Bangkok, Thailand – Two distinguished Filipinos, Rev. Fr. Leo G. Alaras, OAR, and Ms. Jennifer Montero, were honored as speakers at the World Youth Leadership Conference (WYLC) 2025 on February 10-11, 2025, in Thailand. The conference, one of the flagship events of the Global Entrepreneurship Bootcamp (GEB), brought together young leaders, educators, and innovators from around the world to engage in leadership development, cross-cultural collaboration, and discussions on pressing global challenges.
WYLC, organized as part of GEB’s international initiatives, serves as a platform for aspiring and established leaders from diverse sectors, including education, business, social advocacy, and governance. It enables young visionaries to engage with global experts, sharpen their leadership skills, and build meaningful international networks.
Fr. Alaras, an Augustinian Recollect priest and Vice President for Identity, Formation, and Mission at the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos (UNO-R) in Bacolod City, introduced the VOICE leadership framework—Vision, Openness, Innovation, Communication, and Execution—emphasizing ethical leadership and values-driven accountability in shaping responsible and future-ready leaders. As visionary artist, Fr. Leo sets the new standard for creative exploration and leadership, converge to usher in a new era of artistic revolution.
Ms. Montero, Regional Manager of Camosun College in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, and Founder of AAUCo – Global University Incubator, is a dedicated advocate for education, innovation, and international collaboration. With her startup called #ReSpACE: Redesigning of Specialized Access to Connectivity and Engagement: A Glocalized Delivery of International Programs and Partnerships, she shared her transformative Nepal-liked experiences during the pandemic, highlighting how academic institutions continued fostering global engagement despite mobility restrictions, and how these universities and industries thrived up to the present using her platform. Her insights resonated with aspiring changemakers eager to create meaningful impact in their communities.
Invited as speakers by the Global Entrepreneurship Bootcamp, Fr. Alaras and Ms. Montero were recognized for their outstanding contributions to youth leadership and empowerment. Their participation highlights the growing influence of Filipino leaders on the global stage and reinforces the Philippines’ role in shaping the next generation of changemakers.
The World Youth Leadership Conference 2025, held in Bangkok, continues to be a vital platform under the GEB, fostering international collaboration, nurturing young leaders, and empowering youth to drive positive global change.
