Bridging Innovation and Inclusion: Notes from the ASEAN–Australia Emerging Leaders Program

In the noise of fast-moving tech and big metrics, I’ve come to believe this:

Technology holds true value only when it moves in step with equality.

I had the honour of being selected as part of the ASEAN–Australia Emerging Leaders Program, hosted by the ASEAN-Australia Centre and Department Foreign Affairs and Trades (DFAT). A room filled with brilliant thinkers from across our region: engineers, researchers, government, practitioners, activists. Listening to delegates from across Southeast Asia and Australia, one truth struck me:

Who is being left behind as we move forward?

• Who’s building for the woman who still can’t access safe tech?

• The migrant who speaks five dialects, but none are available on the platforms?

• The grandmother who can’t differentiate her son’s message from a scammer?

The Digital Future Is Being Written Now

We explored everything from AI ethics to cyber safety, innovation ecosystems to the role of regional policy. But the most meaningful moments didn’t come from panel slides or keynote quotes. They came from real stories.

The Data Speaks, But Only If We Listen

We’re not just talking about anecdotes. We’re talking about a system-wide design problem.

• 🌐 Only 50% of people in rural areas globally use the internet, in low-income countries, rural access drops to just 17%.

• 👩🏽‍💻The gender gap adds another layer: 244 million fewer women are online globally.

• 🗣️ Language barriers contribute to an 80% drop in tech adoption for migrants and refugees.

• 👵🏽 75% of older adults fall for digital scams, often because they simply don’t understand what’s real and what isn’t.

  
  

Let’s be honest:

Technology is never neutral, it mirrors our values.

Whether it deepen connection or division depends largely on our intentions and actions.

Delegates of the ASEAN-Australian Emerging Leaders Program in Digital Economy gather for a group photo at the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Southeast Asia’s Economic Potential

Southeast Asia stands on the verge of significant change, projected to rank as the 4th largest economy by 2040. With a combined population exceeding 670 million and a rapidly expanding middle class, the region's digital economy alone is projected to reach $600 billion by 2030. However, this growth brings with it serious questions about accessibility, equality, and inclusion.

Access to technology is not just a matter for the privileged few. If we fail to ensure everyone benefits from advancements, we risk turning impressive figures into meaningless stats. According to McKinsey, simply meeting the digital needs of women across Southeast Asia could add $195 billion to our economy by 2025.

Imagine what’s possible if we actually designed for inclusion, not as a feature, but as the foundation.

Let's Be the Bridge

Let’s stop building just fast, and start building fair.

• Innovation and Inclusion: New technologies must address the needs of underserved populations. For instance, migrants who don't speak some languages.

  
  

• Between Boardrooms and Grassroots Realities: Engaging community members is critical. For example, tech companies like Facebook have initiated local community programs to support understanding of different socio-economic realities and to co-create solutions with marginalised groups.

  
  

• Between today’s builders and those still waiting for the light: Connecting innovators with those still awaiting access to technology is vital. Many individuals continue to lack not only innovative tools but also reliable connections to the digital world.

Building effective bridges requires a commitment to diversity, collaboration, and equal participation in conversations about technology.

At a networking event, Ms. Martine Letts, CEO of Asialink, engages in conversations with Ratu Nida, CEO of Women's Lantern and Aimee CEO of Brunei's Digital Consulting Firm

The Call to Action

If we want a future that’s truly digital and humane, we need to ask different questions:

• How do we empower every woman, child, and elder in the digital age?

• How can we cultivate environments where varied voices are not just allowed but actively invited into the conversation?

If Southeast Asia hopes to emerge as a leader in the global economy, it must prioritise collaboration with all citizens, including those who are marginalised or underserved.

Participants in a DFAT presentation on the Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040

Shaping Tomorrow’s Digital World (With Heart)

This journey with the ASEAN–Australia Emerging Leaders Program reminded me of something simple but urgent:

The future isn’t just happening to us. It’s something we’re shaping, every day.

And we each hold a piece of that responsibility.

We can choose to build a future where everyone belongs. Where innovation doesn't overshadow inclusion. Where tech doesn’t just scale, but also serves the underserved.

Let’s keep lighting pathways forward, not just for ourselves, but for all the voices still waiting for space at the table.

Let’s design for the margins, lead from the heart, and code with care.

Because building a digital world isn’t just about speed. It’s about soul.

It’s about a legacy of access, empathy, and equity.

With hope,

Ratu

References:

• ASEAN - Australia Special Summit- Emerging Leaders' Dialogue

• Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040

• International Telecommunication Union. 2023. Facts and Figures 2023 – Measuring digital development.

• Migrants' and Refugees' Digital Literacies in Life and Language Learning

• Women's Digital Inclusion: McKinsey, Power of Parity Across APAC