Driving Transformative Leadership and Innovation
Opening Remarks at FINEX Week Conference 2025
Edmund Alan A. Qua Hiansen l 10 October 2025 at Shangri-La at The Fort
“For decades, FINEX has been a steadfast voice for financial responsibility and integrity in the Philippines. Yet today, we are called to be more than guardians of balance sheets and budgets.“
Distinguished guests, partners, my FINEX colleagues, our keynote speaker, Ambassador Kazuya Endo:
Good morning. It is an honor to welcome you to this year’s FINEX Conference. This year’s theme, “Driving Transformative Leadership and Innovation,” captures both the urgency of our times and the responsibility that comes with leading in a nation at a crossroads.
Let me start by expressing our sincere appreciation to the FINEX Week Committee, led by Liaison Director Gema Ong Cheng and Co Chairs Brian Trias and Nenette de Jesus, for organizing such an inspiring week. I would also like to express my gratitude to our dedicated Secretariat, whose hard work and commitment have made this entire week a true reflection of professionalism, teamwork, and excellence.
We live in an era defined by uncertainty, shaped by geopolitical tensions, rapid technological disruption, and the growing demands of sustainability and inclusion. Artificial intelligence is reshaping industries overnight, climate risks are challenging business models, and public expectations are rightfully holding leaders to higher standards of transparency and purpose.
In moments like this, leadership is not merely tested, it is redefined.
For decades, FINEX has been a steadfast voice for financial responsibility and integrity in the Philippines. Yet today, we are called to be more than guardians of balance sheets and budgets.
We must become creators of trust, drivers of innovation, and defenders of a future that works for all Filipinos. Simply adjusting to change is no longer enough; we must lead it, ethically, boldly, and with purpose.
True transformation begins not with technology, but with mindset. It starts when leaders choose curiosity over complacency, accountability over convenience, and collaboration over competition. Transformative leadership is not about hierarchy; it is about impact.
As finance professionals, we hold a unique vantage point. We understand the numbers, the risks, and the trade-offs, but we also see the possibilities. We are the bridge between ambition and execution. And in a world hungry for trust, that bridge must be built on FINEX’s core values of Transparency, Integrity, Nationalism, Professional Excellence and Social Responsiveness.
This year’s FINEX Week showcases exceptional leaders who are not only reshaping industries but also transforming lives by embodying those values. Their stories serve as a reminder that innovation is not just about doing things faster or cheaper; it’s about doing things better for our people, our planet.
We are honored to learn from voices like our keynote speaker, Ambassador Kazuya Endo, who will share a diplomat’s perspective on leadership during uncertain times; as well as Mr. Manny V. Pangilinan, Mr. Sid Consunji, and many other speakers who remind us that leadership is most powerful when it uplifts communities. Their journeys affirm that when business is done right, it becomes a force for good, one that addresses inequality, expands opportunity, and strengthens national resilience.
But inspiration alone is not enough. The real test of leadership lies in action.
As financial executives, we occupy a unique position to transform not only our organizations but also the systems that shape our economy. We have the power to use capital responsibly, not only to generate profit, but to advance social equity, promote sustainability, and build trust in the institutions that serve our people.
We must speak the truth even when it is inconvenient. We must champion transparency even when silence is easier. And we must hold ourselves to the same standards we demand of others. The times call upon us to use our influence wisely and courageously for the good of society.
Ultimately, that is the core of transformative leadership and innovation: having the quiet courage to act and do what is right even when no one is watching, while continuously improving the system for future generations. It’s about focusing on the communities we’re in and showing up every day, even when the challenges seem overwhelming. It is about rejecting the status quo, accepting “puede na,” and striving for better, long-lasting solutions.
At FINEX, we pride ourselves on living out this principle. We have used our platform to leverage financial expertise and tell data driven stories that guide better decisions and strengthen our nation. At our January General Membership Meeting, Ramon del Rosario Jr. was the first business leader to publicly call out abuses in the national budget, an act that shed light on the issues we continue to face and challenged us to take an active role as guardians of our nation’s dignity. In the months that followed, FINEX has answered that call, providing forums to drive the national discourse. We have also used our expertise to support the development of our capital markets by partnering with like-minded organizations and engaging with our regulators. Beyond that, we have improved financial resilience in our communities while also building capacity by reaching out to students and teaching financial literacy. Our members are leading their organizations and finding new, innovative financial solutions to unlock stakeholder value.
As we gather here today, let us remember that transformation is not a one-time event; it is an ongoing journey. It is built on small, daily choices that shape how we lead, how we invest, and how we treat others. Each of us has the ability to make this transformation real: through the way we lead our teams, design policies, allocate resources, and most importantly, how we model ethical behavior.
At FINEX, we are united in our mission. We will keep promoting financial integrity, good governance, and leadership that balances ambition with accountability. We will expand opportunities for collaboration, dialogue, and learning so that our members and partners continue to thrive in a fast-changing world. We will also strengthen our partnerships with government, academia, and civil society because nation-building relies on strong institutions.
As we begin this year’s conference, I urge each of you to see this as a call to action: to become transformative leaders who lead with courage and conviction, innovate with purpose, turn uncertainty into opportunity, and inspire others.
Together, let us make business a true force for good, one that enables, empowers, and elevates every Filipino. Thank you.