Julius Asilum serves as an Associate at the Council’s Manila office, where he contributes to advancing the country portfolio. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a Minor in Development and the Law from Ateneo de Manila University. Julius first became involved with the Council as an Intern from January to July 2025, later continuing as a Fellow until August 2025 before stepping into his current role.

Handy is currently serving the Council as Manager for ASEAN, Indonesia, Customs & Trade Facilitation, based in Jakarta, Indonesia. Prior to joining the Council, Handy worked at the ASEAN Secretariat as a Customs Officer, where he facilitated regional policy discussions and coordination among ASEAN Member States (AMS), with a focus on customs enforcement, compliance, and capacity-building activities for AMS customs officials.

The In-Country Workshop in Malaysia will convene industry experts, sectoral agencies, and think tanks for an exchange of insights and best practices with relevant domestic line ministries. The discussions will focus on the completion of the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) and preparations for its post-agreement implementation. The sessions will address key provisions of the agreement and identify areas where additional support may be required to facilitate a smooth and effective transition toward DEFA realization and long-term implementation.