Cover Audrey Tang, former minister, Ministry of Digital Affairs
Audrey Tang, former minister, Ministry of Digital Affairs
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Modern problems require new ways of thinking and doing. The way these leaders are working for the common good is a shining example for the rest of the region.
Public service encompasses a range of professions dedicated to the common good. In addition to government leaders, it includes people working in social services, education, healthcare, food banks, libraries and environment protection, as well as volunteers who contribute their time and skills to the public.
The United Nations designates June 23 as Public Service Day to celebrate the leaders promoting social equity and building resilient communities. Among the many public service leaders on Asia’s Most Influential are Malaysia’s Tharma Pillai, who through his organisation Undi 18 encourages more young people to participate in the government; Vico Sotto, a city mayor from the Philippines, who provides critical services to underserved constituents; and Audrey Tang, who continues to serve a critical role in helping people take control of their digital lives after leaving their post as Taiwan’s first digital minister. Their collective efforts not only enhance the quality of life in their communities but also serve as a powerful reminder of the transformative impact of public service worldwide.
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Tharma Pillai, co-founder and advocacy director, Undi18 (Malaysia)
Above Tharma Pillai, co-founder and advocacy director, Undi18 (Photo: Imran Sulaiman)
Tharma Pillai, co-founder and advocacy director, Undi18 (Photo: Imran Sulaiman)
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For defending, renewing and promoting democracy, Tharma Pillai has been nominated for the 2024 Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize. The young leader’s prize, which honours the legacy of Kofi Annan, will be presented at the Athens Democracy Forum and comes with a US$10,000 award plus a one-year mentoring programme. Undi18, the youth-led movement Tharma co-founded, helped pass a landmark amendment to lower the voting age from 21 to 18 in Malaysia, leading to 5.8 million new voters, a remarkable 40 per cent increase.
Undi18 also engages youth in causes such as increasing female leadership in politics, institutionalising forest conservation, and encouraging participation in energy policy. “I think that idealism is something that more people should learn from. [People] should have that self-belief that, hey, I can make change happen too. It’s to dare to dream,” he said to Tatler.
Read Tharma Pillai’s full profile on Asia’s Most Influential
Audrey Tang, former minister, Ministry of Digital Affairs; senior fellow, Project Liberty Institute (Taiwan)
Above Audrey Tang, former minister, Ministry of Digital Affairs
Audrey Tang, former minister, Ministry of Digital Affairs
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In June 2024, civic technologist Audrey Tang joined Project Liberty Institute in its mission to help people take back control of their digital lives. As senior fellow of the global movement, which counts Georgetown University, Stanford University and other leading academic institutions and civic organisations as partners, Tang will shape ethical governance models for the digital age. “We must design digital civic infrastructure that prioritises transparency, collaborative learning and the human experience to create a more democratic digital landscape,” said the public servant, adding, in a press release announcing the move, that she looks forward to working with “leaders to overcome challenges of a broken digital status quo and free the future—together.”
Previously, Tang served as the first minister of the Ministry of Digital Affairs, Taiwan’s official body in charge of digital innovation, reform and policy. Serving until May 2024, the tech leader advocated prebunking to combat misinformation in the age of generative AI. In addition, Tang is a contributor to the decentralised civic tech movement g0v; helped develop the democracy platform vTaiwan; and co-authored Plurality: Technology for Collaborative Diversity and Democracy, which explores ways society can use collaborative technology to support democracy and foster respect across social and cultural divides.
Vico Sotto, Pasig City mayor (Philippines)
Above Vico Sotto, mayor, Pasig City
Vico Sotto, mayor, Pasig City
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Mayor of Pasig City since 2019, Vico Sotto is lauded for his leadership of the rapidly growing urban city in Metro Manila. The young mayor has been recognised by international institutions such as the World Health Organisation, which hailed his Covid-19 vaccination programme as a success story, and the US Department of State, which recognised the leader as one of 12 global anti-corruption champions. Known for his hard stance against crime, Sotto apprehended a city hall employee for taking bribes and shut down the operations of an investment scam in the past months.
During Pasig City’s 450th anniversary in 2023, Sotto announced a PHP4-billion project to renovate city hall. The plan includes constructing a modern complex with solar-powered buildings and a mega market, reflecting his commitment to innovation and green development. In 2024, the mayor also introduced an in-city housing project for low-income families, an inclusive employment programme for senior citizens and persons with disabilities, and the refurbished Maybunga Rainforest Park, which now features more amenities for citizens.
Tatler Asia’s Most Influential is the definitive list of people shaping our world today. Asia’s Most Influential brings together the region's most innovative changemakers, industry titans and thought leaders who are driving positive impact in Asia and beyond. View the full list here.
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