Speakers

Mark S. Gorriceta, chairman and managing partner, Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra

Mark S. Gorriceta is the Chairman and Managing Partner of Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra, one of the Philippines’ leading and fastest-growing law firms, known for its strong focus on technology, infrastructure, and emerging industries. He also heads the firm’s Corporate, Banking & Finance, and Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT) practice groups. Under his leadership, the firm has expanded its regional footprint with offices in Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand, serving clients across Southeast Asia.

Mark has been consistently recognized among the Philippines’ Top 100 Lawyers (2020–2025) by Asia Business Law Journal and as a Leading Individual for TMT Law by The Legal 500. He is widely regarded as the country’s leading counsel in fintech, digital assets, blockchain, AI, data privacy, e-commerce, and digital platforms.

With over two decades of private-practice experience, Mark advises startups, multinational corporations, and domestic conglomerates on complex corporate transactions, digital transformation initiatives, regulatory strategy, capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, and cross-border matters.

Beyond private practice, Mark plays a key role in shaping the Philippines’ digital economy. He is the Chairman of Go Digital Philippines, a national private-sector initiative under the Private Sector Advisory Council, and serves in leadership and trustee roles across major fintech, blockchain, AI, cybersecurity, and investor organizations. He is also a faculty member at the Ateneo de Manila University Graduate School of Business, where he teaches Mergers & Acquisitions.

Kristine T. Torres, partner, Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra

Kristine Torres is a Partner at Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra, where she heads the Project Finance and ESG Practice Groups and is a core member of the Corporate and Technology, Media, and Telecommunications (TMT) Practice Groups. She is widely recognized for her deep expertise across corporate and business law, mergers and acquisitions, corporate and commercial law, capital markets, banking and finance, project finance, ESG, compliance and regulatory and TMT.

Kristine regularly acts as lead counsel on complex transactions including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, equity and debt investments, structuring, project finance, capital markets, banking and finance, PPPs, compliance and regulatory, TMT and ESG, with particular experience in highly regulated and across a large range of industries such as IT, tech and fintech, AI, retail, education, energy, logistics, banking, finance, retail trade and private equity – advising clients on matters that require both technical depth and strategic judgment. She also has extensive experience advising clients on a variety of compliance, regulatory, and licensing matters. Her expertise has consistently been recognized by The Legal 500 being named as a Next Generation Partner in TMT and as a Recommended Lawyer in Corporate and M&A, Banking and Finance, Projects and Energy, and Capital Markets.

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Edsel F. Tupaz, senior partner, Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra

Edsel F. Tupaz is Senior Partner at Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra, one of the Philippines’ leading full-service law firms. He leads the Firm’s Data Privacy, Cybersecurity, and AI Initiatives, as well as its Special Projects (Infrastructure) practice, advising on complex, high-stakes regulatory, data protection, technology, and cross-border matters.

Edsel advises Fortune 500 companies, NASDAQ-listed firms, major financial institutions, and leading technology startups in Silicon Valley and across Asia on data protection, AI governance, fintech, digital platforms, e-commerce, and banking and financial services.

He is a Fellow of Information Privacy (FIP) and holds the AIGP, CIPT, CIPP/E, and CIPM certifications from the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP). He has been featured in the Data Protection Leader (July 2025 edition) by OneTrust DataGuidance as a leading Philippine data protection expert and is listed in international experts’ directories for Philippine privacy law.

He holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from Harvard Law School, where he served as Managing Technical Editor of the Harvard Human Rights Journal. He earned his Juris Doctor and B.A. in Economics (Honors Program) from Ateneo de Manila University and is dual-qualified in the Philippines and New York.

Rashel Pomoy is the Deputy Managing Partner, Deputy Head of the Firm’s Labor and Employment Department, and Partner in the Litigation & Dispute Resolution Department. A trusted advisor to both local and international clients, she is known for her skill in navigating complex employment issues, both contentious and advisory. She was one of the youngest lawyers to be promoted to partner in the Firm’s history, reflecting her track record and leadership in the practice.

Rhys Alexei Y. Murillo, CPA, JD, CCO, general manager and corporate secretary –compliance, legal, external and gov’t affairs division, Nissan Philippines

Thea Marie B. Jimenez, head, labor relations division–legal affairs and corporate secretariat group, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation

Cielo Marjorie A. Goño, senior legal counsel, Huawei Technologies Philippines

Jerome D. Canlas, partner, Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia

Jerome D Canlas’ practice focuses on Telecommunications and Information and Communications Technology Law, as well as Labor Law. He is currently a member of the firm’s Data Privacy Practice Group and is part of a team that successfully defended an online lending corporation against a temporary ban on processing of personal data, which would have effectively halted the operations of said corporation. Mr. Canlas is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/E).

Mr. Canlas is also a Partner in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department and his areas of practice include tax and customs litigation, appellate practice, trial advocacy, and corporate and banking litigation. He obtained his Juris Doctor Degree from the University of the Philippines in 2009. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the same university, graduating cum laude in 2005. He authored the thesis entitled “Project MODEX and the Modernization of Philippine Elections”, which was awarded as the Best Political Science Thesis of his batch. Mr. Canlas was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2010.

Mr. Canlas holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in International Economic and Business Law and EU-Graduate Diploma from Kyushu University in Japan as a Monbukagakusho Scholar (Young Leaders’ Program). He has held internships in several international law firms in Japan, as well as in the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH). He has likewise been a speaker in several conferences such as the Conference on Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Algorithms held in Japan in 2019.

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Ramon Manolo A. Alcasabas, partner, Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia

Mr. Alcasabas is a Partner in the Litigation & Dispute Resolution Department where he has actively handled civil, commercial, criminal and labor litigation before the courts and quasi-judicial bodies, as well as developed and implemented various legal strategies for his clients. Mr. Alcasabas’ practice likewise includes Telecommunications and ICT Law, where he was part of the team which handled one of the country’s largest acquisitions with respect to the cable television network industry. He is currently a member of the firm’s Competition Law and Data Privacy Practice Groups and has advised clients, as well as represented them before administrative bodies. Mr. Alcasabas is a member of the Philippine Bar Association and has previously served as its Co-Chairperson for Committee on Legislation & Law Reforms.

Francis Euston R. Acer, data protection officer, Meralco

Atty. Francis Euston R. Acero obtained his Juris Doctor degree from the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law in 2007. He is a faculty member of the Far Eastern University Institute of Law. He is also a part of the Speakers Bureau of the National Association of Data Privacy Officers of the Philippines (NADPOP). He is currently Vice President and Data Protection Officer of the Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) and is a Founding Board Member of Democracy.Net.PH. He is a Certified International Privacy Professional (Europe), Digital and Network Forensic Examiner (mile2), and a Certified Penetration Testing Engineer (mile2). Atty. Acero previously served in the Government as the Complaints and Investigations Division Chief of the National Privacy Commission.

Cecilio Alejandro C. Villanueva, comissioner, National Labor Relations Commission

Atty. Lorna Patajo Kapunan, founding Partner of Kapunan & Castillo Law Offices has been a practicing lawyer for 47 years.  Atty. Kapunan has been recognized among the Top 100 Lawyers of the Country for three consecutive years (2019-2021), and recently awarded the global “Women In Law Awards” for Corporate Law-Philippines, “Asias’ Iconic Award for Law” and Linguistic Intelligence Award (2024).  Atty. Kapunan is the “2025 Philippine Choice Award for Outstanding Humanitarian Service.”  She is a recipient of “Asia’s Legacy of Justice and Legal Excellence Award” of the 2nd Asia’s Golden Legacy Award 2025.   Atty. Kapunan received the Asian Leaders Award 2025 for “Women of Substance.”  She recently received the First Tala Award of the Global Artistic Collaboration for Empowerment (GACCE–USA) and The ASEAN Women Best Entrepreneur Award (2024).  She is an awardee  of The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service (TOWNS) in 1995 in the field of Corporate Law,  Outstanding Women of the University of the Philippines (1998).  In 2016, Atty. Kapunan received the Global Filipina Women Leaders Network (FWN100) Awards.   She is a distinguished member of the Pi Gamma Mu International Honors Society.  Her  law firm is the sole Philippine member  of the International Lawyers  Network (ILN).   

Although known as a leading litigator because of her high profile cases, her legal expertise is extensive and includes intellectual property law, corporate and commercial law, international humanitarian law, criminal law, family law, estate law and succession.    Atty. Kapunan was Bar Examiner in 1988 in Commercial Law.  She had delivered lectures at the European- based International Center for Legal Studies and for the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) program of the Philippine Supreme Court.  

Atty. Kapunan was columnist of Business Mirror  with a  weekly “Legally Speaking” column.  She hosts a regular Saturday tele radio program “Laban Para Sa Karapatan” (Fight for your Rights) 11-12 at DWIZ 882 AM radio, Aliw23 TV, FB Live and You Tube. She has a daily program ‘Face2Face” (aired on TV5, I TV and You Tube) which is a public affairs program settling  barangay disputes on air.   She is actively involved in socio-civic organizations.  Among them:  Philippine Red Cross, Cultural Center of the Philippines, World Wildlife Fund, Rotary International, Zonta Foundation,  Womens’ Business Council, Management Association of the Philippines, Ballet Philippines, Kilusang Makabansang Ekonomiya, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Asian Patent Attorneys Association, Intellectual Property Association of the Philippines, Licensing Executive Society of the Philippines and SharePhil.  

Atty. Kapunan is the daughter of Retired Supreme Court Justice Lino M.  Patajo and Cristeta Taaca Patajo, Past Dean of  Manila Doctors School of Nursing and VP Academic Affairs UDMC and member Professional Regulations Board for Nursing.  She is the widow of former RTC Judge Eduardo Roden E. Kapunan, her Classmate in UP Law School. She has five sons, three grandsons.  Two of her sons (Lino and Choi) and a grandson, Kyle Linus, are lawyers.  Her eldest son, Lino, is now Managing Partner in her Law Firm.  

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Mark Tiaoqui, partner, Tiaoqui Sese-Relucio & Mendoza

Andrea Antonette A. Sese-Relucio, partner, Tiaoqui Sese-Relucio & Mendoza

Timothy Joseph Mendoza, partner, Tiaoqui Sese-Relucio & Mendoza

Gerardo Panga Sirios, administrator, Land Registration Authority

Mr. Sirios is the current Administrator of the Land Registration Authority (LRA). Under his leadership, the Personal Property Security Act (PPSA) was implemented through the launch of the Personal Property Security Registry (PPSR)—a centralized online platform for registering security interests in movable property. With a European Languages degree from UP Diliman and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Perpetual Help Rizal in Las Piñas, he has firmly established a public service career spanning three decades and all three branches of government.

Joseph Anthony I. Malaya, partner, ACCRALAW

Joseph Anthony I. Malaya is a Partner in ACCRALAW where he handles a broad range of litigation and arbitration cases. He specializes primarily in construction and commercial arbitration. He also handles a vast array of cases involving criminal, administrative and environmental law. He also handles disputes on banking, mining, real estate, and constitutional law.

In 2023 alone, Mr. Malaya handled seven arbitration cases and in his fourteen (14) years in ACCRALAW, he has handled more than thirty (30) arbitration cases before the Construction Industry Arbitration Commission, Philippine Dispute Resolution Center, Singapore International Arbitration Center, and various ad-hoc arbitrations.

Mr. Malaya is part of the Legal 500’s Private Practice Powerlist 2023 for Arbitration in Southeast Asia and Key Lawyer for 2022 in Arbitration.

Shiree Amor P. Roma, partner, ACCRALAW

Shiree Amor Roma is a Partner at ACCRALAW and a member of its Corporate and Special Projects Department. She specializes in general corporate work, banking and finance, mergers and acquisitions, securities and capital markets, and public procurement.

Ms. Roma has been involved in providing banking, financing and lending advisory services to local and foreign banks and other non-bank financial institutions and has extensive experience in assisting, domestic and foreign clients, who are lenders, borrowers and/or guarantors, in the preparation and negotiation of financing/loan agreements and the accompanying security arrangements.

Anthony W. Dee, senior partner and head of intellectual property department, SyCipLaw

Anthony W. Dee is a Senior Partner and Head of the Intellectual Property Department. He represents numerous clients at all court levels and has extensive experience in the practice areas of IP, litigation, and arbitration. Anthony (or Anton) is deeply involved and specializes in IP infringement and enforcement work and has more than 20 years of experience in these areas. He has been consistently recognized as a Key Lawyer for IP by The Legal 500, a Notable Practitioner by IP STARS (Managing IP), and a Silver-ranked practitioner by IAM Patent 1000 and WTR 1000.

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Ma. Patricia B. Paz-Jacoba, partner, SyCipLaw

Ma. Patricia B. Paz-Jacoba (or Tish) is a Partner at SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan (SyCipLaw) and a member of the Firm’s Dispute Resolution, Intellectual Property, and Tax practice groups. Her practice focuses on complex commercial disputes, including high-value litigation, arbitration, and regulatory enforcement, as well as specialist disputes involving intellectual property enforcement and tax controversy.

Tish regularly represents clients in contentious matters across highly regulated and commercially sensitive sectors, combining strategic advocacy with a deep understanding of legal and operational risk. Her work includes appearances before Philippine courts, arbitral tribunals, and administrative agencies in enforcement and regulatory proceedings.

In addition to her disputes practice, Tish advises clients on the full lifecycle of intellectual property protection, from prosecution and portfolio maintenance to enforcement of trademarks, patents, and industrial designs. She is particularly noted for integrating portfolio strategy with disputes experience to address business-critical IP risks.

Tish is recognized by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific as a Next Generation Partner for Dispute Resolution, and a Recommended Lawyer for both Intellectual Property and Dispute Resolution. She is also recognized by Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific for commercial and international arbitration, by ITR World Tax for tax controversy, and as a Recommended Individual in the IAM Patent 1000. She is ranked in the WTR 1000 for trademark strategy. She was shortlisted for Litigation Lawyer of the Year at The Legal 500 Southeast Asia Awards 2023, and is featured in The Legal 500 Arbitration Powerlist – Southeast Asia.

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Leo Francis F. Abot, senior associate, SyCipLaw

Leo Francis F. Abot is a Senior Associate and a member of the Firm’s Intellectual Property, Special Projects, Banking, Finance and Securities, and Corporate Services departments, as well as the Firm’s TMT practice group. Leo’s IP practice includes reviewing license agreements, franchise agreements, and the highly-regulated area of technology transfer agreements. He also supports clients in their IP rights and brand protection efforts through assistance in trademark prosecution and inter partes cases.

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Christine V. Pangilinan-Canlapan is the Director of the Bureau of Legal Affairs at the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL). She brings over 25 years of experience in IP law, spanning private practice and public service. Christine has played a key role in advancing alternative dispute resolution mechanisms withiny IPOPHL. She previously served as Supervising Director of the ADR Services Unit and the IP Rights Enforcement Office, where she led initiatives such as mediation programs and the Rules on Voluntary Administrative Site Blocking to curb online piracy.

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Gwendolynn S. Padilla, first vice president – head, legal documentation division, legal affairs group and corporate secretariat, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation+

Ms. Padilla is the current Head of the Legal Documentation Division of the Legal Affairs Group at RCBC. She brings over 28 years of legal experience with a strong background in banking, finance, and corporate law. A graduate of the UP School of Economics and UP College of Law, she has practiced law in both private firms and financial institutions, ensuring institutional compliance with evolving financial regulations.

 

Juan Paolo Colet, managing director, Chinabank Capital

Juan Paolo Colet is Managing Director at investment banking firm Chinabank Capital, where he leads deal structuring and execution, and provides senior coverage of key client relationships.

His dealmaking experience spans a wide range of debt, equity, and advisory mandates, including landmark transactions for government institutions, major conglomerates, and other leading companies. He concurrently serves as Vice Chairman of equity trading platform Chinabank Securities.

Prior to becoming an investment banker, JP built a career as a lawyer, starting at the Castillo Laman Tan Pantaleon & San Jose Law Offices and later as consultant of the Department of Finance – Privatization and Management Office. He was an inaugural recipient of the Young Lawyer of the Year Award at the Asian Legal Business Philippine Law Awards in 2018.

JP graduated cum laude from the University of the Philippines College of Law, where he now serves as senior lecturer on credit transactions.

Philip Miguel I. Ranada, chief legal officer, Prime infra

Philip Miguel I. Ranada is the chief legal officer of Prime Infrastructure Capital, Inc.

Among Prime Infra’s assets are Manila Water, the publicly-listed water utility, and Prime Energy, the operator of the Malampaya gas project.

Prime Infra recently acquired a controlling interest in several gas-fired power plants in the Philippines with an aggregate capacity of over 2,000MW, and is acquiring SierraCol Energy, Colombia’s top independent oil and gas producer. Prime Infra is the developer of the Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project, which will supply more than 510MLD of raw water to Metro Manila, a 128MW solar plant in Batangas and Cavite, and two pumped storage hydropower plants with a combined capacity of 2,000MW in Laguna and Rizal Province.

Philip obtained his JD from the University of the Philippines College of Law and was admitted to the Philippine bar in 2006. He was previously counsel at the Ayala Group and General Counsel at the Light Rail Manila Corporation.

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Cristina G. Ngo, senior vice president and head of lending services department, BDO Unibank

Cristina G. Ngo is a Senior Vice President of BDO Unibank.

She was a working student during her undergraduate years at the University of the Philippines (UP), where she graduated cum laude with a degree in BA Communications Major in Research in 1985, and up until she obtained her Bachelor of Laws from the UP College of Law in 1991.

Cris began her legal career at the CUEVAS DELA CUESTA DELAS ALAS Law Office. She has been with BDO since 1994, starting as a legal officer before being promoted to head its Loans Administration Unit, helping steer BDO’s growth from a commercial to a universal bank in between a series of mergers and acquisitions.

She is currently the Head of Lending Services of BDO Unibank’s Enterprise Services Group, managing the Unibank and its subsidiaries’ lending operations, from post credit approval documentation, full payment, up to release of collateral documents.

Philip Miguel I. Ranada is the chief legal officer of Prime Infrastructure Capital, Inc. Among Prime Infra’s assets are Manila Water, the publicly-listed water utility, and Prime Energy, the operator of the Malampaya gas project. Recently, Prime Infra acquired a controlling interest in several gas-fired power plants in the Philippines with an aggregate capacity of over 2,000MW, and is acquiring SierraCol Energy, Colombia’s top independent oil and gas producer. Prime Infra is the developer of the Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project, which will supply more than 510MLD of raw water to Metro Manila, a 128MW solar plant in Batangas and Cavite, and two pumped storage hydropower plants with a combined capacity of 2,000MW in Laguna and Rizal Province.

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Millicent Joie Desiderio-Dime, managing director, global counsel ethics and compliance, Accenture

Millicent Joie Desiderio-Dime draws on 27 years of diverse legal experience across litigation, corporate practice, and technology. She began her career at the influential Becca Bar law firm, handling high-stakes cases involving kidnapping, arson, and post–Martial Law political unrest, work that honed her agility and courtroom rigour. After leading complex prosecutions, she transitioned to the corporate and tech sector, where she now champions thoughtful, responsible use of legal technology while mentoring young lawyers in adaptability and sound judgment. Miscen joined Accenture in 2012 where she built the local legal team from the ground up and led it for over 13 years.  She is now Managing Director, Global Counsel, Ethics and Compliance, where she works on enterprise-wide compliance strategy with a focus on Confidentiality and Conflicts of Interest and where she  champions a culture of integrity across Accenture’s global operations.

Joan A. De Venecia-Fabul, chief legal counsel and first vice president, PLDT

Joan de Venecia-Fabul is Chief Legal Counsel and First Vice President of the Philippines’ leading integrated telco PLDT Inc., where she also heads Regulatory and Strategic Affairs, guiding the company through complex legal, policy, and technology shifts. A professor of Public International Law at the UP College of Law, she frequently speaks on arbitration, regulation, and emerging technology issues. She topped the Philippine Bar in 2005 and holds an LL.M. from NYU as a Fulbright and Hugo Grotius Fellow, and recently completed the Advanced Management Program at Wharton.

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Dodjie Lagazo, group general counsel, group compliance officer & assistant corporate secretary, ACEN 

Dodjie is a managing director and heads the legal, governance and compliance unit of the ACEN group, with the Philippines, Australia, India, Vietnam, and Indonesia as the group’s key markets. In his role, Dodjie leads the development and execution of ACEN group’s corporate legal strategy, while overseeing governance and compliance programs.

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Rosario M. Gruet, managing director, Weave Solutions

Ito has over 35 years of experience in the IT industry spanning business development, project management, and technology leadership. She is a co-founder of Computer Professionals, Inc. (CPI), a Filipino-owned software services and solutions company serving both Philippine and global markets. As one of CPI’s managing founders, she helped grow the company through multiple industry cycles while expanding its client base and workforce. CPI is also known for developing the Philippines’ market-leading insurance ERP platform. Ito has been active in the Philippine Software Association (PSIA) and co-founded SPRING.ph to support the start-up ecosystem. She continues to serve CPI as Senior Adviser.

In 2018, Ito co-founded Weave Solutions, Inc. and is its Managing Director. Weave is a company that delivers outsourcing services and transformative solutions to organizations locally and globally.

Weave Solutions partners with Diligent to help legal teams strengthen governance, risk oversight, and decision-making.

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Freedom Ianfe M. Navidad, assistant vice President and head of subsidiaries & affiliates, corporate legal services, Meralco

Freedom Ianfe Navidad is a senior legal and business executive at the Manila Electric Company (MERALCO), serving as Assistant Vice President and Head of Subsidiaries & Affiliates – Corporate Legal Services. A trusted leader within the organization, Freedom drives strategic contracting, legal risk assessment, and the legal enablement of new ventures and critical operational initiatives in the utilities sector—where scale, regulation, and business continuity demand sound legal judgment.

A Philippine Bar member since 2007, Freedom brings a grounded, in-house GC perspective on the evolving role of legal leaders in an AI-ready enterprise—focusing on how legal teams move beyond traditional oversight to shaping governance thinking, risk posture, and enterprise value in organizations defined by technology, scale, and transformation. Freedom holds a Bachelor in Arts (Major in Philosophy) degree form the University of the Philippines – Diliman, a Juris Doctor degree from the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law, and an Executive MBA degree from the Ateneo Professional Schools.

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Ambe C. Tierro, country managing director and lead for advanced technology centers, Accenture

Ms. Ambe C. Tierro, Country Managing Director and Lead for Advanced Technology Centers in the Philippines at Accenture. Ambe is responsible for the growth and sustainability of Accenture’s business in the country, delivering Technology, Operations, and Strategy & Consulting services. She also leads the Accenture Advanced Technology Centers in the Philippines. Outside of Accenture, Ambe serves on the boards of the IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines, For the Women Foundation, Philippine Business for Social Progress, and De La Salle University.

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Maria Rosell S. Gomez – partner for risk services and co-lead of AI practice, PwC Philippines

Maria Rosell “Rosell” Gomez is a Partner at PwC Philippines and the firm’s Risk Services and Forensics Leader, where she spearheads practices in cybersecurity, data privacy, governance, risk & compliance, data analytics, and forensics. She also serves as PwC’s Chief Information Officer and Chief Data Officer, championing secure, data-driven, and resilient organizations.

With more than 25 years of professional experience, Rosell has guided clients through complex business challenges, strengthening governance, resilience, and trust. Her expertise spans audits, compliance, cybersecurity, forensics, and advanced analytics, with a proven track record of delivering clarity and confidence in times of change.

Beyond PwC, Rosell is the 2026 Chairman and President of the Institute of Internal Auditors Philippines (IIAP), actively shaping the profession’s growth and community engagement. She has also served on the Board of Trustees of ISACA Manila Chapter, is an associate member of the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD), has been a member of the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) and has served as a part time Professional Lecturer at De La Salle University-Manila.

Her academic journey reflects both achievement and heart: graduating Cum Laude in Accountancy, advancing her learning at Asian Institute of Management (AIM), Ateneo Professionals School), and Wharton Executive Education and earning her CPA license in the Philippines alongside multiple global certifications such as CIA, CISA, CDPSE, CRISC, COBIT5F, COBIT5I, ISO 31000 CRM.

Passionate about building communities where trust, innovation, and people thrive together, Rosell continues to inspire organizations and professionals to embrace resilience and integrity in a rapidly evolving world.

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Steering Committee

Kristian Nico Calugay Acosta, CLO & general counsel, CTI Group

Nico is an in-house lawyer with a rich experience in leading the legal operations of companies from diverse industries such as retail & luxury, food & beverages, hospitality, construction and real estate, electronics & technology, and entertainment. Throughout the years, he has successfully represented his clients and principals before various quasi-judicial agencies, trial courts, the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court. Because of his solid advocacies on ESG and intellectual property awareness, Nico is often invited as a lecturer and resource speaker by government agencies, educational institutions and international organizations such as the Asia Pacific Corporate Counsel Alliance, International Trademark Association, EU IPO, World Intellectual Property Organization, World Trademark Review, Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines, National Committee on Intelellectual Property Rights, and the Supreme Court’s Justice Sector Coordinating Council. Moreover, several legal publications, such as AsiaLaw, Asia Business Law Journal, Asian Legal Business and the Legal 500, has consistently commended and recognized him for his exemplary legal works on areas of corporate law and litigation. During his law firm days, Nico has been cited by the Legal 500 as a Next Generation Partner, and he has been consistently included by the publication’s General Counsel (GC) Powerlist Magazine in its lists of leading in-house lawyers across Southeast Asia and the Philippines. In 2024, Nico has made it to the Legal 500 GC Elite Philippines, which recognized the country’s Top 20 most prominent and seasoned in-house lawyers. And just last year, he was conferred the Outstanding Tamaraw Law Alumnus Award in Private Practice by the FEU Law. On his days off, Nico enjoys working out at the gym and car racing.

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Steering Committee

Ryan N. Espiritu, regional data protection officer & legal counsel (APAC/ME), Western Union

Ryan N. Espiritu is currently Western Union’s Regional Data Protection Officer and Legal Counsel supporting APAC and the Middle East. He possesses an IAPP Certification as a Certified Information Privacy Professional for Asia (CIPP/Asia). He has been an attorney for more than 18 years specializing in data privacy, labor & employment, litigation and intellectual property.

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Steering Committee

Cecily Nerisse (Chel) C. Ramirez-dela Cruz, Asia+ CBG General Counsel, Philippines and GSC General Counsel, 3M Philippines

Chel Ramirez-dela Cruz is 3M’s Asia+ Consumer Business Group General Counsel, Philippines and Global Service Center General Counsel, and Country GAM Liaison. As part of the leadership team of the business and the country, she helps identify and address key policy, enterprise, and other risks to protect the company’s brand and operations while supporting growth.

Prior to joining 3M, she was a Senior Associate at Puno and Puno Law Offices, specializing in mergers and acquisitions, special projects, taxation, and energy law, where she served for 9 years. Before that, she was an associate in the oldest and one of the most prestigious law firms in the Philippines, Sycip Salazar Hernandez and Gatmaitan, and prior to that, she interned at the equally reputable Zambrano and Gruba Law Offices.

She was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2008, after she completed her Juris Doctor degree with honors at Ateneo de Manila University – School of Law in 2007. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Legal Management at Ateneo de Manila University in 2003, with a minor in history.

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Steering Committee

Mary Rose S. Tan, associate general counsel and assistant corporate secretary, San Miguel Corporation

Mary Rose S. Tan is an Assistant Vice President – Associate General Counsel and Assistant Corporate Secretary of San Miguel Corporation, one of the Philippines’ biggest diversified conglomerates, where she has been with the Office of the General Counsel for 20 years handling corporate governance and compliance, capital markets and corporate financing transactions, mergers and acquisitions, as well as disputes and litigation management. Prior to joining San Miguel Corporation, Ms. Tan was a law clerk at the Supreme Court of the Philippines with the Office of the Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide, Jr., and an associate at SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan. She obtained her Master of Laws degree from the University of Sydney in 2009 as an Endeavour Postgraduate Award scholar of the Australian Government. She was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2002. She obtained her Juris Doctor degree from University of the Philippines in 2001 and her degree of Bachelor of Arts major in Psychology from the same university in 2001. She is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of the UP Women Lawyers Circle for 2024-2026, and the Assistant Corporate Secretary of the UP Law Alumni Foundation.

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Steering Committee