LEGACY360 positions Sarawak as a global leader in business event legacies

Session 1 with (from left to right) Dr. Peter Lee, Gary Grimmer, Professor Datin Dr. Lydia Abdul Latif, Octavio (Bobby) Peralta and Nigel Brown.

KUCHING, 3 October 2025: The inaugural Legacy360: Business Events for a Sustainable Future, organised by Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak) unfolded yesterday, bringing together leaders, government officials and experts from different fields and countries for a day of interactive main stage sessions, accredited training hours and opportunities to build lasting partnerships.

As the first event of its kind, LEGACY360 is aimed at creating events that go above and beyond, to create legacies that will make a lasting positive impact on business events and other industries. Designed to advocate, educate, advance, recognize and support the business events industry, the first day of LEGACY360 opened up with LEGACY360 Education, featuring 16 visionary speakers across 5 high-impact sessions. 

After an energetic opening segment by BESarawak CEO, Amelia Roziman, LEGACY360 Education kicked off with the first panel session of the day, ‘Step into Impact – Unlocking Local Organisers’ Potential’. Moderated by the Executive Chairman of GainingEdge, Gary Grimmer and joined by the Founder & Volunteer CEO of the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives (PCAAE), Octavio (Bobby) Peralta, President of Malaysian Society of Assocation Executives (MSAE), Professor Datin Dr. Lydia Abdul Latif, Director of Marketing & Partnerships at BestCities Global Alliance, Nigel Brown and Managing Director of Goyang Convention & Visitors Bureau, Dr. Peter Lee, the panel explored strategies to empower organisers to deliver events with meaningful and measured outcomes.

In ‘Powering Change – Malaysian BE and Hospitality on the Road to Sustainability’, co-founder and CEO of Placeborneo, Mona Abdul Manap, President of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA), Nigel Wong and General Manager of Mercure Miri City Centre, Shan Ravendran along with Authorised Lead Trainer of Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), Kingston Francis Xiaolee Khoo as moderator, the panel discussed the role of the government and policymakers in streamlining sustainable tourism.

BESarawak Member of Board of Directors, YBrs. Associate Prof. Dr. Margaret Chan (second left) in a group photo with the panellists of Session 2 (from left) Kingston Francis Xiaolee Khoo, Mona Abdul Manap, Nigel Wong and Shan Ravendran.

The next session featured the Associate Professor at Curtin University Malaysia, Ts Dr Goi Chai Lee, who represents the International Journal of Business Events and Legacies (IJBEL). In his session, he emphasized the role of universities as incubators of innovative partnerships, from an academic perspective.

Session 3 by Associate Professor Ts Dr Goi Chai Lee.

After lunch, LEGACY360: Education resumed with ‘The Language of Legacy – How to Influence Through Purpose’, with moderator Florence Chua, who is Managing Director APAC, Professional Convention Management Association, and the following panellist: Founder of Medical Conference Partners, Dee Dee Quah, President of the Malaysian Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (MACEOS), Datuk Dr. M. Gandhi, Senior Regional Director – Asia Pacific of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), Waikin Wong and the Deputy CEO of BESarawak, Jason Tan. Together, the session offered valuable lessons on communicating with intention and navigating today’s value-driven world.

Amelia Roziman (third left) poses with panellists from Session 4 (from left) Florence Chua, Dee Dee Quah, Datuk Dr. M. Gandhi, Waikin Wong and Jason Chan.

The last session of the day was an energetic one by the Founder and Chief Engager of BEAMexperience, El Kwang, who underscored the importance of purpose-driven branding, storytelling and cross-industry collaboration through his segment entitled ‘Beyond the Logo – Building Legacy-Driven Destination Brands’.

Final session of the day with El Kwang.

Meanwhile, BESarawak’s CEO, Amelia Roziman, during her curtain call, was surprised by the presentation of The Iceberg Excellence Award by GainingEdge Senior Manager and Regional Lead of Asia, Jane Vong Holmes. Amelia makes history as the first Asian and only the fifth recipient of The Iceberg Excellence Award in 10 years. 

Amelia Roziman (right) makes history as the first Asian, and fifth recipient of The Iceberg Excellence Award in 10 years, which was presented by Jane Vong Holmes.

LEGACY360 will close with the Borneo Inspires Legacy Awards 2025, happening today at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK), which will celebrate the outstanding achievements of legacy makers worldwide. A total of 18 awards across five categories will honour contributions that advance industry, community, and global progress.

“LEGACY360 is aligned with Sarawak’s bold ambition to be the legacy capital of business events in Malaysia and Borneo,” said Amelia Roziman, CEO of BESarawak. “To ensure that we are leading the way for years to come, Sarawak will host LEGACY360 and all its programmes every two years, building a movement that champions legacy and sustainability across the global industry.”