government relations and sustainability. Joseph graduated in the top 10 of his class from the San Beda College of Law. He also holds a Masters in Business Administration, Magna Cum Laude, from the De Las Salle University and a Communications degree from the Ateneo De Manila University where he was awarded the Loyola Schools Award for the Arts.
Joseph is married to Atty. Joan De Venecia-Fabul and they have 4 beautiful children. He loves the outdoors and enjoys cycling and running during his free time
Chief Executive Officer
NEO
Mr. Rufino is currently the CEO of NEO, the largest Owner, Developer, and Manager of Office Buildings in the Bonifacio Global City central business district in the Philippines with 7 operational developments comprising a Gross Leasable Area of almost 270,000 sqm. NEO is the only office portfolio developer with its entire portfolio certified 5 Stars under BERDE (Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence), the national voluntary green building rating tool of the country – making it the top green office developer in the country. He is also the Principal, Real Estate for the Threadborne Group family office.
He currently holds the following positions:
– Global Governing Trustee, Urban Land Institute (ULI)
– Chair for Mission Advancement, ULI Philippines
– Founding Chair, Next Gen Council of World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines
– Real Estate Industry Network Regional Chair – Southeast Asia, YPO
– Treasurer, Philippine Green Building Council (PhilGBC)
He has previously held the following positions:
– Chapter Chair, Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) Philippines
– Chairman, Philippine Green Building Council (PhilGBC), which he helped found in 2007
– Chair, ULI Philippines
– President, Entrepreneur’s Organization (EO) Philippines
– Regional Director for Asia for the EO Global Student Entrepreneurship Awards – the premier global student entrepreneurship competition
Mr. Rufino is a licensed real estate broker and graduated with a Master of Science in Real Estate Development from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Science in Management from the Ateneo De Manila University. He is also a member of the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP).
He was awarded Real Estate Personality for 2015 at the 3rd Annual Philippine Property Awards. He is the youngest ever recipient of the award. In 2016, he was also recognized as a winner in the prestigious 40 Under 40 Competition of Urban Land Magazine which recognizes the best and brightest young land use professionals from around the globe.
Philippines Country Program Manager
Build Change
Passionate about empowering low-income and vulnerable communities, Girlie Lopez serves as the Philippines Country Program Manager at Build Change. In this role, she provides leadership, management, and technical expertise for all projects in the country. Under her guidance, the Philippines team has pioneered an innovative program in partnership with microfinance institutions, offering low-income households affordable financing to enhance and fortify their homes, alongside allied services like awareness raising and technical assistance.
With over two decades of experience, Girlie is a seasoned development and financial inclusion specialist. Her expertise spans diverse credit markets, including banks, microfinance institutions, government entities, and advocacy groups. Prior to joining Build Change, she held roles as a banker, researcher, and finance specialist with organizations like Chemonics International, Innovations for Poverty Action, and Habitat for Humanity International. In these positions, she focused on developing enabling policies, testing evidence-based solutions, building stakeholder relations, forging partnerships, and implementing strategic projects to alleviate poverty.
Girlie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and a Diploma in Research and Development Management. A native Filipino speaker, she is proficient in five local dialects and fluent in English. Her multifaceted background and dedication to community empowerment make her a valuable asset in driving positive change and sustainable development.
Deputy National Director
Habitat for Humanity Philippines Foundation, Inc.
Chief Reputation and Sustainability Officer
Aboitiz Equity Ventures
Executive Director
Philippine Insurers and Reinsurers Association
Mr. Michael F. Rellosa is the Executive Director of the Philippine Insurers and Reinsurers Association (PIRA), serving initially as a member of the Board of Trustees for an uninterrupted period of 20 years. He then served as its chairman in 2008 to 2010 and 2014 to 2016 until his appointment to his present position in 2018. He concurrently chairs the association’s Public Relations Committee, TWG on Agricultural Insurance, Ad-Hoc Committee on ASEAN Economic Integration, and its designated Industry spokesperson. Prior to assuming his post in PIRA fulltime, he served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of Fortune General Insurance Corporation for 15 years.
Mitch, as he is fondly called by friends and colleagues, has been very active in serving the Insurance Industry through his involvement with various entities in various capacities. Following his regional stint as Chairman of the ASEAN Insurance Council (AIC), a regional aggrupation of the ASEAN’s Life and Non-Life Associations from 2015 to 2016, he also chaired the Education Committee of the ASEAN Insurance Council (AIC) for 8 years until December 2023. Mr. Rellosa is a regular lecturer at the Insurance Institute for Asia and the Pacific and was elected to its Board for the years 2021-2023, and is now on his second term which will end on 30 April 2026.
He was recently elected as President of EAIC, East Asian Insurance Congress, for the years 2022-2024.
Mitch was elected as a Member of the Board of ARISE Philippines (The Private Sector Alliance on Disaster Resilient Societies) in September 2023 and currently sits as its Committee Chair and Priority Area Lead on Re/Insurance, one of its 4 key priority areas. He writes a monthly Opinion Column for the Manila Times on topics related to Insurance, Risk Management, and other topics close to his heart.
Executive Director
Zuellig Family Foundation
Austere A. Panadero is Executive Director (2018-present) and President (April 2023 to present) of the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF). ZFF is a philanthropy organization that supports efforts to strengthen leadership and governance capacities of LGUs to bring about resilient local health and nutrition systems.
He has a wealth of experience in ensuring local governments have the capacity to effectively deliver public services and become accountable, transparent and results based.
He worked for close to three decades in various capacities at the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), where he was undersecretary from 2007 until his retirement in 2018. During this period, he was the senior focal person for DRRM concerns of the Department. He was actively involved in the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) operations to address LGU preparedness, mitigation, response and rehabilitation actions and capacities. He likewise, provided inputs in crafting new laws to address DRRM and climate change concerns during various policy level discussions in Congress (House of Rep and Senate). He also played crucial roles in mobilizing support for the implementation of these laws at the local level. Presently, he is the Vice Chair for Civil Society Organizations of the National Resilience Council(NRC). He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) and Association of Foundations (AF).
An Industrial Engineering graduate of the University of the Philippines, he began working in the government as technical staff of the Development Academy of the Philippines, where he eventually became its Senior Vice President for Operations.
In the DILG, he ensured the continuity of program and policy implementation amid multiple leadership changes. For being an exemplary public official who has dedicated his life to improving local governance, the Ateneo de Manila University conferred to him the 2016 Government Service Award.
Executive Director
National Resilience Council
Silvestre Z. Barrameda Jr., also known as Sly, is the Executive Director of the National Resilience Council. He was a Career Executive Service Officer (CESO V) at the Department of the Interior and Local Government where he served for 18 years. He had extensive local and international training and experience in decentralization focusing on local government capacity and policy development, climate change and disaster resilience, sustainable development and health governance at the nexus of national and subnational levels.
Prior to his assignment in DILG-National Capital Region, he was the Chief of the Local Government Training and Development Division (LGTDD) of the Local Government Academy (LGA), the training arm of DILG for LGUs and its personnel. As such, he holds a solid track record in the design and implementation of capacity development programs for local governments.
During his earlier stint as Head of the Institutional Partnership Unit of the LGA, he has gained considerable competencies in designing and developing plans, projects, publications, knowledge products, and capacity building programs for local governments. Specifically, he led a Technical Team in DILG for the development and institutionalization of Operation LISTO – a platform for LGU disaster preparedness in the country. Furthermore, he also engaged and led various programs that addresses local governance challenges such as HIV and AIDS, water and sanitation, among others.
At NRC, he works closely with both the national and local governments, civil society organizations, the private sector, the academe, and international development partners to foster opportunities and partnerships for resilient and inclusive communities in the Philippines.
President
Asia Pacific College
Dr. Maria Teresita P. Medado is a distinguished figure in the field of education, currently serving as the NU-President of Asia Pacific College (APC). Her tenure at APC began in 1994, and she became President in 2018, where she has been instrumental in driving educational innovation in response to technological advancements in the industry.
In addition to her role at APC, Dr. Medado is actively involved in various philanthropic and educational organizations. She is a Board Member of ARISE – Philippines, Convenor of the Women International Network in Disaster Risk Reduction Philippines, and holds board positions at MFI Polytechnic Institute, Inc., and the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA).
Her leadership and contributions to education have been recognized with the Outstanding Leadership Award at the Education 2.0 Conference in July 2023. She also shared her expertise at the QS Higher Ed Summit Americas 2022, focusing on educational innovations.
Dr. Medado is also a technical expert in the Alternative Learning System, leading the Technical Committee on Alternative Learning at the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and collaborating with UNESCO Jakarta on research and development in this area for the past five years.
Assistant Vice President and Program Director
SM Development Corporation
Ms. Jessica Bianca Sy, fondly known as Jica.
She currently serves as the Assistant Vice President and Project Director at SM Development Corporation (SMDC), where she has been instrumental in developing and leading business and project developments within multi-residential and township developments since April 2021. Her leadership in design strategies for SMDC properties prioritizes holistic, sustainable, and resilient features, reflecting her dedication to creating thriving communities.
Jica leads the SMDC Good Guys Community Program. This initiative focuses on creating safe and secure spaces through disaster preparedness, health and wellness programs for all ages, and sustainability efforts like recycling and supporting local SMEs offering sustainable products. Her efforts significantly contribute to the well-being and resilience of both SMDC residents and the broader community.
She is a board member of ARISE – Philippines, a local network of the Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies (ARISE). ARISE is a United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)-led network of private sector entities whose members voluntarily commit to supporting and implementing the Sendai Framework. This commitment aligns with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Paris Climate Agreement, the New Urban Agenda, and the Agenda for Humanity.
Additionally, Jica also serves as a board member for Reclamation Sustainability & Resilience, where she contributes to sustainability studies and evaluates environmental impacts to enhance resilience for a land reclamation project.
Ms. Jica is known for her profound commitment to sustainability and innovative design. She is an architect by profession with notable experiences at Plus Architecture Australia, where she supported various interior design and architectural projects in hospitality, multi-residential dwellings, and commercial buildings. She later advanced to lead architectural and master planning projects, primarily in multi-residential dwelling developments.
She holds a Bachelor’s Degree of Design (Architecture) with a double major in Architecture and Marketing, as well as a Master’s of Architecture from Queensland University of Technology. Her educational background is further enriched by a Foundation Degree in Design from RMIT University.
Chairperson
Airspeed Group of Companies
Rosemarie P. Rafael is the Chairperson and Founder of the Airspeed Group of Companies, an end-to-end logistics solutions provider. She has played a crucial role in driving Airspeed’s success and sustainability by introducing innovative approaches and business models. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic in 2020, she launched Unboxme, Pinaspeed, Kahanga-hanga PH, and SpeedConcepts to meet the changing needs of the market.
A strong advocate for women’s empowerment and leadership, Ms. Rafael fosters a culture of creativity, innovation, and talent development. Under her leadership, Airspeed has expanded its services to include comprehensive logistics solutions such as domestic and international multimodal freight forwarding, storage solutions, specialized logistics, customs clearance, and e-commerce fulfillment. This expansion has strengthened the company’s position as a leader in the logistics industry.
Her innovative approach has inspired excellence, propelling Airspeed to new heights. Giving back to the community is one of her core values, which led her to create the PINASPEED SME Program, which aims to support the growth and success of small and medium-sized enterprises.
Chairman Emeritus
PwC Philippines
Alex, both a Certified Public Accountant and lawyer, is the Chairman and Senior Partner of PwC Philippines since 2013. He specializes in tax planning, business restructuring and reorganizations, and integrated tax, legal, and accounting advice. He attended business courses at Harvard Business School, Wharton University, and IESE Business School.
He is also a board member in PwC’s Southeast Asia Regional Consulting practice and is the managing partner of Cabrera & Company.
He is Chairman of the Integrity Initiative Inc. (II, Inc.), the Management Association of the Philippines’ (MAP) Tax Committee, and the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ (PICPA) Taxation and Legislation Committee.
Alex has been named CEO of the Year at the Asia Leaders Awards 2019. He received the Outstanding CPA in Public Practice Award in 2015 and as Young Achiever in Public Practice Award in 1998 from PICPA. His Sunday column in the Philippine STAR, “As easy as ABC”, has been a three-time finalist at the Catholic Mass Media Awards.
Consultant for Disaster Resilience
SM Prime Holdings Inc.
Vice Admiral Alexander Patino Pama is a retired Vice Admiral of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and served as the 32nd Flag Officer-in-Command, Philippine Navy (Navy Chief) prior to his retirement from the Navy in December 2012.
He is currently a member of the ARISE Global Board, an international private sector alliance for DRR in support to the UNDRR advocacy for the attainment of the Goals of the Sendai Framework for Action. Concurrenty, he is a Senior Advisor to the National Resilience Council and Member of the Board of Trustees of the Oscar M. Lopez Center and ReStart Me Board of Trustees.
He is also the Chairman of the Board of COCOGEN Insurance and a member of the Board of Directors of COCOLIFE Insurance Company, among others.
He is a former Adjunct Professor at the Asian Institute of Management’s Executive Master in Disaster Risk and Crisis Management and a Lecturer at the Ateneo de Manila University’s Master in Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience.
Formerly, he was the Executive Director, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and concurrently the Administrator of the Office of Civil Defense, Department of National Defense where among his mandates was to integrate, supervise, coordinate, and harmonize government and multi-sectoral efforts in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management System and Resilience. He introduced and institutionalized the Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment-Action Programs and Protocols (PDRA-APP), a system and a process that has improved the country’s approach to DRRM that has significantly reduced casualties and damages resulting from disasters.
He was also the former and pioneering Executive Director of the Secretariat of the National Coast Watch Council at the Office of the Executive Secretary, Office of the President of the Philippines. As the Executive Director, he was instrumental in the initial organizing and building up of the Council, and the National Coast Watch Center, the agency mandated to oversee the Philippine Maritime security and domain awareness.VAdm. Pama is a member of the Philippine Military Academy (MATAPAT) Class of 1979 and a graduate of the Naval Command Course at the US Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, USA, and the post graduate Course in National Security at the Christian Albrechts University, Kiel Germany.
Vice President for Corporate Compliance
SM Prime Holdings Inc.
Engr. Liza B. Silerio is currently the Vice President for Corporate Compliance Group for SM Supermalls with 20 years of experience in Mall Operations and the Program Director & Lead for the Environment, Sustainability & Resilience.
She is the Co-Chair of ARISE Philippines for the term 2023 – 2026 and previously served as a Board Member of ARISE Global, a Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies. The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) is the focal point of the United Nations system for disaster risk reduction and the custodian of the Sendai Framework, supporting countries and societies in its implementation, monitoring and review of progress.
She is the Chairperson of Ortigas Center Association Inc., OCAI is a non-stock, non-profit organization. It is commissioned to uphold the stature of Ortigas Center as one of the nation’s prime business districts. OCAI is composed of 192 lot and building owners situated at around 267 acres along major cities in Metro Manila.
She is Registered Civil Engineer.
Chairman of the Executive Committee
SM Prime Holdings Inc.
Hans Sy is the Chairman of the Executive Committee of SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SMPHI) and Adviser to the Board of SM Investments Corporation. SM Prime, which was incorporated in the Philippines in 1994, is one of the largest integrated property developers in Southeast Asia. Under Hans Sy’s leadership as its President till September 2016, SM Prime grew exponentially through offering of innovative and sustainable lifestyle cities integrating malls, residences, offices, hotels and convention centers.
Hans is also engaged in the management of some of the oldest institutions in the country. He is the Chairman of China Banking Corporation, which turns 100 years old by 2020, and of the National University founded in 1900.
He is actively pushing for Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) through collaborative efforts on Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) in the Philippines. Currently, he sits in the Global Board of ARISE Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies (UNDRR). He is the Co-Chairman of the National Resilience Council (NRC), a private-public sector initiative whose goal is to strengthen resilience of Local Government Units (LGUs) towards disaster-resilient Philippines.
Mr. Sy holds a B.S. Mechanical Engineering degree from De La Salle University.
