The Emerging Leaders Transforming the Asia-Pacific Region

Often, the best solutions come from the people who know their communities’ biggest challenges and opportunities, and the nuanced infrastructure needed to make lasting, systemic change.

It’s why we started our Big Bets Fellowship. The four-month leadership program supports extraordinary changemakers who are advancing bold solutions to build economic growth and healthier, more resilient communities. Our 2025 class is made up of emerging leaders tackling big challenges; from conserving natural resources in Indonesia to using AI to help low-income families access government services faster.

This week, while world leaders were meeting for the UN General Assembly (UNGA) and Climate Week, we brought together the Asia-Pacific Big Bets Fellows at The Rockefeller Foundation’s Convening Center in New York to share their work, forge new partnerships, and move solutions forward with the broader UNGA community. The convening was a showcase of “12 Bold Moves That Reimagine What’s Possible.”

Here are just some of the bold, big bets our Fellows are making to bring transformational change to the Asia-Pacific region…

A Big Bet for Economic Opportunity: Support farmers on the frontlines of our food system

While traveling across South Asia, Eshrat Waris witnessed the experience and challenges of smallholder farmers. Operating largely in debt, these farmers struggle to stay afloat when extreme weather hits, or afford the financial risks of transitioning to more sustainable farming practices. Waris is working to de-risk the financial system for farmers on the frontlines of communities and central to our food system, providing this stark reminder: “If you want food security for tomorrow, these farmers need economic security today.”

A Big Bet for Water: Get 300 villages in Indonesia clean water by 2030

“Water is access to education, access to nutrition,” a passionate Mustika Wijaya told the room. Millions of people in Indonesia lack access to clean water. The problem, Wijaya outlined, is that installing a water system in a local village isn’t enough. In fact, 60% of water pumps built in Indonesia are abandoned, she says. To solve this, she asserts that the community needs to be involved and feel a sense of ownership from the start. Her nonprofit, Solar Chapter, focuses on community investment, governance, and capacity to build systems and impact that will last for generations.

A Big Bet for Nature: Triple the speed we can respond to climate action

Anusha Meher Bhargava began her presentation with a story about two fish and a crocodile. The conclusion: Fish don’t appreciate the fact that they’re in water the same way humans don’t always appreciate the fact that we’re constantly surrounded by nature. “When something is everywhere, we fail to notice it’s even there. Even though it’s the very thing keeping us alive,” Bhargava noted. She’s fighting for ecological restoration through a platform that connects researchers, policymakers, and conservationists to share information needed to protect our natural habitats.

A Big Bet for Technology: Prevent climate disaster deaths through better data access

When a flood or climate disaster hits, every second counts. Uttam Pudasaini is leveraging technology to help communities better prepare and respond to climate disasters to save lives and property. His goal is to get hyper-local risk assessment data into the hands of 1 million households by 2030.

A Big Bet for Gender Empowerment: Support teenage girls to change the world

When Alexia Hilbertidou won a science competition as a teen, she expected adulation. Instead, she was told, “you only won because you were a girl.” The reality is: Teenage girls have substantial influence. Just look at the popularity of Taylor Swift, Elvis, and the Beatles. Hilbertidou’s initiative, GirlBoss, provides teen girls the confidence and training to solve problems within their communities and encourages them to use their influence to change the world.

A Big Bet for Infrastructure: Help people build their own resilient home

Across the world, communities are dealing with extreme weather. For those without access to air conditioning, electricity, or water systems, the home can often be a source of trapped water and heat. Bobuchi Ken-Opurum is helping to fix that with a digital toolkit called Re-Housed, which provides low-income households with tools, data, and design solutions for how to “reduce vulnerabilities to heat and improve their resilience.”

This is only a handful of the impactful work of the 2025 Asia-Pacific Big Bets Fellows, you can check out the full roster here. This work, combined with face-to-face networking and idea-sharing, was a highlight for many at a time when global collaboration seems to be on the decline. Attendees said the session left them feeling inspired, connected, energized, and hopeful.

If you, or someone you know, is interested in joining our Big Bets Fellowship, sign up for our newsletter for more information on how to get involved.