BRUNEI DARUSSALAM – The ASEAN Centre for Active Ageing and Innovation (ACAI) successfully held its 14th Governing Board Meeting on October 8, 2025. The meeting was hosted in Brunei Darussalam and featured discussions on administrative progress, current activities, and new policy considerations aimed at enhancing the quality of life for older persons across the ASEAN Member States.

Prior to the formal board meeting, the delegates dedicated the morning to a crucial field visit to the Senior Citizen Activity Centre (PKWE) Brunei Muara, Lambak Kanan. This visit allowed the Governing Board to directly engage with the community and gain firsthand insight into Brunei Darussalam’s successful ageing initiatives.

The meeting’s Opening Session began with welcome remarks by Dr. Hajah Rafidah Haji Gharif, Acting Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health, Brunei Darussalam, followed by the introduction of the new ACAI Board Chair, Dr. Opart Karnkawinpong, and his opening remarks. The ACAI’s mission is to be a knowledge centre on active ageing and innovation, supporting evidence-informed policies and conducting research.

The Governing Board received detailed briefings on the Centre’s progress, focusing on both institutional strengthening and programmatic advancement.

On the administrative front, updates were provided on the status of the new ACAI office and current staffing levels. The Board reviewed the financial audit report for 2024, along with an overview of the Source and Use of Funds from January to September 2025, which included contributions from donor organisations. The Board also received guidelines for office administration.

The meeting highlighted significant progress in ACAI’s programmatic areas, including updates on the Innovation Hub and Open Platform and the ongoing ASEAN Active Initiative (AAAI) and Strategic Mappin. Updates were also shared on current Cohort Initiatives, the Happy Retirement project, and the work of the Expert Group. Furthermore, progress on the Country Coordinators Capacity Building Programmes and is supported by the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) was presented.

The Board was also informed about new collaborative projects with ACAI Strategic Partners, as well as an update from the ASEAN Secretariat on Timor-Leste’s engagement with ASEAN and ACAI in the future.

A key focus of the meeting was the Matters for Consideration, where the Board deliberated on crucial institutional policies and governance frameworks to strengthen ACAI’s operational capacity and research mandate.

The discussions centred on establishing and refining several internal protocols, including financial and research guidelines. These considerations focused on establishing a Guideline for Research and Innovation Grant, defining the Terms of Reference for the Independent Research Panel (IRP), and confirming new members for the Expert Group. The Board also considered matters related to human resources and external representation.

The successful 14th Governing Board Meeting concluded with a Closing Session that addressed the schedule for the next meeting, remarks from the Brunei Host, and final remarks by the Chair and Vice Chair of the ACAI Governing Board.