The 2026 Annual Conference of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA), held in Hollywood, California, from March 20 to 24, served as a premier platform for international scholarly exchange. The Asian Association for Public Administration (AAPA) was prominently represented, with its leadership team delivering significant intellectual contributions across a diverse array of panels and sessions. This high-level engagement underscores AAPA’s expanding strategic influence in global public administration discourse, highlighting how Asian scholarship and practice are increasingly shaping critical conversations on digital transformation, democratic governance, financial accountability, and democratic resilience. By bridging regional expertise with global platforms, AAPA reaffirmed its commitment to advancing cross-cultural learning, driving policy innovation, and cultivating collaborative leadership in an interconnected world.

2026 ASPA Annual Conference

Throughout the conference, AAPA’s leadership demonstrated remarkable breadth and depth of participation. Professor Pan Suk Kim (Yonsei University), former AAPA President and current Advisory Panel member, assumed a distinguished leadership role. In addition to moderating the joint SKPA-SCPA-SASPA panel on “Governance Challenges and Resilience in Asia,” he presided over the 2026 International Assembly in his capacity as ASPA International Director. During the event, ASPA President John Bartle and Executive Director William Shields presented Professor Kim with a plaque of appreciation in recognition of his six years of dedicated service. Following this tenure, Professor Alfred Muluan Wu (National University of Singapore), AAPA Treasurer, was selected to succeed Professor Kim as the new incoming International Director.

ASPA Executive Director William Shields (left) and President John Bartle (right) present a plaque of appreciation to Prof. Pan Suk Kim (center)

A handshake marks the transition of the ASPA International Director role from Prof. Pan Suk Kim (right) to Prof. Alfred Muluan Wu (left), symbolizing continuity, trust, and a shared commitment to the global public administration community

AAPA President, Professor Xufeng Zhu (Tsinghua University), enriched discussions on technology and governance through presentations in two key sessions focused on “Technology and Digital Transformation in the Public Sector” and “What Can We Learn from China?” His contributions emphasized how Asian experiences provide valuable insights for global public sector innovation. Professor Alex B. Brillantes Jr., former President and current Advisory Panel member, reinforced AAPA’s sustained institutional continuity and leadership on the international stage. Professor Bok Jeong (Kean University), U.S. Chapter Chair and Coordinator of the AAPA Young Scholars Forum, served as the organizer and co-chair of the 2026 Ferrel Heady Roundtable. He convened scholars and practitioners from Asia, Africa, and Latin America to examine the shifting landscape of global development in the context of declining aid and evolving governance challenge. He demonstrated the association’s dedication to emerging talent by presenting in sessions on global policy and democratic resilience, while serving as a discussant in several roundtables regarding development and higher education policy.

From left to right: Prof. Alex B. Brillantes Jr., Prof. Pan Suk Kim, Prof. Xufeng Zhu, and Prof. Bok Jeong

AAPA Vice President, Professor Sung Min Park (Sungkyunkwan University), offered critical perspectives at the intersection of emerging technologies and democratic resilience, presenting in the panel focused on “Artificial Intelligence, Innovation, and Securing Democratic Governance.” Professor Alfred Muluan Wu maintained an exceptionally active schedule, presenting in four sessions covering finance, budgeting, and international exchanges, including the International Assembly and “Public Purses, Politics and Pressure.” He also served as a discussant for the 2026 Journal Editors Roundtable, showcasing AAPA’s capacity to contribute across multiple academic fronts.

Prof. Sung Min Park

The association’s intellectual presence was further bolstered by AAPA Board Member, Professor Kilkon Ko (Seoul National University), who served as a discussant on the panel “Beyond Aid: Reimagining Development in an Era of Disruption.”

Prof. Kilkon Ko

Through this robust scholarly exchange and institutional collaboration, AAPA continues to build bridges across continents, fostering a more inclusive and impactful international public administration community.