Keynote Speakers

Biography:

Professor Higgs is a leading expert in the sociology of ageing, with an international reputation for research on the changing nature of later life. He has published or edited 15 books and over 200 chapters and research papers on social divisions in old age, ageism, dementia, and technology in later life. Fellow of the UK Academy of Social Sciences and the Gerontological Society of America, recipient of the 50th Anniversary Outstanding Achievement Award from the British Society of Gerontology (2021).

Keynote Title:

Understanding the Changing Nature of Later Life in China: The Sociology of the Third Age

Day 2 (29 Oct) | 09:00–09:30

Biography:

Jia Wei is Vice President of the China Adult Education Association and President of the Shanghai Adult Education Association, serving as an international juror for the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities. He specializes in the management and research of basic education and lifelong learning, with extensive experience in district and municipal education administration and policy development.

Keynote Title:

Silver-Age Products and Curriculum Innovation in the Age of AI: Reflections on the First Shanghai Senior Learning Curriculum Exhibition

Day 2 (29 Oct) | 09:30–10:00

Biography:

Liu Wenqing is Director of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Gerontological Education Research Base and an academic leader in gerontology. She has led over 30 national and provincial research projects, received multiple teaching excellence awards, and published more than 50 monographs and 60 peer-reviewed academic papers. Her work has significantly advanced gerontological education and research in the region.

Keynote Title:

Lifelong Learning for Older Adults in the Digital Age

Day 2 (29 Oct) | 10:00–10:30

Biography:

Professor Dato' Dr. Ansary Ahmed is Founder President of Asia e University and Group Managing Director of Asia e Learning Pvt Ltd. He holds a PhD in Molecular Genetics from the University of Manchester and leads international bodies including UNESCO and the International Council for Open Distance Education. A recipient of Malaysia's National e-Learning Maestro Award and Honorary Doctorate from Siam University, he advances higher education and e-learning across Asia.

Keynote Title:

Building an Intelligent Lifelong Learning Ecosystem for an Ageing Society: Lessons from Asia e University

Day 2 (29 Oct) | 10:50–11:20

Biography:

Professor Maguire brings diverse expertise in political and social anthropology, psychology, journalism, and the third sector. Her scholarship centers on transdisciplinary doctoral research in which academics and practitioners co-design studies addressing complex social challenges. She publishes on transdisciplinarity, higher education innovation, and psychological fiction, with a commitment to advancing more equitable approaches in research and practice.

Keynote Title:

Anthropology Is an Ethic of Care: Restoring the Spirit

Day 3 (30 Oct) | 09:00–09:30

Biography:

Dr. Chen holds a PhD in Psychology from UC Berkeley and specializes in advancing care for older adults with dementia and chronic conditions. A Fulbright Scholar and Harvard Burke Global Health Fellow, he serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Gerontology International. He co-founded the Global Elder Care Alliance and the Center for Global Technology and Research for an Age-Ready Society at Harvard Medical School, dedicated to advancing care quality and health equity in aging societies.

Keynote Title:

AI-Empowering Later Life: Opportunities, Challenges, and the "Older Adult–AI–Helper" Scaffolding Model

Day 3 (30 Oct) | 09:30–10:00

Biography:

Professor Li, listed among Stanford University and Elsevier's World's Top 2% Scientists, received the 2023 ICDE Prize of Excellence and AAOU Meritorious Service Award. Specialising in technology-mediated learning and open education, he has published 300+ peer-reviewed papers and 20+ books. He is Editor-in-Chief of the AAOU Journal and Gerontology Studies, and has held a Visiting Professorship at Middlesex University since 2012.

Keynote Title:

AI and the Future of Ageing Societies: Transforming Research, Care, Policy, and Practice

Day 3 (30 Oct) | 10:10–10:50

Biography:

Professor Chen Gong directs Peking University's Institute of Population Studies and its Research Center for China's Ageing and Elderly Care Development. A professor and doctoral supervisor, he serves as Vice President of the China Population Association and is a National Major Talent Program awardee. His work examines population change and how it shapes public services, health, resource allocation, and social sustainability. He has led 60+ projects and published 300+ core-journal papers.

Keynote Title:

AI + Elder Care Services: Exploration and Practice of the SMART Service Learning Model

Day 3 (30 Oct) | 10:50–11:20