The closed-door engagement was led by Professor Henrik von Scheel, world-renowned futurist, originator of the Fourth Industrial Revolution concept, and Co-Founder of Strategic Intelligence–World Economic Forum. Fresh from closed-door engagements with global leaders at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos last month, Professor von Scheel shared insights on megatrends, geopolitical realignments, and structural shifts shaping the future of finance in Asia.
The briefing underscored that competitiveness in today’s environment is no longer driven by scale or balance sheets alone, but by the ability to anticipate change early, manage systemic risks, and make informed strategic decisions ahead of disruption.

Speaking at the event, Professor Dr. Manivanan Saman, Chief Executive Officer of the Asian Banking School, emphasised the importance of foresight as a core leadership capability.

“For a smaller, open economy like Malaysia, the cost of delayed understanding is often higher than the cost of early engagement,” said Professor Manivanan. “Strategic intelligence is no longer a nice-to-have. It is a leadership discipline that enables institutions to navigate uncertainty with clarity rather than react under pressure.”

The event also marked the formalisation of a strategic collaboration between ABS and Strategic Intelligence–World Economic Forum, including the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding. The collaboration will enable ABS to embed global foresight methodologies and frameworks into leadership development and advanced executive education for the financial services sector in Malaysia and the region.

A key highlight was the launch of the ABS Centre of Excellence for Leadership (CoEL), established to strengthen leadership judgement and foresight across the banking and financial services industry. The Centre will focus on equipping both emerging and premier leaders with capabilities required to navigate long-term transitions, interconnected risks, and evolving stakeholder expectations.

Professor Henrik von Scheel noted the importance of the collaboration for Malaysia’s leadership landscape.

“Malaysia sits at a critical intersection of global economic, technological, and regulatory change,” said Professor von Scheel. “This collaboration moves beyond discussion to capability-building, ensuring leaders are equipped not only to respond to change, but to shape outcomes in an increasingly uncertain world.”

In addition to the Strategic Intelligence Briefing, ABS outlined leadership engagements planned for 2026, including closed-door Strategic Intelligence sessions for senior leadership teams, a FutureFit Forum, thematic Masterclasses, and an Advanced Executive Education programme in Davos, Switzerland, in collaboration with Strategic Intelligence and the World Economic Forum.

These initiatives reflect ABS’ role as a strategic enabler for the banking and financial services sector, supporting leadership capability aligned with industry competitiveness and long-term economic resilience.