KPMG PRESENTS INNOVATION SUMMIT 2023: EMPOWERING EMERGING TECH AND PIONEERING DIGITAL GOVERNMENT TRANSFORMATION

Manila, Philippines – KPMG R. G. Manabat & Co., one of the country’s leading accounting and professional services firms will hold its award-winning annual Innovation Summit at Fairmont Makati on July 20.

The Innovation Summit 2023 themed MAKING IT HAPPEN: From Innovative Ideas to Execution, launches two remarkable events: the first Philippine leg of the KPMG Global Technology Innovator competition and KPMG in the Philippines’ new Digital Government Center. Quezon City Mayor Hon. Joy Belmonte will grace the event as Keynote Speaker, sharing her own aspirations and commitments to digitization as a decision-maker in the political landscape.


This year’s summit will have physical attendance of business leaders and technology experts supplemented by a livestream serving the summit’s growing online audience. This is a fresh change from the exclusively digital conferences that started in 2021 that continued in 2022, where KPMG bagged the Anvil Award for Special Event and Exhibit from the Public Relations Society of the Philippines.

The prestigious Anvil is awarded to outstanding public relations programs, tools, and practitioners after careful screening by a multi-sectoral jury of PR professionals in the country.

“Recognitions of such magnitude inspire us to keep doing our share in empowering fellow professionals because we know this triggers the beginning of great leaderships and boundless innovations,” says KPMG in the Philippines’ Chairman & CEO, Sharon G. Dayoan.

Paving the way, particularly for the many tech start-ups thriving in the country, KPMG in the Philippines will host its first-ever search for the country’s tech start-up to represent the Philippines at the KPMG Global Tech Innovator Competition in Lisbon, Portugal.

Representing the Philippines and going head-to-head with tech start-ups from 26 countries around the globe, the Philippine country winner has the opportunity to elevate their ambitious tech goals and take the fulfillment of their vision to an entirely new level.

Prior to the presentation of the finalists’ businesses pitches and ideas, they will be given mentorship opportunities with industry titans to help them prepare for the competition. During the summit, the finalists will be judged by a panel of business leaders and decision- makers using the following criteria: innovation and disruption, market potential, customer adoption, marketing buzz, quality of the pitch, and long-term potential.

The winner will enjoy the brand exposure and prestige that comes with the competition, along with the potential to secure funding from investors.

Yet another innovation, KPMG R.G Manabat and Co.’s Digital Government Center will be unveiled at this year’s Innovation Summit. Aimed at guiding the national and local governments in their journeys toward digital transformation, the center will help civil workers create and strategize automation services and harness emerging technology so that they can provide citizens with efficient yet practical solutions. It will likewise be a source of training and certifications for civil servants to upskill their proficiency in technology.

Four hyper-specialized plenary sessions are underway at the KPMG Innovation Summit 2023.

DIGITAL GOVERNMENT AND SMART CITIES: BUILDING VIBRANT COMMUNITIES

Cities of the future are evolving with advanced technology, efficient resource utilization, sustainable development, and increased citizen participation.

The integration of smart infrastructure, renewable energy, interconnectivity and interoperability, autonomous transportation, advanced healthcare services and climate change resilience are woven into the everyday lives of its residents. At the summit, participants are fortunate to gain insights from Department of Information and Communications Technology Undersecretary David Almirol, Department of Budget and Management Undersecretary Maria Francesca Del Rosario, City Savings Bank Head of Legal and Data Protection Officer for Private Sector Infrastructure Ernesto Herrera, League of Cities Execute Biencor Ma. Veronica Hitosis, Microsoft Philippines National Technology and Security Officer Dale Jose, and Aboitiz Chief Operating Officer for Smart Cities Alvin Ng on the strategies and steps necessary to pave the way for the long-term and sustainable development of smart cities in our country. The knowledge-sharing will be led by KPMG PH Vice Chairman and COO and Head of Advisory Emmanuel Bonoan.

ESG TECH: INCLUSION AND DRIVING IMPACT THROUGH TECH

Globally, Environmental, Social, and Governance considerations have become a top priority.

Tech’s important role in enabling ESG adoption makes it easier for businesses to embed ESG models into their operations. KPMG India Director for Digital Strategy and ESG Technology Unaise Urfi, Department of Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary Carlos Primo David, Asian Institute Management Graduate School Business Head Communications and Center for Sustainable Finance Executive Director Felipe Calderon, Globe Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer Yoly Crisanto, International Container Terminal Services (ICTSI) Head of Sustainability and Development Roy Luntayao, and MSCI Inc. Vice President for ESG Data Management Adrian Pacia will delve into how technologies offer solutions to address current ESG issues in a panel discussion moderated by KPMG PH Chairman and CEO Sharon Dayoan. Kristine Aguirre, KPMG PH Advisory Partner, and ESG Lead, shall lead this panel discussion.

Thinking Beyond: The next wave of automation

The next wave of automation is said to revolutionize industries and transform the way people work; however, it also presents challenges in the aspects of job displacement and the need to upskill the workforce. KPMG PH Head of Technology Consulting Jallain Manrique will facilitate the dialogue of KPMG India Partner and Lead for

Digital Advisory Sushant Rabra, Analytics Association of the Philippines President Michelle Alarcon, Asian Development Bank Director of Digital Innovation and Architecture Ozzeir Khan, Globe Telecom CIO Raul Macatangay, Concepcion Business Services President and COO Eric Sarmiento, Robotic Process Automation Philippines Founder and President Allan Tan to shed light on the opportunities and risks that accompany this emerging wave of automation.

Industry Disruptors : Game- changers in Tech

The panel will traverse the game-changing innovations and technologies that are upending traditional industries and the challenges and opportunities that all come with being a disruptor. KPMG PH Head of Deal Advisory Michael Guarin will guide the exchange of ideas as Foodpanda VP and Director of Finance Leopoldo De Castro, Alliance of Tech Innovators for the Nation Lead Convenor, and DICT Former Undersecretary Mon Ibrahim, Fuse Lending President and CEO Tony Isidro, Digital Pilipinas Convenor and GeiserMaclang Co-founder Amor Maclang, Angkas Co-founder and CEO George Royeca, and Mayani CEO JT Solis delve into the strategies and mindsets behind some of the most successful disruptors in business today.

Join industry experts and technology leaders as they explore innovations making an impact benefiting many business industries. Get a chance to share your impressions on how advanced technology is indeed a huge factor in characterizing the future in a positive, progressive light.

Register and join the virtual KPMG Innovation Summit 2023 for FREE at this link: Event Management ph-kpmg.com)

R.G. MANABAT & CO.

R.G. Manabat & Co. or KPMG in the Philippines is a Philippine partnership and a member firm of the KPMG global organization of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. KPMG firms operate in 143 countries and territories. KPMG PH continues to be one of the most trusted premier professional services firms in the country today offering topnotch audit, tax, advisory, and technology consulting services to big corporations and industry partners. The firm’s diverse public and private sector backgrounds, combined with extensive training, enable the firm to provide real-world solutions to increasingly complex business and regulatory issues.